Two Weeks Later...

Riley has been at daycare for two weeks now, and although I still hate leaving him, it has definitely gotten easier. For the first week, Casey and I went to visit him during lunch every single day. And we probably would've continued that for his whole life if we hadn't realized that it was actually making his day harder. We'd interrupt his naps, we'd get there and want to feed him right after he'd already had his bottle. We felt like we were cramping his style. So we have stopped. We both miss him terribly all day long, but we are more anxious than ever to leave work at the end of the day. We rotate days on who gets to pick him up, but it seems that no matter which one of us it is that gets the honor of being the first to see him, he always greets us with a great big smile. It's as if he's trying to tell us that it's OK that we've left him all day. Like he may even appreciate the break from his embarrassing, doting parents.

I'll tell you who does love the idea of Riley being at daycare and me being back at work -- Winston and Wrigley. They have more energy and more pep in their step now than we've seen in months. I am convinced that it's because they are no longer going on 2 or 3 walks a day in the brutal Carolina summer heat. (Each day, Winston, Wrigley, Riley and I would set out on extremely long walks -- partly because Riley loves to be outside, partly because it puts him to sleep like nothing else can, partly because the dogs love their walks, and partly because I need to shed these last ten pounds that have been clinging to me since I lost the other 27 pounds two weeks after Riley was born. We walked to Starbucks and the three of them hung out while I wrote thank you notes. We walked to Roche, another coffee house in our neighborhood. We walked to the park. And sometimes we just walked without a destination or a care in the world. Wow do I miss those walks!!!!). Whatever the reason, the dogs are happy to have Casey and me to themselves again during lunchtime. I think it reminds them of the good ol' days.

Riley seems to be thriving at daycare. His neck has gotten a lot stronger. He is really starting to sit up well (although still not on his own). He has learned how to roll over onto his side. He watches the "big kids" (9 months old) in his class intently. And he's always smiling. His teachers have told us that the only times he cries during the day are when he has a dirty diaper (he doesn't seem to care about wet diapers) and when they take his bottle out of his mouth before he's done eating (this makes me laugh because we've seem him do it at home too, and it is hilarious how angry he gets). They say he has a great disposition. This makes my heart swell with pride.

This past Wednesday I had scheduled a girls' night out with three friends. As it turned out, Casey had a tennis match that night, so instead of leaving Riley at home with him as I'd planned, I schlepped him to dinner at the Village Tavern with me. Even without his usual afternoon nap, he was a saint. He didn't make a single noise the entire time. Instead, he just sat on my lap (head held high with very little bobblehead-like movements) and smiled at the girls. He is just such a laid back little guy. I love him more and more each day as more of his personality is starting to show.

This weekend is Labor Day weekend, and also the start of the college football season. Tomorrow Riley will attend his first Wake Forest football game. We are so excited about it (and the tailgating) that it's all we've been able to talk about all week. And if we are talking (and thinking) about something else besides the guilt of leaving Riley at daycare, I'd say life is good indeed.

Go Deacs!