Step By Step

Garrett has been going to an in-home daycare that is ran by our friends' mom, Jane. She does a great job with Garrett and it has been so comfortable and easy for us to bring him there. Earlier this year we were surprised to hear that she is taking the summer off but at the same time understood since she really doesn't get anytime to herself. Well after we found out the news we knew that we had to start looking for another place. Good news ... We have found it!!

We are taking Garrett to Step By Step Montessori School. Brett and I stopped their today to tour the facility and ask any questions we might have. When we walked in the preschool students were having music class and were all sitting together in a circle singing. Too cute! Then they took up to the toddler room where Garrett will start. Even though he is starting at 15 months and that is still considered "infant" age they are placing him in the toddler room so there isn't another transition. Entering the toddler room was a shock for Brett and I alike. Currently Garrett goes to daycare with three full-time children and some school age children that are there occasionally. We walked into a very noisy, very busy room of about 20 children. A handful of them came up to us to inspect that new person that we brought in and Garrett wanted to be put down on the floor. It took a little coaxing from his teacher and a reassuring smile from mom and he was off to play. After the teacher gave us the rundown of their daily schedule (which I barely heard with all of the distractions) we went to the older toddler room so we could get a better view of the playground outside. They playground is a nice size with both rubber mat surfaces, concrete for riding bikes and a large grassy area.

There will be a few big changes for Garrett. Most specifically nap time will be on a cot in a room with all of the other children. They do not allow sippy cups so we can start teaching him now to drink from a cup or they will teach him when he starts. They definitely suggest we send with lots of extra clothes and not our favorite ones until he gets the hang of it. Diaper changes will be a new experience for him as well because although they don't press the issue they do put the kids on a potty so that they can get used to sitting there and start to become comfortable with it.

Before we left we took an opportunity to ask any questions that were on our minds and I could hardly contain my excitement at how perfect everything looked. Our next step is to send in the enrollment paperwork and we are all set for June 1st!