Tag Archives: day care

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Back to it!

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Monday, 22 August 2014: One Year and Twenty Five Weeks Old.

It was back to work for me and back to day care for Ayla today and it was like we’d never been away.

Because I’d been working from home while Ayla and I were interstate my return to work was rather uneventful but I was glad to be back in the office and around people again!

Ayla was also glad to be back at day care with her friends, not even coming close to tears as I handed her over, gave her a kiss and waved goodbye. I was surprised really because I expected her to be clingy and emotional after all the upheaval of the past few weeks, even though I’d had a sneaking suspicion she’d been missing her little friends.

It’s funny really, how Ayla and I loved our intense time together while we were away, but we both seemed equally grateful to be back to our routine and normal activities again.

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Much better

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Friday, 18 July 2014: One Year, One Hundred and Nine Days.

When I walked into day care this afternoon the ladies exclaimed “Ayla is so much better!”

I was surprised at first, mainly because they’d looked at me like I was a neurotic hypochondriac when I explained we were going GFCF… only four days ago.

After the surprise wore off I was curious to understand why the day care ladies thought Ayla was “much better” when they’d obviously already thought she was fine before.

In fact they’d said to me numerous times, like countless other people have too, that Ayla was such a happy, healthy, social little girl they didn’t think I had nothing to worry about.

So after a bit of investigation I discovered that Ayla is now, suddenly eating more, sleeping better, drinking more water, has found endless energy and is developing even more each day than she was before.

And Hubby noticed the same thing too, after only being home a few minutes this afternoon.

The change is Ayla is hard to explain though. On top of the physical differences we can describe, Ayla seems… Brighter. More of herself.

It’s only early days of course and we’re by no means counting our chickens, but if definitely looks like we might be on to something, in terms of the tummy troubles at least.

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GFCF

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Tuesday, 15 July 2014: One Year, One Hundred and Six Days Old.

Ayla started a gluten free dairy/casein free (GFCF) diet today, under advice by a doctor and dietician.

Ayla’s been having tummy problems lately, along with a few other things I won’t go into here, and in order to rectify the situation we’ve been told to eliminate all gluten and dairy from her diet for at least one month until the exact cause can be identified and treated.

It’s going to be a tough month (what on earth do you feed a GFCF child?!) but Hubby and I feel very supported by Ayla’s day care centre, our friends and family.

Ayla herself seems unfazed. We’re putting a lot more fat into her diet too at this stage so she’s stoked, and Ayla sucked back her almond milk bottle tonight like a marathon runner sucks in air!

All in all, it’s going to be challenging and because it’s going to be a big part of our lives for the next little bit, I wanted to document it on here.

As we know, motherhood is full of ups and downs and diversions, and this blog is about sharing that; the good and the not so good, so stay tuned!

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Crowned Princess

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Monday, 7 July 2014: One Year and Fourteen Weeks Old.

Ayla came home from day care today with a crown!

I always knew she was a princess but this beautiful hand made crown of hers leaves no doubt !

It’s made out of white cardboard and decorated with purple glitter and Ayla wears it with all the glory it deserves.

As soon as I arrived at the center Ayla ran over to get her crown and brought it to show me, smiling from ear to eat when I popped it on her head and “oooh”‘ed at how wonderful she looked wearing it.

Ayla didn’t like it when we got to the car and I removed her crown, mainly because I wanted to preserve it for Daddy to see.

But when we got home and Ayla adorned herself with her crown once more, she toddled about the yard with all the grace and glamour expected of a princess, and not once did she try to remove it.

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Back to reality

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Friday, 4 July 2014: One Year and Ninety Five Days Old.

It was back to reality for my little family today, and Ayla didn’t want a bar of it.

When I dropped her at day care this morning, Ayla cried and clasped onto me and wouldn’t let me go. It was the first time Ayla had reacted like that since her first few weeks of day care and it was heartbreaking.

I knew that Ayla loved our week away, having the attention of both her Daddy and I for a whole seven days, but I didn’t realise how much it actually meant to her.

Ayla’s reaction shone a spotlight on the importance of family first, focusing on our own little nucleus instead of all the day-to-day living activities that often steal our attention.

Going back to work (and life) was also a bit of a downer for me. Not because I don’t love my job or because I’m not grateful for the wonderful life we have, but because with life comes distraction and I know what an impact this can have on Ayla.

I don’t know what the answer is… The answer to life-balance.

To keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, to have the money to afford a good education for Ayla, and still finding funds for the things we enjoy means both of us must work.

It also means we have to dedicate our spare time to renovating and property investing, goodness knows our superannuation won’t be much, and it takes time and commitment to continue building our skills so we can maintain our careers.

But, it all comes at such a cost!

Seeing Ayla in tears this morning brought back my desire to throw all our plans and goals and dreams away and head off on an extended family “holiday”; to not worry at all about the future, or Ayla’s future, and think only of the now.

But while it sounds like a wonderful idea and one that could even be achievable, it’s a risky whim that doesn’t address the real issue, it still doesn’t create balance.

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Winter woolies

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Monday, 16 June 2014: One Year and Eleven Weeks Old.

Ayla went off to day care wearing her winter woolies today.

It was the coldest morning we’re likely to get all year – 17.4 degrees at 7.30am – and there was no better reason to rug up.

What made the chilly occasion even more special was the fact that only yesterday Hubby and I splurged on a few warm clothes, jumpers, a cardigan, a vest and some jeans for Baby Ayla.

The clothes were intended for our family trip to Melbourne next week, but Ayla got to don her little pink jumper ten days early…. Much to Mumma’s delight!

I don’t think there’s many things cuter than a rugged up baby, and seeing Ayla toddling around in her jumper and skinny jeans this morning melted my heart.

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Storyteller

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Friday, 6 June 2014: One Year and Sixty Seven Days Old.

Firstly, Ayla’s lips are MUCH better today; she’s back to eating and drinking like normal and she’s heaps happier.

Now, onto today’s story…

An African Storyteller came to Ayla’s day care this afternoon!

I was a bit hesitant and cynical as to what I should expect but it turned out a really fun and interactive afternoon!

Ayla loved listening to the African sounding songs and she got to play on an African drum!

Ayla was a little bit overwhelmed by the Storyteller at first, but by the time we left she was waving good bye and blowing kisses of thanks!

I also got to see Ayla play with her little friends – Ruby, Cleo, Virag, Clara, David and Ava – and I got to meet some of the other mums and Dads.

Then there was a share-plate afternoon tea cooked by the day care mums, and now I know how yummy the food is there! No wonder Ayla doesn’t eat at home lol.

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Piggy tails

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Thursday, 29 May 2014: One Year and Sixty Days Old.

I picked Ayla up today to discover piggy tails in her hair!!

Oh my gosh, it was adorable, and I think it might become Ayla’s customary ‘do.

It made me realise that day care is definitely shaping the person Ayla is becoming.

It’s a good thing, I think. If it weren’t for day care I probably wouldn’t have thought to try a pony tail, let alone piggy tails!

I guess sending Ayla today care is particularly useful because I have no idea or experience with anything child related.

For example I probably wouldn’t have thought to try finger painting with Ayla but apparently she loves it!

As good as day care is though, there’s a part of me, deep down, that is sad I’m not discovering these things on my own.

I would love to have seen Ayla’s face the first time she put her hands in a tub of paint, and it would have been so exciting to realise her hair was finally long enough to style!

But I guess it’s all part and parcel of modern day life. So few people are in a position to stay at home with their kids, and I have to remind myself how lucky I was to have a whole year at home.

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Loves it

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Wednesday, 21 May 2014: One Year and Fifty One Days Old.

Ayla really loves her day care; LOVES IT.

Ayla must have been watching out the window this morning when I pulled up in the car park to drop her off.

I shut down the car and turned to look at Ayla and explain, like I always do, that it was time for her to go to school, but before a single word could escape my moutH Ayla started waving and saying “bub-bye”!

“Bub-bye” is definitely Ayla’s favourite word at the moment, probably because it’s accompanied by the distinct action of waving, but I couldn’t help feeling obsolete when she said it to me this morning.

Of course I’m glad that Ayla loves her day care so much, and it gives me so much peace of mind to know she’s being care for by people she looks forward to seeing each morning, but still the pang of sadness reached into my heart.

To make matters worse, when we got in to day care Ayla immediately reached for one of the carers, and no sooner was Ayla on the day care mums lap was she again waving “bub-bye” to me and blowing kisses.

My little girl is certainly growing up and I guess I should be grateful for parting acknowledgement…. Goodness knows when Ayla’s four I probably won’t get a glance back, and when she’s fourteen a grunt will be a miracle!

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No steps

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Monday, 19 May 2014: One Year and Seven Weeks Old.

I found out today that Ayla has been walking around heaps at day care!

Although I’d know Ayla had taken a few steps last week, when I picked her up today the day care mums greeted me with excited claims that Ayla was now properly walking.

Of course I couldn’t wait to get home and see Ayla out her new skills in action but alas, at home Ayla seems perfectly content on all fours.

Throughout the afternoon and evening Ayla keep standing and clapping, but still no steps.

Then when we went out for a swim before dinner Ayla walked the whole length of the patio holding on to her Daddy’s hand with the biggest smile on her face.

My heart melted and a took a moment to record the memory in my brain forever; a tiny little blonde haired, chubby legged Baby Ayla, holding on tight to get Daddy’s weathered hand, both of them oozing pride and happiness like I’ve never seen before.