Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
The "D" Word
Day Care. We have looked to this week with dread over the past several months since Nori was born. It was a comfort in the beginning, knowing that it was far, far away, when she turned 6 months old -that she would start day care. It was a "good idea" that would work for our schedules and in theory we liked the facility. But as the weeks went by the "D" word started to turn my stomach and there was lots of underlying anxiety. Why on earth were we going to pay to leave her with someone that we don't even know? I went to visit about a month ago, supposedly to make me feel better, and after being in a room of 15 snotty kids I came running home telling Nori (or more accurately myself) that we don't have to go back there.
Side note: why is it that other kids' snot and drool is so gross and Nori's isn't?!
In the meantime, we found out that the rates went up more than 10% from what we agreed to when we signed up, and that we had to pay an extra insurance fee. Was it really worth it? I called current parents at the center for references and I heard nothing but rave reviews, one parent actually sent their second and third kids there at a younger age than the first because of the benefits to their development. This guy talked my ear off for an hour about how much he liked the place. I just needed someone, even perfect strangers, to tell us that we were doing the right thing. I kept thinking, in a few years I will be one of these parents raving to a new mom about the daycare, but I just couldn't imagine it. Last week I started looking desperately for other day cares- why? because I wanted every excuse or distraction from the reality that she was starting this week.
So, June 28th came at last and my prayer was "God, tell me we are making the right decision, but only if we really are, not just because I want to feel okay, but I do want to feel okay." The stomach butterflies didn't go away. . .It felt like the I was five and going to kindergarten for the first time (my sister can vouch for how that went.)
But today, Friday, the last day of her "transition week" I can happily report the butterflies are all but gone. Peace is near! The transition week started with Pete and I going with her for two days, then slowly increasing the hours. This helped Nori I think, but the real transition is for us. I can almost feel myself transition, from the first day of only seeing snot, strangers, and lack of attention to now smiling at the caregivers (instead of glaring the mama bear "don't touch my baby" look) and not feeling like I will throw up. I know most of the other kids' names and getting to know a few parents. The smell is becoming familiar as well as the noise level. Hmmm, I am having flashbacks to my kindergarten room again.
My biggest anxiety was whether she would nap well with all the noise. She has gone from a 5 minute nap the first day to two hours yesterday! I am so proud of her you would think she just got into Harvard. And I am pretty proud of us, too.
Side note: why is it that other kids' snot and drool is so gross and Nori's isn't?!
In the meantime, we found out that the rates went up more than 10% from what we agreed to when we signed up, and that we had to pay an extra insurance fee. Was it really worth it? I called current parents at the center for references and I heard nothing but rave reviews, one parent actually sent their second and third kids there at a younger age than the first because of the benefits to their development. This guy talked my ear off for an hour about how much he liked the place. I just needed someone, even perfect strangers, to tell us that we were doing the right thing. I kept thinking, in a few years I will be one of these parents raving to a new mom about the daycare, but I just couldn't imagine it. Last week I started looking desperately for other day cares- why? because I wanted every excuse or distraction from the reality that she was starting this week.
So, June 28th came at last and my prayer was "God, tell me we are making the right decision, but only if we really are, not just because I want to feel okay, but I do want to feel okay." The stomach butterflies didn't go away. . .It felt like the I was five and going to kindergarten for the first time (my sister can vouch for how that went.)
But today, Friday, the last day of her "transition week" I can happily report the butterflies are all but gone. Peace is near! The transition week started with Pete and I going with her for two days, then slowly increasing the hours. This helped Nori I think, but the real transition is for us. I can almost feel myself transition, from the first day of only seeing snot, strangers, and lack of attention to now smiling at the caregivers (instead of glaring the mama bear "don't touch my baby" look) and not feeling like I will throw up. I know most of the other kids' names and getting to know a few parents. The smell is becoming familiar as well as the noise level. Hmmm, I am having flashbacks to my kindergarten room again.
My biggest anxiety was whether she would nap well with all the noise. She has gone from a 5 minute nap the first day to two hours yesterday! I am so proud of her you would think she just got into Harvard. And I am pretty proud of us, too.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I am 5 months old!
Wow, I am five months old now. It doesn't seem like it-but when I met Molly, my new cousin, I thought "Dang, I've come a long way from my newborn days." It has been a great month. Some of my accomplishments are: sleeping better in the day and night, sleeping in my big girl crib without the changing pad, taking my first bites of food (they have been holding out on me with this breast milk stuff), turning from my stomach to my back, learning to chew on my toes, stand up with some help and- what I am most proud of- blowing "raspberries" with copious amounts of drool and varying sound effects.
I love being upside down. I don't know what it is about it, but something about the blood rushing to my head makes me feel oh-so-good. Maybe I have some bats in my heritage?
Now that I have the whole crib to move around in, I get a little crazy in the middle of the night. When I am sure Mom and Dad are asleep, (I have a monitor to listen in on them) I practice my break dancing moves that I saw on MTV (shhh don't tell Mom that Dad lets me watch TV when she is at work.) I spin around on my back and practice my windmill move. Sometimes it gets a little crazy and my pacifier and lovie blanket fall out between the crib rails. One time the monitor even fell out! I have to be more careful or they will catch me and all the fun will be over. It is going to be nuts when I hit the club in a few years- I will have all the moves down.
The only bummer in my life right now is my birthmark on my face. It keeps getting infected and blood and pus get everywhere. They keep putting a sock on my hand so I don't scratch it, but I totally figured out how to take that off. I have to see a plastic surgeon next month about getting it removed. Mom and Dad are more nervous than I am. I just want it to stop itching.
In other news, I am starting daycare next month! I am pretty excited. Spending time at my cousins' house last month was SO fun and at daycare they have lots of big kids and toys to entertain me, just like at my cousins'. There is also a woman there who they call the "baby whisperer" I wonder if that means she can only whisper. I hope not because I am really getting my talking down, in fact sometimes Daddy can't even listen to Mommy because I am so loud. Daddy says he's going to have his hands full with two talkers- me and Mommy. Good thing Bella doesn't say much. Speaking of Bella, she is totally my BFF. She always licks me and lets me touch her soft ears. I can't wait to get big enough to play with her!
One of the highlights this month was Nana and Pappy coming to visit for a week! It was great- we played and Nana brought LOTS of new books that look really old (they were Mommy's when she was little.) We went for lots of walks and Pappy convinced them to finally give me so real food. I like him already, I think he is going to spoil me just enough. I also got to see my other Grandma and cousin Logan this month. Wow- he is really big and does lots of cool stuff with trucks. I like to watch him and hope he wants to play trucks with me soon. Grandma speaks a different language than the rest of them, but it is not baby talk either. It has lots of ups and downs in it, I hope she teaches me how to speak like that.
I really love going to church. I get to sing along and get passed around to all sorts of different people. Overall, life is good. I can pretty much do what I want and "they" are finally figuring out what I want and when. I wonder when I am going to have to actually be expected to "behave." I realize now, anything goes! I think I have at least until I am a year old, so I better live it up while I can.
Milk Woman
On my way home from work, I am usually biking and I am usually bursting with milk. Although I pump during the day,there still seems to be a physical and/or emotional need to get home and nurse Nori. Of course I am anxious to see her, Pete or another babysitter is anxious to have me home, and hopefully she is anxious to see me! So, with boobs bursting and a backpack full of pumped milk, I am racing home. I had this image of being a superhero that made me laugh, so I decided to sketch it out. Hope it makes you laugh, too.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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