Friendly cyber-faces

So I officially know that I'm not talking to myself.  I'm ok with that because I know the people I told, won't hold anything I say against me.  Plus, I have nothing bad to say about any of them!  My friend T however, did mention that she hoped I talked about the transition to daycare.  T has a 7 (gasp, really??) month old son as well so she knows what it's like.  So, I thought it was a good topic, especially since our first couple weeks at daycare were quite eventful...

I don't feel like there was really a transition to daycare.  It was more like the time I got pushed into the deep end without my swimmies.  The first two weeks I felt like I was drowning for many reasons, and I have just recently reached the surface and can breathe again.  SO, here we go....

Two days BD (Before Daycare....)

My mother and I drove 12 (or what turned into 14.5) hours from South Carolina where they live to my house, with N.  We had been there for 3 weeks over christmas visiting my family and it was awesome.  So we arrived at home, A waiting patiently for us with pizza and wine.

One day BD

I spent the entire day playing with N, deciding what cute outfit he was going to wear to DC, which was not easy because we were kind of between sizes at that point, and as usual, doing laundry.  I put him down and he slept through the night as usual, unlike his mother.  I was up at least 13 times, thinking of all the things I HAD to tell them at DC or things that I forgot to put in the bag to bring.

D-Day

I woke up early, I had a full day of work scheduled, which I was really grateful for.  That way I was distracted.  So I got up and picked up my smiling boy from his crib.  Fed him and cuddled with him for a bit, then reluctantly got up and started dressing him.  I put on the cute little coordinated outfit that I had picked out for him, which he then proceeded to puke all over.  It was OK though!  I knew my little man and had planned for this, I took out the backup outfit and RE dressed him.  Finally ready to go, I took him downstairs I grabbed the bags, there were multiple, and strapped him into the car, and off we went!  It's only a five minute (or less) drive to the center so we got there and Laura, the director met me at the door.  They must have had some REALLY emotional moms because she was handling me like I was a mental patient who could be set off at any minute.  "So we're going to go back here.  Look, I'm putting his car seat just here, not to worry.  This is his crib, look I'm putting his blankie, and his paci, and his ellie (stuffed elephant lovey thingy) right here..."  I almost smacked her.  This was the point though, where I looked around the room at the three women and had a revelation.  They do this ALL THE TIME.  Why should I be worried about them taking care of my child?  This is their job, it's what they've done for years!!  In the hospital they trusted me with a newborn and I had NO CLUE what I was doing.  So very calmly I handed N to Bella, the DC teacher and she put him in the excersaucer.  He was so happy and started playing immediately.  I looked at Laura and said "I need to go NOW" and I kissed him and walked out of the room.  I didn't look back, he was happy, I wrote Laura the check and then I walked out.  I just walked out.  I knew if I didn't I would never make it out of there...

Fast forward 2 days post DC

A is out of town.  N is at daycare and has been a dream. The teachers tell me what a great baby he is.  He's taking the bottles like a champ and is always happy.  I'm in the middle of teaching a class and....hm...that's not right... All of a sudden I am throwing up constantly.  It is 3 in the afternoon and I have to pick N up at DC.  I'm in a good spot, I feel a little better so I get in the car.  I get there I get N all strapped in, I'm on my way out to the car aaaaaand...yup!  That's right folks, I puked in the parking lot.  The director and everyone else picking up their kids saw me.  I'm now the chick that puked in the parking lot.  I felt better drove home and thanked god that I have such a good kid because I spent the rest of the night throwing up.  N was a dream, nursed when I wasn't nauseous, played himself to sleep, and slept through the night. I was naseous all the next day as well...

Fast forward to 4 days post DC
N, has a cold.  I have NO CHOICE but to take him to DC.  3 other parents are there as I'm telling them that he was up all night coughing and snotting.  Awesome.  Now I'm not just the puking mom, I'm the shitty one that gets everyone elses kids sick. 

Two days later, I too, am sick.  Sick as a dog, and once again, A is out of town.  He has been gone ALOT lately and he feels so bad about it but he really has perfect timing.  He's always gone when we're really in the shit around here.  I was sick until about 4 days ago. 

So for the first two weeks, not only am I starting a new job at my company, trying to impress a new boss, sick (whether its puking or coughing or snotting) and to top it off, trying to pump enough to feed N at DC.  Which is way more stressful than one would think.  Especially when I'm teaching a class online, trying to pump at the same time (because there is NO other time) and using a blanket to mute the sound of the pump so the people in my class don't ask what that weird noise in the background is.

So, the TRANSITION to DC has been interesting.  In a way I think these past couple weeks have made my personal transition alot easier, because I didn't have the time or energy during the day to do anything but get done what I needed to get done.  I didn't have time to worry, or call and check, and we both survived.  They have also taught me alot:

1. Never, ever plan an outfit for an infant.  It's not worth the energy and they will puke, poop, or just drool all over it.
2. No matter how sick you are, as a mother, it is amazing the strength you have when it comes to your child. Somehow, puking my guts out, I still manage to choke down an entire pitcher of water so I can keep feeding him, change his diaper, get him in bed, get him out of bed in the morning and ready for another day at DC.
3. No matter how sick you are, as a mother, it is amazing the strength ONE little smile from your child can give you
4.Single parents and military families are the most incredible people in the world.  I have enough trouble being a part time "single" parent.  I can't imaging doing it full time.
5. Daycare is truly an awesome thing.  I have learned to appreciate my time with my son more, I have learned to appreciate myself more and I have learned to trust other people.  I am not the only person that can take care of N.

I am however, the person who is the best at it ;-)