Little Baby Girl Frye: Back to work

Well, I've been back to work from maternity leave for a month now.

I say this a lot but I feel very fortunate. My transition from maternity leave back to work was smoother than I ever imagined. My first week back to work was a short one (I went back on a Wednesday.....highly recommended!)...because it helped me ease back into word mode, and also eased me into being away from Kennedy for most of the day. My mom actually watched Kennedy the first 3 days I was back to work, so I got to drop her off in the morning, go see her at lunch and give her a lunchtime bottle, then pick her up after work. This is what happens every day that my mom watches her and it's wonderful. I can't wait for my lunch break so I can go hold her and get my baby fix in the middle of the day :)

Kennedy has had no problem with the transition either. She spends 2 days during the week with my mom, and 3 days during the week she is at home with Aaron (who is a full time RN). She loves spending time with her Nana during the week and also is enjoying her Daddy/Daughter days.

I feel so excited at the end of every work day, because I just cannot wait to come home and see that big smile on her face when I walk in the door. I also enjoy our early morning car rides to Nana's house and our evening rides home together.

I honestly love my job and the company I work for, and my co-workers were so supportive when I came back to work...it really made me feel good to be back and good to be a working mommy.

After giving it some thought, I have realized that working makes me (personally) feel like a more well-rounded mommy and gives me great appreciation for my time I do get with my daughter. I also kept telling myself, prior to returning to work, that it's not about the quantity of time, but the quality of time with my baby girl that matters most. I feel like every minute I am with her, I am so content and happy. I love our weekends together...running errands, playing, napping, cuddling, going to lunch together sometimes. By both Aaron and myself working, it also gives us our family the financial freedom to be able to provide Kennedy with the things she needs as she grows without needing to stress about money or be on a rigid budget. I am just grateful that Aaron and I have jobs that we enjoy...that helps justify us both working too...we truly enjoy what we do.

Of course there are times during the day where I really start to miss Kennedy. One thing that helps this immensely is the fact that my mom, Aaron and myself all have iPhones. Picture messages are a MUST on the days I am working. It helps me get through the day at times, just seeing what is waiting at home for me.

Work gives me time to focus my mind on other tasks, and I think as a mom, that is very important (even if you are a stay at home mom)...you need your time to focus on something else that is important to you in life.

We have a good routine going now and I couldn't be happier with the way things turned out when I went back to work.

Kennedy is a beautiful, strong 4 month old and I can't believe how much stronger she gets every day! She already got her two bottom teeth in, she learned to roll from her back to her tummy and absolutely LOVES being on her tummy...she is also now officially a tummy sleeper. The first night I saw (on the video monitor) that she rolled over and was sleeping on her stomach, I went in, flipped her over, went back to bed. Woke up again in the night...she was back on her tummy. Went into her room, flipped her over onto her back...then back to sleep. This pattern continued the entire night. By the second and third night of her flipping onto her stomach...I came to the conclusion she was going to sleep on her tummy and that was that. I don't blame her, I like sleeping on my tummy too, but the 9 months I was pregnant with her, I avoided it...so now I find myself on my stomach a lot more in the night as well.

Kennedy is an extremely happy baby in my opinion (although I haven't known or been around many infants)...but she is almost always smiling, cooing, talking...and amusing herself if we aren't right by her side also. She especially can amuse herself now that she can roll. I can tell she loves her new view when she is on her stomach. She can lift her entire upper body off the floor and looks all around, reaches and grabs toys...and sometimes does multiple rolls at a time.

She is still sleeping awesome! Bedtime is at 8:30PM and she sleeps at least 10 hours or longer every night with no problem.

Below are a few pictures over the last month. She makes us smile every day. No matter what kind of day I'm having or I've had...when I see her, everything is erased and she lights up my world.