One of the happiest days of my life was January 8th last year when I discovered I was pregnant. I was so excited to become a mother! My beautiful daughter, Lea, was born September 19, 2009. The first 15 weeks of her life, I was at home with her and I got used to being a ‘stay at home mom’. I knew, though, that I would be returning to work and honestly I was a little worried.

Now that my first couple of weeks back at work are over, I am filled with mixed emotions and much more exhausted than I thought I would be. The hardest part of coming back to work was waking up and realizing that I was going to be leaving my baby girl. I very much enjoyed my time at home with her and had been uncertain how we both would transition to the new routine.

Coming back to the office, I had a new schedule and an updated list of responsibilities so while part of me was sad, the other was looking forward to the new routine. Staying busy has been easy as there is always so much to do and it helps keep my mind off of Lea. In the back of my mind, though, I often wonder what she might be doing at home. Is she napping, playing or enjoying a book with Grandma? One of the most surprising things from this new experience is how quickly my state of mind switches from business woman to mommy. At work, my mind races a mile a minute with new merchandising ideas, working on our Web site and reviewing potential blog partners. As soon as I get home, though, it’s all about baby; reading board books, tummy time and bubble baths!

Although we have encountered a few small bumps in the road, our transition has gone rather smoothly. The first week, Lea was not interested in eating from a bottle. She also slept a lot more than usual, making me think she was a little stressed from the situation. By the second week, though, she was eating more while I was away and getting back to her normal sleeping patterns. It’s amazing how resilient babies (and mommies) are!

I won’t lie, when it’s time to go home I can hardly contain myself! I have to watch my speed because I just want to drive as fast as I can to get home. Joy fills my heart and I get goose bumps when I see Lea’s beautiful smile and her excitement to see me. It’s the best feeling in the world!

So, I am now a ‘working mom’. I have joined a new group. I feel closer to the other working mommies in my office. I feel like we share some secrets that other women may never know…. some secrets that are sad and scary, but others that are joyful and exciting. I like being part of this club and am excited to learn the next phase of initiation as Lea transitions from infant to toddler.

Jessie Thomas has been employed with Scandinavian Child since July 2004.  While she has had several positions within the company, she is now working as Marketing Associate.  She and her husband Kevin have a daughter named Lea and a dog named Bailey.  Visit her personal blog, A ‘Fritos’ Kinda Life.