The End of Daycare

So, Thursday was Ben's last day in daycare. Any other mom would probably be jumping up and down that her son gets to stay home, but me, no. I love Ben's daycare, and he loves daycare. Since JR lost his job, we moved Ben from 5 to 3 days a week. Since he was collecting unemployment, we could fit the expense into our budget. JR is also the first person to tell you, he's not a teacher - he doesn't know what Ben is supposed to know at his age so he doesn't know what to teach him. So, it worked. Ben stayed home for two days to save money, and went to school three days to learn and socially thrive (Ben especially loves music day!). JR is no longer collecting, so we tried to have Ben in school two days a week, but now it's just too much of an expense on one income. We finally called it quits. JR loves staying at home with Aaron, and I think he is happy to have Ben home 5 days a week now too. He's talking about projects to do with Ben. I asked daycare for a progress report so we know where he's at, so JR is going to work off that. So, if anyone knows any great activities for a soon to be one year old and a soon to be three year old, let us know!

Besides having Ben miss out on music day, and class time and friends, I'm going to miss a couple of things too. My favorite part of my day, was when I picked Ben up from school. I'd buckle him into his car seat (99% of the time without him screaming about being in the seat because he knew he was going home to daddy and Aaron) then get a kiss from him. Just that moment right there would put a smile on my face so deep it would penetrate into the rest of my body. I don't know what it was about that one kiss, but it became something that I looked forward to every time I picked him up.

Another thing I loved doing with Ben after work, was go to the grocery store. Now in general, I don't like stopping at the store after work, especially with one (or both) of the kids. I'd rather run in and run out. But at Shoprite, the building has those invisible doors that blow air on you when you exit (sometimes the entrance one works). I'd stop in the middle of the doorway and let the air blow Ben's hair - he just thought it was the greatest thing! It really made me smile too, to see him smile. Just one of those silly moments that are free and fun!

Those times really won't end completely. I kiss Ben every time I strap him in the car seat. In fact, he gets upset if I don't! I'm sure stopping at Shop Rite with Ben won't end either. They were just always differently special somehow before. Now, I'll just have to find new special moments.

August/September updates

So, it's not so much that I've been too busy to blog (although I really don't have any free time), it's more like I don't have much to blog about. There is nothing going on that is all that exciting. Here is all I can think of:

I ended my 13 weeks of maternity leave with a week of jury duty. I really thought I wouldn't get picked. I figured, what judge and lawyers would want me on their jury. I'm a nursing mom and would need to leave the courtroom every 2 hours to pump. Well, the judge apparently didn't see that as a hardship, and I did tell him that as long as I could pump during a morning break, lunch break and afternoon break, I'd be OK. We started late most mornings and obviously got a lunch every day. Whenever he thought about breaking in the afternoon, he'd look over at me and ask, out loud mind you, if I was OK or if I needed a break. So, everything worked out for me. It was a joke one day as we came back from our lunch break late. A few other jurors were afraid we wouldn't get an afternoon break so I told them to signal me if they needed to go to the bathroom and I'd get the attention of the court crier. The signal...they imitated milking a cow then grabbed their boobs. So funny - it made me laugh out loud. Fortunately, it was a much more casual courtroom than I expected. We found the defendant guilty, and I'm waiting to hear what his jail sentence is.

With that, Aaron and I are doing well with the breastfeeding thing. He is taking a bottle for daddy great everyday while they are home together. I feed him from the breast for every other feeding, except occasional times if we are out and I know it would be a little difficult to feed him myself. So far, all breast milk, no formula! Woo hoo! I have a feeling that is going to end soon, but somehow we keep getting through another day! I'm really happy that we've gone this far. With Ben, I started supplementing at 3 months, when I went back to work. It helped this time, that I started pumping early and began a frozen backup. If I could get to 6 months with no formula - wow! That'd be awesome!

Work has been going well. I actually enjoy going because it gets me out of the house. I absolutely adore my kids and miss them when I'm not with them, but I really have no free time (as mentioned) so working almost feels like my free time.

Ben moved up to the next room at daycare. He moved up early. We were concerned because there have been several teacher changes at school, not to mention the change at home of having a baby, and now this is another change. We wanted to make sure he wasn't being moved up because they just needed room in his old room. They said he is ready for the new room. There are kids there that he already knows that were moved up previously, and four other kids moved up with him. He's doing great with potty training at school, and they think his communication skills are good, but will improve because there will be older kids that speak well, and he'll learn from them. J.R. and I have both had conversations with the new teachers and checked out the new room. Ben really likes it. There is a bucket of cars, so of course, he heads to that first thing every day. There are dinosaurs to play with, a construction corner, a book corner and there is a computer that they are going to let him play around with too. They are also going to teach him another language. I'm sure it won't be anything he'll be fluent in, I'm thinking more like teaching him hello, 1 2 3, etc. After all, he isn't even fluent in English yet!

Aaron gave us a scare a few weeks ago. He had a fever and a rash so J.R. took him to the Dr's. While there, Aaron started screaming and wouldn't stop. The Dr. wanted blood work so J.R. took him to CHOP because the blood work results would come back immediately. Apparently, fever, rash and screaming can equal meningitis. Fortunately, J.R. fed Aaron and he calmed down, and CHOP didn't need to take blood work. It's just a rash that they commonly see in the summertime. Phew. Two kids, two ER visits, one summer. I'm done!

We found a new apartment. It's not far from where we are now. The living room is bigger, so I'm very excited that I'll actually be able to have guests over. I'm looking forward to having a stamp party, and to having some of my student e-boards over for dinner/mentoring. The boys room is bigger too, so Aaron can actually go into his own room (well, with his brother) instead of staying in his pack and play in our room.

The past three nights I've been putting Aaron down for bed around 8:30 PM. He'll wake up 1 1/2-2 hours later, then around 5 or 6 am, so he's not quite ready for that early of a bedtime, but he'll get there! He's really a good sleeper. Most nights he does sleep all night. Ben's been sick with a fever for the past two days, so he's been sleeping with me. I've put Aaron in the crib to get him used to it, but end up putting him back in the pack and play after Ben falls asleep. Hopefully in the new place, I can get Ben to start going to bed earlier.

Well, for having nothing to say, I've said a lot. I guess there is more going on than I thought!

New Daycare

Ben started a new daycare today - hooray! I just found out that the daycare where I work will now take 12 month old babies. I'm so excited. It's cheaper, and he'll be so close to me. And...they feed him! It's great. If there is something going on at work, I can pick him up and bring him. If I miss him and want to stop by, I can, although I wouldn't want to interrupt his routine, so I probably won't. I was able to visit a few weeks ago to check it out and everyone was so nice. All the teachers are certified and have been there for years. We went for 1/2 a day today, so that Ben could meet the other kids and teachers, and they could see what he's like. He had a great day. They said he played well with the other kids and he didn't fuss. He had french toast and an apple slice for breakfast and pizza and spinach for lunch. However, he wasn't digging the spinach. I picked him up as they were finishing, and he was throwing it on the ground. I took him back to the office for the rest of the day. He got to visit with a bunch of students and my co-workers. He had a ball. He was walking all over the place, laughing and playing games. Such a cutie. Since I picked him up before his nap, I was able to get him to sleep for about 20 minutes in the office. I found something for Julie to use her leftover Spring Fling t-shirts for.

Ben's first official day at the new daycare is Monday. For the next five weeks, I'll be putting him in for 3 days (saving me more money). I'm going to work from home two days next week, and one day the week after. After that, I have a bunch of vacation time I'm taking, which allows me to be able to do this. I'm so thankful that my bosses are letting me do this!

Good, better, best

First news.....BEN SLEPT ALL NIGHT!!!! WOO HOO!!!! It's not the first time, but the first time in a long, long time. He's feeling better - no runny nose or anything. And, I think he's finally settled back in from travelling. I think it's going to be a while before we travel again (sorry mom and mom). At least not during the month of January, but we are busy the rest of January weekends anyway.

Next news.... Ben had a good day at daycare!! Yay!!! He even took an hour and a half nap. The teacher says he seems happier, especially since he's eating more. She says he loves to eat! He's eating food 3x a day now - cereal and two of whatever J.R. packs (apples, pears, whatever). Then of course he eats at home too. We've been putting 5 oz in his bottles too, so I think it's working! Woo hoo!

Ben ate from me around 8 pm then fell asleep. He's still sleeping and it's after 10 pm. I was going to wake him up around 9 pm, but decided not too. I really didn't think he'd sleep this long. I'm still not sure he'll stay down all night, but we'll see what this will turn into.

Oh - here's some more video of Ben in the jumper. I figured since the other was so dark, this might be better.

A good day for Ben

I saw the director at day care today. I pulled her aside and gently told her that, although I'm sure she didn't mean it, the comment she made to me on Friday hurt me. She said she was joking and apologized several times. She said she joked like that to another dad of a cranky baby, but after she said it to me, she could tell it didn't go over well with me. She apologized again and we talked about other Ben stuff. She, along with two others said Ben had a good day today, even took an hour nap. The director says she gets teased because they say she spoils Ben - she'll pick him up and hold him when he cries. At least I know he's being soothed and not just sitting alone to cry.

J.R. says hi.

Chloe

I haven't seen the director at daycare, so I haven't been able to say anything. J.R. picked Ben up yesterday and he said everyone was nice. His first impression of the place is that it's old. Yeah. It is a large old house turned into a daycare. It's not a new building built just for this purpose, so yeah, it's kinda old. It's ok though. Ben did ok yesterday. He cried a little in the morning, but did well in the afternoon and even took a nap. Hopefully, things are getting better. Food may have something to do with it. I think he should be drinking more than what we have been packing, so we are starting to pack more. Hopefully this helps.

Ben loves Chloe. We took her to the park the other night. Ben and I sat on a bench and I threw a stick for Chloe. Everytime Chloe would run back to us, Ben cracked up laughing it was so funny. I'd throw the stick, Chloe would get it and come back, Ben would laugh. Throw, return, laugh. It was really cute. He's really been noticing her around the house too. If he's upset and Chloe walks into the room, he'll immediately quiet down and smile at Chloe. He reaches out for her face - will grab her cheek/eye/nose. She's so good, that she just takes it. She'll look at me for help sometimes, or will walk away if she gets loose, but I'll call her back so he can do it again! - HA.

Birthday and Daycare

Yesterday was J.R.'s birthday! Happy Birthday love! We celebrated by going to a minor league hockey game - the Philadelphia Phantoms. One more goal and we could have had a free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery! Darn it! Oh well. They still won, so that's good. Here's a picture from Ben's first Hockey game:



That was the good part of the night. Earlier, I picked up Ben from daycare. The director was sitting at the front desk when I came in. Instead of saying hello to me, she used a deep devil's voice to say "TAAAKE HIIIM!!!". I was so upset. I just said "Oh, that's nice" as I walked by her. I was like, nice greeting lady. Thanks for telling me you hate having my kid in your class (she's the director but also works in the nursery). I continued to walk by, then turned around to say something, then turned back around and got Ben. I thought if I had said something, I would have reacted, and not responded. I've been letting it sit over the weekend, and I'll let her know how upset she made me when I see her next week. I really almost cried. I mean, I know he cries alot, but don't make me think you don't like having him. Besides, that's what I pay them for. I'm really upset. I hate it because Ben's upset all day too. I wish there was something I could do. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.