A Momentous Evening!

When Sylvain and I were first married, living in a tiny, two bedroom apartment, we used to eat dinner slowly and talk about the future.  We'd sit at our tiny, two-person table long after we finished eating because we always had more wine to drink and more talking to do.  Sometimes we'd talk for hours, then we'd suddenly look around at all the dishes on the table, and one of us would joke, "Where the heck are those kids??  They have to clear this table!"  Then usually the other one would add, "No, seriously, though.  We really need some kids to do the dishes."

Well guess what, people?  Tonight was the night!  After the spray can incident, I started realizing that Sylvia is much taller than I give her credit for, especially on her tip toes.  If she reaches up really high, and stands waaaay up on her tippy toes, the girl can totally reach the darn sink!  Last week I started giving her things to put in the sink - sippy cups, mostly.  But after dinner tonight, she wanted to clear the table!  I'm not joking.  We handed her a fork...then her little plastic plate...then a serving spoon.  Before we knew it, she had put ALL the dishes in the sink, all the condiments in the refrigerator or on the counter (the salt and pepper almost hit the floor, but she worked very carefully to get it up there!), and all the towels and hot plates back in the bottom drawer.  Before you call me a slave driver, let me tell you that she loved it!  She giggled her way around the kitchen like she owned the place.  And Sylvain and I sat there, in amazement, remembering that night 5 years ago when we wished for this to happen.  It was a glorious feeling!  I'm sure her enthusiasm for nightly chores will last all of one week, at best.

In other news...

Here's the new activity we'll be working on for 5-10 minutes every night until it finallly sinks in:

Sylvia's been biting again, and this time it's the same little boy at day care!  Ugh!  It's so hard to teach a tiny tot to stop biting.  It occured to me this week that at dinner we tell her to take "big bites" and "lots of bites" but when she comes home from day care with bad news we say "NO BITE!"  So Mama Nerd made some cards for her - what do we bite and what do we NOT bite?  She wanted to add a picture of Daddy and the baby, so the post its were like Round Two.  Now they're all on the refrigerator and we can practice, practice, practice!  She's not getting it at all, but maybe with lots of repetition and conversation, it'll finally sink in.  I'm sure when A.J. gets his hands on a toy she wants, she'll immediately think of cards on the fridge.  Sheesh.  A Mom can dream.

Aunt Patty

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Sylvia goes to my Aunt Patty's house during the day.  We are so blessed to have Aunt Patty in our lives!  (And Uncle Roger, and cousins Kyle, Courtney, and Kevin, of course - they're there too, I guess; but we always just call it "Aunt Patty's House.")  Patty watches my cousin's son, Nolan, and another boy, Will, during these days as well.  Let me tell you something - Sylvia LOVES Aunt Patty's House!

I always knew that Aunt Patty would be a wonderful sitter for Sylvia because I remember when she was dating my uncle when I was a little girl, and she was always SO much fun to play with.  I did not, however, realize that Aunt Patty might as well be a day care director!  She does so many wonderful, engaging, educational activities with these three little ones.  How lucky is that? 

My favorite "project" so far has been the handprint Christmas tree, which is still hanging on our fridge because I plan to frame it sometime between now and next Christmas.  Anyone who is willing to dip my child's hand in paint is a saint, in my book.  That's one thing we have not yet done at our house, and now, I'm in no hurry!

Sylvia's favorite project, however, was this one:

Sylvia came home Wednesday afternoon with her very own birdfeeder!  As soon as I saw it, I asked if she wanted to hang it in a tree for the birdies, and YES she did!  We hung it on that low branch right above her head, then she picked up sticks off the ground and tried to touch the bird feeder with each one.  Such fun!

Today, we looked out the window and saw no birds, but I'm sure they're enjoying Sylvia's masterpiece anyway.  Thanks, Aunt Patty!  You're the BEST!

Now I Know Why People Hire Nannies

Let me just give you a run down of our lovely week:  Monday was the highlight.  I was allowed to take the day off work so I could go to Frankfort for National Board Certified Teacher Day!  For real!  The Governor declared it!  I went to a reception at the Governor's Mansion!  It was fancy and I loved every second of it.  Next came a ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building, followed by a visit to the Senate and House of Representatives where everyone stood up and clapped for us.  Just lovely.  Really, really - a wonderful day.

Except...

Right before the ceremony I got a call from day care.  Wonh woooonnnnnhhhhhh.....

Sylvia was fussy and pulling on her ears.  I was supposed to get my picture taken in five minutes, so the magic tricks I pulled on that cell phone in the following minutes should have qualified me for some sort of Mommy-phone award.  I called Sylvain and told him he had to go get her.  I called the doctor and made an appointment.  I called Sylvain back and told him what time the appointment was.  I called day care to tell them Sylvain was on his way.  Boom!  I raced into the Rotunda just in time to smile for the camera.  Ta da!!!!

By Monday night, we were giving Sylvia amoxicillin for an ear infection.  Boo to the hoo.  She was not a happy camper.  Sylvain stayed home with her on Tuesday and by Tuesday night she was as good as new!  Then Wednesday rolled around and I started feeling yucky at school.  By Wednesday night I was shivering in bed with a fever, so I stayed home Thursday, hoping that would take care of it.  It didn't.

Enter the world's greatest fixer upper......GRAMMY!!!

Mom had planned to stay with us Thursday night so she could spend Friday with sweet Sylvia, and I have never been so happy to see her in my life!  She arrived late Thursday, and when we all woke up this morning, Mom gave Sylvia her bottle, and Mom got her up and Mom played with her.  And I.....I got to get ready for work like a normal person!  It was amazing.  Unless you count the fact that my throat felt like it was swollen completely shut.  I briefly considered staying home, but decided to go to school and try to schedule a late doctor's appointment.  I have never in all of my life taken two days off in a row, much less three in one week!  Well, except for that one time when I gave birth.  I took a few days off for that.

Mom brought Sylvia to my classroom in the morning, which was really great because the last thing I wanted to do today was stand up and teach!  She read a Dr. Seuss book to my class and they ooohed and ahhhed over Sylvia for a glorious 30 minutes.  For the rest of the day, while I was trying really hard not to pass out, Mom kept sending me pictures of Sylvia with cute little messages.  Here's the cutest pic, which really brightened up my crappy day.

I just kept thinking "Thank goodness she's with Grammy.  At least I don't have to worry about a call from day care today!"

I went to the doctor and found out I have strep throat!  Awesome!  I waited for a million years in the waiting room, then I waited for another million years at the pharmacy, and I assumed that Mom would be long gone by the time I got home, since she has to work tomorrow morning.  But guess what!  She was there.  With dinner on the table.  And she cleaned my house.  I'm not even kidding, people.  My house was clean.  My baby was happy (and eating real food!  Yippee!), my hubby was happy, and there was a roast in the oven.  Then, as if that wasn't glorious enough, she stuck around to wash the dishes before she drove off into the rainy sunset.

I feel like we just had a visit from Mary Poppins herself.  Thanks, Grammy!

I'm a Crazy Lady

For 361 days of the year, I'm and SO SO glad to be married to a teacher.  But for those other four days, I hate it.

Sylvain and I both have parent-teacher conferences this week on Wednesday and Thursday night. I wish we could stagger our days for conferences, but our district mandates that we make ourselves available for three hours a night, two nights in a row - the SAME two nights - if we want to get paid for our time.  Boo!!

Since we're both occupied until long after day care closes, we've had to enlist the help of some very loving relatives to take care of the Nugget.  Mamie (Sylvain's mom) is picking her up from day care tomorrow night and watching her until we get home.  Grammy (my Mom) is rushing down here Thursday evening to take care of her, but she can't get here until just after day care closes, which means we had to call in the big guns....

Jordan gets to pick up Sylvia from day care on Thursday and bring her to our house until Mom gets here.  Can't you just see the excitement (or mischief) in her face?!  Does she not look like a total evil mastermind in this picture?!  I love it!

I know she'll be totally fine and they'll have a blast, and to be honest, I don't even care if she cries for two solid hours, as long as SOMEONE has her in their possession.  Does that make me a terrible mother?  Meh.  Whatever.

In my attempt to be organized and ready for this two day whirlwind adventure, I managed to type up a two-page instruction manual on how to take care of a 10 month old baby.  For two hours.  It's a little much, I'm sure, but I just want to make sure they know everything they need to know!

Wish us luck.  It's gonna be a long week!

Gaaaaahhhhhrrrgggg......

....is the only word that can describe my thoughts at the moment.  I spent all of last week figuring out how to send a kid to day care, and I've decided it will take me the rest of this week to figure out how to get everything done at work in the short amount of time I have each day.  I wish I could show you a chart with three columns - one for my old school-day schedule, one for my stay-at-home-with-a-baby schedule, and one for the OH MY GOD I HAVE TO DO BOTH OF THESE???? schedule.  The first two columns would look normal and the third column would look like an ink pen exploded on it.  And there would probably be some baby puke on it too. 

Needless to say, this transition from home to work has been a bit daunting.  I had a few practice days of day care, which were very useful insomuch as they gave me three days to cry before I had anything too important or pressing to do at work.  It turns out I only needed one day to cry and then I was done.  That's how much I love my job.  Last week, though, was the real, honest-to-goodness, on the go from 6am to 10pm, days.  Not counting the middle of the night 20 minute feeding sessions, which, thanks to my blessed child, have been diminished to one.  One feeding at 4 am, and sometimes not until 6 am.  This kid is good.  Really, really good. 

But people, I feel like I am running ragged from sun up to sun down - and I have a husband who easily does half the work when we're home!  How does ANYONE do this??  I wake up at 6:00 and give myself a pep talk that goes something like this: "Okay, Rach.  It's time to wake up.  DON'T HIT THAT SNOOZE BUTTON OR YOUR ENTIRE DAY WILL BE NINE MINUTES OFF!!"  And that's pretty much all it takes to get me out of bed.  I shower, get myself ready, eat breakfast (if I remember), fold some laundry, and wake up the nugget for her morning feeding, after which I slap some play clothes on her and strap her into her carrier because we have got to GO.  I drop her off, unpack her things in her room at day care, and give her a big fat kiss.  I walk slowly out of the door so I don't look like a complete idiot to all of the other well-adjusted and put-together parents, then, when no one's looking, I sprint to my car and rush to work.   I run around like a maniac at work all day, squeezing in a pumping session or two, get home, nurse the nugget, eat dinner, feed the nugget baby food, wash dishes, start a load of laundry, bathe the nugget, and put the nugget to bed, which happens to be the most amazing and relaxing 20 minutes of my day.  After bedtime, I somehow manage to muster enough energy to check my email or call my mom, before WHAM!  It's 9:30pm and I have no idea where my day just went.  Oh, but wait!  I can't go to bed until I pump again, wash some bottles, and get all of Sylvia's bottles and bags ready for day care the next day.  It's only been one week and I feel like I'm losing my freaking mind!

Phew.  But....

Seeing her smile when I walk in the door makes it totally worth it.  I have, and I'm not exaggerating, the most wonderful, adorable, delightful child on the entire planet.  I've met a lot of kids, and mine is the coolest.  Hands down.  No contest.  The three of us managed to sit down on the couch for about 15 minutes between dishes and bath time tonight, and it was the most wonderful 15 minutes of the last two weeks.  It was a nice, quiet, peaceful time where all 3 of us were just simply and wonderfully....together.  I know we'll get this down soon enough.  I know this will get easier, and at times, I know it will be harder.  For now, we're all just running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but we're enjoying every blessed minute of it!

A Mama's Prayer

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mary Virgin Mother, all the Saints and Angels in Heaven (including Grandpas Neltner, Humbert and Eiben, and Granny, and Cindy, and Jerry, and anyone else who's living in God's love):


Watch over my baby.

Keep her safe.

Keep her happy.

Shine your love on her while she's in someone else's care. See that they are gentle, patient, and kind. See that they attend to her needs. That they dry her tears, hold her, rock her, play with her.

Wrap her in your warmth and comfort her when I cannot. Stand over her while she sleeps in another crib.

Bless her. Bless her. Bless her.

And while you're at it, help me make it through the day, too. Help me to focus on the kids in my own care, the ones who need me. Help me look at them with a mother's eyes, love them with a mother's heart. Give all of us the strength, wisdom and patience to make it through another school year.

Thank you for your love. I see it everywhere I go.

Watch over my baby.

Amen.

As you can see, my baby goes to day care for the first time tomorrow. I know there are so many more important things going on the world and that I should save some room in my prayers for all of the hurt and suffering people out there, but tonight, I pray for her and for me. If you have an extra minute for us, maybe you could sqeeze us into your prayers too. Right between starving children and people who have cancer.

Day Care

I can't even type those words without wanting to simultaneously breathe into a paper bag.  I've done a lot of research on day care centers in our area and we already chose one that's close, convenient and came highly recommended by lots of friends and co-workers.  We visited many day cares while I was pregnant and I even visited this particular day care a second time before filling out the necessary paperwork just to be SURE that it's the perfect place for us.  And it is, I know it is.  But this morning I had to talk to them about starting Sylvia a week earlier than I had originally planned, so instead of calling, I thought she and I could go pay a visit so I could see the place one more time and ask them a million more questions that have come up since she's been born.  No biggie, I thought.  We'll just go take a peek. 

The good news is, it's just like I remembered it.  The nursery room for infants is lit with small lamps and has soothing music playing.  Each sweet little crib has each sweet little baby's name on it, so she'll have her own little space to sleep and chill out.  They have lots of toys which I know she will love.  There are swings and bouncy chairs and a huge assortment of other baby-friendly things that we just don't have at home, so I know she will absolutely love it.  The young college-aged girl who works in the infant room is very nice and seems more than capable of taking care of many babies.  In fact, it was clear that the babies there all love her.  Sylvia smiled when she said hello to her, so I know she'll take very good care of my baby.  Also, and most importantly, the whole place is...quiet.  Every time I've been there I make a point NOT to call ahead, to just "pop in" and talk to them about a few things, and every time I'm always so impressed by how mellow and calm the atmosphere is there.  Of course, there's a fussy baby here and there, but I've never heard more than one baby at a time crying and that one crying baby is only crying for a minute before someone comes to soothe it.  As a former daycare worker, I know that this is nothing less than a miracle.  These people know what they're doing and I know in my heart that it's the right, and best, place for us. 

But you guys, that was hours ago, and I'm just now returning to a normal breathing pattern. 

I strapped Sylvia in the car when we left, climbed into the front seat, shut the door, and proceeded to hyperventilate.  I was looking at her in the rear view mirror and saying things like, "Isn't that place great, honey?" pant, pant, pant..."You're just going to love it there!" pant, pant, pant...heart about to explode..."You'll make so many new friends!" pant, pant, pant...burst into tears.  And I didn't even leave her there yet!  I don't have to leave her there for another month!  Poor Sylvia has a basket case for a mother.

As I drove around running errands, I had to calm myself down.  I reminded myself that this is what's best for us both.  She'll be around other babies and I get to be around adults again.  We picked a wonderful place and I really am excited about going back to work.  I have a teacher's schedule, so she doesn't have to be there every day - we get lots of days off, including holidays and, oh yeah, summers.  She's really got it pretty easy compared to most babies in day care.  It'll be fine.  It really will be fine.  She'll love it, I'll love it, everyone will adjust accordingly and our family will be A-Okay.

So why do I feel like I need a stiff drink?  Perhaps because I know there's just no substitute for a mom.