Swings and Screams

When I went to pick up Alex from daycare Monday, the teacher told me that he was a very good baby. He was so interested in everything going on there that he only took two 30-minute naps!!! That is quite different than the 2-hour naps he takes at home. The teacher tried to put him in a swing to get him to sleep, but when she turned it on he screamed! We don't have a swing at home so it was a new experience for him. He apparently did not like the automated movement.

It was a slow day for both of us. I have no kids yet and so spent the whole day trying not to watch the clock count down to when I could see my little one again. He was awake when I got there after just having had floor time talking to another baby, but very quickly fell asleep in my arms with a smile. I stayed for about 30 minutes talking to the teacher about his day and how the class worked. The staff there is so great. She didn't mind me hanging around and actually engaged in conversation as she went about her duties. There were only five kids that day and by the time I got there, only four remained including Alex.

Yesterday was much the same. . . watching the clock and racing to pick him up. This time he was fast asleep. They had used the strap-down method we taught them to keep his arms in the swaddle. (We use a cheap, thin cloth diaper to wrap up his arms inside the swaddler blanket.) He still can get out, but it makes for a longer nap.

I want to be a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) so bad! I hate leaving him all day with someone else and then getting to feed, bathe and swaddle him to bed for only 1 1/2- 2 hours a night. He went to sleep by 6:30 both nights! My house is getting messier because I am so tired after being at work all day (regardless of the work I have or don't have to do) and then making dinner while trying to spend some time with Alex before his bedtime and cleaning the house. When Patrick gets home, he has been taking over dinner prep and letting me attach to Alex. I love this, but then I am taking the one-on-one time away from Patrick, too. At least he gets to spend some time in the morning with him before he takes him to school. He is not yet awake when I leave.