Studying While on Maternity Leave

I started a new position earlier this year. One of the business goals and objectives my new manager has set forth for the year is to learn two new areas of study. This is a goal I struggle with. Since I am a mother, my free time is very limited and spending it advancing myself for work is a challenge. I had brought up my concern to my manager. He is understanding and said its not a high ranking goal. Many of my coworkers take classes on their personal time and I cannot afford the time to do that. I feel guilty.

I had this great idea of learning a new technology while on maternity leave. I would have lots of time, right? Well, here I am only a few weeks left of leave and I have studied nothing. I'm a software engineer. My team uses LINQ and I had planned to brush up on that. I even borrowed a book on LINQ from a coworker before my leave started. I have not opened the book.

I'm already panicking how quickly my return to work date is approaching and I have very little desire to spend it studying. I am being a lousily employee. When I look back at this time will I think about the technologies I learned or the time I spent with my new daughter? The LINQ book just might stay closed.

Love,

Last Friday of You and I

This is an overdue post.

Fridays are Teagan and my's day. That the is day of the week just the two of us hang out. No daycare or busy schedule of the weekend. The last Friday before Lacey was born was important to me. I wanted it to be special. I took my girl to an amusement park farm. As we waited in line to enter, I teared up. Partially from pregnancy hormones but partially from knowing this will be the last Friday of just us two. Teagan couldn't care less about that, she wanted to see goats!

Sorry for the poor quality, this is a photo of a photo.
And don't mind my very pregnant swollen face :)

Love,

Children

Watching children is quite a different task then watching a child.

Teagan recently had a birthday. I kept her home from daycare on her big day. This was the first time I had both kids all day with just me. (My C-Section recovery has not been easy and I'm very grateful Teagan attends daycare while I heal). Wow. I had nothing accomplished. Between the Lacey's frequent feedings and diaper changes and taking Teagan out to celebrate her birthday (slushy store and inflatable indoor park), I wore myself out.

Luckily, both girls napped at the same time and I passed out. I woke up 3 hours later (yes a 3 hour nap!) to my husband coming home. The house was a mess, dishes were not done, and I hadn't started dinner. My husband jokes that if this was an interview to be a stay at home mom, I failed.

How do women with even more kids do it? Stay at home moms/wives have one tough (and exhausting) job!

Love,

Nursing With Siblings

Warning. This post is about breastfeeding.

I breastfeed my children. I could probably write a whole blog just about that.

Teagan had no idea about breastfeeding. She was very disappointed she couldn't feed Lacey a bottle. She tries to tell me that babies take bottles. I came up with the idea to tell her that older babies take bottles.

Teagan's comments make me laugh daily. Her comments on breastfeeding really do the trick and I wanted to share them:

1) Teagan once told me that its "cool" that I can make milk. (Win!)
2) Other times she has said "Mom can you put your boob away."
3) And the best one was occurred when we went out to breakfast one morning. Teagan started singing a song for all to hear. It was to the tattling tone of "Nah Nah Nah NahNah" and went something like "We all have food. Lacey doesn't. She eats from boobs." Shhhh child! Others can hear you.  Her daddy and I are still laughing about that song.

Love,