And here we are: back to what we can term "normal."

[mizarchivist]

No surprise: being back in my office feels remarkably like I've never left. I can't really get rolling on anything major until my colleague comes back from her grandfather's funeral (Wednesday). There's a lot in and I don't know what's up. Best to just wait and see. It does mean I can pretend that the office is all mine for the first 2 days, which is really a great thing. lifecollage came for lunch, which was excellent. We crammed about 2 hours of conversation into 45 minutes. Having our occasional lunches means the world to me, so being able to have that back is a serious plus to being back in the office. My inbox is already sorted. I didn't really have anything major waiting for me like I would have if I was just gone on vacation for a week or so. 

Last night I was anxious and negative. Mom called to see what I was going to wear today and I angsted about how I haven't bought any new clothes in who knows how long and waaaah waaah waaaah (so she went shopping for me). Apparently she also arranged for me to have a package waiting for me at work for my first day back, but sadly, it has not yet arrived. So I'll have it for my second day back. So, even when one is the mom, having your mom be super-mom at you is sort of made of awesome. Very much reminiscent of going away to camp and getting a care package. 

I got one call from Ariel asking how the stroller works early in the day- and at least at that time, all was well. I'm choosing not to call to check in. He's fine. They're both fine. It's fiiiiiine.I'm dealing with pump land in what I think is a reasonable way. When my milk drops, I pump. I hope that works out well enough. Given I don't feed Crime Fighter from both sides every time, but I'm pumping at the same time: that ought make up for things? ... Ach. S'ok. At any rate, I need more containers for milk, I think. Maybe I'll just bring most of the test tube style bottles with me so I don't have to remember them every day. 
Speaking of Crime Fighter: Fun developmental bits-  He found the Baby In The Mirror not that long ago (a week or so?)- I'd been trying: stopping in front of the mirror, waiting, but he was pretty meh about what I was doing until maybe last week or so. Now he lights up and smiiiiles! Then he'll act all coy and crazy-adorable. Yesterday was a huge breakthrough: He reached out and tried to touch the reflection! So cool. Watching him learn how to be a human is more fun than I was expecting. It makes me re-evaluate the little things like eye-hand coordination and object permanence. 

quiet_elegance is still working on finding his next gig, which may be complicated by the bit where there's a holiday next week. He's having a somewhat hard time dealing with the grind of constantly being under-employed. Except when he's not. There have been a few weeks where he worked a full week with some overtime, then went to teach out in Millbury 4 nights of that week. It will be OK, but not yet. In the meantime, he's focused on a quick gig for ahf and caulay. That will roll into supplies for mzkero's project, which is the basis of our carpentry/kid care swap, so kind of really important. 
(A hiccup in baby care is that Ariel's gotten a full time job with benefits, which is fantastic because benefits is sort of a requirement in life, a thing I'd not be able to offer (duh). But it means that a go-to care provider is no longer default. Possibly occasional care, but I'm going with "not available" as it's easier to plan that way for the moment. )
Anyway- In talking to lifecollage at lunch about this and that, she reminded me that there's this thing- the Artisan's Asylum. Duh! That might be the solution he's been looking for on the issue of "I have no space." He has a few peripheral jobs that have been hanging over his head that would be good to have done, already, but he's always been dependent on doing stuff outside or have it be influenced by the cold and/or wet (finish work is tricky). So, this may well be the solution. If he likes it, which he may not. I'm crazy-hopeful. 

So-- overall, I feel like things are reasonable to quite good. 

Comments

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I have insane amounts of pumping related equipment still. If you need more milk storage bottles I will be happy to give you as many as you would like.

[mizarchivist]

Good to know! I may well take those off your hands.

*hugs*

[taura-g.livejournal.com]

Glad the first day back is relatively stress-free.

Re: *hugs*

[mizarchivist]

Thanks :)

[tigira.livejournal.com]

Day 1 back - success!

[catness.livejournal.com]

Yay! It's funny how just being in your office changes the tone of your posting. Sounds like you're feeling more in control of your destiny. :)

Welcome back to the work force.

[mizarchivist]

Yeah-- I feel like I've regained a certain level of predictability and control. Followup now that I'm home: CF did very well and has been within the bounds of normal fussy. And has all his appendages. :)

re: eye-hand coordination

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

Today I was emptying out pots of spent impatiens and stacking the pots together as I went. I autonomically reached for the next relevant size; halfway through I had a flashback to half my childhood toys that involved size and stacking. I see a friends 2 year old get frustrated with doing those games, and I just think 'yes, you WILL need that later. Ditto on the algebra, but i'll tell you that in twelve years."

congrats on reaching your next phase of work-life balance! roughly ditto to what catness said. you sound more focused. not that before was wrong in any way... i'm trying to remember what a columnist call it, that period when time doesn't really exist because it's all just you and the infant, feeding and sleeping. sort of an existing outside time and space for a little while. magical and wonderful in its ways, i imagine, but maybe it's also frustrating to be out of sync with the rest of the world?

Re: eye-hand coordination

[mizarchivist]

Yeah- whatever that is: the 4th trimester, as some call int. It's easy to lose most of a day when caring for a tiny creature. Considering what a creature of logistics and schedule maintenance I am, losing that is exceptionally frustrating.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

You can do this. You can be a grown-up and a mommy and YOU all at the same time.

I know you can because you have done just about anything you set your mind to.

You're already doing it.

[mizarchivist]

Thanks :)

Mostly "yes" with a couple of side comments

[drwex]

yes, it's awesome having a mom who can still mom you, even when you're mom.

yes, the whole developmental thing is entirely fascinating and completely cool and super-duper cute, like omg never before. The best part is that it keeps on, though it's less intense as they get up. L and I had one of those super-duper cute moments this AM.

If any of q_e's work can be done in garage space, ours is largely cleared and could be more cleared for loaner space. It's not huge, but it's what we have.

And, um, drat on the kidcare thing. I mean, yeah, it's nice for people to have jobs with benefits and all but what a pain in the schedule-keister.

Re: Mostly "yes" with a couple of side comments

[mizarchivist]

Just heard from QE that Ariel, when he's available is actually very interested in trading carpentry lessons for care. I'd not been blunt about how even his lowest rate has the potential to mean I have no paycheck at the end of the week. That is epic! Someday it won't be a thing, but wow is it a THING this season still.