Our New Normal

So...I started a new job right after Christmas.  Tony had the week off so was able to be with Meighan for three full days.  The following week we were both working so I took Meighan to daycare which was out by our church.  All that week I visited 4 different daycares that were closer to our house and the preschool she was enrolled in.  We had decided that if she stayed at the original daycare, once she started preschool she'd be riding around Omaha for 2 hours every day.  We did not want that for her.

So we finally decided on a daycare in the 72nd & Sorenson area.  If you know Omaha and where we live, you know that's more "on the way" to work for me and is so convenient.  That location will save me 16 miles per day or 80 miles per week!  Plus, I can easily be home by 5:30 if I don't need to make any stops.

The transportation department for preschool wanted to wait to set up Meighan's transportation until we got the daycare decided.  She stayed at daycare only for a week and finally started preschool on January 18!  I took her on the first day and made sure everything was OK.  The bus took her back to daycare and the daycare provider called me when she got there to let me know all was well.  Meighan loves to ride the bus.  She plays well with the kids in preschool and daycare and has made good progress with her potty training!  I emailed the teachers after her first day and asked how she did.  This was the response:

"Meighan had a great first day.  She really seemed to enjoy everything.  She played Duck, Duck, Goose in the gym and understood exactly what to do.  During learning labs, she played in the house area.  We were doing pretend winter play.  She went ice fishing, sled riding and sock snowball fight.  She was not shy about asking bigger kids to give her a ride on the sled.  She was a joy to have in the room.  She used short phrases to talk or repeated short sentences that she heard."

Makes a mama proud!  I had no doubts she would be OK and I know she will absolutely THRIVE in preschool.  She's jabbering a LOT!  Some of it we understand, some we don't.  Some of the things she says right now are:

I play JoJo - means I play with Jerri (the daycare provider)

Ride bus

Mama play ball

Play snow (play in the snow)

Brush teeth

I want apple juice please (and we're finally getting a "p" sound instead of a "t" sound when she says "please")

As far as Tony and I go, we are keeping busy.  Things didn't change much for Tony, but I have a LOT less time at home now.  Laundry day changed from Friday to Saturday and I also use Saturdays to get groceries and other shopping done.  Evenings are also spent trying to get things done as well as watch the TV we enjoy (i.e. relax!).  Although I had shopping and laundry to do today, this was the first Saturday since starting my job that I was able to "sleep in."  Yeah!

Last Saturday night we actually had a "date night"!  We signed up to participate in Trivia Night at church.  The childcare provided pizza for the kids and we ate soup and salad before playing Trivia.  Our team came in DEAD LAST, however, we DID answer more than half the questions correctly!  We had a really good time and we even won a prize for last place!