If you have been watching my social media posts over the last few months, you know that I am expecting! I am feeling so blessed by so many sweet tweets and emails of congratulations from all of you who have been following along my journey for so long. I am also getting a TON of questions, and I have been meaning to write this post for a long time to give you all the details. So, today I decided it’s time to start writing this post before I actually have this baby.
Here are the most frequently asked questions that I have been receiving from all of you! If you have any further questions, please ask them in the comments below, and I will be answering your questions! Also, please share any words of wisdom in the comments below for this soon-to-be-first-time working mom!
1) Boy or girl? Name?
It’s a GIRL! So excited! Still making the final name decision, so you will have to stay tuned for that announcement.
2) When are you due?
June, 2014.
3) Are you going to blog on maternity leave?
Heck no! But, I am writing three months of blog posts NOW, so you will have plenty of great posts while I am out! My fabulous assistant, Lor, will be making sure that my business is going strong while I away. I have a feeling you will never know that my feet are up and I am not working! 🙂
4) Will the blog change?
Fewer posts, but better posts.
5) Will you be changing your blog to Classy Career Girl Mom?
Haha! This question came from my brother. No plans to change it but I am really looking forward to adding more blog content about being a working mother and work-life balance (if it exists).
6) What clothing items are you loving while being pregnant?
I bought the best black work pants at H&M , and I would love to share them with you but they aren’t on the H&M website anymore. I have also loved MAMA Skinny Jeans from H&M that I have been living in for the past four months. Oh, and I might be guilty of wearing this MAMA Jersey top from H&M every day as well. Overall, H&M is where I first started getting some staples and I highly recommend heading there first or ordering online if there isn’t one near you.
I have had to invest in some really nice professional maternity dresses for all the speaking engagements I have done over the past few months with my book launch. I found the best professional dresses at Motherhood Maternity and was able to fit into a lot of my non-maternity dresses for the first half of my pregnancy as well. But now, the options in my closet are slowly shrinking as clothing is getting tighter and tighter. At least getting ready is a lot faster with fewer options in the closet!
P.S. Women, tell your husbands that the best compliment they can give a pregnant woman is, “You really don’t look pregnant at all from behind!” My husband continues to score points with that one!
7) What are your nursery colors?
Light pink, white and gray.
8) How is work going while pregnant?
As you know, I still provide part-time consulting to the military, and when you work with a bunch of men, you are bound to get some comments that are just flat out rude while pregnant. I am definitely learning how to handle the rude comments and go with the flow.
One of the men I work with tells me that I am getting a little bigger every time I see him. And each time I tell him, “Yes, that’s what happens when you are having a baby.” I know from 8 years of working with these men that they aren’t trying to be rude, they just don’t really know what the right thing to say is. So I try to brush it off and not get annoyed.
9) How are you feeling now?
I am 30 weeks now and feeling great! I have no complaints at all. I am just so blessed to BE pregnant!
During the first trimester, I was teaching two classes at DeVry University while I was feeling like CRAP. I also had about five speaking events in my first trimester that I somehow pulled off successfully. I am very thankful that time is OVER! Yuck!
10) How did you tell your boss and co-workers? Any regrets?
I actually had a new work opportunity come up when I was only ten weeks pregnant. I really didn’t feel right about taking it and then telling them a month later that I was pregnant and going to be leaving soon. I also just didn’t feel that it was the right transition for me and my career.
So, I said no. It forced me to tell my boss way ahead of the time that I had originally planned to tell her. I was definitely not planning to tell my boss during the first trimester. But, she was very happy for me and totally understanding. Plus, I have a good relationship with her so I knew she could keep it a secret until I was ready to tell all of my clients and co-workers.
Once I felt ready to tell everyone I work with (which I procrastinated until 15 weeks), it went well. I was very fortunate that it was December and I could easily bundle up with jackets, scarves and big sweaters, even in San Diego!
I didn’t want to tell anyone in the office environment when everyone was so busy at work. So, I waited until we had an office holiday happy hour and let the news out at the happy hour. This was great because I could make sure that everyone knew and I just went around to everyone individually and said, “Did you hear the good news!” I made sure that I told my clients and bosses first though before a ton of co-workers. I wanted them to hear it from me instead of through the grapevine.
11) Planned or unplanned?
Both. I have shared a little on the blog before about my struggle to become a mom. Over the last three years, I have had two miscarriages and one failed IVF attempt. This was an unplanned miracle baby thanks to a lot of prayers. She was just waiting for the right time to enter our lives and it all makes so much sense now.
12) Birth plans?
Bradley Method.
13) Books/magazines I couldn’t live without:
You know I have to get my systems and processes down ahead of time so I have been faithfully going through the weekly checklist in the book, One Year to an Organized Life With Baby: From Pregnancy to Parenthood, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Ready for Baby and Keeping Your Family Organized.
And I also started my monthly subscription to Working Mother magazine with a new dream goal to write an article for the magazine someday soon.
14) What are your childcare plans?
My wonderful mother lives just 10 minutes away so right now that is my #1 babysitting option. I am lucky that I do work from home so I do have more flexibility in how and when I work. I am planning to just take it one day at a time and see how things go.
I have already put together a plan for my ideal workday with the baby. This is something that I teach my clients to do when they are job searching so I wanted to do it myself, too. If I don’t have a plan for how I want my ideal workday to go, I know that it will just start happening and I will lose control. I think it’s important to set some boundaries for yourself and make sure you do what makes you happy in your day as much as possible.
15) Great advice I have been getting over and over again:
I have actually received so much advice that I started making a list. Who knows what is right but I wanted to document it to look back at later.
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There is no balance. Don’t believe it.
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It goes so fast when you have a baby and you will have plenty of time for yourself when they grow up. The most important thing is being with your kids when they are young.
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Always cook a home cooked meal.
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Remember why you are doing what you are doing for work. You have to have passion for your career when you are a working mom or it just isn’t worth it.
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Don’t have any preconceived notion going in. Other people’s advice might be nothing like your experience.
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Sleep when the baby sleeps.
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Take care of yourself.
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Bond with your new baby.
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Know why you want what you want, the how will come with time.
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I want her to see me living out loud. You do what it takes.
