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School Thanksgiving

Day 43:

Today’s activities included having lunch with my eldest for an early Thanksgiving lunch at school. She loves having me lunch with her at school- and while that’s the case I will do my best to join her while I can. I chased the school Thanksgiving lunch with a real lunch with another boss mama and caught up on work happenings and general adult conversation.

Positive Thought of the Day: Being able to take part in more school activities while I’m on leave. We started a grateful pumpkin activity at home and for the month of November, both girls write down one daily thing that they are grateful for on the pumpkin. A practice in gratitude and writing! Win-win!

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Voting

Day 42:

Today is election day. Hopefully everyone gets out and exercises their right to vote. I hope today turns out not to be a sad day. But even more, I hope that people will be able to continue to look beyond the way one another votes and try and do more good in the world because we could all use more good. More love than hate. More kindness.

One of the major themes of my blog has been balance. We need more women, more diversity, and checks and balance in our government. Today we can make strides towards that.

Positive Thought of the Day: Unrelated to voting, but trusted neighbors that provide recommendations for handymen, house cleaners, and contractors—it really saves on time and this mama ain’t got tons of that. Also pinterest for the same reasons—not having to start from scratch on designing built-ins! Trying to squeeze in one more house project before returning to work.

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Family Time

Day 41:

What a whirlwind weekend of family time. My brother, sister in law, and three nephews were in town this weekend and we had brunch at my house, followed by time at my cousin’s new house on the river. I’m mentally counting around 16 kids that were present ( four under one year old). This was followed by another dinner at my other cousins (this time only with 9 kiddos), and lunch at my aunts on Sunday. It’s interesting to observe these kids play, converse, and also mimic their parents neuroses ( like when #1 can’t handle our labeled toy bins getting mixed up or the play room getting too messy). Despite all this family time, I was unable to catch one photo of all of them together… Thanksgiving goals.

Positive Thought of the Day: Today was a rough one as baby decided he really wanted to be close today, making it difficult for me to put him down or do much with my hands. Like last Monday, we spent most of the day snuggling. I’d like to believe that it’s because on the weekends he has to share me with his sisters so he wants to take advantage of our one on one time.  Enjoying the slow, snuggle day after the crazy weekend.

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Career Navigation

Day 40:

Been posting a bunch on family, balance, and non-work related items but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of navigating your own career ( this is modern boss mama for a reason). With more idle time for my brain, I’ve been really thinking about what I want to do with my career. Despite being pregnant this year, I have had some great discussions about potential opportunities.

I made it into the office this week with baby in tow, to show my face and my commitment to work (had been hearing some rumors that people thought I might not return) and also had a quick discussion with my boss about my intentions and career goals once I return. Several years ago, I would not have had the confidence to have this conversation (much less while on maternity leave) but it was healthy and positive. I give many people I mentor this bit of advice and thought it only fitting I should listen to my own advice- the only real person responsible for navigating your career is you. You may have sponsors, advocates, and mentors but they need your direction and input into helping you but you have to be vocal about what you want/need.

Positive Thought of the Day: Another fun filled and amazing weather weekend to look forward to!

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Mommy and Me Workout

Day 39

I’m done with having babies, and therefore no excuses not to get back into shape. I plan to figure out a routine that will work once I go back to work but for the next few weeks I need to  focus on only one thing- starting. I am walking almost daily, but need to up the calorie burn, especially since I plan to wean off the breastfeeding by the end of the year and won’t be able to count on the passive exercise/diet of milk production. And mostly because I am HUNGRY all the time since I’m breastfeeding. I mean ALL THE TIME. I am pretty sure I am eating more now than I was while pregnant.

So today I tried a mommy and me workout class… except it was just me. No other mommies and my baby was passed out the entire time. It felt like an awkward date (much like when you meet a new mom friend for the first time). The instructor and I got to know each other between planks, lunges, squats, and tri dips. It was an intense work out for the first real activity post baby but it felt good to get out there. I’m not sure if this is the class for me, but the ability to have the baby with me right now is great.

Positive Thought of the Day: Downtown double date night with friends. Although we live way out in the suburbs, I try not to let that get in the way of checking out new restaurants and socializing. We were able to use one of our favorite sitters tonight and got a much-needed night out.

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Halloween

Day 38

I find that there are generally two types of people- those who love Halloween and those who don’t. I am one of the latter, although I hold no judgement for the former. Generally, I run high on stress so added stress with little return isn’t high on my list. And don’t get me started on costumes.. But for these kids, I’ll embrace the hocus pocus and make sure they enjoy this silly little holiday.

Since I have a little more free time while on maternity leave, I was able to make little treat bags for #2’s class, attend a parade at #1s school, AND  make it to the daycare parade for both. Last year, I totally missed the character book parade at #1s school ( not just missed attending- we didn’t even realize she was supposed to dress up) so I would consider this a win.

We have started reading Harry Potter so #1 decided to go as Hermione since she already had the curly hair down. Who knew this would be such a popular book character as there were no less than 35 kids dressed up in Gryffondor attire. But since the robe was so cool, #2 also decided she wanted to be a Hogwarts student so then we HAD to get another robe… and this is why I hate Halloween. Gone are the days when kids are just one thing for Halloween since there are so many events to attend. Well the jokes on you girls, because although I may seem like the sucker… you guys and the little one too will be some version of Harry Potter character until it doesn’t fit anymore (there are a ton of Gryffondor students to choose from, or we could mash up Harry Potter and zombies.. the possibilities are endless, right?)

Positive Thought of the Day: For the second Halloween in a row, it was pretty much a rain-out. We did manage to host a little cousin pizza party and get in about 30 minutes of trick or treating. Limited trick or treating means a more appropriate amount of candy, more reasonable bed time, and less sugar hangover the next day. I’ll take it!

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Moms Who Lunch

Day 37:

We got to spend today with another special mom on maternity leave – my cousin and her adorable mini-me and toddler. Before lunch we had a moment in the Barnes and Noble bathroom that would have really stressed out the pre-third baby version of myself.

Imagine this scene:  Baby J was screaming his head off on the changing table as yet again he blew out his diaper.  Poop.was.everywhere. My cousin’s daughter was screaming in her stroller while my cousin was helping her toddler who was touching everything while in the bathroom stall.  It was chaos. An older woman entered the bathroom circus, sidestepping the stroller ( we had taken up the entire bathroom) and kindly told us that these days go by fast ( see previous post).

After the cacophony, I popped baby back in the carrier and browsed books while he nursed and we then enjoyed a SIT DOWN lunch ( with appetizers and all) while both babies napped peacefully and we enjoyed adult conversation. My mom even popped by and joined us for lunch.  It was loud and a little messy to start but it really was a good day.

Positive Thought of the Day: Thankful that baby J is an overall easygoing baby who doesn’t mind car rides so that we can continue going on adventures together. Continuing to enjoy the life’s moments.

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Enjoying the Moments

Day 36:

It was another busy whirlwind weekend filled with events and outdoor time ( Trunk or Treat, Friday Night Lights, parks and a fall festival with the kids) as the sun finally came out for us Texans. There is nothing more perfect to me than nice cool weather when the sun is shining. We took full advantage this past weekend and even snuck in some adult time downtown.

So this Monday, I spent the day focused on time with baby without even getting out of our jammies. Even though I still have 5 weeks left of maternity leave, I am starting to get anxious because time is literally flying by and the baby is changing daily. It’s amazing to me how I can go to work and up to  6 or 7 meetings a day, and a 30 minute meeting can sometimes seems to last forever, but when I’m at home the day flies by. Besides snuggling, feeding, and changing the baby—the only other things we did today were laundry (this is a daily event, take a beautiful morning walk, and a little catch up on some guilty pleasure television). It was a perfect day.

Positive Thought of the Day: That I am still at home with baby, as many women would have had to return to work by now.

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Things NOT to Say to a Pregnant Colleague

Day 35:

A year ago today, I posted on facebook last October about a man on the elevator at work asking me if I was expecting. I laughed made some comment about a beer belly and vowed never to wear that dress again. The joke is on me though because two months later I found out I WAS pregnant. Here are some things that were constantly said to me that I would caution others to not say in the workplace.

  1. Were you trying? Kind of personal. Best to just let the pregnant person take the lead on what they choose to share.
  2.  Are you pregnant or is that a beer belly? I can’t make this up. See above. Also, I’m the only person who is allowed to call my belly a beer belly. I don’t comment on men’s beer bellies at work, and believe me I’m surrounded by more than a few.
  3. You Look great.. for being x months pregnant. Just stop at you look great.
  4. You look so big or you are so much bigger than so and so. Many women are insecure and hormonal about how they are looking. Especially in the early stages of pregnancy when not everyone knows they are pregnant. You don’t know what a person is going through. Best not to comment.
  5. I can’t believe you are still.. [insert normal part of my job here]. I’m pregnant, not unable to perform at the same level. I don’t want any special circumstances granted. If I need to be excused from something, I’ll ask. But don’t assume that I won’t travel or participate in something just because I’m pregnant. There are better ways to word things to ensure you are being appropriately empathetic to your employees situation while respecting their ability to perform at work. 

Positive Thought of the Day: Sometimes things happen for a reason. One year later after the man’s comment in the elevator, I am happily snuggling the chilliest baby ever and enjoying a little break from a very intense work year. Although, I was shocked that someone thought I was pregnant a year ago and couldn’t fathom another child at the time, now I cannot imagine my life without the little guy.

 

 

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Crazy Hair Day

Day 34

I picture a modern boss mom with a sleek haircut, perfectly maintained to go with her on point OOTD. When I was living in Philly, city living and single- I had a hair guy ( shoutout to Bill at Aqua) that all my coworker friends frequented, and I went to him religiously. Those days are long gone. The reality of this modern boss mom is that I get my haircut roughly semi-annually, colored when my roots are out of control, am currently somewhat in denial about the grays that are starting to peak their way through, and only just recently learned how to use a flat iron to curl my hair.

While I normally barely spend anytime on my own hair, this morning I spent a disproportionate amount of time perfecting a spider in #1’s hair for Crazy Hair Day (still not sure how it relates to Red Ribbon Week, but okay).

Somedays, I can’t keep up with all the school stuff ( character book parade, wear orange it’s the Katie the cats birthday, 50’s dress up day- um no, college shirts, crazy socks, Seuss characters) but someday you just nail it with a spider do and get my own hair done too!

Positive Thought of the Day: My mom watched the baby so I could get my hair done, which also means coming home to a clean house!

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