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Friday, August 30, 2013

Walking

You are doing it!!! You are walking!!!

It is clear that now you would almost prefer to walk than crawl. Not only can you walk all the way across the room but you can pivot or turn your body also. When you want things you crawl right over to them and get them. The thing that you seem to want most, is whatever your sister has. Sometimes that is a ball but other times it is a puzzle piece or a crayon. She is patient with you and sometimes lets you have it. She will often try to distract you with something else. She will throw a ball to the other side of the room and you will go and chase it.

As you become more confident in your walking you are also starting to copy other things that Amelia does. You now climb up on to Amelia's stools, even though you can't get down. You stand up on the top and smile. You like to get onto her scooter. You hand on to the handles and smile. So proud of yourself.

You are becoming quite the daredevil.

I am so proud of you!!! Such a big boy now. You are a toddler now. I think that means I can't call your my little baby anymore. Now you are my little toddler.

I love you!!

Preschool Orientation

Amelia - you are so big!!!

Today was the day. Well - not quite but it was still an important day. Your formal education started today. It was preschool orientation.

We had talked to you about pre-school all summer and you often asked about when you were going to get to go to school. We marked it on the calendar with a big S and then continued to put an S on all the days in September. We told you what you would learn - numbers, letters, colors, and so on. We practiced some of it at home to help prepare you. I think it only made you more excited. We went and bought you school clothes and school shoes. We kept them separate in your closet to keep them ready for school. The clothes that we bought were all dresses. The shoes are purple and pink and of course they light up. You are still going to use your Minnie Mouse backpack but we bought you a new lunch bag. It is a ladybug. You love it. We also bought you new undies - Minnie Mouse of course. You are ready.

I almost messed it all up. As much as we had prepped you and we had put it on the calendar, I almost missed some critical paperwork. You had to have the doctor sign off on you saying that your shots were up to date. I didn't think it would take more than about 5 minutes to print out your shorts record...but I was wrong. Apparently it takes 2-3 days. Whatever!!! No it doesn't!!! When the doctor's office told me that I had to call your preschool up and ask what to do. They told me you couldn't come on the first day unless you had the paperwork. I was so mad!!! I went back to the doctor and pleaded with them to fill out the form. They said that they would do it. I was so thankful. So when we go on Tuesday - we just have to make sure that we have it for them.

As your mom, I am of course, a mess. Yes, my love, I am that mom. I am the mom that will cry at everything and will be at every event. I will try not to embarrass you, but in doing so I probably will. I have cried almost every day straight for the last week. I try not to do it in front of you. Sometimes I cry in the car or while I watch tv. Other times I cry on your daddy's shoulder. He just looks at me and lets me cry, all while hugging me. I saw him cry once, even though he tried to hide it. I am just nervous. You are my baby. My first baby. I am nervous that you won't like it or that you will shutdown. That you will decide you don't like school or that you will not like your teachers. I want you to make friends, but am afraid that you won't. There is just so much that I want for you - but mostly I want you to have fun.

So today was orientation day. I knew I had to keep myself busy otherwise I would loose it. After breakfast we put the laundry away, cleaned your room and Aiden's room, put mommy's laundry away and cleaned out my drawers. We had snack, played with your toys, made a ceramic butterfly thing and then watched an episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates (your new favorite show). While watching the show, I did cry a little bit. It was then time for me to get ready so I went upstairs to shower, where I cried more. But I got ready. I tried on multiple outfits, I wanted to make sure I looked good for you but also to impress your teacher. I wanted her to think we are good, responsible parents. Once Gamma was here to to babysit Aiden, you and I were off.

We went right over to CCC. Your preschool is in the back right underneath the library. Across from your preschool is the green house and the nature trail. Both of which you will be going to for preschool. We were a little early so you sat in the front seat with me while we waited for daddy and to go in. But soon it was time for us to go in and meet your teachers. We met Miss Jessie first and then Miss Holly. You went to the sand table first and played with that for a long time. You then came over to color with the pink crayon and then you went over to the doll house and blocks. You talked to some of the other students who came in but most of them were very shy and just stayed with their parents. While you were playing we talked to your teachers. We learned that every Thursday will be show-n-tell and that once a month you will have to bring in snack. We saw where your outside cubby is outside of the classroom is to keep your coat and your inside of the classroom cubby to keep your art work and portfolio in. You will get to take this home at the end of the year. We saw where the bathroom is and practiced using it. The back of the door has the steps with pictures on how to wash your hands. You thought it was pretty cool. Your teacher gave us some more information on the school and some more forms to fill out. We were there for about 45 minutes. You loved it. You played the whole time.

When we left there, I surprised you with a pedicure. I think we might make this a tradition. The week before school starts you and mommy go and get a pedicure. It is the first time that you had ever been so you had lots of questions. After we both soaked our feet you had your toe nails clipped and then painted. You painted them bright pink and the lady put white and silver stripes on it. You showed it to everyone. She then did my feet and you had lots of questions the whole time - what does that do, why is she doing that, what is that called? You were very patient while she did it. She finished us both off with some lotion on out legs and feet. I think you loved it.

It was then time to come home. You told Gamma all about it - or - she asked you a bunch of questions and you answered them. Mostly you showed her your toe nails. When daddy came home we talked about school more and then were off to dinner.

I had so much fun with you today. You are so big and so brave. You are going to be taking your first step into formal education next week. I will be there to drop you off and pick you up every day that I can. I love you so much!!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

To both of you

I love you both. I love how you hug each other and kiss each other. Amelia when Aiden is upset you get his blanket and want to snuggle with him. Aiden you help to wake Amelia up in the morning by giving her pat-pats and kisses. You make each other laugh and giggle. You play together with the lego table and build towers together. I just love you so much. I am so proud of you both.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Again...Steps Again

You did it again. You walked again - or took steps. This time there wasn't quite as much prompting - although still some. You were more willing to stand up and when you began to tip you balanced yourself better. You even took 4 steps at one point - maybe even 5.

The word that comes to mind to describe how your daddy, Amelia and myself feel is proud. We were all so proud of you. Amelia is like your little cheerleader - encouraging you, clapping for you and then also setting things up for you. She laughed with you and smiled with you. I am just so proud!!!

Love you!! I can't wait to see how you do tomorrow.   :)

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

First Steps

You did it!!! You took your first step on your own last night and tonight you took multiple steps!!! I am so proud of you!!!!

Last night I wasn't there when you took your first step. I was cleaning up dinner and you were playing with Amelia and Daddy. You were playing ball with then and you wanted to get it from them. They held it up for you to get and you took a step. Amelia came running to get me and I came in. And...then they tried to get you to take a step again and you wouldn't do it. You started to play with something else. I tried to take video but you just weren't interested. I think I have about 5 minutes of video with you not taking any steps. When I turned the camera off - you decided to take one little mini-step. We all said good job, clapped and tried to get you to do it again. There were no more steps last night.

Tonight you had lots of steps. Tonight, after we played dress up in which Amelia put you in a bumble bee costume, you took multiple steps. You did it!! Amelia got out her princess crown that lights up and flashes - you wanted it. You took it from me and gave it to Amelia and then took it from Amelia and gave it to me. Amelia and I would put it on our heads and you would crawl over to us and then stand up when you were close - but not to close. You then took 2-3 steps to get close enough to us that you could take it off our heads. We must have done this for 5 minutes - at least. It was so cute. You were so proud. You smiles and just lit up. You knew you had done something new and something that you wanted to do again. 

I loved to watch you and can't wait to see what you do tomorrow.






Saturday, August 3, 2013

Roseland Waterpark

Your daddy and I wanted to do something a little different today. So...we went to Roseland Waterpark in Canandaigua. I was a little nervous about how you would do. You don't like to have water on your face from above - so you don't like the shower because the water comes from above you and then goes on your face. I knew the kids part of the water park had a lot of sprinklers and you would have to run under them. I just wasn't sure if you would like it.

But that morning when you woke up, all you wanted to do was go to the waterpark. We had to wait a little bit though because it didn't open until 11:00. So...I tried to entertain you with movies but it only worked for so long. Finally it was time to get ready. You wore your Tinker Bell bathing suit even though it is almost to small. I really have to tug on it to get it to come up high enough.

Once we get there, you insisted that you carry the tickets. And then dropped one. :) We gave the nice man the tickets and we were through. We got you a life jacket as we weren't sure if we were going to need it. I am glad we did. First we went to the lockers, then potty, changed your brother and off to the kid part of the park - Slash Factory. You were very nervous at first. You ran around, got your feet wet but came right back out. I think you did this at least 10 times. You wouldn't go up the steps or under the sprinklers or under the pouring water. We tried to encourage you by showing you how Aiden was going in the water and under the sprinklers. I then went up the steps with you and you went down the slides. Once you went down one slide you were ready to go down other slides. The first slide that you went down was the tube slide. It wasn't very long but it was faster than either of us had expected. When you came out, you came shooting out and went right into the water. You smiles, laughed, and gave me a high five. And then you went up the stairs again - but on the other side that didn't have sprinklers. You went down the tube slide again and then down the twisty slide and regular slide. You ran around more and started to put your rear end under some of the sprinklers. I was able to see your confidence grow and you became more daring.

After the Slash Factory, you and I went on the Lazy River. And it was so slow. I was going to have you ride on my lap to make sure you didn't fall in but the life guard suggested that you ride separately. I was nervous but there were special tubes for kids. It was a blue double tube that had netting in one of the bubbles. So you rode in front of me. You were so excited to have your own spot. As we went around you wanted to lean over and touch the water but I was to nervous so I wouldn't let you. I should have had your life jacket on you. The first part of the Lazy River just twisted around but then the sprinklers came and you got nervous. You didn't want to go through them - but we had no option. I told you to put your head down and cover your eyes. You went ahead and did this before we were even close. It was cute. Once we got through those you put your head up and tried to touch the water again. Me, the nervous mom, told you that you couldn't. I tried to push us off the walls so that I could control a little better where we were going and also to make us go faster. It was slow. There were more sprinklers but you did better with those. You just covered your face with your hands but didn't put your head down. Again getting braver as we went. I tried to control the raft a little so that the streams of water didn't go right on you but it didn't always work. We finally made it all of the way around and it was time to get out.

Next came lunch, then the hit of the park - the Wave Pool. You loved the wave pool the most. At first you just stayed near the edge but eventually made it all of the way up to your waist. The waves came out and you jumped and screamed and ran back to the shallow part. We spent a lot of time in the Wave Pool. When the waves came, I would pick you up over the waves and you would laugh. When you were comfortable you let me just lift you by your hands and eventually no hands at all and you would jump by yourself. You would jump and turn around all at the same time. You called it your trick. When the waves weren't going you would "swim" and kick your legs. Once you really learn how to swim I think you will be excellent at it. I am so proud of how much you have learned over the summer. In the wave pool you finally got really brave and just floated in the waves, going in and out with them. You were so proud of yourself. Again calling it your trick.

We then went back to Splash Factory. You were not happy about is and cried on the way over. Your towel kept falling off and so you got even more frustrated. Once there, you and I struggled a bit. I loved snuggling with you. I wrapped you up in a towel and you put your head down on my lap. I rubbed your face and back. As you are a very social person you wanted to make friends and play with someone. When you saw a little girl that looked to be about three you decided you wanted to go play again. You did great. You went down the little red slide a few times and put your back and rear end in the sprinklers. You only lasted about 15 minutes and wanted to go back to the Wave Pool.

So...we went back to the Wave Pool. You loved it still. It was by far your favorite place at the park. After a little while we decided it was time to go. You cried and cried claiming you weren't tired and wanted to stay. Now...your daddy and I knew you were tired so we tried to convince you that it was time to go. We put your shoes on and covered you with your towel.

It was time to change and I discovered that I forgot your undies. Sorry about that. We put on your shorts anyway and I made you put a sweatshirt on. You were so cold - although you wouldn't admit it. I changed your brother and then we left promising we would come back. We even told you that we would come back with Isa and Gamma. Once in the car you decided that you were tired and that you would take a nap. About 5 minutes into the ride home you were out. It was pretty funny. You were drinking your sippy and then I turned around and your mouth was wide open and your arm had just fallen to your side. It was clear you had fallen asleep while you were drinking your sippy. You slept the whole way home.

It was so great to spend time with you. I loved seeing you happy and courageous. You smiled and smiled. I love you so much!!!

Swimming

All that I can say is that you love swimming!!! You love swimming!!!

When we are in a pool, you don't use froggie but the floaty that we got from the YMCA. It keeps you up enough that you have to swim but also helps you so that you don't go underwater. Sometimes you are laughing, talking and having so much fun that you get water in your mouth. We have to tell you to keep your mouth closed. :)

You swim all by yourself. We sometimes stay next to you but you also swim all on your own. You like to use the noodle and often chase after the rings. Sometimes I hold the ring out and you jump off the stairs to catch it. Each time we are at Nonni and Poppi's pool, I make sure you go under water at least once. This helps you get used to it. I hold onto you and we count to three. You love it when daddy swims under you and when he blows water out of the noodle. Sometimes we swim for almost an hour. When it is time to get out, you never want to.

This has increased your comfort level in the water in general. Now when we go to a park to swim in a lake or when we go to a water park you dive right in. Always being careful not to get your face wet but you want to swim. You kick your feet and "swim."

I can't wait to put you in swim lessons again. We will start in September. It is only one month away.

Bike Riding

We bought you a new bike - It is pink and purple just like you wanted. There are streamers on the handlebars and a little bag on the from for your water bottle. It has little beads on the 16 inch wheels and sparkles in the sun.

We bought it at Walmart. You were with us and you rode it in the store to make sure it was the right size. It was. You did great. You steered it through the store. You smiles and were so excited. We tried to help you but you wouldn't let us.

In the car on the way home you called Gamma and told her all about your bike. You promised to bring it to her house the next day and show it to her. Once we were home you, you got out of the car and then were ready to ride. We put your helmet on and you were off. We walked up the street with you. You rode in front of us - sturdy, fast, confident. Once we got to the end of the road you rode around the fire hydrant three or four times. You didn't fall off. Just smiled and giggles and yelled "Look at me." You even tried the brakes. On the way back to the house you used the brakes multiple times.

Back at the house you smiled so much and were so excited to take your bike to Gamma's house the next day and show Gamma how good you were at it. You also wanted to show Isa and she was going to be at Gamma's house.

Next day...

When we got to Gamma's house you went inside for about 5 minutes before you started talking about riding your bike. So out we went. All of us. Gamma, Isa, Nata, Zoe, Aiden, Amy, Daddy and me. You hopped right on and you road down the rode.  You showed everyone what you could do all by yourself. Zoe ran ahead of you and Nata right beside you. Amy was so nervous you would fall off. You went faster than I had seen you go before. Pedal, pedal, pedal. You shared with Isa and let her take a turn. Her mommy (Amy) stood right next to her. When she was all done you got another turn. Again you did great. It was then time to turn around and you went right back down the road and to Gamma's house. Again you were so proud!!! I was so proud!!! You did wonderfully!!!





Soccer

I am very behind on posting. Things keep getting away from me. You just do so many things that I want to post about that I can't keep up...so we are going to start with soccer.

I posted after your first day of soccer. It was rough. It was hot. You were tired..but you made it through.

Sense then...you have  done much better. We got you some special soccer clothes to help keep you cool. You have a pink, purple, and an orange one. You love them and will only were them for soccer. You look adorable when you run around in them. When you run your feet go all the way up to your rear and you move your arms so quickly. You look like you should be running so fast - and you are - it just doesn't quite match. It is just so cute. I am so proud of you.

Sense you have started you have learned a variety of skills including dribbling, shooting, the pull back, and control. Each lesson starts with a warm up - you played follow the leader last week. You got to be the leader and all the kids had to follow you around. You them work on a skill through playing games. Your favorite so far has either been walking like a penguin or Here Comes Mr Fox. After some games to work on skills everyone gets a chance to shoot and score. You are getting better and better at this. The first day you used your hands but now you take a few dribbles and then kick it right into the goal. When it is game time you start running around and chasing the ball. This is when you sometimes get frustrated. When you don't get the ball you get upset and come over to Mommy and Daddy and sometimes cry a little. But we are working on that. Last time you only came over once and it was near the end of the game. And...during that game you scored two times. One of those times it was in the wrong goal...but I was proud anyway.

You have made friends while playing soccer - not surprising.  :) One of your best friends is Addie. She did swimming with you so you already knew her. You are excited to see her every time. The two of you stay almost right next to each other - you are quite the pair. You have also met Patrick and Emerson.

You love it so much that you have started playing soccer at home too. We work on the rules - no hands, just your feet, and keep trying. I am also keeping the ball away from you a little more so that you have to practice getting it away from me. I just don't want you to give up when you get frustrated.

I am just so proud. You do great!!!