Maternity Leave is Over...
Wow....I'm not going to lie - writing that title brought a few tears to my eyes. Today is the last official day of my maternity leave, as I'll be returning to work full-time on Monday. The next couple weeks will probably be tough, but I'm sure that Evelyn and I will both adapt (and I'm guessing it might be easier for her than for me).
We celebrated her first birthday last week with a dinner at our place - that was a fun event (it's a new logistical experience trying to make sure we have enough places for babies to nap, and high chairs to eat at our events now :).
While I'm sad this year is coming to an end and that I won't get to spend as much time with Evelyn, I feel like we've made the most of the time. I've done lots of different activities with Evelyn and met many new friends along the way. This past month was no exception - we were busy with our final 'Baby Bookworms' class at the library, Mommy-Baby TRX Fitness Class through the City Recreation Program (an amazing class), and lots of meet ups for dog walks, hikes and play dates. It's been a fun fall and the weather has stayed in the double digits almost every day.
Evie helping me find a hike (or trying to rip up the map)
Nice fall hike just past Bragg Creek
Petting the goats during our visit to the Calgary Corn Maze and Fun Farm
Evie, Craig and our friends sliding at the Corn Maze
Family picture in the corn maze
Evie liked the noise making station
Some kids raked up all the leaves in a nearby park, so we thought it would be a good idea to take some fall pictures. Evie loves crunching the leaves up in her hands
Evelyn is getting more and more fun with each passing day. Her growth has slowed a little (thankfully!), and she weighed in just under 23lbs at her one year appointment (up 1.5 lbs from her 9 month check-up). She has finally started sleeping through the night on a fairly consistent basis, so that is good timing for me heading back to work. She has also dropped her feeding sessions to 3 times a day (7am, 2pm, 7pm) and next week, we'll cut that middle feed out too. It was only a year ago that I remember saying "breastfeeding is a full-time job", but now I really enjoy those moments with Evie lying in my arms, so calm and still (which is rare now).
She still loves eating and gets impatient when she is waiting for a meal to be served. Once she sees us getting dishes out she crawls over to her high chair and screams, wanting us to put her in....and once she is in that high chair, there'd better be food ready for her!
Pasta is still a favourite
She understands the concept of using a spoon and a fork, but still usually resorts to her hands (more efficient for her at this point)
Evie didn't really know what to think of the birthday cake
She ate her cupcake but only the cake part - the icing must have been too sweet
Video of her first cupcake....it's not all that exciting, but I know some family would have wanted to be there for her birthday so I thought I'd post
Evie is pretty sturdy on her feet and likes to cruise along the couch or counters, as well as using her walker to get around. She still hasn't taken any steps on her own, but she will stand unassisted for about 10 seconds, so I'm sure it won't be too long before we've got a walker on our hands. I'm actually looking forward to that and am hoping it will mean less dog hair accumulating on her pants all the time. She isn't talking yet, but definitely understands quite a few words (more and more each day). Some of the first words I know she understands are: milk, Hudson and Ruby, shake (shakes her toys), clap clap, soother, and bunny (her security blanket/animal). She tries to mimc most simple actions that we model for her, like brushing her hair/teeth, patting various parts of her body, giving high fives, putting on glasses - and she loves to laugh and smile during her attempts (even if they usually aren't quite right :). It's pretty cute to watch. She really enjoys books lately, and is finally starting to let us read some books that don't involve 'lift-the-flaps' (Craig and I are both really bored of the Karen Katz collection after 6 months of Where is Baby's Belly Button and Peek-A-Baby!). Yesterday, I told her to get a book and much to my surprise she crawled over to the books and picked one up for me (which I then had to read three times in a row).
Walking around the living room
She's pretty proud of herself
Another favourite activity - emptying out the pantry while I cook
Snuggling with Hudson
Reading her books
Clapping after breakfast
One of Evelyn's favourite activities right now is looking out the window...now we have the slobber and drool of two dogs and a baby on the window :)
She also really loves the dogs - a pretty easy way to cheer her up if she's grumpy is to bring her close to them
A new discovery - luckily Hudson and Ruby chewed all the rubber pieces of these door stoppers when they were puppies so we don't have to worry about Evie pulling them off
I've had friends tell me that they just keep developing and learning faster and faster between 1-2 years, and I believe it. I will definitely have to make the most of the time I do get to spend with her, even though it won't be as much when I am back at work. We have registered Evie in a day home that is just down the street from us. We were originally planning on putting her in a day care near my work, but decided it would be better not to have to commute with her every day (20 minutes in the car each way). This day home will allow either Craig or I to do pick ups and drop offs since it's walking distance to our place and Craig's bus stop (we only have one car). The other thing I'm happy about is that she will get to stick to her current nap schedule (am & pm) - most daycares only build in one nap per day for all kids at the same time, but the day home is a little more flexible. The woman who runs the day home just moved into our neighbourhood and ran a day home for the last few years in her old community, so she was re-filling all her spots. So far it is just Evie and her 3 year old daughter who will be there, but I'm sure she'll fill the other 4 spots in the next couple months as there aren't a ton of options (especially for babies) in our neighbourhood.
I'm really going to miss being on maternity leave - it really has been a great year and we are so lucky in Canada to get this time to spend bonding with, teaching and learning from our babies.
Some of the things I will miss most about maternity leave include:
Next week is going to be a tough one but hopefully she'll still want to snuggle when I get home from work :)
We celebrated her first birthday last week with a dinner at our place - that was a fun event (it's a new logistical experience trying to make sure we have enough places for babies to nap, and high chairs to eat at our events now :).
While I'm sad this year is coming to an end and that I won't get to spend as much time with Evelyn, I feel like we've made the most of the time. I've done lots of different activities with Evelyn and met many new friends along the way. This past month was no exception - we were busy with our final 'Baby Bookworms' class at the library, Mommy-Baby TRX Fitness Class through the City Recreation Program (an amazing class), and lots of meet ups for dog walks, hikes and play dates. It's been a fun fall and the weather has stayed in the double digits almost every day.
Evie helping me find a hike (or trying to rip up the map)
Nice fall hike just past Bragg Creek
Petting the goats during our visit to the Calgary Corn Maze and Fun Farm
Evie, Craig and our friends sliding at the Corn Maze
Evie liked the noise making station
Some kids raked up all the leaves in a nearby park, so we thought it would be a good idea to take some fall pictures. Evie loves crunching the leaves up in her hands
Evelyn is getting more and more fun with each passing day. Her growth has slowed a little (thankfully!), and she weighed in just under 23lbs at her one year appointment (up 1.5 lbs from her 9 month check-up). She has finally started sleeping through the night on a fairly consistent basis, so that is good timing for me heading back to work. She has also dropped her feeding sessions to 3 times a day (7am, 2pm, 7pm) and next week, we'll cut that middle feed out too. It was only a year ago that I remember saying "breastfeeding is a full-time job", but now I really enjoy those moments with Evie lying in my arms, so calm and still (which is rare now).
She still loves eating and gets impatient when she is waiting for a meal to be served. Once she sees us getting dishes out she crawls over to her high chair and screams, wanting us to put her in....and once she is in that high chair, there'd better be food ready for her!
Pasta is still a favourite
She understands the concept of using a spoon and a fork, but still usually resorts to her hands (more efficient for her at this point)
Evie didn't really know what to think of the birthday cake
She ate her cupcake but only the cake part - the icing must have been too sweet
Video of her first cupcake....it's not all that exciting, but I know some family would have wanted to be there for her birthday so I thought I'd post
Evie is pretty sturdy on her feet and likes to cruise along the couch or counters, as well as using her walker to get around. She still hasn't taken any steps on her own, but she will stand unassisted for about 10 seconds, so I'm sure it won't be too long before we've got a walker on our hands. I'm actually looking forward to that and am hoping it will mean less dog hair accumulating on her pants all the time. She isn't talking yet, but definitely understands quite a few words (more and more each day). Some of the first words I know she understands are: milk, Hudson and Ruby, shake (shakes her toys), clap clap, soother, and bunny (her security blanket/animal). She tries to mimc most simple actions that we model for her, like brushing her hair/teeth, patting various parts of her body, giving high fives, putting on glasses - and she loves to laugh and smile during her attempts (even if they usually aren't quite right :). It's pretty cute to watch. She really enjoys books lately, and is finally starting to let us read some books that don't involve 'lift-the-flaps' (Craig and I are both really bored of the Karen Katz collection after 6 months of Where is Baby's Belly Button and Peek-A-Baby!). Yesterday, I told her to get a book and much to my surprise she crawled over to the books and picked one up for me (which I then had to read three times in a row).
Walking around the living room
She's pretty proud of herself
Another favourite activity - emptying out the pantry while I cook
Snuggling with Hudson
Reading her books
Clapping after breakfast
One of Evelyn's favourite activities right now is looking out the window...now we have the slobber and drool of two dogs and a baby on the window :)
She also really loves the dogs - a pretty easy way to cheer her up if she's grumpy is to bring her close to them
A new discovery - luckily Hudson and Ruby chewed all the rubber pieces of these door stoppers when they were puppies so we don't have to worry about Evie pulling them off
I've had friends tell me that they just keep developing and learning faster and faster between 1-2 years, and I believe it. I will definitely have to make the most of the time I do get to spend with her, even though it won't be as much when I am back at work. We have registered Evie in a day home that is just down the street from us. We were originally planning on putting her in a day care near my work, but decided it would be better not to have to commute with her every day (20 minutes in the car each way). This day home will allow either Craig or I to do pick ups and drop offs since it's walking distance to our place and Craig's bus stop (we only have one car). The other thing I'm happy about is that she will get to stick to her current nap schedule (am & pm) - most daycares only build in one nap per day for all kids at the same time, but the day home is a little more flexible. The woman who runs the day home just moved into our neighbourhood and ran a day home for the last few years in her old community, so she was re-filling all her spots. So far it is just Evie and her 3 year old daughter who will be there, but I'm sure she'll fill the other 4 spots in the next couple months as there aren't a ton of options (especially for babies) in our neighbourhood.
I'm really going to miss being on maternity leave - it really has been a great year and we are so lucky in Canada to get this time to spend bonding with, teaching and learning from our babies.
Some of the things I will miss most about maternity leave include:
- The obvious - getting to spend so much time with Evelyn and watching all the developmental changes that happen so slowly day-by-day, but so quickly over the course of a year. I am still amazed when I look back at pictures from my pregnancy and when Evelyn was first born and compare them to the little person she is now. She does new things almost every day, and its going to be hard knowing that I may not be the first one to witness them for the first time.
- Get togethers with other moms and babies. Having a strong social support network is definitely important as a new mom, and I am lucky to have met or known so many friends on leave at the same time as me. I think I've been more social this year than when I'm working (it's just a bit different now and always happens between 11am-2pm). Hopefully I can still maintain these connections despite my new schedule.
- Spending time outside - My job takes place primarily in a cubical or meeting rooms, so that will be a big change from the ample outdoor time I had during maternity leave. Calgary is an awesome outdoor city (and obviously the mountains are amazing). Hiking, park visits, and dog walks will definitely decrease now but I know this will still be a big part of our family's life for the long term.
- Hanging out with my dogs - Our dogs are still our babies too....and I think they have enjoyed this year a lot too. Craig and I are both going to be a bit sad that starting next week they will be back to only one walk on weekdays and spending too much time on their own. Even if I didn't manage to get out with a walk, dogs are definitely happier to be around their people - at least they have each other though.
- Not having to wake up to an alarm (well...unless you count a baby crying as an alarm :). Somehow there is something psychologically different about having to wake up at a pre-determined time with an alarm. Sure, I haven't really slept in for a year but waking up at the time that works for your smiling baby is much better than your iPhone disrupting your sleep.
Next week is going to be a tough one but hopefully she'll still want to snuggle when I get home from work :)
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