When big sister K came home from school the other day, she told M and me that she wanted to write cards/letters to people in the hospital. At first, I thought this was something she learned or was doing in school, but then she told us no. I asked why she wanted to write to people in the hospital, and she said because it's a nice thing to do, and she wants the people in the hospital to feel better (and she thought of this all by herself). My little girl can be so sweet sometimes that it simply leaves me speechless.
Meanwhile, my conversation with her brother (in response to something he said)...
Me: You're such a smart aleck.
Baby M: I'm not an aleck.
Me: So you're just smart?
Baby M: Yeah!
Me: LOL!
I certainly have my hands full with this one!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
New/Old Daycare
Baby M started his first day back at his old daycare yesterday. Things didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped, but he did well for the most part. I was antsy all day after dropping him off because it seemed like they were ill-prepared for his arrival. First off, my badge didn't work when I got there and I had to be buzzed in. Then at the front desk, I was told that baby M's primary teacher was not there (Monday is her day off) and that the assistant teacher was helping out in another classroom, so baby M didn't get to meet any of this new teachers that day. When we got to his room, his cubby was not set up and I didn't have a place to put his coat and backpack. The teacher that was there (she used to be the assistant teacher in big sister K's preschool class... not my favorite) was kind of blah... I had to actually tell her that it was baby M's first day, and can she please do something to make him feel more welcomed, like introduce him to some of the other kids in the class. Even then, all she does is sit down next to him at the breakfast table. I ended up introducing baby M to the other kids sitting around him and asking what their names are. The daycare has known for two weeks that he was returning... I guess I just expected more for them to welcome him back. On the bright side, he didn't cry, so that's always a good thing.
Today's drop-off went a lot better (at least for me). Baby M got to meet both his teachers and a lot of the kids in the class said "hi" to him and welcomed him in. Baby M even knew some of their names, so looks like he's already made some new friends. :)
Thursday, November 20 Update:
I definitely have no regrets moving baby M back to his old school. He had spent two months at his "new" school, and we would ask him all the time what he learned that day, to which he responded with either "I don't know" or "Nothing." Baby M has been back in his old school for only four days and I can already see the difference. While I was giving him a bath tonight, he started telling me about a book he read in school (without me even asking!) called "Three Bears in a Boat." The fact that he was paying attention and remembered what the book was about (as well as the name of the book) is huge. Apparently, he also made a very good friend in class. He told me he asked his friend J's mom if they can have a play-date together, and said that J is his best friend. It's been four days... and he has a best friend! Wow!
Today's drop-off went a lot better (at least for me). Baby M got to meet both his teachers and a lot of the kids in the class said "hi" to him and welcomed him in. Baby M even knew some of their names, so looks like he's already made some new friends. :)
Thursday, November 20 Update:
I definitely have no regrets moving baby M back to his old school. He had spent two months at his "new" school, and we would ask him all the time what he learned that day, to which he responded with either "I don't know" or "Nothing." Baby M has been back in his old school for only four days and I can already see the difference. While I was giving him a bath tonight, he started telling me about a book he read in school (without me even asking!) called "Three Bears in a Boat." The fact that he was paying attention and remembered what the book was about (as well as the name of the book) is huge. Apparently, he also made a very good friend in class. He told me he asked his friend J's mom if they can have a play-date together, and said that J is his best friend. It's been four days... and he has a best friend! Wow!
Monday, November 10, 2014
My Girl
Random thoughts and updates:
Big sister K's masterpiece on my co-worker's whiteboard when she accompanied me to work last Thursday on her day off from school:
Conversation in the car today:
Big sister K: Is Kwanzaa in December mommy?
Me: I don't know when Kwanzaa is. We don't celebrate it. We celebrate Christmas.
Big sister K: Jewish people celebrate Kwanzaa.
Me: No, Jewish people celebrate Chanukah, not Kwanzaa. African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa.
Big sister K: Christmas is an important holiday because that's when Jesus was born.
Me: That's right, big sister K! Very good!
Big sister K: Halloween is not an important holiday. Easter is an important holiday because that's when Jesus died on the cross for us.
Me: Yes, that's right. Good job!
Times like this... makes me feel like we're doing something right. :)
As I was flossing big sister K's teeth before I realized she has shark teeth (adult teeth growing behind her baby teeth)! It freaked me out and I was all ready to call the dentist first thing in the morning until I googled it and realized it is not that uncommon, nor is it something that can't resolve itself. Hopefully her baby teeth will fall out on their own soon. Big sister K's been reading so many books about losing the first tooth (plus seeing it happen to her friends) that she is excited for her turn.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Daycare Change... Again
Those of you following this blog may have read about our unhappiness with baby M's daycare. We finally made the decision to move him back to the daycare by my work (we would have done it sooner, if it weren't for baby M refusing to go back to his old school every time we asked him because he likes his current one). We broke the news to the daycare last Friday, and I have no regrets whatsoever about pulling him out.
When I went for baby M's Halloween celebration last week, I stopped by his classroom before the parade started. While I was there, I witnessed another child push baby M for no apparent reason. The teacher saw it too, but did absolutely nothing. She just mouthed "sorry" to me... like really, what is that supposed to do?? The child's mother was there, and she halfheartedly told her son to apologize. He didn't, and she did nothing to pursue the matter. Afterwards, I asked baby M who that child was and whether he played with him in school. Baby M told me his name "L" and said no, he doesn't play with him. I asked why not, and he said, "L always hits me." I asked what he did when L hits him, and he said to me, "I hit him back." I honestly did not know how to respond to that. On the one hand, hitting is bad and he shouldn't be doing it. On the other hand, he is provoked; there is no one else to defend him and I want him to be able to stand up for himself. In the end, I didn't tell him not to hit back (is that bad of me?), but I did tell him he should be telling his teacher about it. I relayed this to M that night, and his response was "Good... I am glad he is defending himself."
Fast forward to today. I picked baby M up from daycare and when we got to the car, he said to me, "I didn't hit anybody today." I told him that was good, but then he proceeded to tell me that L hit him. I asked what he did when L hit him, and he said he told him, "NOT NICE!", at which point L hit him again. He repeated himself, and L hit him a third time. I couldn't get a straight answer from him as to why he didn't tell the teacher, but I am so glad he only has one more week at that place! This also got me to thinking... baby M was so proud of himself for not hitting anyone today. So does that mean on all the other days when he didn't say anything, that L is still beating up on him and he retaliates? I told M to mention it to the teacher when he drops baby M off tomorrow. The fact that she isn't doing anything about these incidents, or worse, that she doesn't even know about them, is just unacceptable.
When I went for baby M's Halloween celebration last week, I stopped by his classroom before the parade started. While I was there, I witnessed another child push baby M for no apparent reason. The teacher saw it too, but did absolutely nothing. She just mouthed "sorry" to me... like really, what is that supposed to do?? The child's mother was there, and she halfheartedly told her son to apologize. He didn't, and she did nothing to pursue the matter. Afterwards, I asked baby M who that child was and whether he played with him in school. Baby M told me his name "L" and said no, he doesn't play with him. I asked why not, and he said, "L always hits me." I asked what he did when L hits him, and he said to me, "I hit him back." I honestly did not know how to respond to that. On the one hand, hitting is bad and he shouldn't be doing it. On the other hand, he is provoked; there is no one else to defend him and I want him to be able to stand up for himself. In the end, I didn't tell him not to hit back (is that bad of me?), but I did tell him he should be telling his teacher about it. I relayed this to M that night, and his response was "Good... I am glad he is defending himself."
Fast forward to today. I picked baby M up from daycare and when we got to the car, he said to me, "I didn't hit anybody today." I told him that was good, but then he proceeded to tell me that L hit him. I asked what he did when L hit him, and he said he told him, "NOT NICE!", at which point L hit him again. He repeated himself, and L hit him a third time. I couldn't get a straight answer from him as to why he didn't tell the teacher, but I am so glad he only has one more week at that place! This also got me to thinking... baby M was so proud of himself for not hitting anyone today. So does that mean on all the other days when he didn't say anything, that L is still beating up on him and he retaliates? I told M to mention it to the teacher when he drops baby M off tomorrow. The fact that she isn't doing anything about these incidents, or worse, that she doesn't even know about them, is just unacceptable.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Halloween 2014
This was my first time in five years not participating in the Harvest Parade at the daycare by work. I didn't think I was particularly attached to them, but it was a bittersweet moment for me, not watching those kids march around our office campus. Instead, I spent the morning working from home, then went to see big sister K's parade around her school at 1:30. The timing worked out perfectly since baby M's parade wasn't until 3:00, so I got to make it for both. Having taken half a day off from work, I picked the kids up early and we got to go trick or treating around the block before dark. Then we went for more trick or treating at the mall (though by that time, all the stores had run out of candy) followed by dinner at Panera Bread.
My Princess Elsa and me at her school (yes, she is wearing the exact same dress as the girl standing next to her, who happens to be her BFF... totally unplanned):
My Princess Elsa and me at her school (yes, she is wearing the exact same dress as the girl standing next to her, who happens to be her BFF... totally unplanned):
Selfie of my little Mickey and me at his daycare:
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Away
This is my first time traveling for work in over seven years... and my first time being away from hubby and the two kids. It is only a few days in Tampa, but I started missing them even before I left! I recently posted this video on Facebook as well, but I was trying to get a decent picture of the kids before they left for school Monday morning. Needless to say, it didn't work out as I had intended. Baby M insisted on "singing" so I took a short video instead. I love these kids so much!!! They'll be sleeping by the time I get home tonight, but I can't wait to see them!
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Parent Teacher Conference
Tonight was our first "real" parent teacher conference at big sister K's school. We heard a lot of positives, but also some areas where she needs improvement. We were told big sister K is very sweet and hardworking (sweet sure, but hardworking? Really?). She's advanced in her reading skills, writing stories, spelling (which M and I don't really see), and in her attempts to sound words out, but she has trouble retelling the story from a book she's just read (consistent with my complaint from a few days ago). For that reason, her teacher can't move her up in the level of difficulty of books that she is reading. In terms of math, I think she's a little ahead of what she's learning now, but she has trouble explaining how she got to the answer, so that is setting her back. I wish there were more hours in the day to work with her on these things. It's hard enough getting her homework and reading done every night as it is!
Monday, October 20, 2014
October Update
I've been on a blogging hiatus for the past few weeks. Not sure why, but hopefully with this October update, I will get back on track.
There is no denying that fall is here, and it is here in full force, as evidenced by the cooler temperatures, the changing leaves, having to turn on my headlights when leaving work (because it's dark out already), and waking up before the sun has fully risen. We were hoping to continue our annual apple-picking tradition earlier this month, but as luck would have it, it rained every time we made plans to go to the orchard. We resorted to purchasing apples from the farmer's market and getting a bunch from my mom (who did go apple picking).
Both kids are enjoying school. M and I seem to be having more difficulty adjusting than they are though. With big sister K, she doesn't always pay attention to what the teacher is saying and half the things she is supposed to communicate to us never makes it home. I am also frustrated that she's forgotten everything she's learned in kindergarten - simple things like addition, spelling certain words, or understanding the books that she's reading (being able to retell the story back to me). With baby M, we are not happy with his new school. The employees there seem pretty miserable and they are totally understaffed. There are often times only one teacher in his room watching as many as 10 preschoolers. She can't be at two places at once, so if someone needs help going potty, there is no one looking after the other nine kids (or in baby M's case, he ends up going potty by himself in the dark because he's too short to reach for the light switch and his teacher is too busy to help him). The problem is, baby M likes it there. We've asked him on several occasions if he wants to go back to his old school, and he always says no. We're not sure what to do at this point... will need lots of prayers!
On another note, Halloween is coming up. We just got costumes for the kids over the weekend. Unfortunately, I can no longer recycle big sister K's costumes for baby M as I had done the past two years (I refuse to put my son in a dress). She was Minnie Mouse at his age, so I guess it is only fitting that he gets to dress up as Mickey Mouse. Here's a sneak preview:
There is no denying that fall is here, and it is here in full force, as evidenced by the cooler temperatures, the changing leaves, having to turn on my headlights when leaving work (because it's dark out already), and waking up before the sun has fully risen. We were hoping to continue our annual apple-picking tradition earlier this month, but as luck would have it, it rained every time we made plans to go to the orchard. We resorted to purchasing apples from the farmer's market and getting a bunch from my mom (who did go apple picking).
Both kids are enjoying school. M and I seem to be having more difficulty adjusting than they are though. With big sister K, she doesn't always pay attention to what the teacher is saying and half the things she is supposed to communicate to us never makes it home. I am also frustrated that she's forgotten everything she's learned in kindergarten - simple things like addition, spelling certain words, or understanding the books that she's reading (being able to retell the story back to me). With baby M, we are not happy with his new school. The employees there seem pretty miserable and they are totally understaffed. There are often times only one teacher in his room watching as many as 10 preschoolers. She can't be at two places at once, so if someone needs help going potty, there is no one looking after the other nine kids (or in baby M's case, he ends up going potty by himself in the dark because he's too short to reach for the light switch and his teacher is too busy to help him). The problem is, baby M likes it there. We've asked him on several occasions if he wants to go back to his old school, and he always says no. We're not sure what to do at this point... will need lots of prayers!
On another note, Halloween is coming up. We just got costumes for the kids over the weekend. Unfortunately, I can no longer recycle big sister K's costumes for baby M as I had done the past two years (I refuse to put my son in a dress). She was Minnie Mouse at his age, so I guess it is only fitting that he gets to dress up as Mickey Mouse. Here's a sneak preview:
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