"Trey, get that marker out of your ear and please do not color your eyelid yellow."

So my sister is headed back to work tomorrow after a 16 week maternity leave.  She's going through many of the same emotions and feelings that I went through when I had to go back to work and that many of my friends said they went through too.  Even though she's about to experience what so many have gone through before, it doesn't make it any easier for her.  It makes me think, however, about when I returned to work and why it sucked so badly.  For me it had to do with leaving Trey for nine hours a day (first in Randy's care and then at daycare) and not being with him all of the time.  I've gotten over that, to some extent, although it still hurts sometimes.  I felt that ache last Thursday when I drove to daycare to pick him up.  You know, that ache where you just can't wait to get your hands on your child and love them and squeeze them and cover their face with kisses?  (This ache quickly dissipated after we got home and he proceeded to whine and cry for the remainder of the evening.)  It also had to do with the loss of control.  I remember quite vividly the nap anxiety I had that Randy wouldn't be able to get Trey down for a nap or that Randy wouldn't be able to soothe Trey as easily (and as well, if we're being honest) as I could.  Even now, I don't know what Trey does all day, what he eats, what he "says", what cute things he does...I don't know how his daycare provider responds to him, soothes him, disciplines him, etc.  But I think in the end this will make Trey a more well rounded child and more able to interact with and respond to others when he is not in my care.  Because at the end of the day isn't what we want a child who can be successful independent of their parents?

This past week was particularly trying for me as a working mom.  Randy's new job has a new schedule and he doesn't get home until 6:30pm.  This means the post-daycare evening routine is all on me and I had no idea how much I relied on Randy in the evenings to participate in this thing we call parenting.  Coming straight home from work and having to be "on" for another three hours (and then make dinner after that) is exhausting.  What I got out of this week (besides droopy eyelids, extra fatigue, and a dose of crankiness) is a reminder of how lucky I am to have so many girlfriends who provide advice and support when needed.  I love being able to reach out for help and get a variety of suggestions but consistency in support.

A friend posted this on her Facebook page last week and the timing was perfect.  I know that so many moms have similar busy schedules, messy houses, guilt complexes about the things they are doing wrong (my big one right now has to do with Elmo), etc., but it is nice to read about it and be able to relate.  At least I find value in it.

Enough of that.

It's been a fabulous three day weekend and let me tell you why:
- two out of three days with 2-2.5 hour naps in the crib
- TONS of giggles and laughter with my boy who just has the silliest personality
- continued "talking"...Trey "talks" constantly and I love the cadence of his speech that makes him sound like he's really talking.  Also, he's up to 10 words in just the past few weeks which has been so much fun.  Unfortunately, he has discovered "no" which he likes to use on a frequent basis.
- celebrating Randy's birthday on Saturday out at Bridgeport with friends and family
- going out for drinks and dessert with Randy at Breakside while my dad and Sandy stayed home with Trey
- celebrating Tim's (brother in law) birthday today at Julie and Tim's house with Tim's family and watching Trey explore and wander around like never before
- watching and listening to Trey with my Dad on Sunday morning

- taking a mini-nap this morning while Randy and Trey played together
- going to OMSI on Saturday morning with Randy and Trey.  Here are some pictures:

 Watching Trey walk around the Science Playground and explore as he never has before was awesome.

"Look, Mom, FRUIT!" 

The boys resting after a particularly busy time at the water table. 

Helping Randy to make a Bronco pattern.  Clearly, it wasn't a good luck token. 

Trey is really in to magnets right now.  I love watching him figure out how they work.

Well, it's 7:57pm and almost time for trash tv to start...better go get comfy so I don't miss a dramatic moment.  It's a four day work week coming up and that makes Mama very happy!