Thank you everyone! I wanted to post about how DD's first and second days at daycare went!!

We're calling it "Kindy" now....she seems to like calling it this and talks about it ALOT now!!

First day was REALLY HARD on me more than her..... I stayed 15mins made sure her carer (who I'll name E) had her and was giving her hugs and I said goodbye to her and that Mummy would be back very soon and that she can have lots of cuddles with E while I'm gone.... she went to E for a hug after I kissed and hugged her goodbye and then E signalled me to leave and to make sure I don't come back again otherwise it would make it harder on DD.....(I already knew this so made sure I just kept going.... )..... geez this was really, really hard on me.... harder than I ever thought it would have been. I knew it was going to be hard but not this hard..... I heard her crying as I left and I walked out feeling like the worst mum in the whole world the tightness in my chest was horrific and I think I had some anxiety as I left.....(I get it now and then) anyway as I walked out one lady stopped me and wanted to talk about my pregnancy and how long I had left and I said I'm so sorry I have waterworks about to start I have to leave etc.... and she understood, then another lady stopped me and said hello (another carer there) and I just said I had to go and get out of there as I didn't want to hear DD crying (although I'd left the room so couldnt hear anyway)...... just had to get to my car so I could SOB in privacy
"A" on the desk said "here take this" as I left and handed me their contact card for when I wanted to ring at anytime to check on DD and she said "we'll look after her, call as much as you like ok" she is so nice. They are ALL so nice. She's in a really lovely centre, I'm so lucky it's just down the road from us. It truly is one of the best in our area!

Anyway, got to the car, I CRIED so hard for about 15mins and had to pull over as I couldn't see anything while driving for my tears!! I felt so guilty for leaving my baby when I don't have to go to work or anything but I know this is a good thing for her and me..... for different reasons!! I know it will get easier....I got my phone and rang DH and said "you think she'll be ok?" he was more worried about me!!!! haha..... I drove back and drove past the centre to see if I could see DD from outside and she was being held by one of the carers (E) so that made me feel better....got to the shops and did my jobs I needed to do and the 3hrs that I left DD there went SO FAST..... even managed to have a coffee and cake by myself at gloria jeans (ah, it was very relaxing!!!)....but the whole entire time I could not stop thinking about DD..... I rang to check on her after 30mins and they said "sorry to disappoint you but she is smiling and happy and having the best time playing dress ups with the other kids!!!" so that made me laugh, it was really nice to hear.... so she'd only cried for 3-4mins on her first day

When I picked DD up 3hrs later (before their nap time) (only wanted her there 3hrs for her first day) she was so happy to see me and didn't cry just gave me a big warm cuddle, geez I had missed her.... and as we walked to the car she was telling me about her day (she's the biggest chatterbox hehe) and I said "and what did you do today?" and she said "I got some sand in my mouth mum!" and I said "did you? and what happened after that?" she said to me "I ate it mum" awww it was so cute.... made me laugh..... I'll never forget that..... later that afternoon at home I said to DD "I really really missed you today you know" and I started to cry again (pregnancy hormones!!!!) and she said "aww Mummy is sad, don't cry Mummy" and gave me a hug.... so gorgeous. She was comforting me!! LOL I'm such a sook.

Week 2.....DD wanted to bring in a snake skin to show the other kids (one we've laminated) and they loved it!!! I thought it would be a good idea to bring something in for show and tell from home while she's settling in with the kids etc.... her 2nd stay and I drop her off after 5mins of being there and she didn't cry like she did the first week, just had a little tear or two the carer said and she seemed fine not long after...i noticed when i left her she was hugging with E and turned her head away from me as she knew I was leaving and found it hard to look at me I guess..... she knew what was to happen as we'd talked about it all week and the day before, alot, and she understands so much so she knew what was going to happen this week, made it ALOT easier..... although I still walked to the car and had a cry it wasn't as bad as the week before..... I didn't feel 'as' guilty leaving her. I knew she'd be just fine. Called 30mins later to check how she was and she was happy and playing and reading stories with other kids..... I then rang at 12pm their sleep time and admin lady told me that her carer "E" said DD was doing really good and was lying down on her little bed next to other kids and was getting settled in for nap time..... I said are you sure you don't want me to pick her up? (I was prepared to as i knew it was her first day of staying for 'nap' time and she might find it hard etc)...... but nope, they said honestly she was so good..... rang back 2hrs later, she had slept 1.5hrs and, NO PATTING or sitting next to her was required!!!!!! she had fallen asleep on her own...... "E" told me later when I came to pick her up at 3pm that she'd fallen asleep on her own, seen the other kids going to sleep and thought "may aswell go to sleep" and just did it..... I was SO PROUD..... DD has hardly ever done that for me..... I've quite often had to lie or sit with DD to help her to sleep at home..... so so proud of her.

Two weeks ago we started sitting with DD more often rather than lying with her and holding her hand as she drifts off to sleep and this has helped her at kindy I think....!! Will make it so much easier on me when this baby comes in about 5 weeks time

Anyway just wanted to share how it all went..... her 3rd week is tomorrow..... it comes around fast! I'm so proud of my little girl for how brave she's been throughout this whole process (braver than her mummy that's for sure!) and I think because of our close bond and her secure attachment with me, she knows I'm going to come back and get her etc and she's a very confident, talkative, social little kid who mixes well with everyone and just loves company so I really feel this Kindy is a good thing for her.... and it sure will help me once a week when this baby comes.

ps I laughed when the carer told me how she'd tried to wake the little boy next to her at the start of nap time.... hehe she was touching him and trying to play with him and "E" told her its time to sleep now etc..... I just laughed cos' that is so typical of DD, always wanting to play even at sleep time hehe