Well, I have finished two weeks of full-time work. So far, we are doing well, and the routine is manageable. It is hard, and I desperately wish I could have more wonderful moments with Maddie, but I can't argue that she is happy staying with her grandmom, her grandmom is happy to have her, and my being at work is the best thing for our family. Now all that is left to do is sit back and enjoy it, and so that is what we've been doing.
Actually, we're not doing very much sitting back these days. There is always plenty to keep us busy. I gave up actually hanging up our clothes last week, and instead we have been pulling our shirts and pants from a neat stack on the dresser. While the laundry has been getting done and everything is folded, hanging clothes on hangers got postponed one day, and then another, until the pile was enormous. I am rationalizing that the half hour it would take to find enough hangers and hang them up could better be used elsewhere.
The most jam-packed part of the day is between 6:00 and 8:30 in the evening. I get home with Maddie, who has fallen asleep during the car ride home from her grandmom's. I rush to get dinner started, change my clothes, unload the dishwasher, set up the baby bathtub, do laundry, take out the garbage, and get everything ready for bedtime before Maddie wakes up. Then I give her a bath. Afterwards, I shovel food in my mouth while feeling a little guilty that I am not giving Maddie my undivided attention during the few precious moments I have with her while she is awake. After that, we play for as long as she is willing and then I feed her. If she doesn't fall asleep while eating, I get enormous pleasure out of sitting with her on my lap in the rocking chair and reading to her before putting her to bed. She is asleep by 8:00, and sometimes as early as 7:00. Every night I fight the urge to keep her up as late as possible so that I can get just a little more time with her.
Once Maddie is in bed, I finish all the chores and getting everything ready for the next day. Most nights, I don't sit down until 9 or 9:30, by which time, I really should be heading off to bed. Sometimes Hank is able to help out with everything that needs to be done, but there are many nights when he doesn't get home until seven or even later, often missing seeing Maddie at all during the day.
With all of the hubbub during the week, it is so nice to have the weekends together. For months, weekends were a blur of activity, errands, trips to see people, house projects, and cleaning. However, now we are making an effort to slow down a little bit and enjoy some moments together on Saturdays and Sundays. These Fall days have been cozy and warm, and perfect for staying in and doing nothing but hanging out as a family. Those are the moments I had been envisioning when I used to think of what I wanted in having a family. With so few of them, I am treasuring each and every one.
With Pop-Pop:
Falling asleep holding Daddy's hand, while Scott & Melissa's cat stands guard:
Playing with Uncle Mike and Uncle Matt:
With Grandmom:
Trick or Treat!
Bundled up for the cold:
I finally caught her big grin on camera!
What does she think about?
Happy Mommy:
What tha?!
On Election Day:
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