Back to the real world...

Sadly...last week marked my last week on maternity leave. Everyone told me how fast 12 weeks go by but I never quite understood until I was sitting back at my desk last Thursday. I had such an amazing time with Charlie and all of our friends, it was VERY SAD to go back. Luckily, my Mom came up and watched Charlie on Thursday and then Friday was "daddy daycare" and Brian stayed home with Charlie. Even though he was with family, I cried all the way to work and for pretty much the first 1/2 hour at my desk. Brian was very sweet and sent flowers from him and Charlie - which of course made me cry even harder. I definitely had the Oprah "ugly cry" going!! Today was his first official day at daycare so of course I had to take a picture.

Here he is with his "lunchbag" full of bags of milk!


Charlie looks a little sleepy. Usually we head back to bed after our breakfast feeding but now we both have to stay up!


Of course he needed a bath when he got home from daycare. I cried a little to Brian that I thought he didn't smell like us anymore - he smelled like daycare. Not bad..just different.


It made it just a little harder on my first day back to work that we also had Twins tickets that night. Since we already had a babysitter with my Mom in town, we decided to go. Brian realized that I am literally a fair weather fan. It was cold and rainy so when we got there, I grabbed the first vendor with a hot dog and told him to send the gang to section 126. We were going to eat and get out of there. By the time I finished my cheese curds and nachos at the end of the 3rd...I was ready to go!! Poor Brian, I think he would have stayed longer but I was full, cold and ready to get home to my baby!

And I can never resist coming home to this guy!



I also got to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a Mom. Last Mother's Day I wasn't even pregnant so a lot can change in a year! We spent it with Brian's entire family and Charlie did great - just one meltdown when he got a little overtired but otherwise he was great. Charlie and Brian spoiled me and I came downstairs on Sunday morning to see a Wii with all the Wii fit accessories. Some people might be offended by the not so hidden message but Brian convinced me that Charlie wanted to get the Wii fit while the Top Chef cookbook was from him :) Regardless, I love it and I can't wait to start working my chubby little Wii character out.

Here we are on Mother's Day next to the flowers Brian sent me at work.




Another smile - he just gives them away these days!

Brian's dream also came true a few weeks ago. His son attended his first softball game. Brian was pretty excited we braved the wind to watch his double header. "Some people" would think that Brian would cut down on softball now that we have a newborn. "Some people" would be dead wrong. I actually didn't mind tonight because I realized that now I'm back to work, I really don't want to share holding him at night!

Sadly, we had our very last playdate last week as well. I'm sad to be the first of us to go back to work and it's really going to stink knowing that the girls are still getting together without me! We took one last photo shoot of the kiddos and they just happen to be in coordinating outfits.

That Eloise sure has a thing for Charlie!

Yes, that is Ellie's hand Charlie is sucking on!

As Rachel Zoe would say..."I die."

The night after our last playdate, our friend Corissa was in town for work so we got together at Mindy's for dinner. Charlie got to play with "the guys!" He just watched them with wide eyes as they played with toys and Henry showed Charlie all of the tools in a Farm and Fleet catalogue! Who needs toys and books when there is Farm and Fleet??!!

I had the camera in the bathroom tonight because Charlie was being so smiley before I put him in the bath. I took a quick video with a strategically placed "mankini" washcloth and couldn't resist posting. Brian didn't want me to until he saw the special guest. Enjoy!