Working for the Weekend

So I did it. I joined the 63% of moms with small children who work outside of the home. I found this stat online which was last updated in 2000, so I'm sure this percentage has grown. But it comforts me in knowing that I am not alone out there. Heck, I know I'm not alone seeing as how every mom I know does work...bosses, colleagues, friends, sister-in-laws, aunts....I can seriously only think of one mom that I know that doesn't work. In 2003, 14.2% of moms breastfeed their little ones exclusively until the age of 6 months. I read an article online saying that the work environment and flexibility of the job are the one of the largest factors on whether a working mom decides to breastfeed or not. Luckily, I am able to have to the privacy of pumping at work, but after doing it for almost 2 weeks, I can't imagine continuing for very much longer if conditions were different. The article talks of women having to pump in bathroom stalls or closets at work. Ummm....HELL NO! It is even difficult for me to imagine pumping once school picks up again where scheduled lunch times can be scarce, students are randomly entering your office, and IMs and emails are on the fritz.

However, I am doing it! And I know a few blogs ago it may have appeared that I was ready to give up breastfeeding all together...and I was. But low and behold, my other breastfeeding moms out there were right...it DOES get better. A lot better! Returning to work has made it slightly difficult again, but definitely not as bad as it was at the 5 week mark. Now that I am gone all day, it seems like all Trey wants to do is nurse whenever he is around me, but I think we're getting in a good groove and he (we) seem to be getting on a pretty good schedule now.

Luckily (again) Deo gets to stay home with Trey until August. Have I ever mentioned that he has a kick-ass job that allows him to work 99.9% from home through the summer? So Trey will not have to begin full-time day care until he is 4 months old...which I feel very greatful for. Also, I think it's nice that he gets special time with daddy since so much of his initial life was spent bonding with me. I do, however, get jealous when I come home and he tells me all of the cool, new things he did (grabbing his toys on his bouncer); but I also realize how cool it is that Deo gets to experience these. Although I did get the first official real laugh last night! Not to mention that I've had dinner waiting for me every day when I come home which has made Deo quite the chef as he explores new recipes from FoodNetwork.com.

Even though it's been extremely difficult to be back at work and not my ideal situation, we're making it work. I cherish the morning snuggle sessions, home-from-work smiles, and after dinner reading times more than I ever could imagine.

My Grandma Nancy

It was a whirlwind of a weekend. In addition to my graduation and Mother's day, I got a call Friday morning from my Uncle letting my know my Grandma Nancy had passed away that morning. A few months back we found out that my Grandma had a very serious cancerous brain tumor and was given 2-6 months to live. The tumor progressed very quickly and she, very quickly, digressed. Being in the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I was sad that I was unable to make it home to see her one last time. I was able to call her and tell her how much I loved her and talk about all the wonderful memories I have of her.

My grandmother was such a lovely soul. She sang in the church choir, volunteered at the hospital, and wrote beautiful letters and cards. She didn't have Internet or an email address and she believed that nothing could replace a good old card in the mail. She always eloquently talked about the beautiful weather in Ohio and the blooming Spring flowers. She always saw the positive side of things and the silver lining in the rain clouds. I have wonderful memories of walking to her house after school before my piano lesson where she would have sliced carrots in a bowl of ice water and a vegetable sandwich on toast...just they way I liked it! I remember setting up a restaurant in her basement and she would humor us by eating our play-doh food. She would let us raid her closet and dress up in all her frilly dresses, Sunday hats, and clip on costume earrings. I loved my Grandma very much and even though I didn't see her as much as I wish I would have, I believe we had a very special relationship that I am happy to have had.

Mother's Day came and I was able to book a flight to Ohio for Monday morning out of Phoenix. As quickly as we drove home Sunday evening, we were off driving up to Phoenix in the middle of the night. After a few loads of laundry, I repacked the bags and we were off. Deo had to work so it was just the baby and I. Trey did especially good on the plane, but it is just too difficult to do it alone. I baby bjorn-ed through two 2.5 hours flights and a 2 hour drive from Columbus to Lima to finally get in Monday night. It was a quick 4 day trip, but it was nice to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in a LONG while...or ever. Trey also got to meet his Grandpa, and great grandparents Laurita's for the first time and he loved hanging out with them. It was a solemn trip to Ohio but am so glad that I was able to make it home for my Grandma. I love you Grandma and miss you tons!

My 1st Mother's Day

I LOVE being a mom. And more so, I LOVE being a mom to Trey! When I was pregnant with Trey, I kept telling myself that I wouldn't change when I had Trey. I would still be the same Sarah and have the same marriage with my husband. But from the second the nurses placed my warm baby on my belly in the hospital, I knew I was changed forever...we were changed forever. And I wouldn't change THAT for anything in the world!

We were up in Flagstaff for Mother's day and it was a nice weekend to be out of the Tucson heat. The weather was great and we got to spend the day with Deo's family. It was special for all of us because all of the daughters were celebrating Mother's day together. The hotel we stayed at did a Mother's Day champagne brunch and I stuffed myself silly. The hotel had a Sakura attached to it, so it they had an all you can eat sushi, oyster, and crab bar...MMM MMM MMM! I was in heaven.

Deo got me the best Mother's day gift ever! During my last, lingering weeks of pregnancy, our good friend Nando took some belly pictures for us. I was debating getting them done. I really wanted them but was actually scared and kind of embarrassed to openly show my planet-sized tummy. But I sucked it up and got a few done. Nando got super busy with his photography and work that he didn't get to editing them and then I just kind of forgot about them. Well, for Mother's day Deo went to Nando and they worked on the pictures and made me a wonderful collage! It was so beautiful and I can't believe he did something so thoughtful for me. And a special thanks to Nando for the pictures...I LOVE them, too!

It's Mistress Sarah if You're Nasty!

Last Friday the Diaz family headed up to Flagstaff for my graduation. I'll just say this...Trey hates his car seat and the car. Most parents put their kids in the car to quiet them down, but not us. I just keep telling Deo that I'd rather have him crying in the car then crying when out of the car ,and he agrees. Deo's entire family also came up to Flag for the weekend and it was so nice having them all up there...and not to mention get out of the 3 digit heat. After coordinating Eller's graduation, I like going to other school's graduations and see how they do it. Overall, I was fairly impressed with NAU's ceremony, although it would have been nicer if they separated out the Masters and Ph.D students from the undergrads. They read the names so quick I hardly even heard my name. Also, I was a bit disappointed that we weren't hooded on stage but off to the side in a large group. BUT...the shooting confetti and streamers at the end made it worth it! And to top it off, I got to celebrate the ceremony with my good friend Marisa and I'm glad she made it across stage despite her nerves!

The only picture I got with Marisa

All the kids and grandkids

My proud hunny

Deo's parents

The Happy Grad!

Little Steelers Fan

It's official...Trey is a Steelers fan!