Movin' On Up!

First day of work for Mommy and school for Olivia!

A little over one year ago, my husband and I dropped our daughter off at day care for the first time.  We stepped through the classroom doors into a room full of pack-n-plays, bouncers and swings and all I remember is how overwhelmed I felt standing there in that room clutching my baby and not wanting to let go.  The start of day care was the start of me worrying about someone else in the morning.  During the first eight weeks, Olivia and I had gone to bed when we wanted, and we had gotten up when we wanted (I use the term "WE" very loosely here, as I was clearly on Olivia's schedule).  But with the arrival of Olivia, I could no longer wait until the last minute to shower or do my make-up or fix my lunch.  Everything had to be planned in advance.  And on that first day of work for me, and school for Olivia, I got up at 5:00 AM so that I could be showered and ready to go by the time Olivia awoke at 6:30 AM.  Yet, even with the 1.5 hour head start, I was still ill prepared for just how much she would take over my morning (and my life!), mostly because all I wanted to do was sit there with her instead of doing the necessities, like preparing bottles or finishing getting myself ready.

With a full year under our belt, we could not be more pleased with the care that has been provided for our daughter.  I am not exactly certain what I had expected from our day care, but they have far exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had in my head.  It is an amazing feeling to be able to go to work and know that your child is safe, happy and well attended to and that all her wants and needs are being met.  The teachers have helped Olivia along with her therapy and stretches, they have helped with her eating habits and even sought out the perfect sippy cup for Olivia when Mike and I were striking out in finding one that she liked and could easily hold with one hand.  The teachers in the day care class have gone above and beyond for my daughter and for that, I am forever grateful.  

Each time I pick Olivia up we receive a "Baby Gram" that provides the details of her day from her nap times, to the times she ate, to the times she went to the bathroom.  If there is something amiss, we are able to know about it right away with the notes the teachers leave for us each day.  However, typically, in the rush to get Olivia and get home so that we can play, eat, take a bath and go to bed, I rarely have a chance to read the Baby Gram until I start preparing dinner (or more realistically, when Mike starts making dinner).  As I picked up Olivia the other week, I noticed a note attached to her sheet and I didn't really think too much of it, as there are often notes from the teachers to bring in diapers or wipes when Olivia is running low.  I picked up Olivia, the Baby Gram, and I grabbed Olivia's bag and away we went to her car seat.  After she was secured in her own seat, I walked around to the drivers side and sat down and buckled myself in.  For some reason, something about this Baby Gram was calling my name today, so I flipped to the note that was attached and it read:  

WELCOME TO TODDLER CLASS!

AND.I.BAWLED.  Right there in the parking lot of school.  I had worked myself into quite the water works just from reading a few little words.  How could this be happening already?  Olivia was movin' on up to the next class!  No more pack-n-plays, no more bouncers and definitely no more swings.  It will be on to activities, music and crafts for our little girl.  And I am terrified and excited all at the same time.  Typically children move into the toddler class with the ability to walk and move easily (or as easily as most new walkers move) throughout the room.  Olivia is still a few months away from walking.  But I think moving to a class with "big kids" will help her, much like a second child typically walks much sooner than their older sibling did, the big kids will provide an example for Olivia to follow.  

SO BIG!

I know that Olivia is ready for what lies before her in the Toddler Class.  She has figured out how to utilize her left side with ease and we are working on her adding the right side on a more frequent basis.  Around this time next year I know I will be sitting in my car crying again when I see the introduction to the next class attached to Olivia's information sheet.  Even though I constantly think of Olivia's development, it helps to know that she is in great hands at day care and I know that her new teachers in the toddler class will be just as amazing as her day care teachers.  So for now, I will sit back and enjoy the last few weeks of the nursery and be thankful for her teachers that have played a huge part in getting her to where she is today.