DAYCARE EXPERIENCE PART II

Part II...

At lunch I walked down to the daycare to check on the little booger. As I signed in, I could hear Dreux crying faintly. It’s amazing that I really can distinguish between her cries. I took off my shoes, as it is required entering the infant room, and saw my baby being held by the teacher. I could tell she had been crying a little but nothing too serious. “Looks who’s here” the teacher grinned (I sound as if I’m writing a children’s book lol). I grabbed her and proceeded to take her into the sleeping room to nurse. As I was feeding her, I noticed she had different socks on. When I asked the teacher she informed me Dreux kicked it off and they still haven’t been able to find the other one yet. The director joked that they couldn’t believe that a non-mobile infant has managed to lose a sock. She said Dreux kicked her legs, the sock flew across the room, and the rest is history. Not extremely distraught, I laughed. Hopefully they find my baby’s lime green sock before pick-up this evening.

Aside from the missing green sock, Dreux seemed ok. She wasn’t wet, harmed, or upset. I waited around a little while longer until I realized I did have to get back to work. I handed her back to the teacher as she placed her on the floor on top of a play mat. I walked out when Dreux seemed more entertained with the dangling color balls and trinkets on the play mat than with Mommie. I watched her through the window as she kicked and tugged on the toys. My baby is really growing up, and so is Mommie.

I can't wait to pick her up when I get off so she can tell Mommie everything she did at her first day of school! :-)

DREUX'S FIRST DAYCARE EXPERIENCE!!! Part I

So today marked Dreux’s first daycare experience. When ALL my baby sitter options failed, I had no chose but to take the alternate route. My company is partnered with a well known daycare, whose name I will not list, offering its employees with back-up daycare options when your original daycare has fallen through. One of my co-workers recommended it so on my lunch break yesterday I walked up to the selected location and took a tour. How perfect was it that there was a location only 3 blocks away! I met with the director and the infant teacher and laid out all my questions and concerns. After filling out countless forms, Dreux was registered for her first day of daycare for the following day. As nervous as I was, the ladies seemed really nice and being that this care facility is a VERY well known facility, I said a prayer and walked back to work.

Fast forward to this morning….

I ensured I packed and labeled all Dreux’s belongings. Down to her diapers, “DY” was carefully written on all her items. My aunt came to get us from the house this morning so that we would not have to take public transportation. When we arrived to the daycare there were already two kids there. And they were SCREAMING. The girl was clearly a little older than 1 because she was walking and the boy was crawling so I would assume maybe somewhere between 9-11months. Within minutes the room filled up with more screaming children. Before I knew it there were 7 children, including Dreux, in this small yet colorful room. One boy was in a high chair as his mom feed him, another was playing with the fish tank. The crying girl was tugging her blanket around as she stayed close to the director and another girl attempted to wipe snot, with her finger, from the crying boy’s nose. Anxiety began to set in as I realized there were only two teachers in the room. As they juggled between trying to calm down the crawling infant, making his bottle, and tending to the girl, who probably just wanted her mommy, I wasn’t ready to leave Dreux just yet. I took her into the sleeping quarters plopped down on the rocker chair and began to nurse Dreux. I had a quick chat with her and told her to please hold it together and not to scream like the, now three, kids that were there.

After nursing, the teacher whom I met prior walked through the door. Yes! Another person! Ok, maybe now things will get under control. I asked the director if the children who could walk would be around Dreux. She informed me that two of the kids in the room were actually going into the toddler room and that Dreux would be placed in a chair away from the other children until they went to their respective room. Ok, starting to feel better. I looked at the clock and realized I had been there for half an hour. Hey, what kind of mother would I be if I just dropped her off and left? I had to scope this place out a little more. This is my angel, my pride and joy, my baby! I handed my baby over to the director as she placed Dreux in a small bouncy chair. Dreux just looked around in shock as these kids snotted, walked, and cried over everything. The youngest in the room, and yet she was the most well-mannered. I kissed my baby (moved the chair over a few inches to make sure the baskets up above wouldn’t fall on her lol) and I proceeded out the door. I peeked through the window one last time and headed to work. AND DIDN'T CRY! Points for me!!!

I told them I would be back on my lunch break to feed her. I can’t wait to go back to see my baby and to make sure they are doing everything they said they did ,and are doing when I called at 10am. So far the morning has gone well. Hope the same for the afternoon.

"Daycare? I don't know about this mommy"

Combining Families While Creating Your Own Legacy

Us Mommies would not be Mommies if it wasn't for the Daddies for who helped us create such incredible little ones! This past Sunday we celebrated Dreux's Daddie as he enjoyed his first Father's day! He also shared this day with his angel as our family and friends witnessed Dreux's Christening. We started the morning by presenting Derek with cards and a coffee mug "from Dreux" desiged with a picture of day-old Dreux along with the words "Happy 1st Father's Day Daddy". After getting dressed, changing Dreux a total of 3 times, wiping spit up off my tank, and picking up the God Parents, we were on our way to the church. [I will disregard the part about me running to Target at 8 that morning to pick up last items]. Nonetheless we made it to church ON TIME! Dreux was beautiful in her "gianormic" all white Christening gown. However, those mental images of her in her dress are all we have. After church the chaos began. As the Mom I was in charge of coordinating the "after church dinner". Being mindful of the large number of guests, location, and price--I decided on The Cheesecake Factory. After our lengthy Christening and Father's Day service, everyone was starving! Frustration began to arise when my family urgently suggested everyone to head to the restaurant, while Daddie's family lingered around a bit to socialize and patiently plan out the next move. This is when I realized how difficult it can be to "blend" families. Both of our families mean well but Mommie and Daddie are a family now and creating our legacy is important! Set standards mommies n make everyone else leave up to it.

Milestones & Beauty Contests

Before I became a mom, who would have thought I would get so excited to see a 3month old sitting up and holding her head all by herself! It's so funny I appreciate the smallest things in life now because of Dreux. Dreux made 3months last Tuesday and she is a baby genius (well at least her daddy and I believe so). She controls her head like a pro,"coos", gives the biggest grins, and sits in her Bumbo chair like a big girl! I couldn't be more proud! Not to mention she's letting mommy get a little more sleep...well on most nights! Every month there is a new milestone and I'm so eager to see what else Dreux will learn to do. And although she prefers to chew on her fingers instead of the teething toys she has, she's perfect! :) So perfect that we entered her into the Disney Baby Character Contest! Vote 4 Dreux :-)