Maternity Leave is Over

It was wonderful. So very wonderful.

I said it a hundred times, and I'll say it again. Judah was born at the perfect time to give his Mama about the best maternity leave she could have hoped for. And, he's been more healthy and content than I could have ever dreamed.

Thank you, God. Thank you, Judah. 

You gave me something I haven't had since I married Adrian (cough...almost 12 years ago!) - Ten glorious weeks of NO working and fun, freedom and family time.

Yes, I have been on maternity leave twice before with my daughters. But, as I have mentioned, they were both special yet very stressful times. Adria was born with myelomeningocele spina bifida and required major back surgery at a day old followed by a two week stay in the NICU and numerous follow-up doctor visits. Johanna was born in the cold winter while we lived in Indianapolis, 600 miles from the support of our families, and Adrian had 3 major seizures while I was on leave so he barely even remembers Jo-Jo as a newborn.

Even though Adrian did have a very unexpected seizure, exactly two weeks ago, I did not let that steal the beauty of what I've experienced these last two months.

Our Adventures

Since Judah was just a few days old, I have had him out and about joining me for many adventures and events, including:

• Adria's Sunday afternoon soccer games in May
• Johanna's Pre-K field trip to the Salisbury Zoo
• Adria's Field Trips to Cape Henlopen State Park and Funland in Rehoboth
• Strawberry Festival at Fifer Orchards
• Mom's night out dinner at the Cultured Pearl
• Kindergarten Field Day for Adria
• End of the Year school programs for both the Girls
• Beach Day with 3 other young families
• Date night with Daddy to Passwater's Restaurant at Heritage Shores
• My cousin Shannon's high school graduation and party
• Cabin camping trip to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia
• The wedding reception for my second cousin
• A funeral for the grandmother of some dear friends
• Church and small group gatherings
• Moving party, birthday party, library luau party
• Plus, many outings to local parks and my aunt's pool

Mommies and our babies out and about at a party.
Baby Ethan on left was about 4 months, Judah was 2 months, and the Baby on right was just 3 days old!

As you can see, we did not really sit at home and relax for 10 weeks. I took advantage of the time to do many of these activities I would have otherwise missed had I been working. And Judah was with me everywhere I went. Either in my ErgoBaby carrier, the stroller, the wagon, in my arms or someone else's...he was my adorable sidekick.

Sometimes I had to get creative or uncomfortable finding a place to nurse the little man. And sometimes he got mad about being in the car seat again. But overall, we had a great time adventuring together!

I actually did stay home some days. But I quickly learned that it's exceptionally difficult to keep a house in some semblance of cleanliness when you have three children at home. And we are a unique couple because Adrian is definitely better at keeping house than I am. That said, I did much more cleaning than I do when I'm working full-time, while Adrian took advantage of his "free time" to complete many projects outside the house.  

Maternity leave was wonderful. But it is over. Far too soon.

With my babies just before I left for work yesterday.

Yesterday was my first day back to work. Of course I shed a few tears the night before as I put Judah to bed, knowing that he and I would be apart longer than we had ever been before. And, Adria cried on my shoulder in the morning while Johanna asked how long I would be gone. It was so sad to leave my babies. Okay, I'm sitting here sobbing now.

Thankfully, I have a great job that I do enjoy (most days) and leaving is made easier knowing that the children are left in the care of family who love them. Adrian's mom came over to help him for the day.

My Job

In case you are wondering, I work as a New Home Sales Specialist and Marketing Manager for a custom home builder. Next month marks eight years since I first started in this career with national builder Ryan Homes, and I've been with my current employer for two years now. It's been a remarkably wild and fluctuating housing market since 2007, but business has been especially good this past year as I've watched the market greatly improve.

My first order of business after following up with all of my clients is to complete the project I started earlier this year...rolling out a new website!

Probably the funniest moment of the day was having to tell my male boss and co-worker that I breast feed and will need 15 minutes twice a day to "do my thing" (I just couldn't bring myself to say "express milk")...awkward. Haha! It's all good. Been there, done that.

I thank you for your prayers for me and my family as Mommy returns to work. Yesterday went very well for us all. The day went by fast for me, and Judah was a champ. We can do this.

Seriously though, it is hard to say goodbye to this...