The Joys of Pregnancy

That is not a sarcastic title. They are joys to pregnancy.

It would be rather easy to write a post complaining about the not so nice symptoms that come along with pregnancy. I thought I would try to find the positive instead.

• Heartburn:
• Positive: Keeps me eating healthy. My dear daily heartburn appears whenever I eat or drink something sugary.
• Swelling:
• Positive: Swollen feet gives you great excuse to kick off your shoes at work and no one cares. Plus I get carpal tunnel swelling in my wrists which forces me to wear sweet wrist supports. I like to pretend I'm super hero with them on.
• Pelvic Pain:
• Positive: Gives getting out of bed a whole new challenge as I try to discover new ways to flip, roll, throw my body out of bed with minimal pain. It is quite an acrobatic show. 
• Belly Rubs/Conversations:
• Positive: This big old belly makes me very popular. People, including strangers, want to chat with me or rub my belly. I walk down a store and people smile. Having a belly makes me likable :) People also open or hold doors for me, even when I'm waddling slowly and it takes up their time. 
• Husband:
• Positive: Treats you like a queen. They wait on you hand a foot. Plus the "I'm growing a kid" card pretty much wins any argument. How can you compete with that?
• Baby:
• Positive: The best positive of them all. Any symptom is worth creating a new life. Feeling the baby move and getting to know its personality while I wait nine months is bliss. 

Love,

Doesn't Get Easier

I worked full time during my first pregnancy. I didn't go part time until Teagan was a year and half old. I'm thankful for this pregnancy, I get Fridays off. Its a blessing for scheduling doctor appointments, having time to prepare for baby, or just have a day of rest. There have been many Fridays where Teagan went to daycare because of the pregnancy. While I was looking forward to the benefit of scheduling all things pregnancy on Fridays, I didn't realize how much I would miss out with Teagan.

Its just one little day. But its our day. When we do spend a Friday together, I love her more (if that's even possible) and Mondays are harder to go to work.

While dropping my Sweet Tea off to school this past Monday, she cried. She wanted her Mommy. Usually I can barely get a hug out of her. She'll run and play with her friends and is too busy for Mommy. This was a rare moment. Gosh, its probably been a year since she had "Mommy dropping off at daycare" attachment. It made for hard morning. She was so sad. I know its best just to leave and not drag out the goodbye. Every inch of my body wanted to scoop her up and tell her we could hang out for the day. But I had to work. Her teacher hugged and comforted her as I walked out.

I always thought time away from your child was harder on the parent. I didn't realize some days the child feels the same way.

Leaving your kid to go to work doesn't get easier. Well not yet anyways. I know these days are numbered.

Teagan and I spending a Friday watching "Disney on Ice":

Love,

Teagan's New Big Girl Room

Teagan was upgraded to a new room. Baby #2 will use the nursery. We designed the nursery to be gender neutral for all of our children to use. It has pale yellow walls. 

I was very excited to design Teagan a real girly girl room for her big girl room. As a child I was not allowed to help decorate my room. (My room was very pretty Mom! Thanks for all the hard work you did to design it). So it's important to me to allow Teagan to have a say. She told me she wanted a blue room. Hmm...not very girly. I found the girliest blue paint and started from there. This was quite a project.

Guest room cleared out (Teagan's new room)

Primer

Blue Paint

New Window Trim (also around the door and closet)

Back panels

Teagan helping paint

I asked her to pose and this is what she gave me. 

Posts, slats, baseboard, and rails (DONE!)

The other side of the room

Furniture and decor. I took a shot from each corner (next 3 pictures)

 

Magnetic Owl Board. I love this. 

Clothes hooks

I found this canvas gem at a local home decor store.
Sorry Teagan, its not blue. Mommy snuck pink in.

Name letters from her old room repainted.

Wall decal above the doll house

Now lets talk about stuffed animals. I searched all over the internet for stuffed animal storage ideas without any luck. There are corner nets, but Teagan isn't tall enough to reach them. I found bean bags where you stuff the liner with the animals. But I figured Teagan would forget the animals were in there and the chair would be uncomfortable. There are also huge "cage" furniture pieces, but I didn't want another piece of furniture. So I found these pink tubs from Target ($7/piece). They do the job, though they are already full and Teagan's only two. 

 

The end.

Love,

Changing Jobs While Pregnant

I just finished my first week at my new job (same company, different position). Just getting my feet wet. I'm not sure if my new manager told my team that I'm pregnant. No one has asked me about it but I did get some belly stares. I'd like to think I'm looking more pregnant then overweight belly now.

Last summer I found myself complaining to my husband about work often. He pointed out this fact to me. I realized I was not satisfied with my position and I wasn't in an environment that was growing my career the way I wanted it to be.

I kept an eye on my company's internal posting website. One day I found an opening that was more in line with my goals and objectives. Should I make the leap?

The Mr and I were planning on trying for baby #2. I felt that that shouldn't hold me back from furthering my career but at the same time, I was comfortable in my present job and would be comfortable with being pregnant/maternity leave/using the mother's room. How would I be valued if I started a new job then took a leave? Would this opportunity or one like be present in a year or two? I didn't want to risk it.  Ah mother's guilt - making or passing on career choices due to being a mother.

I applied for the job, interviewed, and was offered the position! Between the interview and all the paper work going through for the transfer I got pregnant. Hmm... I kept my pregnancy hummed until I officially started my new job. While I do feel safe in today's world from losing my job for being pregnant, a voice in the back of my head told me to not to chance it. Pregnancy shouldn't hold me back.

I was nervous to tell my new boss. "Hi, I'm Kim. Your new employee. And by the way, I'll be taking maternity leave after a few months of starting and probably lots of sick time for doctor appointments or taking care of a newborn. But I'm really a dedicated employee." I didn't word it that way but that's what I felt like - a lousy employee. My new manager's response was professional and unemotional. He must of had training.

Now here I am, trying to learn the ropes and become a productive team member for a few short months before #2 is born. I hope mom brain doesn't erase everything I'm learning now while on leave.


Love,

What Not To Say To a Working Mom

A friend shared this article on Facebook:

What Not to Say to a Working Mom

***While though I agree with the comments themselves I do not agree with all of the authors reasons. Some of them are not kind about Stay At Home Moms. I am all for SAHMs and support them.***

Here they are [with my comments]:

(1) Can't you afford to stay home? 
[My reasons for working and my financial status is none of your concern]

(2) I'd give anything to get away from my kids for an entire day.
[Everyone has their own balance of family, work and personal time. Too much of one thing can make you resentful.]

(3) I'd miss my child too much to be away from him all day.
[Me too. Please don't remind me.]

(4) The problem with this country today is that not enough moms are home raising their children.
[I have never heard anyone say this, but its not worth a response.]

(5) Why did you have kids only to let someone else raise them?
[A coworker once asked me "Why would you let someone else raise your kids?" during my first week back from maternity leave. I had to use every strength in my body to stop the tears. Just don't say this...ever.]

(6) I don't know how you do it. It must be so hard.
[This one doesn't offend me. IT IS HARD.]

(7) You must be so organized to be able to balance everything.
[Smoke and mirrors]

(8) There's always time to work later, these early years are so precious.
[Again my reasons (including timing)  for working are none of your concern.]

(9) You look exhausted. 
[I'm not quite sure how I made the drive into work today either.]

(10) At least you treasure every minute you have with your son.
[All mothers treasure every minute their children working or stay at home. We are moms and never stop loving.] 

(11) Don't you worry you're missing out?
[I do. All the time. The guilt never ends. We do have hearts and souls.]

Love,

Working Mom's Can Potty Train

A few months before Teagan turned 2, we introduce her to the idea of using a potty. Months and months went by without any progress with potty training.

We've tried everything. Bribery with her favorite TV shows and candy didn't even work. Everyone and their mom gave us advice. Nothing seemed to help.

The thought crossed my mind many times, would we have better success if I was a fulltime stay at home mom? Then the guilt came. Could me working delay my child's progress? I have to remind myself that millions of children have parents that both work and those children grow up to be adults that don't use diapers. It will happen Kim.....more time passed.

About a week ago, Teagan (she's 2 & 1/2 now)  woke up one day and said she wanted to wear underwear. From that day on she started used the potty. I swear its like a light bulb went off. We are in full fledged underwear mode, even out in public places and are having great success.  Its almost too easy (minus the 8 months of prior trying). Hmm. So Working Moms can have kids that are potty trained.  Goodbye guilt.


Love,

Pregnancy Clothes and Work

Why is it when I shop for pregnancy clothes they are so frumpy or look like cloth garbage bags? I see women with cute pregnancy clothes. Where do they come from?

While I don't mind wearing large t-shirts and sweatpants (more like I prefer to wear large Ts and sweats), these are not most respected clothes at the work place. I'm 5 months pregnant. I'm in between normal clothes and maternity clothes. Most of my dress pants for work have high waists and no longer button. Sigh. I have a couple Bella bands but they can sometimes be uncomfortable and then there's those embarrassing moments when they shift and you stand up at your desk and well....you hope no one noticed you just flashed the office. I do have maternity work pants but I'm not big enough for them to stay up and those slide down too.

Last pregnancy I swelled up like a drought was coming. My shoes no longer fit and I ended up buying VERY comfortable Dr Scholl's Velcro sandals (closed toed). Yes you read that right. I wore Velcro shoes to work.

Falling britches and Velcro. Ah, its great to be pregnant and working.

We only want 2 kiddos, so this will be my last pregnancy. Its very hard to bring myself to buy more maternity clothes when I'll only wear them for a couple of months. So I apologize in advance and ask my coworkers for an open mind when you see my dress the next few months ;)

Love,