Baby's happy as can be, you know

I just left Charlie with our babysitter for the very first time. They've been getting to know each other for a while, and this was the night! I watched my phone the whole time, and we were back within two hours. (Some date, eh?) I was prepared for drama. There was none. They were just fine.

Which just proves that I need to trust my baby more. He's perfectly capable of dealing with a little change. I have been at his beck and call for nearly six months now; this is one secure and happy baby. He feels safe enough so he won't panic if I'm not there all the time. I need to remember that. He can do this. We can do this. Not to mention the fact that we need to do this. Because he needs to know he can exist without me for a bit, and I need to gain some perspective and a have a teeny tiny bit of alone time. Soon.

Of course this is all just a dress rehearsal for his first days at the creche. We have an appointment on Friday to see his childminder. I've never met her. I don't know if you remember me complaining about the woman who was going to look after him. Well, soon after that I decided to calm down about it and trust the universe.

Sure enough, a few weeks ago I got a phonecall from the creche saying they had given Charlie's place away to someone else. (So far, so typical.) Also, could I maybe wait until September so he could start in the younger group. (No, I bloody well couldn't!) I asked the administrator how old exactly the babies in the older group are and couldn't they put him in there. It turns out that the youngest baby there is only half a month older than Charlie (who's a giant anyway so he'll fit right in), there is a space in that group, and they now think I'm a genius for thinking of moving him there.  

Thank you, universe.

The childminder in that new group is not someone I know, but apparently she's a young mother, newly back from maternity leave, and "very creative." I have a good feeling about this.

If all goes well, we will have him in the creche for two half days a week by mid-February and I will be able to go to the gym twice a week (to lose my pregnancy pounds, meditate, and generally get some happy chemicals in my system). Now I only have to remember to trust Charlie to be able to deal with this. He was fine tonight. Chances are he will love spending time with other babies and playing with other toys. Why wouldn't he?

I may not be fine, but it's time to lengthen that umbilical cord just a little.