Well, guys, I survived my first day back to work. After boo-hooing a good three times the day before and then inching close to a meltdown right before walking out the door, once I stepped back into the salon, the time flew by!
This coming Tuesday will commence the real schedule. Yesterday was more of a dipping-my-toe-in-the-water sort of a day. Two clients, half a day, not bad. It was super helpful to experience my first “pump break,” seeing how much time that took and considering ways to be quicker and more efficient.
Bennett was DEFINITELY happy to see me come home, that lovely child. Right now, our biggest hurdle is getting him to take a bottle of breast milk. What can I say? The boy has strong preferences for the beauty of natural design. If you think about it, say a prayer that his resistence to the bottle doesn’t cause him to drop in weight.
The pediatrician felt the need to rub in the fact that Bennett’s height and weight puts him in the 10th-25th percentile. She wanted to be suuuuuuuure that I was taking my time to feed him and that I was feeding him often.
Grrrrr, grrrrrr, gggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrumble…
Well, someone has to be in the bottom, right? Considering the fact that Bennett’s being compared to a population of children who are usually on formula by now, that I’m the smallest person in my family, that Brian’s mom’s AND dad’s side are full of petite people, that Brian is two inches shorter than me and that Brian’s never weighed more than 125 pounds, I’m not THAT concerned about Bennett being in a lower percentile right now. 
My son certainly seems like he’s thriving, growing and filling out in beautiful proportion. But it’d be nice if he didn’t try to starve himself when in childcare, holding out for Mommy’s goods and protesting the bottle.
*sigh*
So this is what I looked like on my first day back to work. I actually got this dress for 75% off at Zazu when I went on a retail therapy shopping spree, trying to distract myself from the grief of Samson’s passing. It seemed appropriate to get something cheerful and colorful to honor the long, beautiful life that my kitty had. They also sell a variety of charms, so I picked out one that had a cat on it in memory of my cubby cubs and wore it around my neck yesterday, too. I feel like the only thing missing from this First-Day-Back picture is a couple of pigtails, a lunch box and a school bus in the background.
Man I love you. You are an amazing and precious woman. I will be praying for Bennett to take that bottle!
Thought about you all day yesterday. You sounded so upbeat and i did not want to say anything to discourage you, but i boohooed like a baby my last day of maternity leave too, AND on the way to daycare the next morning (I had a good loooong drive and a beautiful sunrise to help my thoughts fester) AND multiple times throughout the day 🙂 you did well! Bennett is in wonderful hands!!! And no matter what, you will ALWAYS be mama. Having that precious grin and flail of arms is almost enough to make you want to go away so you can see it again 😉 do you have a hands free pumping bra?
Is this the Becca Shaw the most fabulous 5th grade teacher at Mill Run who taught my Conner??
❤ ❤ ❤
That first day back is one we never forget. Here”s my two cents worth for bottle feeding….try having Brian give him a bottle at least once a day. You should not be in the room and you will have to be quiet (cause if Bennett knows you are around it won’t work). It will take some time. I’ll be praying for little Bennett to be more accepting of the bottle. You sometimes need to try different bottle nipples.
Check, check, check. All good advice! I appreciate the prayers!
Don’t be upset about the doctors comments about feeding. Bennett just has his fathers genes in that catagory and that’s pretty normal I would think. After all Bennett is not thin. He looks pretty perfect to me.
To me, too!
oh Suzy that’s wonderful that your first day back went well. As far as his percentile. Don’t worry about it. my family is tiny. I think Caden takes after my dad. They had me worried for so long before I finally switched doctors. Second about the bottle. Silas did the same thing try different nipples with the bottle that might help. Someone once told me they may hold out for a while but they won’t starve themselves. Once he is clued into that bottles during the day and mommy at night he should be ok.
Yep, he’s gotta cave sometime. We’re on the fourth nipple attempt. I think this one might stick.
Hang in there.. it will get better.. As you said you have done amazing up until now and this is just an adjustment period.. on the positive side, i was wondering where your salon is located again.. i may need a cut and color and wanted you to give me some style tips.. Email me:) and i ll make an appointment.
as long as he’s growing consistently I wouldn’t worry one bit about percentiles. I’ve always found them useless. I actually ever only kept my eye on the charts with my sixth baby who bc Down Syndrome gained so much slower than my other kiddos and also struggled with nursing. I don’t think I ever once compared any of my other kids to a chart ever.
Watching Bennett grow and develop–through photos–it certainly seems to the casual observer that he is thriving and filling out nicely. I will pray for you and him (and Daddy) that you all will survive this transition and especially that Bennett will adapt to the bottle for the times you must be at work. I love the bright outfit you chose for your first day back at work. Are you wearing the “ugly pants” on the next work day?
My pediatrician told me that all that matters with the percentiles was that the child stayed in one or slowly moved up…they don’t want them bouncing around from one category to another!
Man you look gorgeous for just having a baby!!
Congrats on taking the big step on going back to work. Wish our schedules were more of a match — but I’m just happy you can work part time and be with your little angel!
Thank you, Carol!
I don’t think Bennett’s size has anything to do with the fact he is not yet on formula because he is NOT THIN OR TOO SMALL. This is just plain fact that can be easily observed. You can see his legs and arms as can we all!!!!! Forget the darn percentages, they have no pertinence in this situation. Feel so bad the doctor mentioned them at all. My granddaughter, at 13, just graduated from a 00 to a 0, I think. She is not SKINNY.
She is small framed and so is Bennett, I suspect. She is also PERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL as is he.
Aww <3 I know that you miss him. That's a great idea getting the charm. I think that Bennett looks perfect. I would never know he's in the bottom percentile. Yeah, you and Brian are small, I wouldn't worry about it.