M.O.
J.,
I'm a BIG fan of the YMCA (I work there). You can check out their preschool program or they even offer a Mom and me preschool class. You can drop your 1 yr old off in the nursery and spend some alone time with your 3 yr old. They also offer swim lessons for both ages.
The one in Palatine is the Buehler YMCA. They have a great website and list all their classes in an online brochure. (New classes start in another week.) http://www.buehlerymca.org/
One of the biggest reasons I like the Y is that they are not for profit and really give back to people in the community. The people who attend are very down to earth and the child care staff is excellent.
Check it out.
Sara