Sorry to leave you hanging! Maddie's first day went great! Mrs. Courtney said that Maddie was too busy playing to eat the first few times she tried to feed her, but then settled down, drank her bottle and slept for 2 hours straight! She must have exhausted herself playing with all those new toys and new friends. So far this week, there are only 2 other toddlers in Maddie's class, but there will be a total of 7 by then end of the month. She's going to exhausted with that many kids to play with!
Mrs. Courtney has a board outside of her classroom that updates the parents on what they did in class each day. On Tuesday morning when I went in to drop off Maddie the board said "Today we welcomed Miss Madeline to our class! And we must have done a good job making her feel at home because she smiled all day!" And when I took her in the room that morning, true to form - she flashed a huge smile at the lady watching over the classroom (Mrs. Courtney had not arrived yet). When I left her that morning, Maddie had 3 women fawning all over her and she was still smiling that huge grin. Each day I get a report from Mrs. Courtney about how much Maddie ate, when she slept and what she did that day. On Tuesday, the report said that Maddie worked on her fine tune development skills by shaking musical instruments and that Maddie ate all THREE bottles by noon. She must have worked up an appetite!
That brings us to this morning, once again when I dropped Maddie off she was all smiles, leaning towards the floor - eager to get down and play. Can I tell you what a good feeling it is to know that she enjoys being there? I could just hug Mrs. Courtney for taking such good care of Maddie and for making her feel so comfortable. Courtney asked me again this morning - now how old is Maddie? I said 5 months and she said I thought you told me that but she's already holding her bottle and trying to crawl and I thought that just can't be right. I told her that Maddie has been eager to grow up from day one, and that it doesn't make Mommy to happy. I wish she'd slow down for just a minute - before you know it she'll be 18 and leaving home and I'll be crying the corner mumbling, you just had to crawl and hold that bottle didn't you!
So far our little Maddie loves school and this makes Mommy and Daddy so very happy. It warms my heart to know that she is enjoying this and it's not a negative experience.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
4 Month Check-Up
Maddie's 4 month check up was on Friday with Dr. Anderson, whom we love. He has to be my favorite physician at this practice and there are quite a few. Now, I know that this will be confusing to some - like Pop-Pop Cary - who has a hard time swallowing your age when we refer to it by the weeks, but we had to wait 4 weeks to see Dr. Anderson. So even though Maddie is 5 months (or 20 weeks), this was her 4 month check-up. And she's still perfect! He said it - not me. She weighed 16 lbs. 2 oz. which puts her in the 80-85% for weight (up from 75%). She is 25 inches long - in the 75%. And I can't recall the measurement of her head, it was in the 80-85% range as well. He was really pleased with her developmental levels and surprised to see those first two teeth already. He said that we could start solids whenever we are ready to do so and I told him that we were going to wait a bit longer. Both he and the nurse couldn't get over how happy a baby she was - constantly smiling. In fact, Maddie got 2 shots that day and the nurse did not want to give them to her for fear that Maddie wouldn't like her anymore and wouldn't flash those huge smiles for her anymore. Maddie cried for just a few seconds after the shots, and then smiled at the nurse as if to say, no big deal - I forgive you. Her legs - which is where they gave her the shots - were a little sore Friday and Saturday but we gave her Tylenol to help.
We go back this Friday so that Maddie can get the other 2 vaccinations required at her age, but I expect those to go just as smoothly. I'm not sure her Daddy is excited about us going back because there is a young blond man that sits behind the desk that Maddie is particularly taken with. She smiles and stares him down to the point that I think he might have been a little embarassed about the attention since all of the other ladies and nurses in the office kept teasing him about it. Daddy was not happy to hear that Maddie was flirting in his absence. But of course, she smiled that million dollar grin at Daddy and then, on cue, he melted into a pool of blubber. That's usually the way it goes at our house these days.
We go back this Friday so that Maddie can get the other 2 vaccinations required at her age, but I expect those to go just as smoothly. I'm not sure her Daddy is excited about us going back because there is a young blond man that sits behind the desk that Maddie is particularly taken with. She smiles and stares him down to the point that I think he might have been a little embarassed about the attention since all of the other ladies and nurses in the office kept teasing him about it. Daddy was not happy to hear that Maddie was flirting in his absence. But of course, she smiled that million dollar grin at Daddy and then, on cue, he melted into a pool of blubber. That's usually the way it goes at our house these days.
First Day of School
Ok - so really it was Maddie's first day at daycare, but her center is so much like a school, that's what we call it (plus, it makes me feel better to say school). We packed her bag last night, put her favorite stuffed animal - a giraffe that plays lullabies, and a blanket that we used this weekend - so that it smells like home. I fixed her three bottles (she's only going a half day), but we all know that food is her comfort. Packed some extra outfits, and then a few more extra outfits (because if you've ever sat behind us in church, you already know that these might be necessary). I filled out all of her forms, picked our her outfit for her first day and we went to bed early. We laid in bed last night and talked about all of the fun she was going to have today. All of the new friends she would make, and how much fun she would have with Mrs. Courtney, her teacher. We said our prayers, and went to sleep.
We also got up early this morning, really early for Mommy - about 5:45 a.m. and Daddy basically had to make me get up (Me: I NEED a few more minutes). Everyone got dressed, had breakfast and we left for school. Both Mommy and Daddy took Maddie this morning (typical first time parents - right?) and here's the outcome - she LOVED it! She remembered Mrs. Courtney and smiled ever so big when she saw her - she couldn't get over how much Maddie had grown and how big she was! She eyed her room and all of the toys, fun carpets, climbing centers - you could just see her wheels spinning thinking about all of the fun she was going to have. Mrs. Courtney had a big bear cutout on the wall, dressed ever so cutely, and labeled with Maddie's name. They also had her crib all ready to go for naptime and labeled with Maddie's name. Mommy put her blanket and her favorite giraffe in the crib, so when nap time comes, she'll have a piece of home to snuggle with. When the first child came in, another little girl, Maddie greeted her with a huge grin - the other child was still sleepy though, and has been battling a cold, and was not so happy to be there. Didn't bother Maddie one bit. While Mommy and Daddy put her things away - Maddie was already busy playing on the floor. When it came time to say goodbye - we literally had to make Maddie give us love and say goodbye - she was too busy surveying her surroundings and playing to really cuddle. On our way out the door, Mike said - we don't have to worry about Maddie - she's already forgotten all about us! And to an extent - I think that's a little true. We might be worried about her, but I think that she is really going to enjoy this. It made me flashback to my own childhood and all of the times that I had probably upset my parents just a little. I was always the kid eager to go away on my own - I was the kid at camp who was eager to say goodbye to my parents and then I cried at the end of the week when it was time to go home. I think I got a sip of my own medicine this morning, when I had to make Maddie say goodbye while the other kiddies were cuddling with their parents, none too eager to say goodbye. That may have been a small glimpse into my future - and then again, maybe not. We'll see. I'm glad that she was happy there. It makes leaving her and going to work a lot easier, knowing that she is happy and well taken care of.
Anyway, she is only going for half a day all this week. My sister Maggie is going to pick her up at noon each day. So it will be a gradual schedule change. Looking forward to a full report this afternoon!
We also got up early this morning, really early for Mommy - about 5:45 a.m. and Daddy basically had to make me get up (Me: I NEED a few more minutes). Everyone got dressed, had breakfast and we left for school. Both Mommy and Daddy took Maddie this morning (typical first time parents - right?) and here's the outcome - she LOVED it! She remembered Mrs. Courtney and smiled ever so big when she saw her - she couldn't get over how much Maddie had grown and how big she was! She eyed her room and all of the toys, fun carpets, climbing centers - you could just see her wheels spinning thinking about all of the fun she was going to have. Mrs. Courtney had a big bear cutout on the wall, dressed ever so cutely, and labeled with Maddie's name. They also had her crib all ready to go for naptime and labeled with Maddie's name. Mommy put her blanket and her favorite giraffe in the crib, so when nap time comes, she'll have a piece of home to snuggle with. When the first child came in, another little girl, Maddie greeted her with a huge grin - the other child was still sleepy though, and has been battling a cold, and was not so happy to be there. Didn't bother Maddie one bit. While Mommy and Daddy put her things away - Maddie was already busy playing on the floor. When it came time to say goodbye - we literally had to make Maddie give us love and say goodbye - she was too busy surveying her surroundings and playing to really cuddle. On our way out the door, Mike said - we don't have to worry about Maddie - she's already forgotten all about us! And to an extent - I think that's a little true. We might be worried about her, but I think that she is really going to enjoy this. It made me flashback to my own childhood and all of the times that I had probably upset my parents just a little. I was always the kid eager to go away on my own - I was the kid at camp who was eager to say goodbye to my parents and then I cried at the end of the week when it was time to go home. I think I got a sip of my own medicine this morning, when I had to make Maddie say goodbye while the other kiddies were cuddling with their parents, none too eager to say goodbye. That may have been a small glimpse into my future - and then again, maybe not. We'll see. I'm glad that she was happy there. It makes leaving her and going to work a lot easier, knowing that she is happy and well taken care of.
Anyway, she is only going for half a day all this week. My sister Maggie is going to pick her up at noon each day. So it will be a gradual schedule change. Looking forward to a full report this afternoon!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Now Accepting Applications
So, last week, shortly after the appearance of Maddie's first tooth - #2 arrived two days later. So she now has both bottom front teeth in place - and her little gums feel like they are peppered with more teeth getting ready to cut through her gums anyday now. It has to be painful because Maddie's been a little fussy lately and hasn't been sleeping through the night quite a peacefully as normal.
Apparently, our daughter would like to rush through the baby stage - straight through to toddlerhood. This past week she has started the early stages of creeping, which is the pre-cursor to crawling. She's got the army crawl thing going. BUT - don't be misled, it's still the early stages. She's creeping slowly - but it's definitely intentional not accidental. YouTube video to follow in the near future.
This past week we've been fortunate to have Nancy and Cary here with us, otherwise known as Noni and Pop. It has been wonderful. Not only are they watching Maddie, they wash clothes, do the grocery shopping, prepare lunch and dinner. Maddie is not the only person being spoiled. And I should note that before they arrived, my sister Maggie has been with us for most of the summer and she has been a major help as well. My house would be a wreck if it weren't for her cleaning efforts.
It's a lot to balance - being parents. Especially when one parent travels a lot. Poor Annie is getting a lot less attention these days. And it's about to get worse. Maddie starts daycare August 17th. Which means I'll be formally divorcing all of my household cleaning products and anything formally known as my plants outside. I'm going to have to get up at 5:00 in the morning to get Maddie to school and myself to work on time. And we won't get home in the evenings until 6:00. I love to cook but Lean Cuisine and other well known frozen products let me introduce myself. We're about to become best friends. It's going to be rough balancing everything and I'm a little bit worried about coming out of it without some liquid addiction or some crazy personality ticks. So, if you know someone who would like to be my personal assistent - send them my way. The pay is bad, no benefits, little vacation time and lots of housework to do - but room and board is included (I'm afraid if we let you leave the house, you may never come back). We're accepting applications effective immediately.
Apparently, our daughter would like to rush through the baby stage - straight through to toddlerhood. This past week she has started the early stages of creeping, which is the pre-cursor to crawling. She's got the army crawl thing going. BUT - don't be misled, it's still the early stages. She's creeping slowly - but it's definitely intentional not accidental. YouTube video to follow in the near future.
This past week we've been fortunate to have Nancy and Cary here with us, otherwise known as Noni and Pop. It has been wonderful. Not only are they watching Maddie, they wash clothes, do the grocery shopping, prepare lunch and dinner. Maddie is not the only person being spoiled. And I should note that before they arrived, my sister Maggie has been with us for most of the summer and she has been a major help as well. My house would be a wreck if it weren't for her cleaning efforts.
It's a lot to balance - being parents. Especially when one parent travels a lot. Poor Annie is getting a lot less attention these days. And it's about to get worse. Maddie starts daycare August 17th. Which means I'll be formally divorcing all of my household cleaning products and anything formally known as my plants outside. I'm going to have to get up at 5:00 in the morning to get Maddie to school and myself to work on time. And we won't get home in the evenings until 6:00. I love to cook but Lean Cuisine and other well known frozen products let me introduce myself. We're about to become best friends. It's going to be rough balancing everything and I'm a little bit worried about coming out of it without some liquid addiction or some crazy personality ticks. So, if you know someone who would like to be my personal assistent - send them my way. The pay is bad, no benefits, little vacation time and lots of housework to do - but room and board is included (I'm afraid if we let you leave the house, you may never come back). We're accepting applications effective immediately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
