NYC 2012: Day 4

The last day in NYC. The itinerary: Board Meeting, Working lunch, Ground Zero. I headed off to my board meeting very early while everyone was still asleep. But the view from the board room was amazing.

A gorgeous view of Central Park.









While I was working, Baby Bear, Daddy, and Matt went for their own little adventure to the Guggenheim Museum. Apparently, Baby Bear was a little naughty and tried to touch one of the Picassos, a big no-no.

They also made their way into Central Park. At one point daddy went off to the the bathroom and Baby Bear waited with Matthew. She got tired of waiting and told Matthew, "I am going to find my daddy, you wait her, okay." Um no... Matthew didn't think that was okay.

When I was finished with my work, I headed back to the hotel and we got ready to see the 9/11 Memorial. A beautiful and somber memorial.







After a long day, it was time to head back to the hotel to pack and rest up before our early morning departure home to Cali.

NYC 2012: Day 3

Day 3, we decided to head to Brooklyn for lunch at the famous, Peter Luger Steakhouse. We had heard great things about this place, but didn't have the chance to make it out during our last visit. Before I had to go to work, we headed out to lunch.

Getting ready with our cousin, Matt.



Waiting for the subway with daddy.



Getting off in Brooklyn.



We had some yummy steak, probably the best steak I had ever had and I have had a lot of steak in my life. Wow.



We headed back to the hotel, just in time for me to get into work mode for a working dinner and before it began to rain.

NYC 2012: Day 1

Okay, I am quite a bit behind on blogging. I guess it has been 3 weeks since I have given an update. I was pretty much gone for the last couple of weeks traveling for work. First I was in New York, then home for a few days, then off to Denver. I got home on Sunday afternoon and still trying to settle back to the regular routine.

I had to go to NYC for a board meeting, we decided to make it a little family getaway and tacked on a few extra days to my trip and brought the family with me for some fun in the city. Some times you have to integrate and balance work and family and this was one way that we were able to do that. It was especially nice since I knew I would be traveling again in less than a week from when I would return. New York is fun city to visit. As we had a year and a half ago, we stayed in midtown Manhattan, which is a great location and happens to be close to all the work events that I had to attend.

It was nice to go to NYC and not have to try and cram a bunch of sightseeing in since we had been there before as a family. Our cousin, Matt, join us on our trip as well. Our first day in NYC, we headed to Soho and Chelsea areas. Just a relaxing day walking around and taking the beautiful day in.

Silly bear...







Walking around, we saw a clown taking a break. Even clowns need to eat.



We didn't bring a stroller or carrier with us this time around to NYC. We figured Baby Bear was big enough to walk. We sometimes forget she has little legs and so she often wanted to be carried. Luckily Daddy would give her a ride every now and then.



Thank goodness for NYC's many taxis.

There's no place like home

This mama bear was gone for the latter part of last week for a research conference. While I was excited to go off by myself, I missed my baby bear tremendously. I left Wednesday morning, but was still able to drop her off at preschool. I was prepared to stay around a little longer like she often wants me to do. But when we got to school, she told me to leave. I told her that I was going to be gone for a few days and that i would miss her. And she told me "Leave mama." Every other day, she asks for me to stay longer or has this tight grip on me and that day of all days, she told me to leave. I was a bit sad about that.

The conference took place near the San Francisco airport in Burlingame. Not the most exciting city. I did take some time to head out into the city the first afternoon with a couple of my students. It was a good conference and our presentations went really well. It was wonderful to get to sleep in a little and I actually got to the hotel gym as well. It was nice to have some alone time even though I was at a conference and working. Some times you really need the time to yourself to refresh and reset, though I was technically in work mode, I was only in work mode and not mommy or wife mode. All I had to take care of was myself. I had a few students at the conference, but they were all adults and I was not there to be there keepers, plus I have really great students so they don't need me for much. They were there to present our research and they did an amazing job at that. They made me proud. I was a proud mama (sometimes it is hard to kick off the mommy mode, hahaha).

Baby Bear was in capable hands with daddy and Grandma Bear was near by to lend a helping hand. So there were no worries. I just missed my girl. The first night I called Baby Bear and she asked me if I was on my way home. I explained to her where I was and that I would be home in a few days. The next couple of evenings, I Skyped in before her bedtime. It was great to see her sweet face even if it was just on the iPad. She blew me a ton of kisses and told me she could not hug me because I was in the TV. Each evening she asked me if I was coming home. I missed my girl.

I finally headed home on Saturday afternoon and it was so wonderful to have my little girl and daddy come to pick me up at the airport, Baby Bear ran to me as soon as she saw me. It is such an amazing feeling to be loved by such a sweet little one. I will never forget her face as she walked into the airport and saw me. Her eyes lit up and her little feet started running as fast as they could to get to me. It was just amazing. I missed her so much and she missed me too. You could just feel the love, it's a feeling I can't thoroughly explain but one that warms my heart and makes me feel so complete. It is what makes this thing called motherhood so amazing.

Looks like we made it

We made it through my first week back to work. I am really liking the 4-day work week! I am very fortunate to have had such a generous maternity leave package that I still have my California Paid Family Leave benefit available to me. Instead of using the 6 weeks of Paid Family Leave in one big chunk, I have worked it out so that I use it one day a week until it runs out and that brings me right to Baby Bear first birthday!! So it is a 4-day work week until Baby Bear turns one!! That really makes the transition back to work pretty easy. So today was my Friday!

Baby Bear did fabulously this week at daycare and with the grandmas. She had a great time with everyone. She did take a bottle, but she didn't eat as much as she should eat while I am gone. I definitely pumped a lot more than she would take, which helps me to add to my freezer stash. But that means that she ends up waking up and eating more at night to make up for it. I am afraid that she might end up reverse cycling. I guess that won't be the end of the world and that would mean I could pump less at work, but it does mean I don't get as much sleep. It is a good thing I have a 4 day work week. I am definitely tired tonight and I am very glad to have tomorrow off to spend with Baby Bear and run a few errands.

It isn't so bad being back at work, I am actually glad to be back at work. I think it is great for my family to have me at work. I get adult interaction and stimulation. Baby Bear gets to bond with her grandmas and gets to socialize with other kids in day care. When we are home together we are both so excited to be with each other that it is truly some quality time that we have. It is win-win for both of us!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...

Maternity leave is over and back to work I go. The day went by really quickly and I made it through. I had a lot to catch up on and was quite busy so that made it go by quickly and made it not so difficult to be away from Baby Bear. I did miss her but I had pictures of her to look at from time to time. I am getting the hang of pumping and I am sure it will become more second nature as time goes by.

Baby Bear was with Grandma today and did really well. Papa Bear checked in on her around lunch time and called me to give me an update. That really set my mind at ease. She took two bottles and had several naps. I am so proud of my baby!! She has been so wonderful and that has helped to make this transition very easy for me. I know she is in good hands and she is such a good little baby that everyone who cares for her absolutely loves her and only has wonderful things to say about her.

It also helps to see a big smile on her face when I pick her up. I love my little girl and that smile is the best part of my day no matter how tired I am. To celebrate a successful first day back at work, Papa Bear took us out to dinner. It was a nice end to a long but good day!! I am so lucky to have a wonderful family! A supportive husband and an adorable daughter. Life is good!

Back to work

My maternity leave ends in about 1 month. I am very fortunate to have been on leave for as long as I have been on leave. I know there are many women out there who have to return to work very soon after giving birth. In total, I will have had 21 weeks of maternity leave (3 week before birth and 18 weeks after). I will go back to work 4 days a week since I still have my California Paid Family Leave that I am able to use and I will use that one day a week until it is all used up.

I am looking forward to going back to work. Yes, I love spending all this time with Baby Bear. But I enjoy my work and co-workers and looking forward to adult conversations. I am looking forward to the routine of work and the challenges of my job. I look forward to having some time away from home for a little bit.

I love spending time with Baby Bear and I will miss her during the day. She is just such a wonderful baby; she is happy and smiles and so cute! I absolutely love her. But I will be a happier mama bear and a better mother by going back to work and having some time to myself.

I know that it will definitely be challenging being a working mother. I am already so tired and sleep deprived without the challenges of working and parenting. It will definitely be an adjustment for me. It will be an adjustment for Baby Bear to be away from me for so long (especially since she is still on bottle strike). I suspect that it will be harder for me than it will for her. She will be in child care 2 days a week and then spend a day with Grandma Bear and another day with Lola Bear. It will be wonderful for her to spend time with both grandmothers and I know they will both enjoy it.

I especially worry about Baby Bear being able to eat since she is on bottle strike. I have spoken with my lactation consultant and with my child care provider and both have assured me that she will not starve. She may end up eating more in the evenings and in the morning to compensate for eating less during the day. On days that she is in child care, I will be able to nurse her during my lunch breaks. The rest of the time I will have to pump. Since my goal is to breastfeed for 1 year, I hope that I can successfully continue to pump and keep my supply up. There is always something new in my adventures with Baby Bear. Never a dull moment!

Last day of work!!!

I am so ready for a break and some time off. I worked an extra week longer than I had to, my doctor said I could have stopped last week. I work at a college with students in various capacities. Luckily for the students, I was kind enough to to work through finals week so that it would be a nice clean break from work and they could get what they needed from me (Of course, I expect all the procrastinators who need my signature to come in looking for me around 4pm when I am getting ready to leave). In some ways it was nice to take my time to wrap up loose ends. Tomorrow is their graduation ceremonies and I will not be there. There is no way I was going to go to graduation as big as I am wearing a big, black robe in the crazy heat. It is always hot during graduation and I am always hot as it is. Not a good idea. I said my goodbyes to my seniors. After 4pm, it is all about me and my family; I can put work aside for now until I go back in about 5 months.

I hope Baby Bear let's me enjoy one week to myself before she decides to make an appearance. I would just like some time to myself to relax and rest before the big day. I would also like a little time to do the things I want to do before she comes at a leisurely pace. We have the important things taken care of, but there are a few things that I would like to do before Baby Bear comes. Baby Bear keep on baking at least until June, pretty please!

Surprise!

Today I was given a surprise baby shower by my department!! I was so surprised. I had a work shower already. I work in two departments right now and the majority of people in this larger department were not able to come to my other work shower, so I guess they decided to throw me a special department baby shower. It was so kind of them and I had no idea.

We have a staff meeting every Monday and before our meeting one of my co-workers called me up to her office to get some information that she needed. I didn't think anything of it, although in hind sight it was somewhat strange that she wanted me to come to her office instead of her coming to my office, which is next door to the conference room where we usually hold our staff meetings. It would have been on her way to the meeting. So I went to her office upstairs and met with her and then we walked down to our staff meeting. I walked into the conference room for the staff meeting and there were balloons and flowers and everyone yelling surprise! I was truly surprised. It was just really nice of them. My other co-worker made some delicious food. I am just so fortunate to work with such wonderful people. I can't believe I had two work showers!! What a great work environment!

Work shower presents

My co-workers are the best!! Look at these wonderful gifts plus the infant car seat and infant carrier (pictures are posted in my previous blog entry). I am thankful for the wonderful people I have in my life. Papa Bear told me that I was very lucky to work with such great people and he is so right!!

Isn't this outfit just adorable? I love the little shoes. This was from my boss.



She has also been giving us many wonderful hand me downs along the way! She is awesome.

My Work Baby Shower

I am so fortunate to work with such wonderful people. My boss and co-worker threw us a great shower brunch. It was really fun to get together with everyone from work outside of the work setting. My boss and co-worker did such a wonderful job putting everything together. It was Papa Bear's first baby shower and he enjoyed it as well. After the shower, he commented on what wonderful people I work with. I am truly fortunate to work with such wonderful people. We are fortunate that Baby Bear will be surrounded by wonderful people. We got some really wonderful gifts.

We got a few things from our registry. A few people went in and got us our infant car seat! Now we will be able to take Baby Bear home from the hospital in about 10 weeks!



We also got one of our carriers.



More pictures to come later.

Filled with great news all around

I just found out that a long time friend (actually my childhood neighbor who I coincidentally found on an online message board for wedding planning recently) is pregnant. I am sooooo happy for her. She is very early, like me, but she has shared this info on the online message board that we both frequent. She had some difficulties and went through IVF. What wonderful news!! I wish I could share with her and the other girls on the board my good news. But I must wait, it is not time yet.

More good news, I was offered a new position at work today!! There was a possibility that my current position would be eliminated or downsized due to budgetary concerns. My boss and my former boss were trying to find some solutions to keep me by restructuring my position so that my pay came from different departments. Well, this new position came to my attention on Tuesday, just 2 days ago. I received a call and they specifically thought of me for the position and wanted to see if I was interested. It is actually a better fit for me and a great new challenge. So of course I was interested. Today, I got the call that I was approved for the position and that I will probably start next month. For the rest of the academic years, I will work 50/50 in the new position and in my current position to allow for a smooth transition and to complete the commitments I began in my current position.

I am so utterly excited. This is such wonderful news and this new position provides a lot more job security for me, which I really need since Baby Bear is on its way. Of course, they don't know I am pregnant, but I am pretty sure I can work something out to make this all work. Beside I cannot be discriminated against due to pregnancy!!