Operation Childcare: Solved! Hopefully.

I want to thank you all for your kind words, texts, calls, e-mails, comments, etc. of encouragement after my first day back yesterday.  It meant more than you know and truly made today that much easier!  Today was slightly better than yesterday, at least in terms of tears - there were less today.  I honestly think having Dan stay with Lilly yesterday and Mom with her today and most of tomorrow made the transition so much easier.  While this week is kind of crazy in terms of childcare, knowing she's with someone familiar probably lessened my anxiety a little.  Now if I could just figure out some sort of groove for the mornings, we'd be set!  More on that later.


Quite a few of you have been asking me what we decided to do about childcare, so I thought I'd use this post to update you.  I have blogged on this topic a few times before (here and here in my typical long-winded great detail), and the last time I blogged we had researched daycares, gone for visits and been put on several waiting lists.  While we liked the idea of a nanny, we didn't feel like we could justify the cost, as it looked like it was going to be quite a bit more expensive.  We did not originally anticipate needing childcare until the beginning of July.  If Lilly had been born on or around her due date, my 16 weeks of leave would have gotten me into mid June, and then our Moms were going to help out for two more weeks.  All of the daycares told us that this greatly increased our chances of getting in, as that is apparently the time of year when kids move up classes and things get rearranged.  Because she wanted to make her grand entrance earlier than anticipated, in true Diva fashion, it's put us in a little bit of a childcare bind.  Dan has been calling each of the daycares where we are on waiting lists every day for the past few weeks to see where we stand.  What you have to understand is that we tried to be VERY prepared about this - we knew the best daycares were extremely hard to get into - and we have been on some of the lists for almost a year.  As of last week, we had moved up to third on the list at our top choice.  They told us this could mean two weeks or two months, there was no way to tell and we'd have to just wait it out. Great.  


Luckily for us, my Mom said she would be able to help us until we worked something out.  However, she thought my return to work was next week, and unfortunately this week she couldn't help us out the whole week.  What that meant for us this week is: Dan took vacation on Monday and took care of L, Mom came this morning and kept her today and is keeping her part of the day tomorrow.  I'm working from home after lunch tomorrow afternoon and Thursday to take care of her, and I have PTO on Friday for my cousin's wedding.  


Sometime last week, a friend of ours got in touch with us and told us that someone he worked with who happened to live in our neighborhood currently has a nanny and was looking for a way to defer the cost/a possible nanny share.  This news came at an excellent time, because we still hadn't figured out what we were going to do.  In the interest of time/lengthiness, the short of it is this: this couple just so happens to live directly behind us.  They have an 18-month old, Callie, whom this nanny has cared for since her mother had to go back to work 8 weeks postpartum.  The nanny was hoping for a few more hours, and the couple was hoping for less of a financial burden.  Callie is in a preschool (actually it's more of a mothers morning out program) at a local church three days per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30a - 1:00p).  The nanny keeps her the rest of the time.


We went to meet this couple last week and really hit it off, and we are really excited about this opportunity.  The Lord truly does answer prayers, because the situation we've come up with is the best of both worlds for Dan and I (he wanted daycare, I wanted a nanny), and it literally fell into our laps at the perfect time since we were in a bit of a childcare bind.  We've called and Lilly is first on the waiting list for the preschool, which runs the same as the school year: September - May.  I have the best boss in the world, who generously agreed to let me work from home two days per week, on Mondays and Fridays (honestly, best boss I've ever had or will ever have, hands down).  So, if this works out, for there rest of the summer, L will stay with Callie and the nanny Tuesday - Thursday, and I'll get to be at home with her on Monday and Friday.  In September, she'll go to preschool for half a day M, W and F, so the nanny will have her for 2.5 days/week - all day Tuesday and Thursday, and Wednesday afternoon.  This will also give me a little bit of a break if there's anything pressing that I need to do for work on Monday and Friday mornings while she's at school.  She will have plenty of one-on-one attention from both the nanny and I, and will also be socialized with other children at daycare.  It also doesn't hurt that this is going to save us a TON of money - as in at least a car payment - per month.  Thank you, Jesus.  We are going to meet with the nanny tomorrow afternoon, and pending anything crazy happening, we're doing a trial run on Thursday morning.  I have to be in the office for a meeting, anyway, so we'll leave Lilly with the  nanny (and Callie) until around lunch time on Thursday.  If all goes well, we'll start her with the nanny next week.


I must mention here that Mom spoiled me today with REALLY cute picture text updates.  I may have to ask the nanny to do the same.  :-)  Here are the photo updates I got, along with the messages my Mom sent with them:

Making a present for Grandmommy (her words not mine)

Nap time Mommy

Baby no. 1

Talking to Grandmommy after my 2.5 hour nap!

While the following pictures are unrelated, I thought they were too funny not to share:

After work walk with Mommy, Daddy and big sis Layla

Dan "teaching Lilly how to crawl."  Fool.

Leaving Lilly has been one of the hardest things I've had to do so far, but I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that she is in excellent hands and to come home to her sweet smiling face.  It gives me something to look forward to, and I think it even maybe makes my days pass a little more quickly because I count down the  minutes until I get to see her again.


Hope your Tuesday was fantastic!  Have you voted today (both in the primaries here in NC and for our blog?!)?  ;-)


Sarah

Return to Work

Howdy, friends!  It occurred to me today that I hadn't blogged in almost a week - a rarity, for me, since I always seem to have so much to say.  We were the busiest we've been since Lilly was born last week getting the house ready for her big weekend.  Both the weekend and her baptism were wonderful, and I can't wait to blog about them later in the week.

Today was a day I have been dreading and trying not to think about ever since I went out on maternity leave: my return to work.  I can honestly say that I wasn't sure whether I'd ever want to stay at home with my children, but I loved spending getting to spend my days with sweet Lilly so much!  I have loved hanging out with her, watching her grow and change every day.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I've been trying to figure out ways not to go back to work for two weeks - I don't want to miss one second, and I feel like I'll miss so much during the days when I don't see her.

I didn't sleep at all last night, even though I was exhausted from our exciting weekend - my stomach was in knots.  Lilly must have been tired, too, because she slept for almost 12 hours last night, yay L!  I got up this morning and went to the gym and then came home and got ready for work, and she did not wake up until I was walking out the door at 8:15.  I didn't get to nurse her and spend a lot of time with her before I left because I wanted to let her sleep as long as possible, and honestly it may have been better that way.  I made it through most of the morning without any tears, but when she woke up the water works started.  I snuggled her for a few minutes, and she and Dan walked me out to the car and I just sobbed the whole way.  I managed to compose myself to walk into work, but indulged myself in a few short cries throughout the day.  When I got to my desk, I was greeted with this sweet picture from my manny (man nanny aka Dan): 

The morning flew by, I was so busy on several conference calls, getting settled and just generally getting back into the swing of things.  I had a nice surprise at lunch time when Dan brought Lilly to see me.  I'd brought my lunch so we had a picnic at my desk.

I cried again after she left, but I knew I didn't have much longer until I'd get to go home and love on Lilly and tell her how much I missed her all day.  The afternoon, like the morning, went by pretty quickly, and before I knew it, it was 4:30 and time for me to head home to relieve Dan so that he could go to his meeting.  The funniest part of the day was trying to coordinate a schedule for the pumping room with my two other co-workers who have babies close in age to L.  I've been spoiled the past few weeks with Lilly nursing and I forgot how much I hate pumping.

Today was hard, as I'm sure tomorrow and the rest of the days of this week will be.  Rumor has it that leaving Lilly every day will get easier.  I think having Dan at home with her today and my Mom tomorrow and most of Wednesday will greatly help me in the transition.  I'll report back in a later post on childcare.  When I got home, Dan left to go to his meeting and L and I got to have a long talk about what she and Daddy did all day (sorry about the gross pooping at the very beginning!):

We hung out for the rest of the night and my bestie brought us dinner.  That's why she's my bff, y'all.  She brought dinner because she said that she wanted me to get to spend time with Lilly instead of having to worry about cooking dinner on my first day away from her.  That's the definition of a best friend if I've ever heard it.  And it was the best dinner ever - home made chicken & dumplings, green beans & yeast rolls.  Can't wait to eat it again tomorrow for lunch.  :-)

Hope you all had a great Monday!  Here's to hoping the rest of the week gets easier by the day - and to making a conscious effort to find time to blog!  Don't forget to vote for us today!

Sarah

Battle of the B00bs

For those of you who have checked on us, thank you so much.  Lilly is still nursing wonderfully!  I love it so much - it is hard to explain, and I know it's weird but now that she's cooperating I'm afraid I won't want to stop nursing, ever.  Guess we'll see how it goes once she starts sprouting teeth.  ;-)  I have heard people say the same thing before, that they weren't sure they'd want to stop, and I never really got it, but now that we are breast feeding successfully, I get it 100%.  


The only thing I've had any trouble with so far is nursing in public.  I'm not sure how many of you, if any, read this article in the Huffington Post a while back.  In a nutshell, there is is and probably always will be controversy over nursing in public.  While it is a woman's right to feed her baby, it doesn't always make everyone comfortable.  I'm not really sure where I stand on this debate.  I don't think I'll ever be the kind of person who feels comfortable whipping out a b00b and breast feeding out in the open in a  public place, but I am happy to find a dressing room or quiet spot or even my car with a nursing cover if need be.  On that same token, I would never judge anyone who was comfortable nursing in public, but I do understand that it makes others uncomfortable.  I have been fighting that battle already, and Lilly has only been breast feeding for a week now.


Breast feeding has made it SO much easier to go places.  I haven't had to worry about how many extra bottles to take "just in case," how to go about warming them since she won't eat them cold because they upset her tummy, etc. depending on where I'm going.  We've been to a few stores, and I've nursed her in the dressing room.  The most awkward encounter so far was actually in BuyBuy Baby on Sunday.  I was happy to run over there after church with Dan to pick up a few things, because I know they have a room for nursing mothers.  I've never been in it and was excited to check it out (dorky, I know).  Sure enough, we hadn't been in the store long when it was time for Lilly to eat.  The nursing room is actually REALLY nice.  What I didn't realize was, it is set up so that more than one person can nurse at a time.  I'm not really sure what I was anticipating, but I saw the "knock before entering sign" on the door and assumed that meant, if someone is in here, wait your turn.  Not so much.  Here is how it was set up:

Yup, you counted them - THREE gliders.  Sigh.  The cream-colored glider to the right of the stroller is the exact one we have in Lilly's room - the only difference is that we have the ottoman, but anyway that's the one I chose.  The thing you need to understand about Sunday is that my attire was not very conducive to nursing.  We went to BBB straight from church, and I was wearing a dress with a  sheer overlay so I had to wear a regular bra that was nude colored.  So essentially, when Lilly and I got into the room I had to strip down into the slip part of the dress and go from there.  We hadn't been in there long, she was eating and we were minding our own business, when someone else came in.  Talk about awkward.  She just wheeled her cart in and left it by the door, and then plopped down in the tan colored glider right across from me.  I first had to apologize for being half-dressed, and then she just started chatting it up with me.  It was very obvious that she didn't feel weird about it at all, and I'm not really sure why, but I did.  She was finished a lot quicker than we were - Lilly is a slow eater and I swear this woman was in and out in 10 minutes or less.  Other than that slightly awkward encounter, things have been smooth sailing in the nursing department.  Yay, us!


We've had a busy day today!  We got some things done around the house this morning, and then went to visit Daddy at work this afternoon.

All of the ladies there love Lilly, and all wanted to know how we get the bow to stay in her hair!  I sure will miss this sweet face when I go back to work next week (double frowny face):

Happy Wednesday!  


Sarah

Weekend Roundup

I haven't done one of these in a while - perhaps since I was pregnant, actually.  Mainly because there's normally nothing to write about.  Sounds familiar, I haven't blogged in a while either.  Whoops!  


Our weekend was pretty busy, actually.  Friday around midday I left to go to my cousin, Christie's bachelorette party for the night at Lake Lookout.  This was the first time I'd ever left Lilly overnight, and to say I was nervous was an understatement.  I left her in very capable hands - she and Daddy had a lot of fun.  Kind of.  Dan said she was pretty fussy and had several meltdowns, which is totally unlike her.  I like to think it's because she missed her Mommy.  :-)  It was also the first time I'd had to pump full-time since Tuesday when Lilly randomly decided to start nursing, and I was spoiled and forgot how much I hate it.  I was also secretly worried that she'd start to heart bottles again and wouldn't nurse when I got back, but she picked it back up like a champ and we've been nursing ever since.  Yay, Lilly!  Anyway, I had a nice time at the lake, and I'm sure it was good for both of us for me to be away for a day (not even).  There was a lot of girl talk, consumption of adult beverages (boooo pump & dump), and games.  I can't believe Christie is getting married next weekend!  Here are some of the only family-friendly photos I managed to come home with from our girls night:

Bet ya can't guess who the bunny slippers came from.  Yup, Jeanne.

Saturday morning, I planned to soak up some sun on this pale body, but the weather had other plans.  Since it was cold and cloudy, I headed back to Raleigh earlier than anticipated.  Lilly went down for a nap about 10 minutes after I got home, so Dan and I spent some time around the house getting a few things done - and I finished my mirror project! Can't wait to show it to you with the nursery reveal, whenever that may be.  Then, I hopped in the shower to get ready, because we went to the Sugarland concert on Saturday night and Lilly was staying with a babysitter - someone other than family - for the very first time.  I was super nervous about this as well, and you know I gave Hannah (the babysitter) WAY more information than she needed or cared about, because I am OCD, but baby girl did great!  Hannah let me harass her with texts all night to check in, and she sent me pictures, including this one that I got about halfway through the concert:

My smiley, giggly girl!  Love her.  Hannah said she was only really fussy one time, and it was because she was hungry.  What can I say?  The child loves to eat.  The Sugarland concert was a lot of fun as well, and we had great seats!

Sunday was a big day for the Baum family.  We joined a church!  We have been searching for one since we moved to Raleigh, and couldn't ever find anything that felt just right to us.  We stumbled upon Fairmont United Methodist Church last summer, and immediately felt like we'd found our church home.  It's important to us to raise our daughter in a Christian home, just as we were raised, and we know that God has a lot in store for our baby girl.  I grew up going to the same church my whole life, Pineville United Methodist, and my church family truly has been my second family.  Some of my fondest memories happened at that church with the youth group.  I want that for Lilly, too, and am so glad we found Fairmont.  It has a "small church" feel, just like I'm used to, and pretty traditional services, which was Dan's request.  The members span all ages and all walks of life, and there are plenty of activities for us to get involved with.  There have also been four baptisms in the past month, so Lilly will have plenty of friends her age!  I'm always nervous about taking Lilly to church, but I'm not sure why because she always does great.  

Yet again me in the same dress - guess I really like it!

All of the excitement wore her slap out.

Sunday afternoon we ran some errands, had a nice lunch, and then finally got to relax.  The weather was BEAUTIFUL, and we wanted to spend some time outside, so Dan set Lilly up and we were good to go!

My child LOVES to be outside, and LOVES to be naked!

Hope your weekend was great as well!  Lilly is awake and hungry, so I have to run.  We have a busy week, but I'll do my best to keep you updated.  Don't forget to vote!  :-)

Sarah