Another Chapter of Changes

Well, my wonderful 8 weeks of leave from work is up and it's time for me to go back to work and time for Natalie to start daycare 3 days/week. It's been such an awesome time at home with her. We've really bonded so well! She tends to reach for me if she sees me - even if she's happily playing or being held by Daddy. She has started to hug and kiss (sort of) and snuggles to my chest when she's being shy or is frightened. It's a bit reassuring to have that happen. You work really hard to do everything 'right', but really, only time will tell what 'right' is. Amanda and Kelsey love to tease Andy and me on all the things that we did 'wrong'! However, they do give a great mark of approval for Natalie's future with us. Even with all of our mistakes raising them!

Natalie will be home with Andy on Mondays, and home with me on Fridays. She will go to daycare Tues-Thurs. She had a 2 hour trial run last Tuesday, 5/12/09. I dropped her off at 8:45 a.m. and picked her up around 10:30 a.m. Davorka said she did very well! She ate a snack and played with the kids. She seems to be comfortable with Davorka - that gives me some peace. And everyone there appears to be genuinely happy to have her join them.

Natalie with Davorka at daycare on her trial run. Davorka's son Alexsky is on the right.

It's hard to see in this picture, but Natalie was smiling and happy to be on the playground.

Tomorrow is her first full day. I pray she has a good day. Today she was a bit fussy - perhaps a growth spurt? She ate a really big dinner and flopped into bed at 7:30 p.m. It will be interesting to see how much she likes to be woken up in the morning. I've got her lunch all ready and sent over all of the required supplies with Andy today - diapers, bottles, formula, sunscreen, and her blanky. Of course it's not THE blanky, although it is a Nana creation that I'm sure Natalie will snuggle into - I HOPE - at naptime.

We pray for Natalie as she begins another chapter/adjustment of her young life. I have to admit, there is guilt in sending her to daycare. Andy and I have had many discussions about the timing, which daycare, how many days, etc., but we believe that the Lord will continue to take care of her and guide us each and every day.

Some great news we learned this weekend is that Lily will be attending the same daycare and they will be there together on Thursdays! Lily will go on Mon/Thurs/Fri. What a blessing! Who could have predicted that these precious girls, who slept side-by-side for months waiting for a family, would travel together all the way across the world, live within walking distance from each other, and go to the same day care. God is so good! Alicia