At the pool

We lost power due to a storm last night. We went to my in-laws. Mia had a blast in the pool.

Still Hating

Mike dropped Mia off at daycare this morning. It's her fifth day. Mike called and said she cried in the car as soon as he pulled into the parking lot. He held her for ten minutes and the poor thing howled the entire time. My heart is broken as I hear this. It's so tough for her. I hope she has a better day.

Carousel

We went to Chemijontry park this morning. Mia had her first carousel experience. We did it four times and she still didn't want to leave the horses.

Splash

Mia's first swimming lesson today. Getting dressed.

Mia enjoyed water very much. She was probably the biggest baby in class but she had the most fun. With dunking in water exercise, she behaved superbly. She was not too surprised when Mike submerged her in water since she's been practicing this in our bath tub since she was tiny. The class will go all the way to August 11. We will be training in grandma's pool intermittenly. Hopefully by the end of this summer. She will learn how to swim.

Cry Baby

I got out of the car at the daycare parking lot and heard this howling for mama. For a moment I could not tell who it was and was wondering "would that be Mia?" As I walked towards the gate, I saw this little girl dressed in flowery shirt pouring her tears out at the gate. An unfamiliar teacher was asking "is this mama?" Yes she is mine. I grabbed her really quick and put my face against her wet cheeks. Aparently she's been crying at the gate at everyone coming to get their baby, asking for mama. She did not eat lunch today. She was very clingy to her lammi, two dolls from class and her sippy cup. Pinky said she held on to the lammi all day and was crying a lot more after Mike's visit at noon. At that moment I decided we would not visit during the day any more.

For me, it was not as hard as yesterday but it is still very difficult for my poor baby. It will be a long road to normality.

1st Day at Daycare

Mia started her 1st day at daycare today. This moring, Mike and I both drove to send her off. The past two weeks, we took her in twice to get familiar with the environment and the teachers. She seemed ok then so we were curious to see how she would fare today.

I was giving Ms. Mimi Mia's items to keep when Mike called out to the boy next to Mia. I caught Mia hitting the shelf against the wall and falling on the ground. It turned out the little boy Brandon, shoved Mia and she fell even though she was happily minding her own business. Mike went over immediately and scolde the boy. Mia cried with much surprise and dismay. Mike picked her up. Both Ms. Mimi and Ms. Ismahan scolded the boy. Ms. Mimi said she was so sorry. Mia was shrieking since we all started paying attention to her. When I picked her up from Mike, my heart was aching. What a rude welcome!

When we were talking to the teacher, I started tearing up. I feel terribly uncomfortable leaving her here and I was so worried. The teachers assured me that Mia would be in good hands but I still had such a heavy heart.

When she wasn't looking we quickly left the room. I looked at her through the little window on the door and headed out with tears streaking down my face. I drove to work distracted. All morning I was heart broken. I called the daycare around 10:30. The teacher said she had a little cereal and half an orange. She then cried and everytime anybody came into the room, she called for mama. Ms. Pinky held her for an hour then she got better. My heart sank and I cried. I spoke with my coworkers who are moms that have gone through this. They comforted me with understanding words and suggested that I should arrange to pick her up early everyday this week. I cried a dozen or so times today including tearing up in my boss' office. I could not help it as soon as I thought about the crying little one, probably thinking we have abandoned her.

Mike stopped by at 1 and reported back to say Mia was sleeping in the stroller in the hall way since she would not sleep in her cot. I called the daycare again. Ms. Mimi said she did not want lunch and would not sleep. They took her out on the stroller and she just got sleepy. I teared up again after the call. I have become one of those moms that I couldn't believe I'd become. I feel so guilty even though I really don't have any choice.

I hurried home after my three o'clock meeting. I actually rescheduled two more meetings after so I could pick Mia up quickly. I sped like a demon. As soon as I drove into the parking lot, my heart was beaming with the thought that I'd liberate my baby. When I opened the door, I saw her sitting at the corner, all alone, eyes red and swollen, with her lammy in one hand and her seahorse in the other hand. There was also a toy puppy tugged under her leg. She saw me, pauzed for a second, then it registered. Her little face twisted and she broke out crying and reached up towards me. I ran to her, gave her a big hug and planted a thousand kisses on her cheeks. She smelled of soiled diaper and I just wanted to cry.

It was a terrible day for both of us. She got home, ate noodles, sweet potatoes, grapes and yogurt. She played with most of her toys. I think tomorrow will be even harder since she now knows what is ahead of her. I plan to leave work early again to pick her up. Oh how I hate this!

Splash

Mia is ready for swimming lessons. We signed her up for end of July class. Since she was a tiny baby, we have let her swim in the master bathroom tub. She is a water baby and has always enjoyed 'wawa'.

Our neighbor got some outdoor water slide and turned it yesterday in the yard between our two houses. When I got home from a seven hour round trip to Lynchburg, I saw Mia playing in the yard, hair drizzled in water and dress wet. She was having a blast.

Our in-laws has a pool, today is Father's Day so we went over to celebrate. Mia had her first dip in the pool, only hands and feet though. She did her best splashing the water. In two weeks, I think the pool will be warm enough for her to do her first big girl swim. We bought her the diapers used for swimming today in preparation for her upcoming adventures.

Zoo

Went to the petting zoo next door today. Mia freaked out over the ostrich, the turtle, the alligator and the screaming goats. She even did not like the peacock opening its tail. As soon as the white peacock shake his tail, Mia shook and grabbed onto me. She only appreciated the Vietnamese pot belly pig and said yum yum yum as the pig ate.

We saw a baby deer born only two hours before our arrival and a calf that was so fluffy, it was cuter than any cartoon character. Mia was not so impressed. She was distracted by a balloon in the little girl's hand next to us. When she gets bigger, she may like the experience more.

Mia at a birthday party

Mia was at a birthday party this weekend. She was horrified by the Mini mouse.

Flying

This picture was actually taken on April 31 when we flew to China. When we took off, we gave Mia a bottle so she would not feel the pressure that much during takeoff. 

Mia was a champ and was not affected during takeoff and landing at all. She slept most of the time during the flight.She recovered from jetleg in four days. I expect her to be a good traveler just like her  mama some time soon.