Malloy Family Memories: The New Normal

A friend of mine told me before I started back to work- "get ready for your new normal!"- and now it has arrived. Adalyn has officially started daycare, or "school" as we call it, and I have returned back to work. I was a little apprehensive about this because now I'm leaving her in the hands of people I don't know. And also because I had been out so long, I was afraid of saying something related to "patty cake" in a meeting with my CEO! Honestly, though, I think it has been good for both of us in a way I didn't really expect. It's good for me to be out of the house and doing a job that I love because it makes me a happier mommy and wife. And it will eventually be good for Adalyn to go to school, make friends, and play.

The first week, I worked partial days so I drove into town and got to the daycare around 9am. I fed her one more time in the daycare's nursing room then came into work. That worked out nicely because she wasn't there so long and we both adjusted to getting all of our stuff out of the house, but didn't feel rushed. (I highly recommend this to all mothers going back to work!) The first day I dropped her off, I broke down a little but her new teachers were so nice and reassured me they would take good care of her. When I returned that afternoon to pick her up, they had followed my instructions TO THE TEE (which, if you know me at all you know how detailed I am and how much I like things to be in order). Then I realized I really was dealing with professionals who are used to first time mommy's and taking care of babies. We worked on her schedule that week and her teachers got to know her a little better. They recognize things now like when she gets tired and when she's hungry- all things it took me 4 months to figure out!

Then last week we both went in full time. Although that's somewhat harder, it's made better by the fact that the daycare is literally right across the street from my office and I am able to go over during lunch and feed her if I have time. Sometimes I can't do this because my job requires me to be at other hospitals in the Nashville area. But it's something I'm making an effort to do these days because I want to keep breastfeeding as long as I can and because it really helps me get through the day a little better if I can see how she's doing midday. All I do is call sometime before lunch, her teacher tells me what time she had her morning bottle, then I drop by at the right time for her "lunch."

So yeah- our life may not be perfect at this point but it's definitely a new normal I don't mind working with. We have some great friends in our lives, too, which definitely help make the hard times better. Some answer random questions about daycare and feedings, some bring dinner when they know we're having a hard time, and pretty much all are there for moral support and encouragement being a new mommy. So I'm definitely getting used to my "new normal" with a little help from my friends. :)

Here are some pictures of her new days at school:

Adalyn all ready for her first day at school- a little cautious because mommy has the camera out so early in the morning and is packing up lots of stuff!