Musical Playtime

Chloe isn't quite sure what to make of Timber's howling!

Little piano master! 

Looking at her brother.

Girlfriend is loving standing.  We're in trouble!  

Watching big brother play.

Proud Momma

This little boy survived his first day of preschool orientation.  I am such a proud momma bear!

Pre-K 3 Orientation

Mr. AJ's first day of Pre-K 3 was today! My baby boy started school today!! Where the heck has the time gone and how the heck did he get old enough to start school?! I put on a brave face and daddy and I made sure our little man had a good start with a yummy breakfast of cheesy eggs and hot dogs.  In the previous few days/week, AJ has been saying that he scared to go to school and he didn't want to be left alone at school. Lucky for him, today was orientation and both Mommy and Daddy got to stay with him the whole day. We got to school a little early and had to wait until all the buses made their way to the back if the school and then we could go park and bring in our little man. We got to the main office where we had to sign in and get our visitor badges and AJ was all Chatty Cathy! One of the grandparents of his classmate (Declan, who also happens to be the teachers son) was asking Declan what animal was on the visitor badge and AJ chimed right in and said 'turtle'! My little boy is never usually one to chime in and answer questions.. He's usually the shy one hanging out behind momma's legs - not today in the main office though and that made mommy feel pretty good. It was at that moment that I knew my little guy would be ok going to school! Anyway - fast forward to the classroom and the routine is to wash your hands when you go into the room because of allergies and after that Mrs McManus had some activities planned for the kids. First up was finding the Popsicle stick with your name on it by the door and bringing it to the easel to show that you had come to class today. Daddy brought AJ over to the door to find his stick and unfortunately, a Popsicle stick with his name on it wasn't there. :(  We told Mrs McManus, who seemed to feel terrible and a little embarrassed, and she made sure to go get his Popsicle stick from her stash. After he then brought it to the easel, which was on the castle rig where reading time is, it was time to find his name on the laminated sheets on writing table and spell it out to mommy and daddy. I am proud to say he knew almost every letter, he gets a little confused with the lowercase d in his name and sometimes thinks it's a b though! After that it was off to the sensory table where he had to use the chopsticks to pick up a  puff ball from the rice. He absolutely loved this activity - Im pretty sure it was his favorite since we could barely get him to leave to move on to the next activity of 'cooking' up a snack in the play kitchen. Daddy had an awesome breakfast of microwaved pear with a little bit of cinnamon and a microwaved cheeseburger which was served to him in a stainless steel steamer basket! I love his imagination! Next we were off to play with some building blocks which AJ made an apple lie with for mommy to eat. He made sure to 'stir' the pie by lining up all the blocks. Again, AJs imagination at its finest! Then it was back to the sensory table because he just couldn't get enough of using the chopsticks and picking up the puff balls!

After those fun activities it was story time with The Kissing Hand book. Mrs McManus had the kids sit on the castle rug and tell everyone their name before she read, which AJ was shy for and didn't say his name - he just hung his head down and didn't talk. Then it was story time with a fun activity afterwards related to the story. We got to trace each other's hands, cut them out (AJs first time using scissors - nervous mom right here!) and the place happy face stickers on then. Finally, we had to give each hand a special kiss from mommy (related to the story) so when AJ is in class and misses his mommy, he can go to our cutout hands and touch it, knowing mommy's kisses were right there and she isn't too far away!  After activity time the kiddos washed their hands again and it was snack time. Applesauce and juice for the kiddos, which AJ only chose to drink the juice despite our efforts to get him to eat the applesauce. He had a small little meltdown where we had a little fit and he hit mommy, but daddy talked to him and he was fine within seconds. Then he was back to playing with the puzzles and enjoying his new classroom. As we were playing Auntie Jen came in quickly and waved to us, but AJ missed her so Mrs McManus opened up the secret door that joins the Pre-K and Kindergarten rooms and AJ got to see Auntie Jen - he was tickled pink about this! 

We left soon thereafter where AJ proudly wore his backpack and walked down the hallway back to the office so mommy and daddy could sign out.  Along our walk, AJ noticed and pointed out the 'water mountain' (aka fountain) and was so excited that he was in 'his school'.  AJ won't be back until next Wednesday (a whole week away) for his actual first day of school and I can't wait. He seemed to really enjoy his time in the classroom today and I have a feeling he will learn to love school!

Alexander - Daddy and I are so proud of you on your first day of school. We can't wait to see what the school year has in store for you - we love you little guy! 

Now, if mommy and AJ can survive the first drop off without lots of tears next week... That's our next mission to be accomplished! Wish us luck next week!

Not looking so excited to start his first day.

Very important things going on on the iPad

All smiles now that we're about to go...

Silly!

In the car and ready to go!

Playing in the sensory table.  

A little nervous/apprehensive with all the new things...

But getting the hang of things and playing.. 

Playing with David and Declan.

He really liked the kitchen area!

Playing market! 

Now on to the blocks with David.

Back to the sensory table.

Sitting in circle time for a story.

Andrew and Luckas on either side of him.

Activity time!

Waiting patiently for his snack.

Puzzles!

Completed his first day... So proud of our little boy!

We Have a Climber!

Look who is trying to climb up the stairs at Baba and Dziadzi's!!

Can we make the growing up stop already?!

Playtime

 Enjoying the last few days of summer vacation before AJ starts Preschool!

Our little standing machine!

  

 

Someone tuckered herself out!

Handsome Furry Friend

Cousins Dinner!

Another non-planned event!  We invited Cioci Kimmy, Uncle Jason and the girls over along with Auntie Lauren, Uncle Matt and Molly for a chicken wing feast!  We figured it was the last weekend of summer before school started so why not get the cousins together for a fun dinner and playdate!

Yummy dinner!

Jason isn't too thrilled about this picture, but it's the only picture I have of Molly eating!

Maddie and Chloe playing.

Cioci Kimmy brought big cookies for the kiddos.. I'd like to 

think they're excited about them perhaps?!

Reading time. 

A Fresh New Look

Before

After.  Looking fresh with a new haircut by 'the doctor who cuts my hair'.

TEN MONTHS

Miss Chloe has finally learned she has a voice!  She is starting to coo and babble and it sometimes sounds like she is saying 'yeah yeah yeah'.  I love listening to her talk to herself... I wish I could understand her and know what is going through that mind of hers.  Her face still lights up the second she sees her big brother - she literally gets the biggest smile on her face and her eyes sparkle when she lays eyes on AJ.  She loves it when he plays with her and when he tries to make her laugh.  Hearing those two laugh together is just heart-melting.  We're so lucky these two get along so well!  I'm convinced Chlo-Chlo will be walking by her first birthday.  She is pulling herself up on anything and everything and she will not sit still.  The second I try to hold her, she is finding a way to climb up on my shoulder and out of my arms!  She's holding onto the ottoman, the couch and/or the coffee table and scoots along to get from one place to the next.  Girlfriend does not like to be in one spot - she's all over the place and I wouldn't have it any other way!  It's super cute too when she goes to sit down from standing up and holding onto to whatever it is that she is holding onto, she literally holds on super tight, looks down at where she will be sitting and then slowly, ever so gently retreats from the standing up position to finally be sitting.  She does it so carefully... I love it!! The army crawl is still her preferred method of getting around though.  I have secretly spotted her up on her knees crawling around so I know she can do it, but I'm convinced she thinks she can get around faster with her army crawl so that's why she does it! Silly girl!!  [I'm not sure if this is new this month or if she was doing it last month (mommy brain!) - probably last month., but...] She has figured out how to go from laying on her belly, to crawling, to sitting up, back to crawling and then back to sitting up.  She can get herself in all different positions no matter where she is!  She still only has her two bottom teeth, which makes trying new foods a little tough since she doesn't have very many teeth to chew and bite with.  But nonetheless, she has tried blueberries, strawberries, pulled pork, scrambled eggs with cheese and her favorite is cheerios! We've opted for letting her munch on cheerios instead of the puffs and yogurt drops - with the way our little girl eats, we'd be broke from buying the puffs and drops! We've resorted to calling her 'our little porkchop'!  Chloe still loves sucking on her two fingers on her left hand.  We can tell when she is tired because the two fingers go in her mouth and she grabs the top of her shirt with her right hand and holds it up to her mouth as a comfort.  It's like she assumes the position every time she is tired so we just know!

Happy ten months, Miss Chloe!

Our smiley little girl.

Who is more interested in toys than looking at the camera for Mommy.

Our little jedi!

That face!

Curious as to what is going on outside.

Toys are way more fun!

Playing with big brother's train set.

The little scrunched up nose.  It's the best!

One of my absolute favorites.  This picture sits on Mommy's desk at work!