It’s the end of an era

Hey there my friends!

Love that your pet peeves are similar to mine.  We agree that slow walkers are the worst!

I am officially in the last week of my maternity leave.  It’s the end of an era.  And yes I define era as my leave  

The last day I worked was the day before Thanksgiving.  Holy heck that was a looong time ago.  About 17 weeks!

Before getting pregnant, I really had no idea how long maternity leave was or how much was paid etc.  What I discovered is that my company is absolutely fantastic with their leave allowance and living in Cali makes the deal oh so much sweeter!

Here is the breakdown:

• 4 weeks prior to due date = full pay+ (work full pay + additional + Cali contribution = about 130% normal pay (which is to cover the taxes I’ll have to pay in from later pay))
• 6 weeks after birth = full pay +(work full pay + additional + Cali contribution = about 130% normal pay (which is to cover the taxes I’ll have to pay in from later pay))
• 6-12 weeks after birth = partial pay (Cali contribution of approx $1k/wk for Paid Family Leave (PFL))
• 12 weeks + = no pay, but intermittent leave

So that equals 16 weeks plus the Thanksgiving holiday plus an additional 6 weeks Cali FMLA unpaid time off. 

The latter is something that I debated on taking and have finally determined I will take, as it will ease the transition of returning to work and also allow me to save a day’s pay for the nanny each week (or 2 days, depending on what I choose). 

This time off has literally flown by.  The first 4 weeks before Sawyer was born were busy getting everything ready and also planning for the holidays.  The first weeks after my bean arrived, was a lot of figuring out the whole motherhood thing and hosting our many family visitors.  The last 8 weeks or so have been like a vacation – no lie!

The soybean and I wake up to smiles and leisurely feedings.  I get chores done around the house.  We go for our daily excursion like the coffee shop or meeting up with our mommy friends.  We take afternoon walks with the dog.  And we spend our evenings with daddy and our weekends going to restaurants, wineries, shopping, etc.  Really, I couldn’t ask for a more fabulous experience with my baby. 

To say I am going to miss this face is a huge understatement:

But there is also a large part of me that is ready and excited for my return to work. 

• I miss being able to exercise my brain. 
• I look forward to seeing my coworkers and the rigor of every day work tasks. 
• I am ready to take on a challenging project or two. 
• I will appreciate the balance that work will bring my home life. 
• And I also cannot wait to have a routine again that will instill some discipline and regularity in my eating and exercising.  I plan to use our company gym a few times a week to take advantage of the bean being with the nanny to get in my workout. 
• And those unpaid days off, yeah, I’ll enjoy every minute I have back with my precious boy

Any advice into how to best get back into the swing of things?

WICW: What I’m Craving Wednesday

Well friends, by the time you read this I should be at my 38 week (and 2 day) doctor’s appointment.  I think I’m ready for baby.  No, I know, I’m ready for baby!

Except for the fact that we are having major bassinet issues.  I really had planned on doing the co-sleeper, but also wanted a bassinet.  The Graco pack-n-play is too big for our room so now we’re scrambling.  Ugh.

Anyway, I’ve been neglecting taking photos of food, and only managed a few.  That being said, for Jenn’s What I Ate Wednesday, I decided to show you what I’m craving!

Ever since Thanksgiving, I’ve wanted stuffing.  Heck I want stuffing all year round, but T-day gets those taste buds going, so I had to buy Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing and made it up on Monday night:

I paired the stuffing with TJ’s savory tofu atop an English muffin with Swiss cheese and mustard.  Quite the tasty meal actually! 

I’m also craving deep dish pizza.  Then again, when am I not? Pregnancy has turned me pizza obsessed.  I’m fine if this obsession never goes away.

I’m craving pumpkin pie.  Maybe it’s the same thing as the stuffing.  I’m not questioning it, but do need to make a pie pretty darn soon.  Perhaps Friday? 

I noticed on other blogs a fair amount of gingerbread talk.  Frankly, I sort of suck at making gingerbread cookies.  I’ve only tried a couple times, but I just feel that  they were off.  But since I’m craving them, I decided to go the easy route and bought these:

I’m thinking I should make these today.  I’ll probably skip the ‘making the men’ part and just do something more like gingersnaps.  Easier, and faster –> quicker to getting in my belly.

And last but not least, I’m craving a Chipotle burrito bowl.  I never really liked Chipotle, but pregnancy has me craving the bowls – my guess is it’s the salt (odd since I kind of hate salt).

So tell me…

What are you craving?

Do you have a fail-proof gingerbread cookie recipe (provide link!)?

WIAW: Meal time

Okay this week is dragging.  Maybe it’s because one week from today will mark the last day before maternity leave.  Wheeeeeee  

And if you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to check out the giveaway for the glass pendant necklace.  If not for you, then as a gift for your fave fab friend for Christmas

Oh and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sweet comments on yesterday’s maternity shoot post.  If you’re interested I’m happy to post more, just let me know. 

Today, is of course, What I Ate Wednesday (see here to join the party) and my focus is on meals – sounds obvious huh, but I’m much more a snacker than a meal person so here are a few ‘meals’ I’ve been snarfin’ down.

Tis the season of the spaghetti squash – one of my favorite gourds to eat.  I tend to go with a marinara sauce or even a Mexi salsa mixture, but this time around, I went with pesto, and baked tofu (smothered in garlic powder and ground black peppa)

Seeing how I’m still trying to eat as much protein as possible, I do make an effort to actually eat some meat now and then.  We made this dish up on Sunday night: hickory smoked pork tenderloin, purple & green asparagus, and sweet potato.  Not too shabby eh?

Okay okay this may not constitute a meal per se, but while the hubby is away, I go for convenience: blueberry chobani, 1 scoop protein powder, spash of skim milk, and 1/3 cup Raisin Bran Crunch.  Oh and you see that popcorn on the side..yeah that came later

And not to be left  out: PIZZA!  I’m obsessed with pizza lately.   We’ve ordered from Pizza Hut twice in two weeks and are in love with the pan crust and extra sauce.  So freakin’ good.  I think Zach is loving my pregnant food habits. 

Are you more of a snacker or a meal person?

What’s your favorite pizza delivery place?