The next few weeks hold some major changes in our house: I'm changing jobs and Nora is turning a year old.
Many of the details about my job change are included in my earlier
post. Beyond the excitement of a new job, there's also a lot of closure to consider. I currently work in a secure area at Mayo, meaning I cannot just drop in to visit. Visiting with coworkers will need to be deliberately planned. I have also been incredibly blessed to work five minutes from home at one of Mayo's satellite buildings. Not only did I have virtually no commute, but it also allowed me to drive home for lunch on my full work days to see Brent (and Nora and my dad during the past year). Brent actually joked when I interviewed for this new job (which is downtown) if I'd ask if I could still come home for lunch;) It has certainly been a rare blessing to have had the opportunity to share lunch with Brent the past few years. For the past six months, my lunch at home has also included nursing Nora. Once again, a huge privilege to be able to nurse her during my work day. As with any job change, I'm also saying goodbye to my comfort zone. The comfort zone is such a double edged sword. On one hand, it's great to be good and experienced at your job. On the other hand, it can become ordinary and lack challenge. After eight years in the same position, I am certainly comfortable. I was blessed through the years in this role to be challenged with new systems, applications, roles, etc, but the opportunities had narrowed more recently. So, I leave the comfortable for the great unknown with new challenges, new experiences, and new coworkers.
Nora is turning one. What?!?! I have a tendency to be sentimental around certain birthdays for my kiddos, and the first birthday is one of those years. Again, I think of all of the infant/baby items, tasks, etc that will no longer be needed. I have met my goal of nursing Nora for her first year and we plan to switch her to whole milk in July. Thankfully she's been doing great with the sippy cup recently so I think she'll make the transition easily. She's not a picky eater and loves drinking water from the cup. I will miss our snuggle time together of nursing though. She is such a busy body that I rarely get any other snuggles. I know I will remember this year of nursing fondly for many years to come. I've also gradually been putting infant items into storage that we no longer use, like the baby bathtub, Baby Bjorn backpack, Moby wrap/sling, lots of baby clothes, and soon I'll be putting away my pumping supplies and bottles as well. Ugh, sometimes it's hard to be so sentimental:(
Needless to say I have a lot running through my mind as I approach my last week at work and Nora's first birthday. There's also a lot of excitement in the coming weeks that should ease me/us through the changes. Our friends from out of state will be in town for a couple weeks, Brent will be playing in the
Star of the North basketball tournament, we'll be heading to
Pine Haven Christian Assembly for a week of family camp, and of course birthday celebrations for Nora:)
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