Baby says Ban The Bottle

August is unfortunately taking after his brother when it comes to his feelings towards The Bottle.  While he started off like a champ at daycare taking 3 bottles a day displaying his passion for eating, he's been on a steady and ornery decline: it's a "good day" if he takes 2 ounces from The Bottle.  It's very frustrating for everyone--especially because he had been doing so well.  The new approach is to help him improve his skills with a sippy cup...day 2 into that and it's going "ok".  

Obviously, I feel like a complete failure with 2 boys who down and out refused the bottle...at least August gave it the ol' college try, but still!!  When I ask my friends how EXACTLY did they introduce the bottle to their babies, they look at me like I've asked them a trick question and they answer with "I just gave it to him/her" and they all started around 4 weeks, so it doesn't sound like I missed something obvious...but it sure feels like it.  Well, thank goodness I've been down this path before and I know that this too shall pass!

First day at daycare

All good things come to an end--even my glorious maternity leave.  Oh sigh.  In prep for heading back to work in a couple weeks, I wanted to ease August into daycare so my first day at work would be less traumatic...for both of us.  So, he did a "trial" for a couple hours last week where he met the teachers and his "classmates"  and went yesterday for most of the day.  I had some concerns because he was not taking a bottle without getting VERY upset.  After the trial day, I asked the lead teacher how it went and she said "I see what you mean about how angry he gets over the bottle.  It looks like we have some work to do." Wa-waaa.  That was a downer, of course; as I had flashbacks of Boden's dislike for the bottle and how he opted for lots of nighttime feeding so he could avoid the bottle at daycare.  When Tuesday rolled around, I thawed out milk and filled bottles and crossed my fingers that August's hunger would beat out his distaste for the bottle.  And, it seems it did!!  It doesn't sound like it was easy, but one of the teachers spent some time with him and figured out the right combination of rocking, holding and singing to him to get him to eat.  (Cue angels singing :-) ).  August was beat when I picked him up but was mostly happy, until some older baby crawled over to his bouncy chair and whacked him on the face :). His teachers said he was so smiley (I'm sure of that) and such a happy guy.  Whew. 

We've got a couple more "test" days left before I go back to work, so hopefully they all go this well or better!  It's stressful to worry the whole day about your little one but if we conquer this bottle aversion (at least at daycare), I'll be much more at ease.

Nee Haw to the Deen Haw!

Giddy up, li'l pony!

Yea, I have no idea what that means, either, but it's what Boden yells when he rides his rocking horse--usually he's naked amd balancing on one leg while rocking furiously (quite the sight!).  Needless to say, I was a little nervous when I heard that day care was going to have ponies in for the kids to ride.  Per the picture above, looks like Boden kept his clothes on and behaved himself...whew.

"Bubbles"...*grin*

This is the response Boden has been giving all week to anyone who has commented on his haircut.  Here's a typical conversation:

"Boden, did you get your hair cut?" asks one of his teachers or another daycare mom.
"Bubbles."  says a grinning Boden.

Hmmm.  Doesn't make a lot of sense...so then I have to explain how there was this bubble machine that we played with while he was getting his hair cut and even though he was tearful and not entirely happy, the bubbles helped us through the experience.  If he associates haircuts with happy bubbles, that's certainly better than him remembering being sad and/or scared, right.

They call me "Bo-Bo"

I recently learned that Boden's nickname at daycare is "Bo-Bo".  And while it's understandable that a toddler would have problems with "Boden" or "Bodie", I'm kind of hopin' this nickname doesn't stick around too long.  So far, Boden seems attached to it...if you ask "Where's BoBo?", he raises his arms high in the air, as a "Here I am!" sign.

Bad hair day

I picked up Boden from daycare the other day and this is the kid I found. I didn't even know he had enough hair to get a mohawk this high. The teachers thought he looked pretty cute; I thought he looked a little Something about Mary-esque. And, of course, it meant there was no getting out of bathtime that night :(

Official first day

"Spycam" playground picture of Boden being unhappy

It turns out Tuesday was a false-start for the new daycare.  Boden woke up with goop in his eyes--he had the dreaded pink eye we had been waiting for since last Friday.  We certainly didn't want Boden getting a Typhoid Mary reputation by getting everyone else at New Daycare sick so we kept him home.  Todd took him on a field trip to the pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis and Boden spent the rest of his day with Super "Nana" who swooped in to help us out.

Wednesday was his official "first day".  While Boden smiled and waved as I left that morning, I anticipated some sad times were coming.  And, I was right.  Todd can see the daycare playground from his office window so we are well-equipped to "spy" on Boden from afar.  I received a mid-morning report from Todd and it wasn't the best--Boden was playing by himself but was also crying :(

We expect adjustment to take a little while but it is a painful process for all of us.  Boden's teacher did report that he was so well-mannered and very helpful--setting chairs out, washing his hands, helping with the cots...etc.  I don't quite see those same behaviors at home...hmmm...but I'm glad he's doing well at school.

First Day Jitters

Today, we start another first day of daycare.  I'm not regretting our decision to change Boden's daycare, but am not looking forward to this period of transition.  I'm hoping for minimal tears (for all of us), a good nap (for Boden, but I could use one, too), and a happy kid at the end of the day.  Cross your fingers, everyone!

Breaking up is hard to do

On Friday, I finally had the courage to break up with Boden's daycare. I had been dreading it for about a week since we made the decision to move Boden to the daycare that just opened. Ugh.

While the thought of going through another transition gives me instant heartburn, we decided it would be best to hurry up and get it over with. The older he gets and the more time he spends at the current daycare just means stronger bonds to more li'l friends and teachers that we'll have to rip apart. As usual, we are questioning the decision, but hope that in two months, the pain of transition will be behind us and we'll all be lovin' the new daycare (wishful thinking?). We've got two weeks left at the current daycare before the move, so plenty of time to worry about our impending switch.

Not so sensitive

No tears at daycare during drop-off or pick-up this week...and Boden didn't cry either. *smile* His disposition according to his teacher was "cheerful" and "content" (not "sensitive")...I don't know how he pulled that off the whole day, but kudos to him. I don't think they have a checkmark for "demanding". Anyway, we're hoping for a repeat this week and then a three-peat, and then a four-peat...and so on.

Just leave already

This week, Boden will begin his fourth week at his new daycare. Last week, I stayed with him for breakfast on Tuesday and left him in a screaming mess after he'd finished his waffles. On Wednesday, I was taking off his coat and I began to ask his teacher if I was helping or harming the situation by staying through breakfast. Before I got all the words out, she said "I think it actually makes things worse." 'Nough said. I trust her 4 years of experience and dealing with toddlers day in and day out, so I smiled and said "Alrighty. I won't be staying for breakfast anymore." I gave Boden some lovin' and left him in a screaming mess in the arms of his teacher. Same ending, but I walked out without feeling quite so much guilt--I'm doing what my teacher told me to do. I'm looking forward to the day when Boden is not a screaming mess when I leave, though...it will be a better way for everyone to start the day.

Pick it up.

I say these words about 1,001 times per day. Boden is in a horrible habit of throwing down his sippy cups, toast, crackers, shoes, "monkey", and everything else he runs off with onto the floor wherever. Some things I don't really care about (bad momma) but the food and cups are really annoying to constantly pick up and I don't think it's especially safe for Boden to be toddling about with mouthfuls of choking hazards (fruit, toast, crackers). Of course, the simple way around this is to follow daycare rules and eat and drink only while sitting down. As I was practically chasing Boden around the daycare room this morning with a waffle in his hand gently reminding him that he needs to sit until he's all done, his teacher chimed in something about choking while eating on the run. Yep, I've got a couple bad habits to break. At least he didn't throw his waffle on the floor while I was there. Once again, the daycare way of life has pointed out my lackadaisical parenting skills...sigh.

Content. Sensitive - off and on.

That was the way Boden's daycare teacher described his disposition yesterday morning and today. "Sensitive" appears to be a softer way of telling the parents that your child is "crying". Poor guy. He had his first full day of new daycare today, and they definitely do things a little differently than we do at home. They don't let him have a sippy cup, he drinks out of an open cup; they don't wear bibs, and they actually trust him with utensils, plates and bowls. Learning self-feeding skills is great and I'm glad they are letting him explore and refine his capabilities, but until he has this mastered, more spills and dribbles equals more laundry. Maybe they can teach him how to do that, too.

One thing I am amazed by is the herd mentality of Boden's little daycare class (and all daycare classes, I'm sure). When we walked into the class this morning, there were 6 little people sitting properly in chairs pulled up to little tables, chewing on waffles and watching my every move. I put Boden in a chair next to a cute little gal and went to sign him in. He proceeded to climb on top of the chair and then onto the table--all while the little conformists stared on in awe. Needless to say, we didn't make a stellar impression. I'm standing by the excuse that he is a) the youngest and b) free-spirited. We'll see what happens.

When life gives you lemons...

sit down and crab about it.

After a completely craptastic day at work which was preceded by a Hellacious night (a repeat of last Wednesday with more crying), I came home and was greeted by Boden's smile (awwww, so sweet)...and Todd telling me that our daycare couldn't take care of Boden anymore due to state licensing guidelines.  Wait..what??  Yea, not great news.  Boden loved going to daycare--the kids loved him, Pat loved him, other parents thought he was great.  Not to mention that I needed care for him tomorrow i.e.14 hours from the time I got the news.  Thankfully (really thankfully), my sister-in-law (who rocks!) is going to hang out with Boden tomorrow so I can work and maybe try to absorb this news.  Tomorrow better be better.

Favorite things

Besides raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, one of my favorite things is when I go to pick up Boden from daycare and the older kids, who apparently keep an ever watchful eye on who pulls into the driveway, yell out a chorus of "It's Boden's mom", "Boden's mom is here!", and "Pat, Boden's mom is here to pick him up.". I suspect these kids are also great at informing Pat who wronged them during the day and the goings on of anyone who might be doing something forbidden, but, gosh, do I love hearing the words "Boden's mom" and knowing that that's me.

Little B had a rough week as three top teeth (it looks like the two front teeth and a fang) fought their way through his red inflamed gums to the surface. Considering everything that was going on in his mouth, he actually did fairly well sleeping and was mostly pleasant. Yesterday, though, he was stricken with either allergies (since everyone has mowed their lawn and the ragweed is out with a vengeance) or he got a cold: his nose produced oodles of green goop last night and it was plastered over most of his face this morning. Poor dude.

(Pictures: Boden, 10 months old yesterday, showing off the new teeth; Kitchen update: Cabinets in and we're slowly moving stuff back in to the cabinets we can use)