We were lucky enough to get a spot in a day-care in Row's building and it has an excellent reputation so we're very happy. Currently, he only goes 1 day a week and we're going to build on that. Justin started day-care on Friday and it was probably more traumatic for me than for him. Even though I'm a teacher and know that the child will be fine and well-looked after, it's very different when you're on the other side. As it was Justin's first day, I took him in and spent an hour with him. He happily sat in the high chair and joined the other children for mid-morning snack which was crackers with jam and cubes of watermelon. After his snack, Justin was happy to go play with the toys and the other children while I sat down with the room leader (head teacher) to discuss Justin's diet, routine and how to soothe him. So busy and happy was Justin that he didn't even flinch when I said good bye. I will admit that I cried more than Justin as you realise how much they have grown and how independent they are, which is a good thing but still upsetting. I went to the book shop and browsed around, had lunch and read a magazine and then returned to the day-care to see how Justin was doing. On arrival, I saw Justin sitting with one of the teachers and another little boy, playing with the toys but sucking his dummy and making whimpering noises....my heart broke into a million pieces! The teacher said Justin was really good, playing with the toys, interacting with the other children but when nap time came, he absolutely refused and stood in his cot stamping his feet and calling for me. I guess it doesn't help that we've been sleep training at home so at the moment he has bad associations with the cot! The teacher soon realised how distressed Justin was becoming and gave up on nap time as it was lunch time but the poor boy was so upset he didn't even want to eat lunch, which you know is really bad as Justin has a VERY good appetite. As soon as Justin saw me, he was fine and settled down which the teacher said was a good sign as some children burst into tears as soon as they see their parents. I was able to feed Justin his lunch, roast beef and vegetables, as they had kept it aside for him and he ate every bit of it! We left to go home and poor Justin was so tired he fell asleep in his pram within 10mins.
In my previous post, I mentioned that we had unsuccessfully tried sleep training Justin and Row and I were both exhausted and really not sure what to do or how to proceed. I have to say thank you to Anthea and Chantelle, their emails gave me the support and encouragement to continue with the sleep training and I must say that we have seen vast improvements....in Justin's night sleep that is. Nap times are a whole other story! Due to Justin not having any naps the last few days, we've moved his bedtime earlier. The first night, Justin cried for 35mins and fell asleep, waking up a few times but I only needed to go in twice. The second night, he cried for 25mins and woke up twice and I only had to go in once. The third night, he cried for close to 45mins and I had to go in three times but then he fell asleep and woke up once but settled himself again. So there is light at the end of the tunnel! Now, if anyone has advice on day naps and how to make Justin sleep past 5am, that would be much appreciated especially since we are putting our clocks back an hour next Sunday.
Our little guy is starting to cruise along the little furniture that we have and has started pivoting; he'll hold onto something, let go and turn around to grab something else. Justin has also started pointing at things so if we're in his room and I ask him where the monkey is, he'll point to it. He also knows his ball because if you point to it and tell him to go get it, he'll crawl towards it and sometimes he'll say "b, b, b" and go get the ball. I think he's starting to understand "Please give it to me" as he'll hand whatever he's holding onto to me and then I give it back to him and then he gives it back to me and then I give......you get the picture! Justin is really into waving, he waves at everyone and everything. In the mornings, he stands by our balcony door to wave good morning to the birds and he'll do that every night before he goes to bath; when I tell him we're going ta-ta, he'll wave; if someone is looking at him, or seems like they are looking at him, on the bus or the train, he waves at them.
It's been a fantastic 10.5months, watching Justin growing and learning and developing and new skills.
In my previous post, I mentioned that we had unsuccessfully tried sleep training Justin and Row and I were both exhausted and really not sure what to do or how to proceed. I have to say thank you to Anthea and Chantelle, their emails gave me the support and encouragement to continue with the sleep training and I must say that we have seen vast improvements....in Justin's night sleep that is. Nap times are a whole other story! Due to Justin not having any naps the last few days, we've moved his bedtime earlier. The first night, Justin cried for 35mins and fell asleep, waking up a few times but I only needed to go in twice. The second night, he cried for 25mins and woke up twice and I only had to go in once. The third night, he cried for close to 45mins and I had to go in three times but then he fell asleep and woke up once but settled himself again. So there is light at the end of the tunnel! Now, if anyone has advice on day naps and how to make Justin sleep past 5am, that would be much appreciated especially since we are putting our clocks back an hour next Sunday.
Our little guy is starting to cruise along the little furniture that we have and has started pivoting; he'll hold onto something, let go and turn around to grab something else. Justin has also started pointing at things so if we're in his room and I ask him where the monkey is, he'll point to it. He also knows his ball because if you point to it and tell him to go get it, he'll crawl towards it and sometimes he'll say "b, b, b" and go get the ball. I think he's starting to understand "Please give it to me" as he'll hand whatever he's holding onto to me and then I give it back to him and then he gives it back to me and then I give......you get the picture! Justin is really into waving, he waves at everyone and everything. In the mornings, he stands by our balcony door to wave good morning to the birds and he'll do that every night before he goes to bath; when I tell him we're going ta-ta, he'll wave; if someone is looking at him, or seems like they are looking at him, on the bus or the train, he waves at them.
It's been a fantastic 10.5months, watching Justin growing and learning and developing and new skills.
