Cherry Blossom Heart: Abby: Week 11 Transitions and Labor Day Weekend

11 Weeks

This week marked the beginning of another huge first for Abby. Transition Week. This is the week we started going to school (a/k/a daycare) a little at a time so it's not so traumatizing next week when she'll be there full time. We started off by adjusting her sleep schedule at home. See, this isn't only a transition for Abby, it's a transition for Mommy and Daddy too. Mommy has to figure out what time I need to get up and feed her so that I still have time to get ready for work myself. Not as easy as you would think, well, at least not at first. Mommy learned quickly that it is best to do as much as I can to prep things the night before. Sounds easy right, well.....it's actually harder for Mommy than you would think. Mommy would much rather just play and snuggle with Abby than clean her pump, pack her lunch, get the coffee ready to be brewed in the morning, pick out Abby's outfit for the next day, pick out her outfit for the next day, pack the diaper bag, label bottles and what else.....I'm sure there is more. So anyway, I guess part of being a good Mommy is being all responsible and stuff....geesh.....I guess if I have to. ;)

Our new routine starts with waking Abby up at 5 am to eat. Then we are able to all get ready and head out to drop Abby off at 6:30 a.m. On Monday we got there and wasn't sure if they were even open yet. The lights were on so we headed in. Sure enough we were the first ones there. (I guess that is what happens when Daddy and Mommy have to be to work so early and it's a 30-40 minute commute.) Nana came with us to see the daycare. Nana had her own daycare for years so she was going to be pretty critical of this place. We got there and met the teachers and little Miss Abby was......sleeping. Yup, she slept right through the introductions and the walk through. So much for getting her used to the place. Mommy and Daddy got the paperwork they needed and Nana brought Abby back home. We made a plan for Nana to bring Abby back that week when she was more awake.

Mommy and Daddy were planning on going back that Wednesday after work for our orientation. Nana decided she would bring Abby to school earlier that afternoon and leave her there on her own for an hour or two and then come back when Mommy and Daddy got there. The plan kinda worked.....kinda. Nana had a harder time than she thought she would leaving Abby. Nana showed up at 1 with Abby and cried while walking her into school. Then she cried a little while she was there. Then she FINALLY left Abby there alone at 3 (as she cried a little more leaving her) then went shopping and got ice cream to help her depression. After a little more crying, Nana went back to school to see Abby. Nana had been there so much that day they asked for her tax ID information so they could get her on the payroll! :) Now Abby on the other hand did great. She slept, ate, was changed and played in the swing for a bit. Guess it really is us adults who need the transition more than the kids.

Now, remember how I said that Nana was going to be very critical of this place, well I was so happy to get the big thumbs up from Nana!! She loves this school for Abby. That makes Mommy feel good knowing we got Nana's approval. So for the rest of the week Nana brought Abby in and she got to spend more time at school. She did pretty good, but there are a few things she will have to get used to. She is used to sleeping on her back at night, but she has been at an angle and she is swaddled. They can't swaddle the babies when they sleep because of state regulations. Nothing (including blankets) can be in the crib with them. So Abby didn't get a good nap because it was a little unfamiliar to her, not to mention the other boy who was having a fit during her nap time. Yeah, she woke up to that. Something else she is going to have to get used to. Mommy has sent a sleep sack with swaddle attached to school. They said they can use those. Mommy said if she can't get to sleep just laying on her back with no blanket, then put her in that and she will fall right asleep. The other thing she will have to work on is patience. Yup, I figured this would be an issue for her. Now that she is not the only kid in the room she has to wait her turn for food and to be picked up. Apparently she got a little mad at her teacher Miss Mary for not getting to her fast enough. Nana had a talk with Abby when she heard this and told her she needs to wait her turn. Something tells me she is not going to like that. Oh well kid, going to have to learn it someday. :)

So overall the transition went fairly well, Mommy is still a bit nervous for Tuesday to roll around when she will be there for about 10 hours. Luckily Nana will be right down the street at the house in case she is needed.

Abby has a big first that excites Mommy.....she slept through the night!!!! She slept from about 9:30- 5:00 am when Mommy woke her up to eat!! She actually did this two night in a row. Now here is the downside. Mommy has changed her bassinet back to a flat surface, not angled, so that she can get used to sleeping flat and sure enough....there goes the sleeping through the night. She was up at 12, 3:30 and 5:30. Good thing we did that on Friday night so Mommy didn't have to go to work the next day. We tried it again the next night and she was up at 1 and 5:30. Getting better! We are hoping she will go back to sleeping through the night again as soon as she gets used to being flat on her back all night.

Other than these couple of transitions the week has been pretty standard. Lots of playing, being outside and even some traveling around to run errands. Next weekend is Daddy's birthday!! We are planning a BBQ to celebrate so we are looking forward to that!! Plus, Mommy and Abby are working on a pretty sweet birthday present for Daddy. You'll just have to wait until next week to find out what it is. :)

I love my Miss Monkey!!