Crikey

Well time for another lazy update. I have been back at work for 2 weeks, and Addie has been at the childminder's. Luckily for me, she loves Jeanette, the lady that looks after her. She also has two other little toddlers, one of which is the daughter of a work colleague. Addie has come on in leaps and bounds. 3 months and already rolling around and trying to crawl. Scary stuff. She has a stinker of a cold at present, and is STILL teething but with no teeth. I miss Patrick but am going back on the 27th of March... so nearly only a month for that next trip.

Work is okay, I missed it, but the few weeks have been hard. I am so tired all the time and forgot a lot of stuff and having a confidence problem.. In addition to this, I now only see Addie for about an hour (of her being awake) a day. We get up, both get dressed. Walk to my friends where we get rid of the babies, and then I work my arse off with 30 mins lunch (which isn't enough time to do anything, especially if you are trying to make up time from your baby's jabs earlier in the week) and then leave at 4.30pm. A good 30 mins walk to her house, up a hill, and then I get Addie in her buggy and walk back again, which is about 40 mins to my flat. So then we have a mad dash of playing/sterilising/eating my dinner and then its her turn for a bottle, bath and then bed. I miss her. Although saying that this weekend she has been a bit of a madam all coldy and coughy with dribble and teething problems and acting all clingy.

I don't know what to do really...

I am thinking about reducing my hours... I am not sure how to broach the subject though, and what I'll do if they say no. I can't really afford it but in the grand scheme of things, oh well... I am working 9 - 4.30pm with half an hour for lunch. But by the time i get home from the childminder its half five/six but then addie goes to bed an hour later or soo I dont get to see her a lot. Also if I need to take time off like for her jabs, I have no scope to make the time up, because my lunch is half an hour and I cant stay later or come in earlier... and it means my saturday is crazy busy with shopping etc. I have loads of offers to do things like "Jelly Tots" for free and referrals from the bridge to do loads of cool stuff and support stuff like that, for free, but I cant do any of it cos I am at work full time. Everyone else works reduced hours, bar Gem; she has a day at home and extends her hours to cover it, but then has Sally the nanny and Simon to help out. Do you think work would have a shit fit if I asked to reduce my hours? I mean, I could still do my portfolio and stuff I'm sure. A reduced salary yes... but Id not be paying the childminder that day and id also be paying less tax in the grand scheme of things because I would be earning less over my threshold allowance. Ah well. Patrick thinks I should do it... even if I can finish early one day and do a half day say on a wednesday or something. It'd be nice just to go to a baby group with Addie and spend some time watching her grow and interact with her properly, especially when the weather is nicer. I feel like I dont see her at all. What do you think? It is all so confusing. God I am knackered. I might hit the hay.