Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Challenges & Milestones

I can't believe we are into the 2nd week of February already! This first week and a half have been eventful...as always with 2 kids!
I started working a little this month, subbing at Brady's preschool. This is the perfect job for me right now. The hours are ideal...9-2..and Brady comes with me and gets to be with his teachers/classmates while I am in the classroom down the hall. This schedule doesn't interfere with Katelyn's pick-up and drop-off--it really is the perfect job.
I love peeking in on Brady and seeing him "in action." He really is so well-behaved at school and listens v. well. He sits nicely and eats his entire lunch and snack (unlike at home!! I miss the high chair!! He is all over the place!) and listens to his teachers and follows class rules (cleaning up toys, walking in a quiet line, etc.). This is unlike Katelyn. When she was in the 2 yr. old room, she had MANY time-outs for not listening to her teacher and doing her own thing. He received a progress report and his teachers have very positive things to say :-) The only "never" boxes checked were "Asks to use the toilet" (we are working on this...slowly, but surely) and "removes clothes on his own" (don't we want him to keep his clothes on at school??? LOL...I've never actually given him an opportunity to dress himself. We're always in such a rush!
So, the milestone is I'm (very slowly) returning to work. The challenge was Katelyn. She was VERY upset I was working instead of volunteering at her school. When I was called for a second day and told them I'd be there, she was upset again and said, "why can't you just say NO???????" So, I had some guilt there...even though it did NOT affect her schedule in ANY way. Knowing I wasn't home, incase she needed me, upset her so much. I haven't worked since she was 4 months old and it was a big change for her. As Bryan said, "she's going to have to get used to it!"
Another milestone: Katelyn is reading. Really reading. Not just sight words...not making up words to fit the picture on the page...reading. Very exciting!
Here she is reading to Brady :-) One of her favorite things to do.



Katelyn has a straw slot!! She is now drinking everything out of a straw :-)

Finally, after 6 weeks of being loose...the front top tooth fell out!! I was starting to think it was would hang by a thread for a year! Another milestone!



Katelyn's new smile...it's so darn cute!


Challenge: Perserverance.
Katelyn is learning about perserverance at school. She asked me to play this new candyland 3-d game with her one night while Bryan was working late. It was close to her bed time, but I figured we'd have time to play a quick game of Candyland...right?? I did not realize this game had lots of pieces to assemble. I also had not eaten my dinner yet and was hungry...which makes me aggitated. So, I was not in the best state of mind to do this. I was getting annoyed and frustrated and told her I was going to throw the game out the window (half-joking). Katelyn sat next to me and said, "Perserverance, Mommy!!" She asked me how to spell it and then made me this sign. I keep it on the fridge now. I did put the game together (while I ate my dinner) and we played a game before bed. There was no way I could give up after that!!


Challenge: No more naps/short naps/and finding Brady in his bed!!
This is such a rare sight these days, so I had to take a picture!!
Brady is fighting his naps like you wouldn't believe. He's always been a GREAT sleeper, went down for naps without a problem, but a few days after the new year, we took his pacifier away. Since then, naps have not been going smoothly (night time on the other hand has been great). He is jumping on his bed, banging his sippy cup on the wall, yelling for me, screeching on the top of his lungs and he will keep this up for 2 hours. By 4pm, he is a walking disaster...very bad mood, hitting walls with his hand, clinging to me...just a nightmare. This is a boy who still NEEDS his nap! I keep putting him down for a nap and just hoping he will sleep. Hoping this challenge passes quickly!!!!!!!!!



No comments: