Sullivan Family: back to work. boo.

I've been back to work for a week now. It's so hard to believe that I'm done with maternity leave. It seems literally like yesterday that Mike and I said met Brendan for the first time. I would be lying if I said that this week has been easy. Saying goodbye to Brendan on Monday was so hard--I had spent every day with him for the last 11 months, and Monday we had to separate. I think it's safe to say that Brendan dealt with it a lot better than I did! I feel lucky to have good support at work, though. My mentor even revealed that she wrote 3 letters of resignation (drafts, of course) during her first few weeks back to fellowship after having her first son. Ultimately, I know that work is where I need to be--for the challenge, the adult conversation, etc., etc., but it is so darn hard right now. I hope it gets easier!!

Mike has been dropping Brendan off at daycare for the most part. He had a hard time, too, the first day....but when he arrived at daycare, "jeremiah was a bullfrog" was playing. Mike told me that Aunt June used to play that song on the piano when Mom would drop Mike off at Aunt June's house. We both knew that Mom was sending us a message--she would keep an extra eye on Brendan while we were away. (To elaborate on the "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" song...before we moved to Connecticut Mom used to take me to Aunt June's for CCD or some sort of Sunday School as I remember it. I unfortunately do not remember much about any moral or religious lessons, but I do vividly recall singing "Jerimiah was a Bullfrog" and Aunt June playing it on the the piano. The significance of hearing the song was that when I walked into daycare to drop off Brendan, I immediately traveled back in time and was overcome with the feeling I had as a litle boy when Mom dropped me off at Aunt June's. It caught me off guard, but it made think that my mother was there with Brendan amd me as I took Brendan out of his car seat and put him in his crib for the day.) Hearing that story gave me an overwhelming sense that Brendan was going to be just fine at daycare....especially with Grandma Sullivan watching over him. A few days prior, I was at the car wash with Brendan, when a random woman told me that when babies smile in their sleep it's because angels are talking with them. It's funny--since then, it seems like Brendan does a lot of smiling in his sleep--I like to think that he's listening to his Grandma as she whispers in his ear.

Last weekend, some friends from VT (Rachel, Seth, Ryan, and Sarah) came to visit. We spent 4 nights at Breck, and I even mustered up the strength (physically and emotionally) to hit the slopes at Copper. It felt great to be out, enjoying myself with my friends. It was a nice break, although it didn't take long before I missed Brendan. I guess I've become one of those sappy moms--I'm sure Brendan will love it when he's 14. :) I should just treasure our moments now.....

Anyway, here are some most recent pictures. I hope you enjoy them! He's getting to look like a little boy now!!