end of week 1

Well, it is the end of week 1 of our new school year. Overall, Ashley and I really enjoy our new schedules; she gets more time with Eden in the afternoons, and I have mornings that start later than last year. I generally get up early to work out. Ashley is up around 6:30 and half-way ready by the time I get home. Eden is up between 7:00 and 8:00 (except for Tuesday when she slept till 8:15). Ashley goes in around 8:15, and Eden and I have a short PBS viewing (to ease the mommy-is-leaving-and-I-don't like-it syndrome). Then, we leave at 8:50 and are at the door of PDO by five till 9.

Usually she won't let me put her down until we get inside the building at which time she starts to run toward her room. We have a quick stop by her old room so she can give Ms. Marie and Ms. Delores kisses.

Then there is the crying ... not from her ... but from the 2 or 3 others who have just left mom or dad. Eden usually looks at me and does her sad face. I calm her and ask if she wants to give the crying baby a kiss. She does, and then gets down to do so. She waves good-bye, and Ashley comes to pick her up at 2:00 for some afternoon fun. This week it has been more like afternoon resting to make up for Eden's day, but more about that in a minute.

On Friday, I stay home with Eden. This Friday, we had a nice day. She woke up around 7 and had breakfast. After Ashley left and we played tickle-me-daddy-while-I-pretend-to-get-away, I got her dressed for the park. At 10:15 she ate a snack, and by 10:45 she was out. The next time she made a sound was 2:15.

That nap was much needed as she has only been sleeping about an hour at PDO each day {compared to her 3 hour naps at home}. Although she is fine being left, the report is that others scream most of the day. Hard to sleep. Hard to eat, too - apparently they scream at the table. She eats VERY well at home now ... one day this past week she ate 2 containers of yogurt right when she got home! Who can blame her? Would you want to eat lunch next to screaming crazies? We've been told it has gotten a bit better each day. We're just hoping they calm down soon.

To wrap up the week and to celebrate actually seeing eachother before work, we took a family picture. I took it with my arm stretched out.

Eden was apparently paying attention {and has been with her Momma's self-portraits, too}. Right after we took the picture and she saw it, she took the camera away from Ashley, turned the lens toward her holding the camera with both hands, and started smiling. So we indulged.

Of course, one picture was not enough ...

Do you think we've been taking too many pics of her? ;)

Overall, it seemed to be a good week. Ashley and I keep asking when the other kids are going to be okay ... and wondering if they can be kicked out for disturbing others :) The teachers keep telling us that it will take some time for the others to catch up to where Eden is. We hope they catch up soon.