Daycare Life

Graham is 11 weeks old today. It just so happens that I know exactly what he weighs at 11 weeks because I had to take him to the doctor today. I think he got his first "bug" from daycare. He's had a lot of congestion lately, but last night we noticed his eye was red. Then it seemed to be oozing and crusted over. Yuck. I called the daycare this morning and found out another baby was sent home yesterday with the same issue. So now we have to put drops in his eyes 3 times a day for 5 days. Any tips on putting drops in an infant's eyes are appreciated! Oh yeah...he weighed 13 lbs and 4 oz.

This is also Teacher Appreciation week at Graham's daycare. I must admit I was a bit overwhelmed when I got the email from our "Parent Partner" (think Home Room Mother) last week explaining that our class was planning a different theme for each day. Of course it was optional to participate, but the idea was that each family should bring something relating to the theme of the day for the 3 teachers. Here are the themes directly from her email:

-Monday, April 19th – Bring a flower from your yard (I will
have a vase in the classroom to put them in)
-Tuesday, April 20th – Bring one of their favorite snacks (see
attachment for a list of their favorites)
-Wednesday, April 21st – Bring a card
-Thursday, April 22nd – Something to pamper themselves with
(i.e. lotion, bubble bath, etc.)
-Friday, April 23rd – Bring whatever you would like

I was overwhelmed because it is difficult enough to get me and the baby out the door much less whatever the theme of the day is. Anyway, it is under control now and not a big deal. I did, however, goof and only take one flower on Monday. I am going to call it a career flaw. My "attention to detail" causes me to read instructions very closely and in my defense it does say "a flower" and "a vase." However, there were 3vases! Oh well...you live, you learn. It makes sense that there would be one for each teacher, but I just assumed they were creating an arrangement for the classroom as a whole. Anyway, Graham missed snack day because of his trip to the doctor so I guess we will take that tomorrow. He is cleared to return.

I know it has been a while since I've made a post. Working does make blogging more difficult. When I get home, I'm tired and we go through a routine and then start all over again the next day. However, here are a few pictures from the last two weeks. Unfortunatley, I don't get to take as many pictures of Graham either now that I am working. He is cooing a lot more and it is so sweet.

First Day of Daycare

Graham is 9 weeks old today! Yesterday was his first day of daycare. Mommy was sad after dropping him off, but stayed distracted with errands. When I picked him up around 3:30, he was in his crib watching a mobile. The teacher told me that I needed to check his face that he had some new marks on it (remember he already has the huge scratch from Saturday night on his nose). Every day they send home a form with how many times his diapers have been changed, what times he ate and how much, and how long he napped. The teacher also has a spot for comments. The comments section read "Please check his nails." I felt awful! We have been filing his nails, but obviously, that is not cutting it. (no pun intended) We tried clipping them but they were still pretty sharp. SO...today in the section of the form I fill out when I drop him off, in my comments section I wrote "We filed his nails but they are still sharp." When I went to pick him up, his teacher (he has a different teacher in the afternoon than he does in the morning) was holding him and said "I see he got a manicure last night." I asked if he was a good baby and she said he was a very good baby and they needed 8 like Graham. (Awwww).

Today was also Mommy's first day back at work. It was a very LONG day for her. When I dropped him off at daycare, I was getting Graham's bottles out of his bag to put in the refrigerator, and I felt something grab the backs of my pants legs. I turn around to discover another baby has grabbed a handful of each of my (linen = easily wrinkled) pants legs and is drooling on them. I finally said "Let's not get me wrinkled before my first day back to work." It was difficult enough to get out of my own house clean and unwrinkled! One of the teachers pried him off of my legs and he started bawling. She kept saying "She's not your mommy!" I felt so bad...I can tell this is going to be an experience every morning. I had already been traumatized by the fact that they were out of shoe covers so I had to go into the room barefoot since I was wearing sandals.

Here is a picture of Graham before I dropped him off on his first day of daycare.

We have to label his bottles and all his stuff. The blue dot was his assigned color by the daycare and that sticker was provided by them. The other labels are supposed to stay on and not fade even after going through the diswasher.

This was the sign on his classroom door.

Brian and I think Graham is precious and love him to bits. However, if he is a "good" baby, we both said we'd hate to see what a not so "good" baby is!!! He wears us out!

Graham's First Easter

Graham's first Easter was absolutely gorgeous. It was a lot warmer than it usually is on Easter. We are so thankful for what this holiday represents and pray that one day Graham accepts Jesus as his Savior and Lord.

He looked absolutely adorable in his first (of many) smocked outfits. (Hey people, I only have 2, maybe 3, years where I can get away with him wearing smocked clothing. I plan to make the most of it. With the Franks genes, there may never be a little girl to wear smocked dresses!) Also, take note of his first saddle shoes. They looked so cute with his outfit. Thanks Nana!


Here Graham is with his first Easter basket that contained a stuffed bunny, a lamb pacimal (stuffed animal with a pacifier on top of its head), a ball, a monogrammed "mini" beach towel, two books, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Of course, we had to do the "First Holiday" bib photo. I just happened to find one that matched his outfit perfectly.

We also took our first family Easter pictures.




We had a delicious lunch at Nana and Papa's house and took some photos with Mama and Cousin Eleanor, sporting her Easter hat, and Cousin Cole. We were sad that Cousin Lindy was sick today. Graham got so many new clothes from everyone that you would have thought it was Christmas instead of Easter!



Graham also had cute "First Easter" pajamas that he has been wearing. Notice his cotton tail!


We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Claws

I have mentioned in a previous post that Graham has sharp fingernails and scratches his face. I was pleased that all his scratch marks were healing before Easter. However, when he gets distraught, he claws his face. He's been sick this week and distraught a lot. SO...what happens? The night before Easter when I plan to take hundreds of pictures, he puts a major claw mark right down his nose. Mommy was so upset. As a result, Daddy put the mittens on him that we had when he was a newborn for the same purpose.

Fun Day with Aunt Ginny

Graham and I spent the day with Aunt Ginny today. We had a picnic lunch at the gardens followed by some afternoon shopping. WRONG!!! That was the fun day Mommy and Aunt Ginny had planned, but like all things with a baby, nothing goes according to plan. For my project manager colleagues, think of it more like continually contingency planning.

The weather was gorgeous and Aunt Ginny had not had a day off all year so I felt bad when I told her I had to take Graham to the doctor. He was congested when we took him for his shots on Tuesday (By the way, to any future parents out there, I do not recommend scheduling your child's first shots during your last week of maternity leave if you want to enjoy your last week off with your child.), but the doctor said it was nothing to worry about and that he did not think he was getting sick. However, Graham has been extremely fussy all week and very congested. (Did I mention that his congestion has caused him to gag and cough - twice resulting in projectile vomit all over Mommy?) After the 3rd call to the nurse this week asking if it was normal that he was still running a temperature 3 days after shots, she told me to bring him in to make sure it wasn't an ear infection or something. SO...Aunt Ginny came over early so I could finish getting ready only to witness a horrible fit. He did finally go to sleep so we did get to eat some Mexican food on a patio and quickly browse a pricey furniture store. Then Aunt Ginny decided to go to the doctor with us. I hate she spent her day like that, but was glad she went. It is not easy to manage a baby out of the house alone! (I'm a wimp and can barely carry him in his car seat.) Anyway...Graham has his first "winter cold" but there is nothing we can do but run the humidifier and give him Little Noses (saline) drops. If you think being sick is bad, try having a sick baby. He is so pitiful! (and his Mommy and Daddy are exhausted!)

So thanks Aunt Ginny for spending your day off with us! We're sorry if it wasn't very "fun"! Here is a picture of Graham with Aunt Ginny post doctor with the cute frog she and Uncle Jared gave him for Easter.