Can a Working Mom practice Attachment Parenting?

That was my question as I pondered this parenting style and the undeniable fact that I was returning to work.  Nonetheless, I was determined to make it work!

As a teacher/educator, I have the benefit of added in breaks to my work schedule.  Due to the fact that Harper was born via (emergency) c-section, this afforded me 8 weeks as opposed to 6 weeks of maternity leave.  And my maternity leave ended right before Spring break, so I had 9 wonderful uninterrupted weeks with my girl!  I was a babywearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding junkie!  And I loved every minute of it!  As did Harper.  Due to her small size at birth, I definitely wanted to do everything I could to ensure her health and development stayed on track.

Then came the dreaded day that I had to go back to work.  I had to make sure everything was in place for my girl and our style.  I found a great caregiver.  When I started back to work, I came with breast pump in-tow!  Fortunately, my position and schedule allowed me to sneak away at leaast twice a day to pump.  My body certainly had to adjust to the new schedule.  When it was time to pump, boy was I ready!!!

When we got home, it was babywearing and breastfeeding time!  This allowed my girl and I to reconnect and allowed us to maintain our bond.

Almost a month after I went back to work, a wonderful thing happended... SUMMER BREAK!  Two more months of time with my girl. 

Now my high needs baby is a high needs toddler (different blog post for a different day!).

Yes, you can work and practice attachment parenting.  Work to achieve the right balance for you and your family.  And enjoy the ride!

Harper at two months

Can you believe it?  We have a two month old!  We also just realized that we get to celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day this year. Crazy, right?

Harper and I have been pretty much inseparable these past two months. After all of this quality time, this is what I know:

• Harper looks just like her dad.

• She loves being near her dad and being held upright.

• Harper is a fan of extremes. She’s either really happy

 or really mad.

• Harper is a huge fan of cloth diapers, especially pocket diapers right now.

• She has to be completely asleep before we put her down.

• She loves to eat! She knows the breast is best! Our 4lb 15oz newborn now weighs 6lbs 8oz. Let’s hear it for McFatty!!

• She’s a sweet little person and we love her very much!

This is what I know...

Our pastor says that all the time when he's getting ready to spit the knowledge. On a side note, very happy we've finally found a church home in Atlanta.

But, here's what I know thus far

• Our ultrasound is coming up in a few weeks. Exciting! However, we won't be finding out the sex of the baby at that time. I know for all of you shoppers out there, this is devasting news. You'll have plenty of time for that. We like the idea of waiting until the day Baby Ray Ray makes his/her entrance into the world to say "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!"

• We will be breastfeeding Ray Ray. Or I'm going to try very hard towards that end. No decision on whether or not Ray Ray will be a vegetarian, but for now, the breast is best!

• We'll be a cloth diapering family! Cloth diapers have come along way over the years, and I'm excited to give the new versions a try!

• Our goal is to have an unassisted birth. No, that does not mean it will be just Johnny and I at home giving the whole labor thing a go. Well, not this time at least! But we'd like to achieve a birth without medical assistance (i.e. epidurals)... anything where a needle is involved. We do know that anything can happen, and will let our birthing team guide us.

About "Baby Ray Ray". Ever since he found out we were pregnant, our good friend Kenny has been calling the baby "Ray Ray". While I'm not a fan of double name nicknames (at all!), for some strange reason, this name is catchy. Oh, but please believe, our child will NOT be called Ray Ray when he/she gets here.