I've been told that I'm waaaay delinquent in updating the blog, but for good reason! Since just before preschool started we've suffered a string of debilitating (okay, not that debilitating, but annoying!) runny noses, sore throats, and general malaise. We seem to be getting over this last one, though, so here I am!
Josie's been in preschool for about a month now and is really enjoying it. Her teachers seem to be very in tune with the kids while being super-calm and keeping things fun and engaging. Josie's slowly breaking through her wall of shyness and speaking up more, singing along, playing with lots of kids (rather than just the four she already knew), and trying all of the activities they have. Every day follows the same routine, with circle time at the beginning, an hour or so to work on the 'projects' (Josie's word) they've set up [she usually goes for whatever gluing/painting/beading/coloring project they've got, then the cutting-with-scissors project, then the woodworking center (usually popsicle sticks and wood, plus glue make something vaguely recognizable as a boat or....something)], plays games, etc. She's really engaged and having fun. Then they have a snack, play outside or in the gym if it's wet, and we come get them. It's all very interesting to her, and she asks EVERY DAY at LEAST once if it's school. Even on weekends. She's just so happy, and it gives me a nice chance to spend a few minutes just with Jasper (and enjoy his naptime, but more on that later!). She's also been doing a lot of drawing and writing at home, which is part of the reason for my delinquent blogging--I've been meaning to scan in some of her more interesting pieces to share. They've gotten to be really detailed and have good stories behind them. We've also been doing a lot of sewing lately (it seems like I skip between paper things, knitting, and sewing, but Josie and I are kind of on a sewing streak right now, what with Halloween sneaking up on us!). We've nearly finished a coat for her. She was perusing the Butterick book and found a lovely a-line polarfleece number with a round collar. We found some lovely blue to match her eyes, and some pink kitty-face buttons to keep it around her. We've also got a jumper, fairy costume, Jasper's secret costume, and a bunch of pincushions in the works, plus bear and kitty dolls in the 'almost finished' pile. I'll have to get pictures of those, but I'll have to wrest them away from Jaspie first, since he seems to have an absolutely unmatched love of stuffed animals.
Speaking of, he's growing fast. I need to get him in for his one-year checkup (okay, so we're six weeks past that, but he'll be fine, so long as the mumps aren't going around) just so we can get his weight. It's somewhere upwards of 26-27 lbs, but I'm falling behind. At least he can walk now, and I don't have to cart him nearly everywhere any longer. Just a month ago he was taking his first steps, now suddenly he walks from one end of the house to the other, chasing Josie around for his morning hug (or post-naptime hug, or anytime hug), falling, getting up, smiling, dancing, suddenly a boy rather than an infant! It just happened so fast!
Sounds like he's waking up, so I'll cram as much info as I can into this last paragraph--he's got about ten words (book, milk, dada, doggie, kitty, mo(re), something approximating 'Josie', maaaamaaaa (when he needs something), and duck), plus a few signs (more, fish, light (the favorite), waving hi/bye, clapping, etc). He's a great imitator, trying to pin my fabric for me, or knit, or chop carrots, drawing, painting. If Josie's got a fork, he needs one too. Although the biting and sand-eating is winding down, he seems to have grown a possessive side, from the way he flipped out when Josie had 'his' orange cup yesterday. Loves the water...at the pool he's like a fish, and if you put him near a sink he climbs in and turns it on. Eats anything (just like his sister!), falls down and gets up without so much as a whimper (usually, unless there's blood), good with the shape-sorter. Oh, and he drives and 'vrooms' for anything with wheels between bringing books over that he wants to sit on my lap to read. Best of all, he's free and easy with the hugs and kisses, just like a good boy :)
favorite books: "Metro Cat" (Josie) "My Big Animal Book" and "Goodnight Moon" (Jasper)
favorite music: "something jazzy" (Josie)
etc: Jasper's now moved on to popsicles, and they both love oatmeal or p'nut butter toast (preferably RAISIN toast) to feed selves for breakfast;
recent favorite quote, about the mutant underpollinated indian corn in our garden:
Josh: "wow, that's something else!"
Josie: "no dada, that's just corn."
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
now back to our irregularly scheduled programming...
Okay, so vacation's over, summer's winding down and school has started! I've been such a bad blogger, taking the last so many weeks off...it almost makes me sad to look back at the last post, with Josie leaping into my arms, realizing that that is now past! Anyhow, it's time for a big update, so here goes!
We had a great vacation, several weeks in Plymouth with Sisi, Papa, and Uncle Brian followed by more than a week with Grandma and Grandpa (plus a surprise appearance by Uncle Bread!) in Kettering. We did so many fun things I can't even begin to reiterate them all here, but needless to say, the high point of the vacation was all the time we spent in the water. We hit every major geographical feature: ocean, pond, lake, pool, water park. Jasper takes to the water like a fish, crawling into whatever he can find (usually over his head!), and wanting to do whatever Josie does. He floats along happily, and could literally spend all day in the water without complaint. Josie moved from being pretty unsure and trepidatious to feeling very confident about putting her whole head under, jumping in, floating around, even trying to swim (which mostly consisted of walking on the bottom of the pool until someone pulled her up to breathe). She even took advantage of the opportunity (with Uncle Brian) to take up her new favorite hobby of fishing, and she was a champ. With a bit of assistance, she caught two little bass and a whole mess of perch.
Josie started school last week and absolutely loves it. Josh and I are both very happy with the school we found; it's at the local Methodist Church, less than a mile away. The teachers seem to be very comfortable with each other, they're well stocked with fun supplies and creative ideas, and have a great playground. Josie couldn't be happier (well, unless she could go live with princesses who don't have a baby to pay attention to, but that's another story), and neither could we! The teacher was surprised to see that she could write her name, saying that it's a skill the kids usually pick up this time next year. At that point I realized that Josie started it this time last year. Goodness! Speaking of which, she's figured all the letter sounds out and can read simple words and books. I guess I'm not all that surprised (and she certainly doesn't seem to be!), but it's so exciting to see her acquiring all these new skill and taking such pride in her new abilities. With the start of school she suddenly seems...older...and bigger. Her language is getting to be so complex, with long phrases and interesting words...and so polite! She continues to be a really fun kid to be around!
At the same time, Jasper's got about ten words that we can figure (milk, book, dog, kitty-cat, mama, dada, something approximating 'josie', and a couple more), and a few signs (more, no, dog, wave goodbye or hello, light, milk, airplane). He's also really been interested in books. It started about a month ago when he would try and get in with Josie and I to read whatever we've got. Now he'll find books on his own to sit and page through. My favorite part is when he tries to pick the blueberries off the page :) He's also become really mobile in the past month. When we left Plymouth he was just starting to come around to the whole idea of walking unsupported, then Josh tempted him into walking...with blueberries. He would stand a few feet away with a blueberry and Jasper would walk over, nibble it out of his hand, then walk a bit further for another bite. Now he's walking wherever he wants to go, and is absolutely thrilled about it. He's also quite the climber---whatever he can do to get up on the counter where we keep the (you guessed it) fruit.
I've got great pictures for all these adventures we had, so I'll have to upload them in the next few days...stay tuned!
favorite books: "Horace, Morris, and Mostly Dolores Join the Chorus", "Where the Wild Things Are"
favorite music: "Catch that Train" Dan Zanes
etc: Jasper's really loving fruit and graham crackers; Josie digs the peanut butter cookies and popsicles
We had a great vacation, several weeks in Plymouth with Sisi, Papa, and Uncle Brian followed by more than a week with Grandma and Grandpa (plus a surprise appearance by Uncle Bread!) in Kettering. We did so many fun things I can't even begin to reiterate them all here, but needless to say, the high point of the vacation was all the time we spent in the water. We hit every major geographical feature: ocean, pond, lake, pool, water park. Jasper takes to the water like a fish, crawling into whatever he can find (usually over his head!), and wanting to do whatever Josie does. He floats along happily, and could literally spend all day in the water without complaint. Josie moved from being pretty unsure and trepidatious to feeling very confident about putting her whole head under, jumping in, floating around, even trying to swim (which mostly consisted of walking on the bottom of the pool until someone pulled her up to breathe). She even took advantage of the opportunity (with Uncle Brian) to take up her new favorite hobby of fishing, and she was a champ. With a bit of assistance, she caught two little bass and a whole mess of perch.
Josie started school last week and absolutely loves it. Josh and I are both very happy with the school we found; it's at the local Methodist Church, less than a mile away. The teachers seem to be very comfortable with each other, they're well stocked with fun supplies and creative ideas, and have a great playground. Josie couldn't be happier (well, unless she could go live with princesses who don't have a baby to pay attention to, but that's another story), and neither could we! The teacher was surprised to see that she could write her name, saying that it's a skill the kids usually pick up this time next year. At that point I realized that Josie started it this time last year. Goodness! Speaking of which, she's figured all the letter sounds out and can read simple words and books. I guess I'm not all that surprised (and she certainly doesn't seem to be!), but it's so exciting to see her acquiring all these new skill and taking such pride in her new abilities. With the start of school she suddenly seems...older...and bigger. Her language is getting to be so complex, with long phrases and interesting words...and so polite! She continues to be a really fun kid to be around!
At the same time, Jasper's got about ten words that we can figure (milk, book, dog, kitty-cat, mama, dada, something approximating 'josie', and a couple more), and a few signs (more, no, dog, wave goodbye or hello, light, milk, airplane). He's also really been interested in books. It started about a month ago when he would try and get in with Josie and I to read whatever we've got. Now he'll find books on his own to sit and page through. My favorite part is when he tries to pick the blueberries off the page :) He's also become really mobile in the past month. When we left Plymouth he was just starting to come around to the whole idea of walking unsupported, then Josh tempted him into walking...with blueberries. He would stand a few feet away with a blueberry and Jasper would walk over, nibble it out of his hand, then walk a bit further for another bite. Now he's walking wherever he wants to go, and is absolutely thrilled about it. He's also quite the climber---whatever he can do to get up on the counter where we keep the (you guessed it) fruit.
I've got great pictures for all these adventures we had, so I'll have to upload them in the next few days...stay tuned!
favorite books: "Horace, Morris, and Mostly Dolores Join the Chorus", "Where the Wild Things Are"
favorite music: "Catch that Train" Dan Zanes
etc: Jasper's really loving fruit and graham crackers; Josie digs the peanut butter cookies and popsicles
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