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Expectations vs Instinct

Today I learned an important lesson about following other peoples expectations versus listening to your own instincts. I took Claire to morning day care for the third time. This time I warned her mom would be leaving before we got there. (Ok.. not the brightest idea... but for most things warning about change helps her handle it.) I got there and told her I was living and she clung to me chanting "Only Mommy". So I sat down for about 15 minutes so she could get used to things again. It took most of the time for her to just leave my lap. I told her I was leaving again and she got more upset and clung more. Finally I asked the daycare worker what to do and she said Claire would calm down once I left. Now, seeing this particular set of wailing I had my doubts but maybe the professional new better than me. (I'm sure she does for most kids... but I should remember that I'm the expert on mine.) So I pried Claire off of me, handed her to the worker and walked out the door to hysterical hysterical screaming of "Mommy mommy mommy". Every instinct of my being said turn around but I heard this parade of voices in my head going, "What, you can't leave your kid alone for 2 hours? Don't be a wimp. She'll adjust. Look at all the other kids who are fine. It's only 2 hours." I'm not sure who those voices where since no one was actually saying it to me but I felt like that's what everyone was thinking. So I left.

I got home (just 5 minutes away) burst into tears and told my husband what happened and how I think I shouldn't have left. Being the worlds most practical person he gave me a hug, goes "Listen to your gut and not what you think you 'Should' do. Go get her if you think it's a problem." So back I went. Into the building and sure enough, guess who I hear wailing. :( They said she'd stop but every little thing would set her off again. At this point I remembered that she woke up screaming. That she's teething. That she's been having trouble dealing with weaning. That there were times the past few days that she wouldn't even let daddy touch her and she LOVES daddy! That maybe just maybe my gut was right. That now wasn't the time to make a stand. That I should follow what my husband and I have always tried to do and listen to her and her needs and say thank you that we are in a place in our life where we can.

I spent most of the next 30 minutes playing with her at the daycare to undo the damage. When she was happily playing I left for about 20 minutes and came back but she was already upset again. Right now I'm not sure if it's because she's having a bad day or because daycare isn't working as well as it looked last week. I'll try again Thursday but this time I'm listening to my gut.

Oh, and on that subject I also had a talk with all the imaginary voices that were making me hold my ground on weaning nursing at nap time. Despite the fact we've been over a week with only one nap (where she collapsed from exhaustion) because of the change. She wasn't angry at nap time... at least not after the extra extra prenap rocking and soothing... just not napping. So I've decided to slow the weaning thing down a little and nursed for this nap. And wouldn't you know it... she's actually napping. Which is a good break for both of us. Hey, maybe I do know something about this mommy stuff after all. I just need to remember to listen to myself.

Claire's Busy Day

Today was a busy day. It was Claire's second day going to daycare in the morning. She's going twice a week for two hours. The first day I stayed with her for a while and then left her for a little over an hour. Today she was squirming out of my arms before I was fully in the door. She clung when I said I was leaving but was distracted by a teacher in under a minute. When I came back she was happy and playing with "KIDS". It's awesome! She's loving the social contact and I'm loving the break. I'm hoping to use the time to focus more on my business project.

I was so well rested that even when she never napped I had energy for an exciting afternoon. We had an outside day. Claire splashed in the pool and dug in her sand pile while I gardened and weeded. We ran barefoot in the yard. I read a book on PR while she pretended to be feeding kids. Then we did chalk drawings and came inside and baked hamburger buns to go with dinner. (Elk burgers and fried okra.) She loves eating entire spoonfuls of flour and then dough. I had to hide the rising bread from her to make sure some of it made it into the oven. :)

Finally we had a big milestone. Just as we were going to go upstairs to bath she screamed "Poo" and dove for the potty. I tossed her on just in time and she successfully pooed in the potty!!! Yeah Claire!

The big belated update

Summer has been busy. Really busy! I keep writing great little blog posts in my head and never get them on to the computer. Here's are quick summary update. I'll try and post weekly from now on:

- Took Claire to Alaska for a 2 week driving tour from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back. It was awesome and she was a great traveler. Even handled the one day drive from Fairbanks to the Artic Circle and back. I just had to read the book "Elmo loves you" about 200 hundred times in a row. If you have kids and value your sanity never never never buy the book "Elmo loves you".

- DH (Dearest Husband) had his tonsils out. It really is as bad as they say for adults. He reacted to the pain killers, ended up spending a night in the hospital, had more bad reactions, etc. Thankful he is now fully recovered but it took over 2 weeks. Poor Claire kept saying "Daddy hurt. Daddy better" As a nice bonus for all of us his snoring has gone done to almost nothing so we can all share a hotel room and Claire will sleep!

- Took Claire to Crater Lake to meet friends for a long weekend. It was an awesome awesome trip. Claire loved playing outside and seeing all the babies and kids. She was notorious as an escapee. I was taking her for a walk and a couple stops and says, "Is that the little girl who kept running out of the lodge at top speed?" Doug and I also got to see a meteor shower at night. Well worth the drive.

- Just got back from a trip to California. DH got called to work at the last minute and we decided to make it a family trip. We drove down Tues night, wed morning and back on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. Since it was last minute and there weren't many hotels we stayed in the nicest room.. or actually rooms I've ever stayed in. The hotel room was 2 stories!!!! It had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen! Wow! Didn't feel guilty about it though cause we spent the last 2 nights staying with friends. Claire especially loved going to the park with one set of friends and attending the post wedding party we went to on Saturday. She spent part of the part tossing a big beach ball over a porch railing to "KIDS!"

Mini Update

I've been a bit behind in the blog since we just enjoyed a wonderful 1.5 week visit from grandma and grandpa from PA. It was awesome watching Claire now that she's at an age to really interact with people. Complete with having "conversations" with grandma over dinner.

Grandma: "What did you do at the park today"
Claire: "Kite"
Grandma: "Yes, we did see a kite"
Claire: "Sky" (points up)
Grandma: "It was in the sky"
Claire: "Tree"
Grandma: "Yes, the kite crashed into a tree."

It's like someone finally opened up the vocabulary fountain. Every day there are more and more words. Some of them really amaze me because she will refer to something by name that I'm positive I haven't said to her in a month. And she's never used the word before then. For example yesterday she went to the craft drawer, brought me the finger paint and announced "Paint paint paint" and pointed at one of her pictures on the well. We hadn't painted in weeks and she'd never said paint before. It must have been filed away somewhere in her brain to be pulled at when something randomly clicked. It truly amazes me how they learn things.

The World According to Claire

Favorite Game

• Hat, Toes - Put something on your head and yell HAT! Immediately move it to your feet and yell TOES! Any object will work, a real hat, a piece of chicken, your book, that rock mom thought was too big for you too pick up...

Favorite New Skill

• TWO! - Cary around two of something and announce TWO! Two toothbrushes, two brooms, two books, etc

Favorite Food

• Anything red that can be stolen off the counter while wearing a white shirt. Strawberries are the best!
  

Favorite Toy

• The step stool daddy left in the kitchen. It's a chair, a table, a push toy, an excellent way of reaching strawberries on the counter

Favorite Books

• Which ever one mom or dad just finished reading for the second time. Just firmly push it back into a parents hand to signal repeat. Especially "The Giving Tree" (TREE), Mother Goose Treasury (GOOSE!), Curious George Treasury (Not sure what the word is but she says something for it)

Favorite Activity

• Tied between "Oooutside" and "AAA" AAA means attempting to write the letter A in crayon or asking someone to write letters. Right now she does a very good upside down V and is starting to get a slash across the bottom.

Multipurpose words

• Wheel - Anything circular including mommy's nose. Anything that creates movement like the rockers on the rocking chair
• DinDin - Any meal that is eaten in CHAIR

Whole Wheat Waffles Take 1

Corn, dairy, soy, nut free.

• 1 c Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 c Unbleached White Flour (Bleached can contain corn)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 c water
• 1/2 c light olive oil (or other safe oil)
  
• 3 eggs
  

Combine all ingredients until smooth. Let sit 5 minutes while the waffle iron heats. Cook according to iron instructions. You will need a higher browning setting to get the same results as normal waffles. (Even then these will not brown great.)

• Freeze great! Reheat in a toaster oven or a pan with a little oil.
  
• Can substitute 2 teaspoons baking powder for the baking soda and cream of tartar if not worried about corn
• Can substitute rice or soy milk for water and they may brown better
• Next time I will be experimenting with increasing the eggs to 4.