Balancing Act

I returned to work on Monday, October 18th.  Wow - 10 weeks sure did go by fast!  I was going to take the full 12 weeks but knew returning at 10 weeks would be grant me a couple of weeks of flexible hours so I could ease back into full-time work.  Fortunately, Casey is around in the mornings to help get the boys ready.  I packed everything up on Sunday night so all I had to worry about Monday morning was getting dressed and out the door.  I made it!  Milo must have known something was up because he slept fairly well on Sunday night so I could get some rest.  Thanks buddy! 

It was hard to leave my little Sweetie that morning, even though I did a few practice rounds in the weeks before.  It was different this time.  I had Casey drop the boys off at Lily's because I just couldn't do it.  I got them out the door and then let the tears roll.  I cried most of the way to work - texting with Kate for Mommy support.  There are a lot of things I miss about maternity leave, but mostly I just miss all the time with my boys.  I have to keep reminding myself that this will get easier.  I remember going to the circus when I was little and my favorite act was the tightrope...my life seems a lot like that right now. 

Casey got home early on Saturday so we loaded up the boys and headed to the park.  It was so much fun!  Ian had a blast running around.  His imagination is exploding right now and I love to hear the stories he comes up with.  At the park there is a climbing piece in the shape of a barn.  Ian ran inside and said, "Come on, Mommy!  Let's hide in the farm."  I ran inside with him and asked him where the animals were - he started to show me where the cows, pigs and goats were.  It was too funny!  Also, he ran downstairs the other day and told Casey and I that there was a frog in our room. We asked him to go get it and bring it to us.  He came back with his imaginary frog in his hands and then spent a few minutes chasing it around the living room.  I think this is my favorite age!  Such a riot.  

I absolutely love this picture!

Milo is doing great - starting to hold his head up more and rolling over onto his side frequently.  One of these days he is going to just roll over and not know what happened!  He talks to us a lot - especially Ian.  I will ask Ian what he is saying and usually his reply is, "Goo Goo" (very accurate) but the other day I asked him and he said, "Milo is saying 'Hey Big Brother!'"  I thought that was so cute.  Milo goes back to the dr next week for a weight check.  I think he has grown a lot and his face is starting to fill out.  I have yet to get a picture of his fabulous smile, but one of these days I will.  I laid him down on his playmat the other day while I went to get laundry to fold, when I came back he was holding onto one of the loops.  I was so excited and I think I startled him!  I am sure it was a coincidence, but he had a tight grip.  I have finally come to terms with the fact he is a pacifier baby.  Don't know why it bothered me so much initially, but it has truly been a life saver for everyone.  He just chills and bats his baby blues as long as he has it.  If he is content, then so am I.  Maggie said he reminds her of a Cabbage Patch doll she had as a little girl and I have to confess I do see the resemblance!



Back to Reality

Casey and Ian had their Daddy Sunday this morning - it consists of coffee (steamed milk for Ian) and a cruise over to the airport.  They met Lloyd and he let Ian sit inside his plane.  He was so excited!  This is the second plane he has been able to check out.  What a lucky kid!  Milo and I stayed at home - we enjoyed a nap.  The last nap we will get to take together for awhile since tomorrow I go back to work. 

After the airport, they hit up the construction zone across the street.  Ian was in heaven!  I only drive by it, but not Daddy...he lets him get out and play on the actual machines.  No wonder Ian thinks he is cooler than me. 

I have tried to keep myself busy all weekend so that I wouldn't ruminate about returning to work.  I am so sad.  I am going to miss having time off with my boys.  These last 10 weeks have been wonderful!  Not only am I going to miss time with my sweet baby, but I am going to miss time with my girlfriends.  I was blessed with having two girlfriends to spend this maternity leave with - one local and one on the East Coast.  We have shared everything - late night texts, midday chats, breastfeeding horror stories, freakouts over weight gain and lack of poop, shopping trips for diapers and non-maternity clothes...and sadness over our returns to work.  Every woman should get to share her maternity leave with a girlfriend!  It definitely made those first few weeks a little more bearable, it truly helps to know you aren't alone. 

Words cannot describe how hard tomorrow is going to be.  I thought for sure I would be more ready for this than I am.  I took this picture of Ian and Milo on Saturday AM, we were watching Handy Manny's Big Construction Job.  I love how grown up Milo looks here.  I know they will be in good hands, but it is still so difficult to think of all the time I spend away from them.  I would love nothing more than to be able to stay at home a couple of more months, but such is life.  If I could just become independently wealthy overnight then all would be right in the world. 

Breckenridge

October has been so busy for us, I cannot believe we are already halfway though the month.  It is going to be the holiday crazies before we know it!  I took Milo to his 2 month appointment on October 6th - he weighs 9 lb. 8 oz. and is 22 1/4 inches long.  The doctor says he looks great, but she does want to check his weight again before 4 months.  I guess I just have little babies...Milo still doesn't weigh as much as his cousin did at birth.  He'll catch up someday!

After the doctor, Milo and I headed to DIA to pick up Mom and Bob.  We were so excited to have them visit us again before I have to return to work.  Bob's daughter, Ann, turned 50 so we all headed to Breckenridge to celebrate with her!  I packed up everything on Thursday morning while Casey was at work.  I can't imagine how much stuff we will have to take on a week long trip - I felt like we took our entire house for just an overnight!  I was nervous about our first roadtrip with both boys, but knew we had a great supporting case in tow.  Ian rode with Grandma and Grandpa while we took Milo and our "nanny" Maggie.  I did some research before the trip on babysitters in the area and realized I could pay for Maggie to come with us for less than a stranger to watch my kids for 5 hours.  Sold!  We were so happy that Maggie could join us - Ian loves her and it just made me more comfortable to have them with her.  It was a bit crazy, but I think we all got along okay.  Until 2 AM on Friday, when I became suddenly ill.  It lasted until Saturday.  I felt so bad because we didn't get to enjoy any real time in Breckenridge.  Not sure what it was, but it got me good.  I think we are going to all try and go back again soon.  I was so thankful to have everyone with us because it would have been really hard if I were sick and Casey had to manage all by himself. 

We celebrated with Ann and her friends at Mi Casa Restaurant and Cantina.  Yummy appetizers and delicious margaritas!  It was a lot of fun.  We met some interesting people, even a couple who vacation in Door County every summer.  It's a small world!  Casey and I made a quick stop at the Gold Pan Bar before heading back to the hotel.  We went to this bar with my brother when we made our first trip out to Colorado in 2004, so we felt it was only appropriate to stop off there for a night cap.  When we got back to our room, we found Ian asleep on top of his sleeping bag and Maggie holding Milo while he slept.  She said everything went well, but I am sure she is completely okay with living vicariously through us for the next few years!  She jokes that Ian will be old enough to babysit before she is ready to have kids!  We are so blessed to have her in our family! 

We headed back home on Friday afternoon, just missing the weather.  It was cool to wake up on Friday and see that it had snowed in the mountains overnight.  It was a "wonderful day" (Ian kept telling us this all morning - so cute!) and apparently we just missed the weather as we were rolling out of town.  We even saw some snowflakes on our way out.  The first of the season!  We laid low the rest of the weekend, enjoying our time with Mom and Bob.  They departed on Monday morning.  It is always hard to say goodbye, but it was easier this time than in August.  Not sure when we will see them again, probably for Ian's birthday - which truthfully isn't that far off.  Is my baby really going to turn 3 in only 3 short months?!

Casey and I took Ian to Miller Farms on Monday.  We wanted to spend some time with just him before I have to go back to work.  Miller Farms attends the Longmont Farmer's Market and they gave us a flyer over the summer for their Fall Festival - it runs Labor Day through mid-November.  We knew we had to check it out!  They have a ton of fun activities for little kids and the best part is that you get to go through the farm and harvest some vegetables to take home.  We were hoping to make it there earlier, but it just wasn't possible so we did miss out on some of the other crops they had available, but we still managed to get a great selection. 

We dropped Milo off at Lily's and took Ian to breakfast at Aunt Alice's.  It was so much fun to just be with him.  He is a blast these days.  I love having conversations with him and some of the things that come out of his mouth are ridiculously funny!  We got to check out some fun stuff before hopping on a tractor for a ride around the farm.  We got to harvest onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, beans, corn and so much more!  We came home with 4 bags full of goodies.  I can't wait to have fresh sweet corn in the dead of winter:)  We even had some leftover so we shared it with our neighbors.  This place is a little boys' paradise - Ian couldn't get enough of the loaders, airplanes, tractors, fire trucks...I believe we have found another fall tradition in the Andrews' household.  We were all spent by the end of it.  We took Ian to Lily's for the rest of the afternoon and headed into Boulder to drop off the rental car.  Casey rode his motorcycle in and then I rode back with him.  It was awesome.  It has been a long time since I have been on a motorcycle, but I loved it.  I am hoping we can take more rides next year since I won't be pregnant!

This is my last week of maternity leave.  It is hard to believe I have to return to work on Monday.  I am trying not to dwell on it, but I am sad.  More sad than I thought I would be.  I am going to miss this extra time with my boys.  However, I think getting back into a routine is going to be good for everyone.  I am going to miss cuddling with Milo during the day.  I know he will miss me too, but he is going to have so much fun getting to hang out with his Big Brother during the day.  That is what I am telling myself anyway...

I love Fall

Fall is here!  My favorite season of the year.  I love the chill in the air, a new sweater and favorite pair of jeans, pumpkins, cider, pie...I could go on and on.  I have truly enjoyed my maternity leave.  It is hard to imagine I must return to work two weeks from today.  Am I ready?  Part of me is, but most of me isn't.  I know I couldn't be a stay-at-home Mom, but the thought of going from no work to a full eight hours a day is intense.  We'll see how I do without my naps:)



Several months ago when I told my friend, Michelle, that I was pregnant she called a couple of days later to say she was planning on coming to visit after I had the baby.  Alas, the time had come!  I was so excited.  Giddy like a little school girl on Wednesday night.  I couldn't wait to pick her up on Thursday night.  It was so wonderful to see her.  Last June was the last time we were together, but this time was special because she came solo.  Neither of us can even remember the last time that happened.  It was so great to have a couple of days just to relax and hang out. 

I took both boys to daycare on Friday so Michelle and I could spend a day together.  We started the day off right with a trip to the grocery store.  So thrilling for her I am sure, but I had to get it done while I didn't have any kids.  After that we treated ourselves to Mexican food and margarites.  Oh yes!  Then it was off to get a pedicure and read celebrity gossip magazines.  The day went so fast, but it was the best.  We picked up the boys on our way home and Ian helped her make lasagna for dinner. 

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather of late - nothing like fall at all.  It has been in the 80's and sunny almost everyday.  No complaints here.  It is chilly in the morning and at night, but just like summer during the day.  We couldn't ask for better weather right now.  We packed a lunch and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park on Saturday.  The most spectacular day I have ever been there by far.  It was absolutely gorgeous.



The boys both took naps in the car on the way up there, which I was amazed by.  Ian was so excited to get out and play when we hit our first stop.  He loved climbing, playing in the dirt and throwing rocks.  Milo slept through it all.  I think I should just make a scrapbook for him of all the places he slept through in his first few weeks!  It is so easy to travel with him since he is so good in the car.  Ian didn't like to be in his car seat and rarely fell asleep in it so traveling with him was more challenging in those early weeks.  It was Milo's first trip to the mountains and I would say it was a success.  He was a hit with everyone - I think they were all jealous of his mode of transport truthfully.  I would be!  We got some good pictures with Michelle, but they are all on her camera.  I swear she was with us though:)

While we were in the mountains, Michelle confessed she had never been on a motorcycle.  I instantly sent Casey a text to tell him he needed to take her for a quick ride.  Here she is already for her big ride around the block!  On Sunday night, Ian was looking at the Dennis Kirk catalog.  He pointed out to me the helmets he liked - he said, "This one is Michelle's, this is Daddy's and this is Ian's and Mommy's."



Saturday night Michelle and I went on a Mommy date.  We were so excited!  We hit up Sugarbeet for cocktails and dinner.  I have a new favorite cocktail - the French 75.  Gin, lemonade and champagne - my three favorite things all in one.  How have I never learned of this cocktail until now?  Our dinner was very good.  It was so nice to relax and talk about anything and everything.  I am so blessed to have amazing girlfriends in my life!

Sunday we got up early and took Michelle to the airport. Ian rode along so he could see the "big airplanes." It was hard to say goodbye because I am not sure when I will get to see her again. I know we will do the best we can, but sometimes life gets in the way and it is hard to juggle. I promised her I would try my best to not make it longer than 2 years. I need to get out East to see Liz and meet Andrew as well. Not sure when I will be brave enough to travel with two kids by myself though.

Casey and I took the boys to the pumpkin patch on Sunday.  We learned last year that if you hit them up early in their season it much less crazy.  We knew it would be fun this year because Ian would be old enough to take in the rides, but that also means more money than we ever had to spend before.  So worth it though.  The Courtney family joined us - Ian and Ella had a blast.  The airplane ride was their absolute favorite!  I think they rode it three times.  It was so cute to see them run up and give their tickets and picked out which plane they wanted to fly.  Priceless.  I can't wait to see what Milo and Avyn are going to be like together.  We are going to have so much watching our kids grow up together!

At the end of our fabulous weekend, I looked at Ian and asked, "Did you have fun this weekend?"  He jumped up and down and said, "Yes!"  I think the picture below says it all...