Our baby is now 5.5 months old. From the start, our baby had an instant connection, from latching the 1st minute she saw my breast to instantly knowing who is who (it seemed). She is a very happy go lucky baby, only crying when she is hungry, has gas, is sleepy and can't sleep, etc. As far as strangers are concerned, she also only cried once with one individual (when she was 4.5 months) and oddly enough the person was a mother of one already, so that was most interesting since she hasn't cried not even once with all of our single friends not even the ones that aren't interested at the time to have kids and those that have no idea how to hold infants. Anyways, that's beside the point.
We are both working parents. I was fortunate enough to take Disability for the full 12 weeks after she was born. Since then, everyday she is taken to a daycare. Every morning, night, and weekend, she's been with us and progressing in many ways well ahead of the "schedule" and reacting to our presence with smiles and laughter. Each week seemed to bring something new.
This week, literally starting on Monday, it all changed. She seldom smiles, reacts, or laughs with us as much as the prior weeks since her birth. I say seldom, as it seems to take us 10 times longer to get her to react. She seems more interested in the daycare staff than with us. The daycare staff doesn't necessarily do anything more extreme or outrageous to get her to react. Here's a recent case.
We went to pick her up last night, so that we could go to the mall to meet Santa. When we got there, prior to this week, we are normally greeted with a huge smile, a giggle here and there, and arms reaching out. Now, she looks at us like who the heck are you? The eyes are open ... even wider than ever before, as to consume who we are again or perhaps exhibit a sort of resentment (can they feel resentment at 5.5 months? I don't think so, but it makes me wonder). Her face has that curious look with her face in a particular shape and then followed by a big blank statement and look elsewhere. It reminded us of the time when she was first went to daycare. It seemed we became "daycare" staff. While looking at her, her daycare staffer came by and voila, a big smile and the kind of greeting that we normally receive. Even while we fed her, the same occurred, with us, she was "like looking into space" but as soon as the daycare staffer came by, she was "filled with the utmost joy (imagine yourself crying because you see that)".
My husband and I are jealous and confused. I've read some of the other threads and we've seen other parents in the neighborhood who have had to both work and send their children to daycare at 3 months and turn out fine. But, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be same for us too.
Since this last Monday, my husband at the beginning was persistent with the kinds of noises, faces, and laughter he'd normally do. I am as well being a mother, I carry on with the normal day to day things, acting silly, reading the books, etc. even if the expression on her face is not the usual.
Starting yesterday, he became very quiet, which isn't normal. He (now) on occasion makes the normal expressions, but less so than before. I, on the other hand, carry onward. Don't get me wrong, he still does the usual duties -- helping with feeding, changing the diapers, cleaning around the house, feed the dog, cleaning/sanitizing the bottles and related accessories, etc.
I'm so tired, I don't know even know what to ask except to say, what do you think?
We are both working parents. I was fortunate enough to take Disability for the full 12 weeks after she was born. Since then, everyday she is taken to a daycare. Every morning, night, and weekend, she's been with us and progressing in many ways well ahead of the "schedule" and reacting to our presence with smiles and laughter. Each week seemed to bring something new.
This week, literally starting on Monday, it all changed. She seldom smiles, reacts, or laughs with us as much as the prior weeks since her birth. I say seldom, as it seems to take us 10 times longer to get her to react. She seems more interested in the daycare staff than with us. The daycare staff doesn't necessarily do anything more extreme or outrageous to get her to react. Here's a recent case.
We went to pick her up last night, so that we could go to the mall to meet Santa. When we got there, prior to this week, we are normally greeted with a huge smile, a giggle here and there, and arms reaching out. Now, she looks at us like who the heck are you? The eyes are open ... even wider than ever before, as to consume who we are again or perhaps exhibit a sort of resentment (can they feel resentment at 5.5 months? I don't think so, but it makes me wonder). Her face has that curious look with her face in a particular shape and then followed by a big blank statement and look elsewhere. It reminded us of the time when she was first went to daycare. It seemed we became "daycare" staff. While looking at her, her daycare staffer came by and voila, a big smile and the kind of greeting that we normally receive. Even while we fed her, the same occurred, with us, she was "like looking into space" but as soon as the daycare staffer came by, she was "filled with the utmost joy (imagine yourself crying because you see that)".
My husband and I are jealous and confused. I've read some of the other threads and we've seen other parents in the neighborhood who have had to both work and send their children to daycare at 3 months and turn out fine. But, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be same for us too.
Since this last Monday, my husband at the beginning was persistent with the kinds of noises, faces, and laughter he'd normally do. I am as well being a mother, I carry on with the normal day to day things, acting silly, reading the books, etc. even if the expression on her face is not the usual.
Starting yesterday, he became very quiet, which isn't normal. He (now) on occasion makes the normal expressions, but less so than before. I, on the other hand, carry onward. Don't get me wrong, he still does the usual duties -- helping with feeding, changing the diapers, cleaning around the house, feed the dog, cleaning/sanitizing the bottles and related accessories, etc.
I'm so tired, I don't know even know what to ask except to say, what do you think?
