First Day with "Miss Maureen"...

Today was Ginger's first day with Miss Maureen, who runs a small home daycare called Happy Kids Day care. It is about 3 miles away from us, in a nice community with parks and nice homes. Miss Maureen only watches one 2 year old little girl full time, and then has 2 children she watches PT for a few hours 3 times a week. She's licensed and CPR certified, which I was glad to hear.

We decided to ease Ginger in today by having Paul take her over there just for the 3 1/2 hours between her morning and afternoon nap. We decided Paul would take her because he took the day off today, and also so I didn't have to experience the trauma of first day jitters.

From what I hear, Ginger was a champ! We had already visited Maureen's house once, so I'm told that they arrived, went to the playroom, introduced Ginger to 2 year old Breannah (who Paul says is an absolute doll!) and Ginger and Breannah started playing together. He slipped out after several minutes and she didn't make a peep after he left!

Here is the email I received after Paul picked her up a few hours later:

Hi Wendy,

Paul just came to get Ginger. She had a good time playing with Breannah. Oh my gosh...she is so cute. She ate really well (everything) and is such a good baby. Never cried. A joy to watch.
I'll see you on Monday.

Thanks,
Maureen

Thankfully we did this so after I got to spend the whole weekend with her. But if she is this easy to transition, I will have considered myself very lucky. I know cute little Breannah is helping my cause by giving Ginger a playmate, but whatever works!

Commute? What Commute?!?

Today is day #1 of working from home, and I have to say that I am enjoying it thoroughly! Although I am behind closed doors in my office, I can hear my mom with Ginger out in the front room and it's so awesome that I can go out and visit with her at lunch and on a break or two. She's been a little under the weather these past 2 days- she has 2 new teeth coming in (top right and one bottom) so she's been drooling and in pain for a few days. Then on top of that, 2 nights ago she had just finished her last feeding of the night, and she choked on it because of all her drool and it ended up coming back up and out her nose. So little one was a bit stuffed up but is recovering swiftly!

There is a light sprinkle outside right now, this first bit of rain was what inspired me to talk to my boss about transitioning to working from home more often. He was completely supportive and is just great. We have found a small, in home daycare just a few miles up the hill, so Ginger will start going in the mornings, and most likely will come home right before her afternoon nap, on the days I work from home.

So, I can't complain. I'm a happy gal :)

Pickin' Pumpkins at Peltzer Farms

I have been having so much fun with Ginger these days, that's it's hard to even stop and take the time lately to write about it! Paul, Ginger and I, along with my mom and dad, visited Peltzer Farms on Friday evening, which is down in Temecula. Afterwards we went to dinner in Old Town Temecula, where there is a big hot rod cruise/show. We had such a fun night together, and I was so happy to watch Ginger gaze at her first pumpkin patch.

Ginger is becoming such a thoughtful, funny little girl. I can see just the cusp of her personality developing, and it is amazing to see her grow, right before our eyes. Yes, you see other people's kids grow, but it's really not the same as seeing this reflection of you, getting just a wee bit older overnight.

There was a sign at the pumpkin patch that measured kids height and it would be fun to go back next year to see her progress. The Peltzer Farm was really just what I was looking for- lots of families, a small petting zoo, pig races, a corn maze, pony rides, train that takes you around the farm. But it's not glamourous, and is kind of out of the way, so it really had that feel of a good secret that you only want to tell your friends about.

Ginger was a champ the whole night. She laughed, gazed, smiled, wondered, and I did the same. One for the memory books :)