Back to work...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! We did. Avery got absolutely spoiled and was such a good sport at Christmas going to both of our family's and being passed around from everyone! So awesome too that her first Christmas was a white one!! I wish we would have taken more pictures in the snow though!! Funny that last year we were hosting a big NYE party at our new house and this year we were all in bed by 10:30!! Lol

Well tomorrow fun baby time is officially over. It's back to work for me. These last 11 weeks have gone by so fast! I can't believe my maternity leave is already over.

I know I'm leaving my baby with the best possible person though. My sister Lacy will be watching Avery at our house and if she loves Avery half as much as I love her
girls, we'll be ok! She's a baby expert and has been my biggest source for help and advice since the early days of my pregnancy. We are so lucky to have her!! I think I'd die a little inside if I had to leave A at daycare this young!! No matter who you're leaving your baby though, it's going to be hard.. We have left her for a few hours at a time here and there to run errands and go on a few dates, but all day every day is a whole other story!!

I technically could take a few more weeks off, but while losing full pay, it's just not feasible. I took Avery up to my school for their holiday party, and I'm so glad I did. I realized how teeny tiny my little first grade babies still are, and I remembered how much I do miss them. It helped me to look forward to my return a little more than I was, but it's still going to be tough these first couple of weeks. I've never been one to want to be a stay at home mom, unless of course, I had an infinite amount of money. I do like to work and I like to make my own money, and ultimately I'll be providing more for my family by working, but I would love just a few more months with my baby. I know being a working mom is the reality for most Americans, and most people only take 6-8 weeks of maternity leave while I've luckily had 11. So the countdown to spring break and summer will just be filled with more anticipation from here on out!

I'm so glad tomorrow is a work day so I'll have time to gather my thoughts, get reacquainted, prepare the week's lessons, set up where I'm going to pump, make copies and call to check in on my baby! Then I'll be ready to see the kiddos on Tuesday! One of my New Year's resolutions is to leave work by 4:30 every day. No more being the last teacher there at 6pm! It might mean I'm not as much of a perfectionist, or that I have to bring some papers home to grade, but I'll be a better mother and wife for it. Wish me luck!!

Here's some pictures, just because my baby's cute!