you better WORK. Sashay, Chante.

[babyrn2009]

I go back on the 27th and will be working 12 hour nights twice a week, which means I could be the nurse waking you up at 2am. ? I have to take an all day class next week (renewing a certification), and will be leaving all the kiddos with DH. I sure hope DS does ok with the bottles!!

I think I'd rather have the unlimited clothing budget. I loooove shopping for clothes! :-)

[babyrn2009]

Haha, my smiley face didn't transfer correctly...that one looks horrified!

[danisgossipgirl]

Morning challenge? I'll find out tomorrow -- eek! I think it will be fine because I just have to get ready and sneak away. it's my H who will have the morning routine. 

Pumping? I'm not sure. I'll work 6:30-3 most days, if I did 9/12/3 I'd be pumping in the car on the way to pick up my son off the bus. That could work. I usually do breakfast at 9, lunch around 12:30-1. Might do 9, 11:45, 2ish. Before 9 is busy and I have meetings around at 1 or 2 at least once a week but sometimes more often. I can take my laptop into the room where I'll pump so I won't feel obligated to use break time for pumping.

going back? I'm kind of nervous. I know I'll miss the baby, she's going to be fine, but I worry about pumping enough, about her crying the whole time, about her not missing me at all and being more attached to her sweet dc teacher. At work, I only started there last June and was just getting the hang of things when I went on leave, it is a long process getting enough experience on the job to work independently. There was talk of some tweaking job org and roles before I left, not layoffs or anything like that, but I'm worried that I'll be starting fresh all over again. And finally, I logged on yesterday to look at the calendar and saw that next weekend is my call weekend (we get a call weekend once every couple months). So my first full week back will actually be 11 days straight. Not sure if I'm happy to dive in and get it out of the way or dreading not having the break when I'm going to be at my most exhausted.

GTKY: I'd pick clothes. We always figure out the home stuff in the budget, granted not a 80k kitchen Reno or whatever, nice stuff for myself falls near the bottom of my priority list. It'd be nice to have a solid wardrobe and high quality shoes instead of my target/old navy/h&m clearance rack hodgepodge.

[ThePregosaurus]

I was just in yesterday to get caught up on what my leave replacement has been doing so I can start planning. I go back on the 23rd. I was only gone for about 2.5 hours but when I got back home DS gave me the biggest smile ever! It was the first time he's actually smiled AT me. I told DH I was never leaving again lol.

I'm nervous about pumping at work. My day is usually so busy that I think I'll only be able to fit it in once.

Getting ready to go back is stressful. I can't sleep at night bc I'm planning in my head and anticipating all the work. At the same time, I'm looking forward to it a little bit. I miss the people but not so much the work.

GTKY: unlimited clothes/makeup/shoes! I LOVE to shop but I'm pretty cheap. I rarely buy clothes or shoes at full price so it would be awesome to get what I want all the time.. I'd never look at the price tags!

[mlee116]

Feb 12, 2015 6:59:24 GMT -5 calvinfoster said:

I'm not back to work yet (I still have about 3 weeks left), but I want to start participating

What's challenging you getting out the door in the morning? I'm just worried about getting everyone out of the door on time. We all leave at the same time (about 7:15) and we had a pretty good routine before baby so we'll just need to tweak it some. DH has been getting DS ready and out the door during the week, so hopefully he can keep doing that while I get the baby ready. DS fights us some mornings, but has gotten better lately and I hope it continues.

How are you fitting pumping (if you are) into your work day? I work 8-5 so I'm planning to do the 9/12/3 routine.

How's being back, or getting ready to go back? Honestly, I'm pretty sad to go back.  I thought it'd be easier this time but it's not.  There have also been changes in the infant room at their DC and it makes me a little nervous. However, I'm a worrier by nature so I'm trying to tell myself it will all be fine and DD will love it there as much as her big brother does!

GTKY: What would you rather have: an unlimited clothes/cosmetics/shoes budget or an unlimited home improvement/decorating/design budget? I'm in the minority because I'd go with unlimited home improvement. DH and I are really into this since we bought our house a year ago and it'd be fun to go full throttle on this little house. 

[stampingqueen]

What's challenging you getting out the door in the morning?
I go back to work on Monday. I think my challenge will be actually just getting out of the house. She typically eats either around 4 and 6, which will give me time to shower. Lately our schedule has been feed at 4, she goes back to sleep, I pump the opposite side. She wakes up around 6 to eat again and will to back to sleep. She then usually doesn't wake up until after 8 (we have to leave house at 730).

How are you fitting pumping (if you are) into your work day?
I work 8-4 so depending on when she eats last, I will pump as i drink coffee and in the afternoon. Hopefully will pulp at lunch but with our current management, our lunches turn into meetings.

How's being back, or getting ready to go back?
Getting ready to go back sucks. I'm not ready. I've been trying to give LO a bottle so she's used to it. She's not having it. Does not want the bottle at all. I'm making small progress but it's not enough. I'm afraid she'll just cry for the entire time.

GTKY: What would you rather have: an unlimited clothes/cosmetics/shoes budget or an unlimited home improvement/decorating/design budget?
Definitely home budget! I love our house but it's an older house (built in 1925) so a lot of work needs done.

[kimmie7714]

I will go back to work on March 16.  I am planning to do some trial runs before I return back to work to see how much time we will need.  I am glad the daycare is only a few minutes away from my work.  Pumping will be a bit of a challenge as those that pump use our manager or administrator's office.  They both are understanding, but I hate having to kick them out.  At least they have a lot of meetings, so they are not always there.  The plus side is our floor is moving to make a new nursing unit on April 10, so my co-supervisor and I will have our own office then.  That will be a lot nicer!  I am sad that I will be going back to work soon, but grateful for the amount of time I got to spend with my LO.  
I would love an unlimited home improvement/decorating budget.  We live in an older home and there are always improvements to be made.  We are planning to redo our kitchen floor this summer and hopefully get new carpet when LO is a little older.  I love decorating too.  I usually find most of my clothes on sale. 

[irish14]

What's challenging you getting out the door in the morning?
I'm not back yet, scheduled for early March. But I worry bc I've never been a morning person, I anticipate I will struggle. LO has been nursing most mornings around 6, so I'm hoping to cut my own getting ready time and just get up with him then to nurse before I leave. DH is going to stay home so all I need to worry about is the nursing.
I am concerned about what I'll be wearing. None of my pants are even close to fitting so I may have to go shopping, bc I have a pretty conservative office and have to look decent (I have to wear a suit at least a few times a week).

How are you fitting pumping (if you are) into your work day?
I have a pretty widely varied schedule in terms of being in court, depositions, etc., but otherwise I make my own schedule and have my own office. I think the hardest part will be maintaining consistency. They did install a lock on my office door before I went on leave, so that's something.

How's being back, or getting ready to go back?
I totally don't want to go back - I'm worried DH will be so much closer with LO, I am totally going to be jealous. I get stressed being home alone a lot, though, even though I love being with LO, so I don't think I'm cut out for SAHM.

GTKY: What would you rather have: an unlimited clothes/cosmetics/shoes budget or an unlimited home improvement/decorating/design budget?
Definitely home. I am addicted to reno shows, and we have a 95 year old house. I have SO many plans for it that I would LOVE to do. Also, I feel like I can put together a decent wardrobe for a reasonable price, and renovations are SO much more expensive. Unless you're lining your closet with Louboutins (ok, that would be fun, too).

[abenson3]

Challenge: I take both kids to work with me. So getting out the door just starts the battle. But, right now I try to shower the night before, then my morning getting ready time is relatively short, maybe 15 minutes. I try to have this done before both kids are up. My biggest struggle is getting out of the house on time because LOs night time schedule is still so varied I am never sure if she will need to eat before we leave of if she can wait until we get to work.

Pumping: I am with LO, so I nurse at work. One of the positives to getting to take my kids to work with me b

Being back: I work in a family business, so I had no maternity leave. However, I have flexible hours and I was not working full time right away. I am just now starting a full time schedule and it has been okay. Learning how to manage 2 kids at work and get tasks accomplished has been rough, but my job is getting done and the kids are adjusting.

GTKY: Clothing!

[aleys628]

My biggest struggle is LO likes to get up when my alarm goes off so if my fiance is out on a call I have to feed LO before I get myself ready. So my mornings tend to be a little unpredictable and slow.

LO has switched to formula so no input on pumping. I am having a really tough time just being away from my baby though. I miss him terribly. I find myself fighting back tears during meetings. I actually called in today b/c I just needed to be with LO. I've been working 45+ hours a week for 4 weeks now. LO is 10 weeks old.

And if you look at my closet, I would clearly take the shoes! I have at least 20 pairs of high heels, 3 pairs of running shoes,and various other shoes. Plus an entire walk in closet full of clothes that I can barely wear yet.

[nanamama]

Challenging? I work at home and just have deadline for things during the week. So I don't have to get out the door or maintain a strict schedule. But it is rough getting going for the day and keeping LO happy and content so I can start working at some point in the morning.

Pumping? I don't need to pump for work. However, I am going to start to pump once a day for a stash for dates, emergencies, and DH helping me so I can work.

Being back is harder than I thought! Mainly because I cant work holding LO. I am editing video and doing a lot on the computer so I need both hands free. So that's hard when she doesn't like being put down for long unless she is sleeping. I know it will get easier as she learns to play and sit up in an exersaucer and such. For now, I take advantage of naps and when DH is home and when my parents are over to watch her for a bit.

GTKY: 1000% the unlimited home improvement/decorating/design budget. I like looking nice but I feel like I can do that just fine with Target and a few other stores. I don't care about having a thousand pairs of shoes and tons of makeup. However, I would LOVE to be able to decorate and do things to our home without having to budget or just daydream. There is so much I want to do and have in mind but we can't afford it.

[danisgossipgirl]

I have this sweet room to pump in. It has a lock AND a sink but it's a dumping group for broken and unused crap. I need to cozy up my little corner a bit.

[birch113]

Feb 13, 2015 9:44:18 GMT -5 danisgossipgirl said:

I have this sweet room to pump in. It has a lock AND a sink but it's a dumping group for broken and unused crap. I need to cozy up my little corner a bit.

Oh my! I'm lactating just looking at your pumping digs! Kidding. I have no idea where I will get to pump, but I worry about it!

ETA: phone froze and sent too soon.

[amyface813]

Feb 13, 2015 9:44:18 GMT -5 danisgossipgirl said:

I have this sweet room to pump in. It has a lock AND a sink but it's a dumping group for broken and unused crap. I need to cozy up my little corner a bit.

I am pumping in a very nice conference room. It gets used all the time and no one gives a crap if you schedule it ahead of time. Today was my first day back and I already had to use someone's office to pump which was weird...

[twocheeky]

Feb 13, 2015 3:16:36 GMT -5 nanamama said:

Challenging? I work at home and just have deadline for things during the week. So I don't have to get out the door or maintain a strict schedule. But it is rough getting going for the day and keeping LO happy and content so I can start working at some point in the morning.

Pumping? I don't need to pump for work. However, I am going to start to pump once a day for a stash for dates, emergencies, and DH helping me so I can work.

Being back is harder than I thought! Mainly because I cant work holding LO. I am editing video and doing a lot on the computer so I need both hands free. So that's hard when she doesn't like being put down for long unless she is sleeping. I know it will get easier as she learns to play and sit up in an exersaucer and such. For now, I take advantage of naps and when DH is home and when my parents are over to watch her for a bit.

GTKY: 1000% the unlimited home improvement/decorating/design budget. I like looking nice but I feel like I can do that just fine with Target and a few other stores. I don't care about having a thousand pairs of shoes and tons of makeup. However, I would LOVE to be able to decorate and do things to our home without having to budget or just daydream. There is so much I want to do and have in mind but we can't afford it.

Have you tried baby wearing with a ring sling or Moby?  It's saved my life.  I have an older DS and I need both hands free for a lot of different things.  I pop LO in the sling and have both hands free and she loves it. M

[bdk0186]

Sort of off subject, but how are you guys dealing with work and a newborn up all night?

[nanamama]

twocheeky I have only attempted the moby once I am not confident in my wrapping/tying skills and am afraid she will fall out I need to watch the YouTube how-to's or find someone to show me... I would love to be able to do that. LO LOVES to walk around so I am sure it would go over really well. Even if it gives me an extra hour it would be so helpful!

[twocheeky]

nanamama,
I have a Moby and a ring sling. I find the ring sling sooooo much easier.