Daycare: To Go or Not to Go?

Jordan is now almost 4 MONTHS OLD and is growing so much every day. He's now figured out he can coordinate his hand movements and is playing with the toys on his swing now. He's also holding on to us when we are holding him and is starting to try and hold his bottles too. He is so much fun to watch! We just love our little guy! I'll be sure to post an update after our 4-month doctor visit next week.

He has been in daycare for 4 weeks (Well, technically only 3 -- he stayed home this week). Monday, March 14 was his first day of school. Fortunately, Mondays are my late night at work, so he was only there for about 4 hours. All morning, I was fighting tears and trying not to think about leaving him. Andy came home during his planning period to go with me to the daycare (he knew I wouldn't be able to leave him if I was alone). When I pulled into the daycare parking lot, I completely lost it. I couldn't even get out of the car. Andy helped me calm down and we finally got Jordan into his classroom, and met his teacher and his new classmates. It wasn't bad. But I was hanging on to my composure by a tiny microscopic thread. We left the room and were walking out when we stopped to talk to an Assistant Director for a second. That's when I heard a baby from Jordan's class start crying. I lost it and started crying again in front of the Assistant Director. I just kept saying "Jordan can't be crying when I leave him on the first day! I'll never be able to do it!" But I made a point to not go back to check because if it really had been him, I never would have made it to work.

I spent the night crying my eyes out telling Andy I couldn't take him back, that I wanted to quit my job. But of course, we can't give up my paycheck so I had no choice. By now, I've gotten sort of into a routine with taking him every morning. But of course, it still kills me to leave him each day. It's just not the same as Mommy or Daddy watching him. Although, I do realize he's doing so well with the socialization and interaction with others during the day. He's such a sweet baby!

A week into daycare, Jordan was coughing and sneezing more than usual, though he seemed to feel ok and didn't appear to be sick. But of course, my first thought was, "Go Figure. He's been 100% healthy ever since the day he was born and right away, as soon as he gets to daycare, he starts getting sick." Talk about feeling like a crappy horrible mother! Well, I called the pediatrician and the nurse said, of course, that we can't give him anything, except use a cold mist humidifier in his room and use a nasal aspirator to clear his nose when he gets congested. So we did that for almost 2 weeks and it wasn't helping.

This past Monday, I had the day off (because I worked Sunday) and so Jordan was at home with me. I am SO glad I was home! He was so upset and crying all day long, I knew something was wrong. He wouldn't sleep well in his crib, and he was crying so hard most of the day, that he refused to take a bottle, which is so not like him. Jordan rarely cries. Only when he is hungry and immediately stops when he is being fed. For him to cry for an entire day, I knew something wasn't right. So I took him to the doctor, and sure enough -- he had his first ear infection! Poor thing, I felt so awful! He was in so much pain and probably got it from the cold he got at daycare! I know I can't protect him from ever getting sick, but man, it makes me feel so guilty to know that he started getting sick immediately after going to daycare. I feel like such a bad mommy!

Luckily, after 3 days of antibiotics, he is acting much more like his usual self and very happy. His fever is gone and he's smiling and laughing with us again. But we decided to keep him home from school this week, just to make sure he's well again. (He was only going to go Tuesday-Thursday anyway since I have Monday & Friday off this week.) I would hate for him to get another baby sick because we took him back too soon.

So, in the first month of daycare, we've also had to deal with Jordan's first sickness. Kind of tough when Mommy hasn't racked up any vacation/sick time at work yet since I've been back. I think we may have to wait another 5 or 6 years before having baby #2 just because it might take me that long to save up leave time again! LOL!

Working at 3 months

So, Thursday I went back to work for the first time since he was born. It was hard leaving the house, but I was more ok with it, because Andy was on Spring Break so he stayed home with Jordan and I got to see them at lunch. That made it much easier. Helped me focus on just getting back in the swing of things at work and trying to catch up on things. And, oh man, is there a ton to catch up on, too! Sounded like Andy and Jordan had a good time hanging out together, just the boys, which made me smile. I can't believe I'm about to say this, especially because I am usually the more organized of the two of us, but Andy actually got more things done around the house in 2 days than I got done in 3 months of maternity leave! Go hubby! That was a nice surprise. :)

Yesterday (Saturday), the three of us went to review the proofs from Jordan's 3-month photos. They turned out so well! It was really hard to narrow them down to the few that we like the absolute best. As soon as our photographer, Beth, posts them online, we'll let everyone know so you can browse and if you so choose, select to purchase. They really did come out fantastic. But of course, I'm his mommy so of course I think they are awesome!

Andy and I also took Jordan to Freedom Park for a walk yesterday. It was such a nice day, we just wanted to enjoy the warmth and sunshine for a bit. I'd never been there, so it was a nice change of scenery, and I really enjoyed seeing that part of Atlanta. It really is a beautiful area.


Today our little munchkin turned 3 months old. I can hardly believe it! It doesn't seem like it's been 13 weeks since I last had him in my tummy. He's changed and grown so much in the last three months, and his personality is just blossoming. Everyday we get such joy just from watching him sleep, gift us with the biggest gummy smiles, coo and laugh and just be a happy little baby. And of course, to celebrate the occasion, we had to take the monthly photos...


Tomorrow (Monday) will be Jordan's first day of daycare. It has been eating away at me for a couple weeks now, with increasing distress and heaviness in my heart that I cannot stay home with him. My biggest fear (silly, I know) is that he will hit major milestones while at daycare instead of with me or Andy. Like getting his first tooth. His first venture into crawling. His first steps. His first word. Fortunately, Andy will be home with him during the summer, but it just isn't the same as having one of us with him everyday. We know his moods and routine, and it breaks my heart to think that pretty soon, the daycare staff will know his moods and routine and personality better than we will, since he will be basically coming home to eat and go to bed every night. It just makes me sick to my stomach. I don't know that I'll ever get used to someone else caring for my child. I know they are professionals, who know what they are doing, but it just isn't Mommy or Daddy. It's not the same. It is completely eating away at my heart. I just thank my lucky stars that Andy will be able to go with me tomorrow when I drop Jordan off at daycare, because otherwise, I don't think I would be able to leave him there and make it to work. I honestly think it is going to be the most heartbreaking day of my life so far.

I'll let you all know how I do after this first week.

~Nez

Jordan's First Spring Break Trip (Part 2)

On Monday morning we hopped in the car and made our way up to Sebring so Jordan could see his Lito and Lita for the first time since he was less than a month old. He was also going to meet his great-grandparents on Nez's side. Once we arrived in Sebring, it did not take long for Jordan's bisabuelita y bisabuelito to show up at Manny and Anin's house to see their great-grandson! They couldn't have been more excited.





Jordan thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Lito and Lita at their house and letting them feed him and play with him. We suspect they enjoyed it even more than he did.



The trip to Sebring wasn't strictly for visiting. Jordan was still able to find time to get out and catch some rays in the Bjorn with Mommy. (We won't mention that this is just in the Wal-Mart parking lot.)



We couldn't head back to Fort Lauderdale without visiting bisabuelito y bisabuelita at their home. Jordan tried to sleep through that visit but did end up waking up before we left.



All in all, Jordan had a great first trip to Florida. He met a lot of family members who had been anxiously awaiting his arrival, and he did great on the drives between Fort Lauderdale and Sebring and on BOTH flights (even with a two hour delay on the way back to Atlanta!)

Jordan's First Spring Break Trip (Part 1)

For our "end of Nez's maternity/Andy's spring break" trip, we decided to take Jordan down to Florida to meet some family and friends who have not met him yet. Jordan did great on his first airplane trip and did not cry a single time the whole flight. He must have enjoyed the upgrade to Business Class.



Jordan was able to spend Saturday and Sunday in sunny South Florida with Grandma and Grandpa Crosby and their crazy pups. Although as soon as he put his sunglasses on, the daily afternoon showers rolled in.





On Sunday afternoon, Jordan got to meet his cousin Marta, who also lives in South Florida.



Later that evening, Jordan met several new family members. When we visited the Banta house, Jordan decided catching some "z"s was the most important thing.



He did decide to wake up for Great-Grandmom Leona, Nenie, and Lexi.





Part 2 of Jordan's first spring break trip to Florida will be Monday and Tuesday when we make the drive up to Sebring to see Lito and Lita again. Jordan will also be meeting his anxiously awaiting bisabuelito and bisabuelita there on Monday.

TO BE CONTINUED...