If you haven't tried to find daycare for a child in the last few years, know that the experience can be summed up as "mission impossible". Of our inquiries, only one daycare responded, and we are so glad it was the one we ended up at. We started our search when Azura was -3 months old, and we were able to find an opening for her when she was 8 months old. Yes, that's 11 months from search to start date. Since Azura was 8 months old when she started, she didn't spend long in the infant room. At one year of age, she graduated into the toddler class with kids more than twice her age. The large age range works for Azura as she's able to pick up skills from the older kids like how to use playground equipment and eating utensils. Mom and Dad love that the daycare provides a diverse menu to expand Azura's palate as well as being Spanish immersion to give her a bilingual start to life.
A clear sign Azura is getting older is her expanding vocabulary. While some words are in English: "Nose", "Wow", "Yeah"; many words are Spanish: "Dos", "Luz", "Más"; and then her own language: "Caw-Caw", "Che-Che", "Ga-Ga".
Not necessarily in quantity, but she's dexterous and deliberate with food. And with a dog sitting beneath her feet, not much food makes it to the ground anymore.
Azura shows no fear going down the big slide by herself at the park. She gets to the top carefully, but when gravity takes over she knows how to let go.
Mom and Dad struggle keeping a single toddler entertained for a few hours a day, so we have tremendous respect for the women who can corral a dozen or more toddlers day after day. Azura has three primary maestras with rotating subs and specialty teachers. They do multiple meals, outside times, and art projects per day. Then they have weekly activities like music class and gymnastics. Occasionally, they'll bring in outside teachers to do very special lessons like live animals and puppets!
Azura is an avid dancer at home and school. Her musical prowess seems to extend into instruments too, with her favorite being the drum. Mom and Dad have mixed feelings.
Keeping up with a toddler is notoriously difficult, and fortunately this toddler doesn't go searching for trouble to often. Despite not being big into climbing, she does love to be thrown and dragged and swung and tickled and chased.
When daycare brought in live lizards as a special lesson, Azura was not shy about wanting to be best friends with the special guests.