This past week was an emotional one. Olivia got sick for the first time, so we had several sleepless nights pulling snot and listening to her breath since she was having trouble due to all the drainage. She is rolling over in her sleep now, too, so I was waking up a lot to check on her. On Monday, I stopped at the doctor's office to weigh her so that I could have a weight for her baby book for three months, and she had only gained two ounces in ten days (13 lbs 11 oz). The nurse said this was concerning, so make an appointment. I did for Friday. You see, Olivia had been eating even worse at daycare and not napping like she did at home.
On Wednesday morning, Nicholas and I were playing with Olivia on her play mat before school, and we both confessed that we hated leaving Olivia at daycare and we both feel like we are missing her best parts of the day. When we analyzed how much time we were getting with her (even me), by the time you exclude naps and driving, it was horrible. Not to mention that Olivia wasn't babbling as much and the nature of the beast of daycare is that Olivia cries more and is left alone more than if I am watching her. Of course, we know everyone would have gotten used to it and the routine would have become just that. But we didn't want to get used to it. Every day when I dropped Olivia off, I would stay until the last possible minute. I hated leaving.
Nicholas suggested that if I didn't want to stay home with her, perhaps I should look for a better job so that he could. I do want to stay home with her, I told him. We talked about it, and decided that the current arrangement wasn't working and it was time to change it. I went to my boss that morning and told him I wanted to quit. He was VERY nice. He told me to get Olivia, take her home, think about it through the weekend, and let him know on Monday (today). His wife even offered to babysit Olivia at our home if I wanted to work even less and didn't want to take Olivia back to daycare. That was SO sweet. But, I want to be with Olivia, so I did let my boss know today that I do want to stay home. I am hoping (and so is he) that I could work from home about ten hours a week, but we will see if that is possible according to university rules and employment positions. I love my job, but I know this time is going to fly by and I want to take in every moment I can. I know not everyone gets this opportunity, so I am going to take it and be grateful. I know it will be hard, but I know it will be wonderful! I am home with my girl, and I am thrilled about it!
In other news, Olivia keeps getting cuter! This is the last time she could sleep in this little outfit as it is now too short:
This is Olivia looking out the window in the guest bedroom after rolling over on her own:
This is me trying to catch Olivia smiling in her little sweatsuit:
And after Olivia rolls over about three times in a row, I try to catch it on video. She doesn't roll over in this, but she talks a lot. This is two minutes long, FYI.
That video is hilarious!! Wonder what she is saying?? Also, good for you for doing what feels right wrt your job. I'm super proud of you :) It was awfully sweet of Nicholas to offer to stay home too! What a sweet little family!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Great Family
ReplyDelete! I'm so glad that your boss was so understanding!
Well, glad you did what makes you happy. I just had to make a decision too. Either finish the thesis with no funding or don't finish it and get a real job with the MS. I've decided to take the next four months to submit my second paper and revise my thesis with no funding. Hopefully the Dean will find a way for tuition payment, but either way we'll figure something out. Andy has agreed to let me finish and pick up some of the slack for me. We're both so very tired of this never-ending degree.
ReplyDeleteThey cannot block me from this. I just hope the sacrifice will pay off in the end and I will get the degree.
On a better note, Mauja watched Olivia's video not missing even a second. She loves babies, even on the computer. She's such a little weirdo. She was so protective of my friend's baby when I would play with her and pat her bottom. It was actually entertaining and a little annoying with how protective she got.