My company recently updated its policies and now gives employees 4 weeks of paid parental leave at the birth (or adoption) of a child. Following our experience with Joshua where the then-current 2 weeks did not feel like enough, I decided to take the entire 4 weeks in one chunk immediately following Elliott’s birth.
Once Kristen was back on her feet, the plan was more for me to focus primarily on managing and entertaining Joshua and to have Kristen primarily focus on the new baby. That mostly worked out. But we are both nervous for how Joshua will react as I head back to work on Monday!
Here are some highlights from our time on leave:
Doing sidewalk chalk in the driveway
Holding a Mexican “Tea Party” in the backyard. (Grammy, Joel’s mom, had promised Joshua a Tea Party upon her next visit, and it worked out well to couple that with some Mexican take-out for lunch one day shortly after getting home from the hospital.)
Playing with water and sun in the backyard in 101-degree heat!
Getting a “special treat” (frozen yogurt) because of our first poo-poo in the potty! Because it happened right before dinnertime, Joshua and Daddy also got hamburgers, fries, and water in fancy soda cups first.
Trying out the Double BOB stroller!
Picking blueberries
Climbing a rock wall for the first time
Getting Ethiopian food with Grammy, Granny, and Banca (Joel’s mom, grandmother, and grandfather), which turned into an “Ethiopian Tea Party”
Dressing up like an adorable dog at the Portland Children’s Museum
Riding on a chicken at the carrousel at the Oregon Zoo
Eating a popsicle in the backyard!
Trying (but mostly failing) at making french bread – the crust was hard as a rock! The inside was pretty tasty though!
Reading books in the backyard
Eating a hot dog for a picnic in the backyard (NEVER again will we try this with a toddler!)
Riding a chicken on the carrousel, as well as many other rides, at “Nokes Park” (also known as Oaks Amusement Park to people who speak mature English)
Checking out the Blue Heron trail at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro
Having a pretend Tea Party at the local play place
Going back to “Nokes” Park with Grammy, who came up to save the day (actually 3 days) when sleep was hard to come by after Elliott contracted a cold
Having a Tea Party in the frontyard at home
Doing swimming lessons with Daddy
Playing in our play house in the backyard
Helping Daddy fix the flat tire on the BOB stroller
Eating an Elephant Ear at the Zoo
Checking out a local splash pad
Enjoying some Mod pizza
Silly String! (Thanks, Bob K.!)
The Meyers 