Back to work

The idea of returning to work started poping into my head shortly after the New Year, after I stopped breast-feeding (with all the brestfeeding problems I had, I really couldn't think about anything else!) and felt that my body was mine again and that life was back to its normality. What prompted this thought was partly because Sam slept through most nights and was a very good baby during the day so I had time to think about things and thought it wouldn't be too hard.

Most days, I was content and happy just be with Sam. But more and more I felt restless and yearned for something more. I felt I didn't use my time well when I had a lot of time on my hands. I felt I wasted a lot of time shopping for 'little' things (It's funny I know but I didn't really like shopping, it's not something I could happily do every day!) and doing 'unimportant' things (yes I mean housework!). It's not that housework is not important, it's just not satisfying and never finished! There is always dishes to clean, clothes to wash, floors to mop and meals to cook. I figured that if there is something else occupying my mind (ie work), I might be happier doing the housework (or it could just be wishful-thinking).

I restrained myself from calling work because I wanted to spend a little more time with Samuel. But when work called, I said "YES" without hesitation (the hesitation came later). It didn't take me too long to get daycare in place. The more days I got from daycare though, the less sure I was that I could do this. How could I get myself and the kids ready in the morning by 8am given that Sam does not actually have a routine? Would I have energy to cook and do the housework after a day's work? Also two weeks before I was due back at work, Samuel started to get up all hours at night because of teething. It created a lot of doubts as to how 'work' would fit in our family.

The first week at work didn't turn out too bad. I was very tired (so was Simon) because Sam kept getting up at night (he got up twice the night before my first day at work). I went to bed at 8pm that day absolutely exhausted and Simon picked up a lot of extra work. I was not so lucky the secoond week. Just after I had a cup of tea and tried some clients access and was happy that things worked, daycare called me (at 10 in the morning) to say Samuel had puss coming out of his ear and would I please go and get him. Yes Samuel has got ear infection and he's on antibiotics.

Thank goodness that we have the long weekend to rest and recover!

Monday night dinner

Deep fried white baits

Easter egg hunt and other activities

We went to daycare's Easter egg hunt on Sunday. Someone donated over 600 eggs in Lara's daycare so there were chocolate eggs everywhere! The kids made egg hunt baskets during the week for this occasion. The egg hunt started at 10.30 and finished before 11.30. Lara was very good and kept saying "we have enough eggs now" after only 3 or 4 big eggs were collected. We had to rush home because I had some friends over for lunch at midday.

Kids are so busy these days with so many activities revolved around them. I don't actively organise too many extra outings, there are enough playdates and birthday parties already. I'd like to keep some days for relaxing at home for Lara (& Sam and me!). Here are some of Lara's activities from last year that I forgot to report:

14/Nov/2010- Lara @ Wizzy World (Lochie's birthday party). Imagine this. A very hot day(35C) and a not well-ventilated place with lots of excited kids. It was much warmer indoors. Imagine this : Sam was hot & hungry and I was feeding him. Lara was on one of those giant slides and was crying at the top because she was too scard to come down! Not an enjoyable afternoon for me. but it was the highlight of Lara's Sunday.



30/Nov/2010 - Ballet dress rehearsal. At 4pm on a raining Tuesday. Picked Lara up from daycare at 3pm. Drove in poring rain and got wet even before we arrived. Luckily found the venue and a car space without getting lost. Rushed to put Lara in costume, hair in a bun and make-up. Lara was a little overwhelmed but excited to see the big girls dance. Luckily Sam was at home with Grandparents recovering from a small cold. I was so exhausted afterwards that I went to bed at 7pm leaving Simon to put Lara to bed!

11/Dec/2010 - Daycare Christmas party. Lara had face painting, tattoo stickers and painted a ceramic ladybug with Annie. We saw Santa running across the road when we arrived, he was late like us! Lara was given a little soft toy froggie at a shopping centre by a Santa. She was confused after we saw another Santa somewhere else "Why is this Santa looking different to the other Santa?"

Ice-skating

Lara had her first ice-skating lesson today. I repeatedly told her skating is harder than you think (to set the right expectation) because after watching people skate a couple of times (and watched Barbie skate on TV), Lara thought she would be very good at it. I guess kids do learn fast. By the end of the lesson, Lara can walk unaided from one end of the ice rink to the other, better than I thought she would be. This won't be a weekly activity but we will go again. And maybe next time, I'll put my skates on too!

Where: Macquarie Ice Rink
Cost:$17 (inc skates hire and morning tea -fairy bread/cordial)
When: Monday. Lesson started at 9:45 finished at around 10:30.
Note: Bring gloves next time.