Daycare Ups and Downs

We made it through Avery's first week of daycare and my first official week back to work. Avery did the best she could but I think it will take a few weeks before we are all comfortable with this new routine. It was a big change for all 3 of us. Everyone keeps telling us that it takes time and it will get easier...I miss seeing her all day but I also get SO excited to go and pick her up. I know that, ultimately, daycare will be good for her and working again will be good for me. I am looking forward to the day when it doesn't feel so new and foreign.


Thankfully, it's the weekend and we get to spend lots of time together the next 2 days!

The Good:

• Avery's daycare is literally 3 minutes from our house and we can go visit whenever we want. I went twice this week between work calls - once to feed her and once to just play with her. With it being so close it also allows us to take her in a little later and pick her up earlier.
• We love her teachers. Her main teacher, Ms. Dee, is the sweetest grandma you'll ever meet. She is so patient and kind with the babies. When I was feeling frustrated that Avery wasn't taking her bottles she told me "You want a baby with an opinion and it's good that she is so strong willed. And, she will figure this out"
• She's starting to nap better and actually took 2 hour long naps today (better than her 20 minute naps earlier in the week)
• Avery seems to enjoy the new toys and the other babies
• She is definitely getting lots of stimulation - she has been going to bed amazingly well at night. It's obvious she is really playing and taking everything in during the day and it's wearing her out!
• Work is going well for me - It's been good catching up with colleagues and using my brain for things non-Avery

The Bad:

• She is really having trouble taking a bottle. On Thursday she did well and actually took all 4 of her 2 oz. bottles but today she was only able to take one bottle and refused the rest. We both miss nursing during the day (and pumping 3x/day is not much fun) but we are going to be diligent about doing bottles this weekend in hopes it will help her catch on quicker.
• When she doesn't eat she can get pretty panicked and worked up and it breaks my heart to see her so sad.
• Avery is very sensitive to the other babies crying. There was another new infant this week, Beau, who was also having some trouble adjusting. And they ended up having to move Beau to the "big infant" room because whenever he cried it made Avery cry and then he would cry because she was crying and so on and so on. It was actually pretty funny - they did make up later this week. When I picked her up on Thursday they were in boppy's next to each other playing. But, in general, when the other babies get worked up she reacts.
• The biggest negative - We miss hanging out with Avery all day!

On my way to my first day of school!