Oh my gosh, I can't believe it I just dropped my baby off for her first play date with a school friend. She's there by herself and was really nervous about me not being there but I think she's going to have a lot of fun.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Six Years Old
I'm a little late with posting the SIX YEARS OLD post mostly because I've been super busy and I'm finally taking time to do this. Last year, I never got around to it.
So the birthday bits: we held the kiddo's party at Monkey Joe's (an unofficial party) and then went over to Fortel's Pizza Den for some pizza, cake, and presents time. All in all it was a great party attended mostly by family and some very close friends. We only invited one friend from school. After last year, which I apparently never posted about, I was feeling a but gut shy! More about that later.
Then on her actual birthday, the 8th, I let her open a present in the morning, take cookies to school for snack, made her do karate where she got to wear a "Birthday Girl" ribbon,open a couple more presents, and dinner at Denny's. On the 7th, the last night of having a 5 year old, I cried, because, well, I just don't want my baby growing up. She laughed at me because I guess in her eyes, the crying IS silly. But after laughing she said, "mommy, I'll always be your baby". She even let me rock her a bit.
One of the large gifts she got for her birthday was a robot dog. I know what you're thinking, "really, that's an expensive gift that's novel for a day or so and then never gets played with" and I guess you are right but when your child asks for a sibling, a car, a real dog or a robot dog, you go robot. It IS a very cool toy though. I'm probably more amused by it than anyone else.
This year the things she is into are Shopkins, Descendants, Barbies, American Girl, cars, make up, dresses, pets, and crafts.
Now on to last year...her birthday last year felt like chaos. We had the party at a tumbling gym where there ended up being no tables and we had to scramble to get some together. We invited all the girls (and a few boys) from school and nearly all the girls showed up...which some might call a success. We ate, opened presents, played in the gym....a total chaotic blast. Forward a few days to find out nearly everyone at the party ended up with a stomach virus. Rachel called to tell me Miles was puking, then a few hours later my kid was puking...and it spiraled on (even many of the adults had the virus). I found out a few days later that I had taken out half the class...so no more large school parties.
And now a little bit about school: School is going really well this year. Last year, in Pre-K we had a bit of a worry when her teacher told me that she just wasn't learning her letters. We thought maybe it was a vision problem, which turned out not to be the case. We thought maybe she needed more work at home, which we tried. And even though her teacher reassured me that a slow start to learning letters wasn't an "end-all" situation, I treated it as one. It also tragically turns out that the night of parent teacher conferences, October 29, 2015 would turn out to be the same day that Chris' dad would pass away. After last year, this year seemed like a breeze (death, trouble in school, stomach virus...it was all too much). This year, she's doing very well! One of the things I enjoyed hearing from her teacher is that she is the kind of student teachers want more of, and that at free play time, she often goes to the book shelf, grabs a book and lays down and reads. My heart swells!
I'm loving Family Helper days at school. One Friday a month family is invited in the morning to help at school. I go, even when I have to take off work, and help out. I even stick around for lunch!
So I guess all in all, I can't complain about this year. It's been good to me so far (knocking on wood) and even with the elections and all the crazy world events, this year has been good enough I can ignore all the bad. So here's to hoping for a good year for the next!
So the birthday bits: we held the kiddo's party at Monkey Joe's (an unofficial party) and then went over to Fortel's Pizza Den for some pizza, cake, and presents time. All in all it was a great party attended mostly by family and some very close friends. We only invited one friend from school. After last year, which I apparently never posted about, I was feeling a but gut shy! More about that later.
Then on her actual birthday, the 8th, I let her open a present in the morning, take cookies to school for snack, made her do karate where she got to wear a "Birthday Girl" ribbon,open a couple more presents, and dinner at Denny's. On the 7th, the last night of having a 5 year old, I cried, because, well, I just don't want my baby growing up. She laughed at me because I guess in her eyes, the crying IS silly. But after laughing she said, "mommy, I'll always be your baby". She even let me rock her a bit.
One of the large gifts she got for her birthday was a robot dog. I know what you're thinking, "really, that's an expensive gift that's novel for a day or so and then never gets played with" and I guess you are right but when your child asks for a sibling, a car, a real dog or a robot dog, you go robot. It IS a very cool toy though. I'm probably more amused by it than anyone else.
This year the things she is into are Shopkins, Descendants, Barbies, American Girl, cars, make up, dresses, pets, and crafts.
Now on to last year...her birthday last year felt like chaos. We had the party at a tumbling gym where there ended up being no tables and we had to scramble to get some together. We invited all the girls (and a few boys) from school and nearly all the girls showed up...which some might call a success. We ate, opened presents, played in the gym....a total chaotic blast. Forward a few days to find out nearly everyone at the party ended up with a stomach virus. Rachel called to tell me Miles was puking, then a few hours later my kid was puking...and it spiraled on (even many of the adults had the virus). I found out a few days later that I had taken out half the class...so no more large school parties.
And now a little bit about school: School is going really well this year. Last year, in Pre-K we had a bit of a worry when her teacher told me that she just wasn't learning her letters. We thought maybe it was a vision problem, which turned out not to be the case. We thought maybe she needed more work at home, which we tried. And even though her teacher reassured me that a slow start to learning letters wasn't an "end-all" situation, I treated it as one. It also tragically turns out that the night of parent teacher conferences, October 29, 2015 would turn out to be the same day that Chris' dad would pass away. After last year, this year seemed like a breeze (death, trouble in school, stomach virus...it was all too much). This year, she's doing very well! One of the things I enjoyed hearing from her teacher is that she is the kind of student teachers want more of, and that at free play time, she often goes to the book shelf, grabs a book and lays down and reads. My heart swells!
I'm loving Family Helper days at school. One Friday a month family is invited in the morning to help at school. I go, even when I have to take off work, and help out. I even stick around for lunch!
So I guess all in all, I can't complain about this year. It's been good to me so far (knocking on wood) and even with the elections and all the crazy world events, this year has been good enough I can ignore all the bad. So here's to hoping for a good year for the next!
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
First Test
Today was the kiddos first test. She aced it!
So proud!
Her sight words on the test: the am I a red blue yellow little to
So proud!
Her sight words on the test: the am I a red blue yellow little to
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Time Marches On
Today was hard. Sometimes it's just hard being a mom. The poor kiddo complained when I woke her that there was no way it could be morning since she had just fallen asleep. She then proceeded to be crabby. So when I belted her into the car and we played our, "mom is going to give you kisses all over your face" she was angry with me. Then when we got to school, she told me not to kiss her, which of course hurt my feelings so when she was lollygagging and being a pain, I wasn't in the mood to coddle her. That of course made her cry and I felt terrible. We all have bad days/mornings and that should be even more reason to be nice to others when they are in that situation. Well, anyway, she cried and I just couldn't walk out the door knowing she was so upset. Tough morning.
But at least this week she got to be the line leader and door holder which was very exciting for her! She loves being the helper!
And so kindergarten is going very well for her. And time marches on.
She can officially tie her shoes. She cannot yet ride her bike without training wheels but we ARE working on it with the incentive that she'll get a new bike with ice creams all over it. She has a new wiffle ball and bat with is a fun thing to go out and play. We recently picked up some new puzzles because those are fun. A couple weeks ago she came home from school and asked me if I knew what "control, alt, delete" was. I loved it! We also started our fundraiser for the school this year, our names were turned in yesterday (nearly a whole week before they were due). Our first field trip will be in October and our first Family Helper day is in 2 Fridays. I rescheduled a doctors appointment for this! 2 weekends ago we had some health issues where I had to call the nurse line over the weekend and then we had to check for a UTI; it was not a UTI. Auntie sent a "Back to School" box which came in the mail yesterday. I ordered our first Kindergarten Scholastic order yesterday (eeeeee)! In school she is working on sight words!
But at least this week she got to be the line leader and door holder which was very exciting for her! She loves being the helper!
And so kindergarten is going very well for her. And time marches on.
She can officially tie her shoes. She cannot yet ride her bike without training wheels but we ARE working on it with the incentive that she'll get a new bike with ice creams all over it. She has a new wiffle ball and bat with is a fun thing to go out and play. We recently picked up some new puzzles because those are fun. A couple weeks ago she came home from school and asked me if I knew what "control, alt, delete" was. I loved it! We also started our fundraiser for the school this year, our names were turned in yesterday (nearly a whole week before they were due). Our first field trip will be in October and our first Family Helper day is in 2 Fridays. I rescheduled a doctors appointment for this! 2 weekends ago we had some health issues where I had to call the nurse line over the weekend and then we had to check for a UTI; it was not a UTI. Auntie sent a "Back to School" box which came in the mail yesterday. I ordered our first Kindergarten Scholastic order yesterday (eeeeee)! In school she is working on sight words!
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Kindergarten!
Today was the first day of Kindergarten for the kiddo. There were some tears (mom's tears) but she was ready to go! She did well too, like a pro.
She sat at a table with Alex, Mason, and Ella.
I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she said, "eating in the cafeteria and getting to use the big computers". Apparently, in addition to gym and choir, she also had computer class. This mostly consisted of the teacher turning on the computers and letting the kids just type away. I think what made it special is that the computers were the computers that the big kids use!
For lunch she sat with Ava and Olivia. In addition to just being cool to sit in the cafeteria, she also got a chocolate milk!
So, to sum it up, she had a great first day.
She sat at a table with Alex, Mason, and Ella.
I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she said, "eating in the cafeteria and getting to use the big computers". Apparently, in addition to gym and choir, she also had computer class. This mostly consisted of the teacher turning on the computers and letting the kids just type away. I think what made it special is that the computers were the computers that the big kids use!
For lunch she sat with Ava and Olivia. In addition to just being cool to sit in the cafeteria, she also got a chocolate milk!
So, to sum it up, she had a great first day.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Last Day of Childcare!
I dropped my baby off this morning for her last day of Childcare. Now technically she will still go there in the mornings and afternoons for before and after school care. And she will also go there on days there is no school...but in terms of day long stints there, naps, and the regular routine...today is it.
I wanted the morning to be more magical but to be honest, it was miserable. it was pouring outside when we left the house and so I was soaked and crabby and yelled at her for a variety of stupid reasons. Before we even got out the door I had to tell her 4 times to put on her shoes, which I ended up doing anyway because I wanted to leave. She was really congested from seasonal allergies and ended up coughing a lung out...so much for getting that allergy pill down. So anyway, it was miserable.
Eva sent me a text this morning to tell me that she had to have Maggie put to sleep in the middle of the night. She was the end of the era. I remember coming home from Boston to see her wriggling across the floor. I thought having a dog in the house was a bad idea, and then I saw her army crawling toward me and I just melted. And then we had Riley and those two were peas in a pod. My heart breaks that she's gone, and I already miss my dogs so much too.
So needless to say, I am just super cry-ey today.
I wanted the morning to be more magical but to be honest, it was miserable. it was pouring outside when we left the house and so I was soaked and crabby and yelled at her for a variety of stupid reasons. Before we even got out the door I had to tell her 4 times to put on her shoes, which I ended up doing anyway because I wanted to leave. She was really congested from seasonal allergies and ended up coughing a lung out...so much for getting that allergy pill down. So anyway, it was miserable.
Eva sent me a text this morning to tell me that she had to have Maggie put to sleep in the middle of the night. She was the end of the era. I remember coming home from Boston to see her wriggling across the floor. I thought having a dog in the house was a bad idea, and then I saw her army crawling toward me and I just melted. And then we had Riley and those two were peas in a pod. My heart breaks that she's gone, and I already miss my dogs so much too.
So needless to say, I am just super cry-ey today.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Tie Your Shoes
Yesterday the kiddo learned to tie shoes! We tried some time ago with little success. We gave it a shot 2 days ago and she picked it right up!!
Way to go kiddo!!
On another note, Kindergarten starts Tuesday.
Way to go kiddo!!
On another note, Kindergarten starts Tuesday.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Wolf
A week ago we had the amazing opportunity to camp at Echo Bluff State Park in Missouri in their grand opening weekend. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was there for a ribbon cutting and we were officially the first people to ever have a fire at site 16!
One thing the kiddos said that I wanted to write down was this....as we pass the lodge entrance there was a man standing with his dog...
Kid: mom, I just saw a wolf!
Me (not really paying attention): Oh really? Cool.
Kid: mom, it was a pretty wolf, and big!
Me: yea? Cool.
Kid: yep, it was even on a leash!
Me: huh?
...look around....oh! The man standing with his dog has a Husky!
Amused!
One thing the kiddos said that I wanted to write down was this....as we pass the lodge entrance there was a man standing with his dog...
Kid: mom, I just saw a wolf!
Me (not really paying attention): Oh really? Cool.
Kid: mom, it was a pretty wolf, and big!
Me: yea? Cool.
Kid: yep, it was even on a leash!
Me: huh?
...look around....oh! The man standing with his dog has a Husky!
Amused!
Friday, July 29, 2016
Monday, July 11, 2016
Second Lost Tooth!
As soon as the first one came out I knew the second was soon to follow. To be honest, I thought it would be sooner. That second bottom tooth has been wiggly for some time. Then this Saturday, while eating a piece of toast the tooth came out!!
Later that day we went to the movie theater to see The Secret Life of Pets followed up by a car show where we ran into Sensei CT (and I assume his father). We swam, and worked on swimming without floaties (only our second attempt). Completing our evening was a trip to the grocery store and McDonalds (we haaaaaad to go because we needed the next dog from the Pets movie). I thought all this activity would make the kid crash but instead she had nightmares and ended up in bed with me. Good thing that tooth fairy was still willing to come. Come to think of it, it probably made her job a tad easier this way!
Other things....SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING! I love shopping for school supplies, and it is that time of year. I took the kiddo backpack, lunchbox, and supply shopping a week ago (the day after school supply lists were emailed out). So, technically she is done shopping, but, we also do out-of-school "homework" and we need supplies for that, right?!?! Well, I claim we do. So anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that our Kindergarten school supply shopping is complete. I'm sad that my baby is old enough for Kindergarten but so very excited for her and excited that she is so excited about school starting. Now the only thing to do is maybe get a few new school clothes, do the in-home meetup with the teacher, and get the week-before-school registration/activities going, and I guess wait...just wait until all that happens.
Back in June we had another belt graduation. I was so busy it slipped my mind to post about it. Graduation was in June and my mom and Chris' mom were both able to attend. Similar to last graduation, all the kids performed simultaneously and there were some demonstrations. We were able to get a few good pictures and videos of our own yellow/white belt performing. Then she was awarded her medal for Karate Excellence and her new belt which is half white/half yellow.
Coming up: American Girl Night at Busch Stadium. It will be our second year going and it was so fun the first year the kiddo actually requested it this year. Like last year we have a few people lined up to go with us...hopefully unlike last year, those people will be able to go! We have a camping/bridal shower trip planned for my cousin at the end of this month. We have a few other camping trips planned over the next 4-6 weeks and by then school is in session. Whirlwind of activities but all completely worth it.
Later that day we went to the movie theater to see The Secret Life of Pets followed up by a car show where we ran into Sensei CT (and I assume his father). We swam, and worked on swimming without floaties (only our second attempt). Completing our evening was a trip to the grocery store and McDonalds (we haaaaaad to go because we needed the next dog from the Pets movie). I thought all this activity would make the kid crash but instead she had nightmares and ended up in bed with me. Good thing that tooth fairy was still willing to come. Come to think of it, it probably made her job a tad easier this way!
Other things....SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING! I love shopping for school supplies, and it is that time of year. I took the kiddo backpack, lunchbox, and supply shopping a week ago (the day after school supply lists were emailed out). So, technically she is done shopping, but, we also do out-of-school "homework" and we need supplies for that, right?!?! Well, I claim we do. So anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that our Kindergarten school supply shopping is complete. I'm sad that my baby is old enough for Kindergarten but so very excited for her and excited that she is so excited about school starting. Now the only thing to do is maybe get a few new school clothes, do the in-home meetup with the teacher, and get the week-before-school registration/activities going, and I guess wait...just wait until all that happens.
Back in June we had another belt graduation. I was so busy it slipped my mind to post about it. Graduation was in June and my mom and Chris' mom were both able to attend. Similar to last graduation, all the kids performed simultaneously and there were some demonstrations. We were able to get a few good pictures and videos of our own yellow/white belt performing. Then she was awarded her medal for Karate Excellence and her new belt which is half white/half yellow.
Coming up: American Girl Night at Busch Stadium. It will be our second year going and it was so fun the first year the kiddo actually requested it this year. Like last year we have a few people lined up to go with us...hopefully unlike last year, those people will be able to go! We have a camping/bridal shower trip planned for my cousin at the end of this month. We have a few other camping trips planned over the next 4-6 weeks and by then school is in session. Whirlwind of activities but all completely worth it.
Monday, May 16, 2016
First Lost Tooth!
So it's happening, my baby's smile is going from that cute baby tooth smile to a big girl smile! She lost her first tooth.
Friday (May 13) we were watching TV in my bed while she snacked on Cheez-its. After finishing her snack she was messing with her teeth and very excitedly called for me to look, "my tooth is wiggly"! It was, it really was! We ran in to show dad and talked all about it. She told me she was excited to tell her friends at school, especially Olivia who had just recently lost a tooth also! My kiddo insisted that she wasn't going to eat all weekend because she was afraid it might come out before Monday and she wanted to show all her friends how wiggly the tooth was!
By Sunday morning she was tired of it...it was SUPER WIGGLY! She just wanted it out. Well, she got her wish as she was eating a nice plush donut! Out it came!
So, all in the time of a weekend, she got and lost her first wiggly tooth.
The Tooth Fairy dropped by too...that was as exciting as Christmas morning! Mom on the other hand, just a tad depressed since her baby really is growing up.
For reference, because I'll wonder years from now...it was her lower front tooth (the one on her left).
Friday (May 13) we were watching TV in my bed while she snacked on Cheez-its. After finishing her snack she was messing with her teeth and very excitedly called for me to look, "my tooth is wiggly"! It was, it really was! We ran in to show dad and talked all about it. She told me she was excited to tell her friends at school, especially Olivia who had just recently lost a tooth also! My kiddo insisted that she wasn't going to eat all weekend because she was afraid it might come out before Monday and she wanted to show all her friends how wiggly the tooth was!
By Sunday morning she was tired of it...it was SUPER WIGGLY! She just wanted it out. Well, she got her wish as she was eating a nice plush donut! Out it came!
So, all in the time of a weekend, she got and lost her first wiggly tooth.
The Tooth Fairy dropped by too...that was as exciting as Christmas morning! Mom on the other hand, just a tad depressed since her baby really is growing up.
For reference, because I'll wonder years from now...it was her lower front tooth (the one on her left).
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Soaps and Things
It's May. Already. This school year flew by and now my wee baby is almost finished with her preschool years. She's already enrolled in the same school she's at now for Kindergarten! Official school! I admit that neither of us is handling it well. She has anxiety about it and I'm not ready for my baby to have grown up that much.
She's anxious because she thinks the math will be hard; she's losing some friends that will no longer go to school with her; she's worried that she'll be in class all day; she's worried the teacher won't like her; she's worried the boys will be mean to her....she has a lot of worries, a trait I know I passed along.
Yesterday she got in trouble in child care for trying to kiss boys. *CRINGE* She's been getting in trouble for lots of little things at home, like not listening, or not paying attention. But our mornings have gotten much better! We work together on getting ready and out the door in time. I work on controlling my anger while she works on actually getting ready.
Today is the last day of library at school; I washed her nap time cot bedding for the last time this past weekend (no naps in Kindergarten); her preschool musical is next week and I've been hearing her sing and practice all week long; she has a final field trip to the police station next week that I'm debating going to; her last day of school party is nearing and I'll be there for that one.
We both had our hair cut; me about 12+ inches donated to Wigs for Kids; and she actually requested to get about 3-4" cut off. It looks really good too, still long and flowy, but clean and neat. This is the first time she's ever defined an amount she wanted cut since normally she frets over even a trim. Since she fears her hair falling in the toilet when she uses it, I guess it was motivation!
We made some soaps last weekend using melt & pour soap base, coloring and essential oils. The soaps turned out great and we had a blast making them. They smell great too.
She's anxious because she thinks the math will be hard; she's losing some friends that will no longer go to school with her; she's worried that she'll be in class all day; she's worried the teacher won't like her; she's worried the boys will be mean to her....she has a lot of worries, a trait I know I passed along.
Yesterday she got in trouble in child care for trying to kiss boys. *CRINGE* She's been getting in trouble for lots of little things at home, like not listening, or not paying attention. But our mornings have gotten much better! We work together on getting ready and out the door in time. I work on controlling my anger while she works on actually getting ready.
Today is the last day of library at school; I washed her nap time cot bedding for the last time this past weekend (no naps in Kindergarten); her preschool musical is next week and I've been hearing her sing and practice all week long; she has a final field trip to the police station next week that I'm debating going to; her last day of school party is nearing and I'll be there for that one.
We both had our hair cut; me about 12+ inches donated to Wigs for Kids; and she actually requested to get about 3-4" cut off. It looks really good too, still long and flowy, but clean and neat. This is the first time she's ever defined an amount she wanted cut since normally she frets over even a trim. Since she fears her hair falling in the toilet when she uses it, I guess it was motivation!
We made some soaps last weekend using melt & pour soap base, coloring and essential oils. The soaps turned out great and we had a blast making them. They smell great too.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Sparring
Yesterday, Lil Bit got to spar in karate class yesterday. Sensei TJ said, "go put on your sparring gear", after bowing off the mat, she comes over and says, "this is going to be sooooo good".
She likes to spar, and while she needs to work on a few things, she does really well for so rarely sparring. She did punch the opposing kid in the face, and, I'm pretty sure his last round house kick to her (well padded) head was a payback kick.
She likes to spar, and while she needs to work on a few things, she does really well for so rarely sparring. She did punch the opposing kid in the face, and, I'm pretty sure his last round house kick to her (well padded) head was a payback kick.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Belt Graduation White-Yellow Stripe
This past Saturday, April 2, 2016, was the kiddo's first belt graduation for karate. She now has a white belt with a yellow stripe. She'll work hard for at least three more months to earn her next belt (which I believe is half white, half yellow).
She also earned her karate Excellence Medal, which we had to fight to her to get it off. She is very proud to have earned all her stripes and her new belt.
She also earned her karate Excellence Medal, which we had to fight to her to get it off. She is very proud to have earned all her stripes and her new belt.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Ice Pickles
As my kiddo grows up, seemingly so very fast, she outgrows so many of those sweet little toddler things that I adored. But then occasionally, something new will come up and I'll know somewhere inside my 5-going-on-15 year old is still just a wee one inside. This is one of those thing:
Ice pickles = Popsicles
It's that old "mix up the syllables" bit.
Ice pickles = Popsicles
It's that old "mix up the syllables" bit.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Cold Winter
School has been called off for what is supposed to be a major winter storm that began just about an hour ago here at home and will go for about 12 hours. I planned to go in late to work because I have a doctor's appointment and will play by ear my own travel plans to work.
Thankfully childcare is open!
Anyway, here I am trying to awaken the kid and she says, "mom no, it's cold" and pulls the blanket back over herself. Then she says, "it's a cold winter, people need blankets". I laughed and she said, "I'm serious". So sweet.
Thankfully childcare is open!
Anyway, here I am trying to awaken the kid and she says, "mom no, it's cold" and pulls the blanket back over herself. Then she says, "it's a cold winter, people need blankets". I laughed and she said, "I'm serious". So sweet.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Booster Seat
Yesterday my sweet baby (who of course is now a thriving 5-going-on-15-year-old) used a booster seat for the first time in dad's truck. It's a high back booster but the point is that she's using the car's three point belt system instead of the oh-so-handy LATCH and 5 point harness system.
I figured it was time since, at her annual check up a couple of weeks ago, the doctor asked if she was in a booster and I said she was still in her 5 point. The doctor said, "well yes, those are safer, but I think 5 is a good age to let them out of it so they have a little more movement". So in at least one vehicle, she's in a booster. My car will be next, but I'm using the excuse of being too busy to switch the seat to keep my young one as young as I can for a few more weeks.
I figured it was time since, at her annual check up a couple of weeks ago, the doctor asked if she was in a booster and I said she was still in her 5 point. The doctor said, "well yes, those are safer, but I think 5 is a good age to let them out of it so they have a little more movement". So in at least one vehicle, she's in a booster. My car will be next, but I'm using the excuse of being too busy to switch the seat to keep my young one as young as I can for a few more weeks.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Heart Wrenching Valentine
I had forgotten to give my kid a Valentine. I bought it early and put it in the closet where I remembered it a day late. So this morning as we're getting ready for the day I give her the PAW Patrol Valentine. She opens her eyes and immediately I see the lackluster. She opens the box and sees that it's gummies and not chocolates and she simply says, "oh, gummies". I apologized for having forgotten it and therefore having to had to give it to her a day late and she said, "that's okay mom, it wasn't really special".
Brutally honest.
In hind sight, I now know she was hoping for a big heart shaped box full of chocolates.
Brutally honest.
In hind sight, I now know she was hoping for a big heart shaped box full of chocolates.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Anxiety
I'm having some fresh bouts of anxiety. My sweet kiddo will be in kindergarten next school year, which means she's officially beginning school. Real school. I know she already goes every day so that in real school she's only adding on 3 more hours a day but it's somehow different. It's real now.
Yesterday she had her annual check-up albeit late, but concurring with her kindergarten physical. She had to have FOUR vaccinations/boosters, so 4 shots in the leg has made for a cranky kiddo. I rewarded her handsomely at Target afterwards where she picked out a new pair of boots and toy. We also picked out school valentines (which of course, I just love. This year she picked out PAW Patrol and Disney Princesses). She then stood in the checkout at Target singing "I'm a wrecking ball" over and over.
I'm making mental notes of all the things I can't bear to lose, or things she no longer does: they way she used to say spaghetti, or how she loves to sit and have her back rubbed. I love how she still has her loveys Mr. Snuggles and Boo. I want to forever remember the way her voice sounds when she says, "hi mommy" in the phone to me. I love that she loves to be read to every night at bed time. I love that she loves to "read" where she just tells whatever story she likes along with the pictures in the books. In many ways it's cute how she wants to be a big girl so much she refuses to like the things our younger friends like (but she loved until she knew "babies" liked those things). One day her sweet child face is going to morph into a bigger kids face, and her baby teeth will fall out and she'll have these big gigantic replacements...one day her sweet little voice is going to sound more and more adult...one day she's going to not want to play school with me, or Barbies...or one of the one million other things I'm always too busy for.
I tell myself EVERY day that I'm going to do more and more with her because she's only this age and only this little person for so long and then I find myself not doing those things. I'm trying to live as those ahead of me have told me to...embrace it...let the little things go and play with my kid. It goes so fast. So now, as my kiddo lays asleep with a sore but vaccinated leg, I sit here feeling lost and sad and worried about everything I haven't yet encountered nor have lost but feel and know it to be lurking around the corner.
Yesterday she had her annual check-up albeit late, but concurring with her kindergarten physical. She had to have FOUR vaccinations/boosters, so 4 shots in the leg has made for a cranky kiddo. I rewarded her handsomely at Target afterwards where she picked out a new pair of boots and toy. We also picked out school valentines (which of course, I just love. This year she picked out PAW Patrol and Disney Princesses). She then stood in the checkout at Target singing "I'm a wrecking ball" over and over.
I'm making mental notes of all the things I can't bear to lose, or things she no longer does: they way she used to say spaghetti, or how she loves to sit and have her back rubbed. I love how she still has her loveys Mr. Snuggles and Boo. I want to forever remember the way her voice sounds when she says, "hi mommy" in the phone to me. I love that she loves to be read to every night at bed time. I love that she loves to "read" where she just tells whatever story she likes along with the pictures in the books. In many ways it's cute how she wants to be a big girl so much she refuses to like the things our younger friends like (but she loved until she knew "babies" liked those things). One day her sweet child face is going to morph into a bigger kids face, and her baby teeth will fall out and she'll have these big gigantic replacements...one day her sweet little voice is going to sound more and more adult...one day she's going to not want to play school with me, or Barbies...or one of the one million other things I'm always too busy for.
I tell myself EVERY day that I'm going to do more and more with her because she's only this age and only this little person for so long and then I find myself not doing those things. I'm trying to live as those ahead of me have told me to...embrace it...let the little things go and play with my kid. It goes so fast. So now, as my kiddo lays asleep with a sore but vaccinated leg, I sit here feeling lost and sad and worried about everything I haven't yet encountered nor have lost but feel and know it to be lurking around the corner.
Monday, January 18, 2016
MLK Day
It's MLK Day, observed anyway, and it's quiet in the office. Most schools in the area take this day off and so, the kiddo doesn't have school. Childcare was also closed which meant we either had to find a place for her to stay or one of us had to stay home with her. Dad opted to stay with her since he has field work this week and will make up his out of office time very quickly. Many other parents had to take the day off as well...hence the quiet!
She was so very excited that today was her day with daddy. She had the whole day planned and I'm curious how it's going. There was to be some Lego building, puzzles, more Legos, maybe some time to practice letters and karate, bacon for breakfast...she had it all planned out and even asked me to come home after dinner so she had more time with dad. I rolled my eyes when I turned my back to her.
At any rate, I'm glad she's excited about today and I hope it goes well for them both.
She was so very excited that today was her day with daddy. She had the whole day planned and I'm curious how it's going. There was to be some Lego building, puzzles, more Legos, maybe some time to practice letters and karate, bacon for breakfast...she had it all planned out and even asked me to come home after dinner so she had more time with dad. I rolled my eyes when I turned my back to her.
At any rate, I'm glad she's excited about today and I hope it goes well for them both.
Friday, January 15, 2016
2016
It's been some time since I've been around to write here and I metaphorically kick myself in the rear when I think about it. I don't think anyone expects me to write here, nor do I think anyone comes here to read this...really it's for me and me alone but upsetting none the less because that means I can't even keep up with this for my own sake! I've told myself that I'll write more this year. So I should at least get this started off right...I'll just write a ton today and get all of this out of my head.
Last year, the kiddo started Pre-K. Generally speaking, all is going well. At the end of October, my father in law died unexpectedly. The very night he died I was sitting in Lil Bit's classroom on a Thursday evening apologizing to the teacher for bringing my daughter to parent/teach conferences. I had no one to watch her; the drama of the call to go to the hospital being so abrupt, we just all did what we had to do. I would find out later that evening that he passed away. We chose not to tell Lil Bit until after Friday so that she could have a normal day at school with the other children dressing up for the classroom Halloween party (she made a beautiful Elsa). She cried for quite a bit when we did tell her (I had to make my mouth say the words but I don't know what I said). She eventually calmed down and asked some serious and painful questions. She's done well with his death and I was surprised because she spent every weekday with him. They were close. She still randomly tells me how much she misses him and I never know what to say.
Sadly I feel that she was prepared in some ways for understanding death because we had to put Riley to sleep in May. I still cry over that time, I miss that big lug of an animal. But what I realized from that time of a 4-5 year old trying to understand death is that she just didn't. The morning we had to have him euthanized, I told Lil Bit to give Riley a big hug, it would be the last time she would see him. She cried a bit, worried, was upset...it passed in about 5 minutes. I had to reexplain the situation when she came home that night and there was no Riley. She didn't understand why I was crying so much. A few weeks after he was gone she asked the serious and painful questions. "When is Riley coming back home?", "He isn't, he's gone" I'd try to answer, what else was there to say? Eventually I tried the Heaven approach and she said, "well when he gets tired of it there and misses us he can come home". No kiddo, it doesn't work that way. So...lo and behold she learned the hard way, this time she knew Grandpa was not coming back. It's a hard lesson and I'm sad she had to learn it so early.
So anyway, in that parent/teacher conference I learned that her teacher thought she was a beautiful young girl, that she was very kind and caring, that she seemed to show more patience at school than I've ever seen her display at home, that she and another boy in class were "the item" and that she wasn't doing so well learning her letters. After that, we practice letters daily to an obscene level. I also had her eyes checked as her teacher thought maybe she was having a hard time seeing in class. Turns out her eyes are fine, for now, though she'll likely, eventually, need glasses. Also, I asked the optometrist about Lil Bit's watery eye. Nothing was visible topically so that can be unpleasant news if we have to do something otherwise. I'm going to consult with the doctor at our upcoming visit.
The remainder of the year passed calmly and quickly. The school Christmas classroom party was fun and I was thrilled to plan and attend it. I look forward to the Valentine's Day class party. I'm happy to be back on a routine schedule as well. It's calming to the nerves.
Lil Bit started taking a martial arts class. Should she stick with it she will be trained in Krav Maga. So far she loves the kicks and punching. Sometimes at home she does "dances" incorporating the moves she learns. I love it. She's doing well with the class and loves her Sensei's D and CT. Her overall improved behavior is worth the expense.
In early October we bought the kiddo a new bed. It's an IKEA loft bed with desk beneath. Early this year we bought her the storage furniture that matches the bed. Her room has since been clean and tidy; she loves her space and I love that she keeps her space tidy. She's also been sleeping in her own bed every night since the new bed. I miss her sleeping next to me but I know it's for the best. I miss her though.
We've also been reading chapter books. I don't even know how we got started reading them but we love them. Currently we're reading "The Wide Awake Princess" by E.D. Baker. We accidentally read the second book of that series first...oops. The next book we have lined up to read (and we're really looking forward to) is "Woof" by Spencer Quinn.
Last year, the kiddo started Pre-K. Generally speaking, all is going well. At the end of October, my father in law died unexpectedly. The very night he died I was sitting in Lil Bit's classroom on a Thursday evening apologizing to the teacher for bringing my daughter to parent/teach conferences. I had no one to watch her; the drama of the call to go to the hospital being so abrupt, we just all did what we had to do. I would find out later that evening that he passed away. We chose not to tell Lil Bit until after Friday so that she could have a normal day at school with the other children dressing up for the classroom Halloween party (she made a beautiful Elsa). She cried for quite a bit when we did tell her (I had to make my mouth say the words but I don't know what I said). She eventually calmed down and asked some serious and painful questions. She's done well with his death and I was surprised because she spent every weekday with him. They were close. She still randomly tells me how much she misses him and I never know what to say.
Sadly I feel that she was prepared in some ways for understanding death because we had to put Riley to sleep in May. I still cry over that time, I miss that big lug of an animal. But what I realized from that time of a 4-5 year old trying to understand death is that she just didn't. The morning we had to have him euthanized, I told Lil Bit to give Riley a big hug, it would be the last time she would see him. She cried a bit, worried, was upset...it passed in about 5 minutes. I had to reexplain the situation when she came home that night and there was no Riley. She didn't understand why I was crying so much. A few weeks after he was gone she asked the serious and painful questions. "When is Riley coming back home?", "He isn't, he's gone" I'd try to answer, what else was there to say? Eventually I tried the Heaven approach and she said, "well when he gets tired of it there and misses us he can come home". No kiddo, it doesn't work that way. So...lo and behold she learned the hard way, this time she knew Grandpa was not coming back. It's a hard lesson and I'm sad she had to learn it so early.
So anyway, in that parent/teacher conference I learned that her teacher thought she was a beautiful young girl, that she was very kind and caring, that she seemed to show more patience at school than I've ever seen her display at home, that she and another boy in class were "the item" and that she wasn't doing so well learning her letters. After that, we practice letters daily to an obscene level. I also had her eyes checked as her teacher thought maybe she was having a hard time seeing in class. Turns out her eyes are fine, for now, though she'll likely, eventually, need glasses. Also, I asked the optometrist about Lil Bit's watery eye. Nothing was visible topically so that can be unpleasant news if we have to do something otherwise. I'm going to consult with the doctor at our upcoming visit.
The remainder of the year passed calmly and quickly. The school Christmas classroom party was fun and I was thrilled to plan and attend it. I look forward to the Valentine's Day class party. I'm happy to be back on a routine schedule as well. It's calming to the nerves.
Lil Bit started taking a martial arts class. Should she stick with it she will be trained in Krav Maga. So far she loves the kicks and punching. Sometimes at home she does "dances" incorporating the moves she learns. I love it. She's doing well with the class and loves her Sensei's D and CT. Her overall improved behavior is worth the expense.
In early October we bought the kiddo a new bed. It's an IKEA loft bed with desk beneath. Early this year we bought her the storage furniture that matches the bed. Her room has since been clean and tidy; she loves her space and I love that she keeps her space tidy. She's also been sleeping in her own bed every night since the new bed. I miss her sleeping next to me but I know it's for the best. I miss her though.
We've also been reading chapter books. I don't even know how we got started reading them but we love them. Currently we're reading "The Wide Awake Princess" by E.D. Baker. We accidentally read the second book of that series first...oops. The next book we have lined up to read (and we're really looking forward to) is "Woof" by Spencer Quinn.
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