It just keeps getting better...

It has been a difficult transition for Anna Claire - going from staying home with Mommy and Daddy full-time to the Red Barn. For the first two weeks, my child was doing good to get 11 1/2 hours of sleep, including naps. She was hardly eating - at daycare or at home. Larry and I were so worried about her. On top of that she caught the cold virus that was going around and began to cut two molars. It's also hard passing off your baby and to leave her kicking and screaming. Harder still is hearing anecdotes and about milestones, and wishing you were there for them.

Here's where it gets better: after two weeks, I am VERY pleased to say that I have one happy baby. In fact, I have never seen her happier. She is eating most/all of her snacks and meals, and sometimes wants seconds. She is sleeping an additional half hour each night. She is so tired from her day, she is easily bedding down 30 minutes earlier. She is napping an hour or more - an improvement from the 30-40 minutes she was clocking in on week one.

When Anna Claire wakes up in the morning, she is all smiles...lots of "talking". I am so glad she is a morning person.

When I drop her off, she is a big girl. She goes to Miss Keisha or Miss Johnna without crying. I worried about leaving her so early because her main teachers are not at the Barn yet, but she likes Keisha and Johnna a lot. I like them too.

When I pick her up, she is usually finishing up snack. All of the teachers are so eager to run up to me and tell me about her day and how good she was. I can tell they really like her, and that makes me happy and reassured.

When we get home, Anna Claire is just fun. She wants to cruise, talk, give me hugs, and have me read her books. She is such a little book worm, it's great.

The periodic fussiness that Larry and I saw over the summer has dissipated. We just have this wonderful child who seems to enjoy life. And we enjoy her!

Milestones...

Anna Claire is learning so much, so fast. She can do signs for Itsy Bitsy Spider ("out comes the sun" and she does a pretty decent spider going up the spout). Of course, she loves to clap, give high-fives, and play peekaboo. She can now moo like a cow and meow like a cat, which are both consistently pronounced "Mmmmmmmm". Two arms up in the air means multiple things: arms up, look up, and point. She will touch her feet and head when asked; IF SHE WANTS TO, she will open her mouth and show you her tongue if asked. She is still saying "Did it, did it, did it" for Dora's "We Did It" song. It's funny how you learn what babies mean.

What I think is neat is she already is thinking outside of herself. She LOVES to feed Mommy. If I say I love anything she is eating for snack or mealtime, it will be put in my mouth. If anyone asks her for something she does not hesitate to give it to them. I am so pleased about this!

I love being a mom more than anything and I am so blessed to have this amazing little girl in my life!

Starting Daycare

Anna Claire is acclimating to her new class, teachers and little friends, and being away from Mommy. I can tell she likes The Red Barn and has lots of fun. Just ask her, and she'll tell you (insert Anna Claire's enthusiastic head nod and hand clap here.)

Here is a video her teacher took for me on Friday for their Wet and Wild Water Day: