Kaitlin started going to daycare/preschool two days a week when school started back up in January. She is nearing three years old, and I wanted to provide her the opportunity to be around other children. We have been so fortunate for our moms to keep her all this time, but I want her to know how to play with kids....yep, that's right....she knows how to play with grown-ups, but would love to have more playmates her age.
As you can imagine, this transition was difficult and scary for me.....not Kaitlin....me. However, after seeing how well she has done, I am perfectly happy with her going.
Scott has been taking her each morning, and the funniest thing happened the first day. He walked her into Miss Cori's class (Miss Cori is FABULOUS by the way!!!) where she did the typical Kaitlin around strangers act (head down, playing with fingers, doesn't move, silent). Immediately Emma (Kaitlin's second cousin whom she has been around a few times) and another little girl we did not know came to her and began talking up a storm to her. The other little girl proceeds to smell Kaitlin's hair....are you picturing animals smelling the new meat? The girls begin to touch Kaitlin's lunch box, coat, and of course her hair. All the while, Kaitlin just stands there frozen in her stranger danger mode. None of this bothered her, but the poor thing was like a fish out of water.
Scott said his goodbyes that first day and left. Kaitlin did great! She sat in Miss Cori's lap for much of the day, but did venture out and begin to play a bit by mid-morning. I rushed there after school because I couldn't wait to get to her and see how she liked it.
We're in the third week of daycare now, and Kaitlin is doing fantastic! Not once has she become upset or shed a tear over going. She gets so excited about packing her lunch in her princess lunch box and making sure she has her princess sheet to take with her for nap time. I love hearing her tell about things she did that day and talk about friends she has made. We are thrilled that she loves it there so much. Interesting note....she still gets her hair smelled each morning when she arrives!
Christmas morning was exciting. Kaitlin came to my room to wake me up, and I had to remind her that it was Christmas Day. She asked if that meant it was Jesus's birthday. When I told her that it was, she said, "So I can open my presents now?" I then had to tell her that she could finally open them, and that Santa Claus came as well. She was so excited to see everything. She got more than she has had time to play with yet, and it's already January! This is Kaitlin with some of her gifts. She was trying to show off her princess dresses on the ottoman there--she loves those!
Scott and Kaitlin were really good to me. They got me some nice new clothes that were greatly needed and appreciated. Kaitlin was so very eager to help everyone open their gifts.
We went on to Scott's parents' house for breakfast. One of Kaitlin's gifts from them was this Smart Cycle. Pedaling is a bit difficult for her, but she'll get the hang of it.
Scott's parents gave us season passes to Holiday World and some other gifts as well. I just had to show this picture of Scott with his favorite gift of all....just kidding. His mom asked if there was anything we needed, so I told her we needed a can opener. Scott didn't think too much of getting a can opener for Christmas, so he wasn't very happy about it....not that you can tell from the picture.
We visited with the Dillards for a while before moving on to my parents' house. Uncle Jody and Uncle Ricky were there waiting as well. We got to enjoy yet another breakfast/brunch with them. I always make sure Dad has a country ham ready for us (he wouldn't have it any other way). Kaitlin got lots of princess dolls and Cinderella toys there, so she was a happy camper. I was so excited to get a Dyson vacuum cleaner! Believe it or not, Scott was pretty happy about it too. He even broke it out of the box and tried it out right there at their house....I know...I should have taken a picture!
By the time the gift-opening was over at Mom and Dad's, it was already 4 p.m. We took Kaitlin home for a much needed nap. Later that evening, she FINALLY got to play with some of the toys she got. Poor thing was on the go all day that she didn't get to play with anything for very long. I asked all of Kaitlin's grandparents and Uncle Jody to come over that night to spend more time with all of us. The truth is that I wanted them to open/unwrap/assemble all those toys. It worked out great for us! What is the deal anyway with putting 500 ties/binders on every little toy you open? You'll love this picture of some of the little elves in action. They enjoyed that fishing game as much as Kaitlin did.
Here are a few more pictures from during the holiday season. Kaitlin and I always exchange gifts with Ella Kate and Amber right before Christmas. Do they look ready or what?
Ella Kate gave Kaitlin this Cinderella dress. She absolutely loves it! Ever since our trip to Disney World, Kaitlin has been in love with Cinderella. She watches the movie every day and role plays those characters quite a bit. Lots of fun!!
The girls participated in a Christmas program at church. They sang really well and did pretty much all the movements. On the third song, Kaitlin decided to sit down....too funny...Ella Kate of course followed suit. She later told me that sometimes she likes to sit down while she sings!
Buddy...
13 years ago
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