Friday, October 28, 2011

Well, It's Official...

....my baby is growing up.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, we knew it would happen, but it wasn't supposed to happen this fast!

It all started when she began pushing up during tummy time...

(April 2011)

...and I was OK with that, I mean, at least now I didn't have to worry about her burying her face in the ground and suffocating. 

But then she started sitting on her own...

(May 2011)

...OK, no big deal, she can support herself now, which is nice because I don't have to constantly be there with her.  I  can now walk away and grab a Diet Coke or something and she's fine.  But she isn't growing up yet.  She's still only 7 months old.  Single digit months, we're good. 

THEN she started the army crawl...

(June 2011)

...alright, she's starting to be able to get around, but it's not a full on crawl.  So she's not completely mobile yet.  It still takes her a good while to get places. 

Then she started coupling the army crawl with pulling up to her knees...

(June 2011)

...it's not standing!  She's only to her knees!  Plus, she isn't even full on crawling yet, so we still have many steps to go before we're a big girl.  Right? 

Well, the "actual" crawling came really quick as well as the pulling up to our feet...

(July 2011)

...no worries, DO NOT panic!  At least she's not walking around the furniture.  I mean, that's not going to happen soon, she's only 9 months old.  Clearly she's too young to grasp those motor skills.  She's still a baby. 

Well, obviously babies can not only walk around furniture, but start climbing stairs...

(July 2011)

...OK, she's not growing up, she's just a genius.  A baby athlete if you will, but STILL a baby.  Baby's don't eat solid food, like full on pieces of chicken...

(August 2011)

...or stand up all by themselves...

(August 2011)

...or WALK...

(September 2011)

...OH FOR THE LOVE!!  Just stop.  She is NOT walking!  Toddlers walk, not babies, and my BABY is not a TODDLER!  I still have one month before the One Year mark.  She is still a baby. 

But inevitably, babies turn One...

(October 2011)

...sigh.  And babies turn into toddlers.  Who drink out of straws...

(October 2011)

...and play with I-pads unassisted...

(October 2011)

...and eat breakfast platters from McDonald's...

(October 2011)

...and go to daycare...

The whole point of today's blog.  Our little girl is growing up and is now adding daycare to her list of accomplishments and daily activities.  After much deliberation and with a heavy heart, Mommy has decided to accept a promotion at work and to go back full-time. 

It is a bitter-sweet feeling for me since I have thoroughly enjoyed spending the last year at home with my baby.  I feel very blessed that I was able to only work part-time and only at nights the past 9 months and I know how truly lucky I am to be able to say that I didn't have to miss ANY of Ryleigh's "big moments".  But it's time for me to jump back into the swing of a full-time job and it's also time for Ryleigh to spend her days playing with little ones her own age.  Since Daddy and I will be back on the same schedule again, this will also mean more family time for us instead of just "Mommy-Ryleigh" time during the day and "Daddy-Ryleigh" time at night.

Am I nervous?  Yes.  Am I excited?  Yes.  For both me and Ryleigh.  But with my promotion we were able to put Ryleigh into a daycare we feel very comfortable with.  It's a great school that not only offers daycare, but pre-kindergarten and a private kindergarten.  Each week her class will have a different theme to learn about, as well as a weekly number, color, shape, and sign language to learn about.  She will spend her days doing various indoor and outdoor activities  that will switch every 15 minutes to ensure she doesn't lose interest and to keep her mind stimulated.  She will also enjoy nutritious snacks and a lunch provided by her school as well as a 2 hour nap while listening to classical music on her very own little cot everyday.  : )

So on November 7, we will drop our baby, ahem, excuse me, toddler, off for her first day of daycare where I'm sure she'll spend the day having a blast.  I'm sure Mommy will spend that day huddled in the corner at work crying due to separation anxiety.  Prayers for Mommy are greatly appreciated : )

We are very excited about this new transition and for Ryleigh and Mommy's new endeavors.  Wish us luck!!

1 comment:

  1. Yaya will worry for both of her babies on that day too. I am sure Ryleigh will enjoy her new daycare (it looked like fun!) and her new friends and, yes, Mommy will most definitely cry. Love you all!

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