You are so much nicer these days!

this is Tim's exact line to me sometime last week...

...and I have to agree.

Tomorrow will mark my first month of working full time. Yey to me, Tim, Noah and Eliza for surviving our first month of full time work for both parents and full time daycare/Lolo&Lola for the children.

Tim and I are tired but oh so happy.

Tim is happy because I am happy.

I am happy because the children are happy.

Noah has happily settled back to his daycare room - seeing his carers and playing with his favourite friends, learning, being active, not seeming to mind that Mummy is now also working.

Eliza is happily settling into her new environment. Described by the teachers and staff as one of the happiest babies EVER, Eliza seems to have been ready for the stimulation and attention that she is now getting.

Having Lolo or Lola (my parents) come and stay with the children on Thursdays (their rest day from daycare) is also working out. The kids are enjoying their time at home and have started to look forward to having either Lolo or Lola over.

Tim and I are tired but oh so proud.

Tim had the opportunity to take care of both children on his own for a few days and as I have previously shared, I am so proud of him and his efforts. He managed to take both children out, not only to the aquarium but also to the zoo and he also started the routine of bathing the kids together, which we have discovered to make both kids so happy.

We are slowly getting used to our routine, which sees us starting our day at 5.30am. Tim is usually on his bike to work by 7.15am (ok, more like 7.30am!) and I am packing the kids into the car by 7.40am. Thank goodness that our daycare is no more than a 2 minute drive so we are usually in the rooms by 7.45am. First ones in!!!

Short of a dump-and-run, I am back in the car just before 8am, driving back home to park the car, then make my way to the ferry, aiming to get the 8.15am fast ferry.

Now I am not sure how long fast ferries have been operating but O.M.G. they are the best thing EVER. My commute to the city is no more than 20minutes and I am usually at my desk by 8.45am. Yey!

Now it has been way almost 3 years since I last worked full time but I am quickly remembering why I am a better mother when I am working. I am learning new things. I am being asked questions that I have to think for. I am having adult conversations - some about children, most not. I get a lunch break where I can browse at the shops and try things on. I am getting to tell Tim all about the things that I am learning. Who  knew employee engagement and productivity could be so exciting!

Tim does the afternoon pick ups so the children are usually having dinner when I get in. After a quick change in costume, my focus turn to the children, helping with dinner, bath and bedtime.

By 8.30pm, the steam is usually running out. A 9.00pm bedtime is a must these days.

With my days being so full,  who has time to nitpick every single thing that my husband does wrong?

Instead, I can only be grateful.

Grateful for such a supportive husband.
Grateful for such well adjusted children.
Grateful for grandparents who can help out.

Gratitude. That's probably why I am so much nicer these days!