Guess what??

Miss Hope Caroline is WALKING ON HER OWN!! Whooopeeee!!! I cannot tell you how thrilled (and relieved) we all are. She started walking unsupported on Wednesday at Joyce's daycare, and she's been taking more and more steps each day. Her stance is still pretty wide, but who cares? Joyce is such a godsend; she deserves much of the credit for helping Hope get over the hump and just do it. She's very encouraging and persistent, and having all the other kiddoes around helps motivate Hope, I think. I'll try to get some video this weekend. 20 months old...whew.

Fleeting Summer Days...

During Labor Day weekend we took the kids to Bonanzaville to explore a little local history. What a cool place! They enjoyed looking through old log cabins, at vintage airplanes and cars, and in an old train depot and passenger train (all authentic). That evening, we also took the boys over to the park where Kris helped Ross fly his kite. Simple moments, beautiful memories.






A neighbor girl and I took Ross and Hope to Lindenwood Park on Monday while Grant spent time at his friend's house. Hope LOVES the tunnel slide!

A Positive Attitude

I was in such a funk yesterday. Nothing horrible; just racing from one meeting to the next from 8:15 until 2. When I finally sat down and had a minute to think my brain was so foggy and I was so cranky that all I could do was complain--to my colleague across the hall, in my own head, to basically anyone who asked, "How are you?" What a drag I must have been.

Then, late last night before bed I went through the mail. I got a newlsetter that included a blurb about Positive Attitude Month in October. Here are 7 tips to stay positive from selfgrowth.com:

1. Decide to have a positive attitude.
2. Surround yourself with positive people.
3. Use positive affirmations.
4. Be very selective of the music and news information that you listen to.
GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT!
5. Take time to help other people.
6. Get in touch with your spiritual source.
7. Don't stop; never give up.

Wow. I needed that, and today I'm having a much better day. Nothing much has changed in terms of my workload or circumstances; just my own attitude.

Hope this perks you up a little, too!

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
--Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

HOPE CRAWLED YESTERDAY!!!!

Some of you know that our beautiful little Hope has never learned to crawl and still isn't walking independently yet because she scoots on her butt all the time. We've been receiving weekly services since June through early intervention services. Our Home Visitor, C, is FABULOUS. She comes over once a week, either to our house or to daycare, and works with Hope and me (or our childcare provider, Joyce) to help us learn how to encourage Hope to do particular developmental tasks such as pulling up onto furniture, cruising along furniture, crawling, kneeling, and walking. Well, Hope has made steady progress in all the areas above except kneeling and crawling. She doesn't seem to like being on her tummy/hands and knees. That's changed a bit over the past two weeks as I've noticed her leaning forward and voluntarily going to her tummy from a sitting position, or even balancing on all fours.

When I picked her up from Joyce's yesterday, Joyce asked if Hope had been crawling for us. I must have looked surprised as I said no. Joyce's face lit up and she said, "Hope crawled a lot for us today!" Then she told Hope to show mommy how she can crawl and my sweetie went right from sitting to her hands and knees and crawled toward me on the grass!! I cheered, clapped, and almost cried! I'm so proud of my little peanut. This is a big step for her. She can also walk holding onto one hand, but maybe now the crawling will strengthen her ability to coordinate both sides of her body better and give her the confidence to let go of my hand...and grow a little more.

Grant's First Day of Second Grade

Last Wednesday, Grant had his first day of school for 2009-2010. My firstborn is already a big second grader! After school that day, I asked Grant to tell me three words that describe his new teacher (I'm getting rather creative at fishing for details about his day, no?).

He thought for a minute, and then said, "I can only think of one word."
"What is it?" I asked.
"Nice."
I thought that was high praise for her.

Kris and I are already very impressed by Miss O and by the positive communication we have already received. Miss O sent home a letter introducing herself, an info packet about the classroom routines and second grade curriculum, and she also sent home a positive note about Grant on the second day. There are 20 children in the class, and four sections of 2nd grade in the school. We feel really fortunate that the numbers are so reasonable.

All in all, it was a wonderful first week!

It's been THAT kind of morning...

I have to vent for three minutes here or else I'll have a cruddy day all the way through. Why do my kids move like turtles even after we've taken all the steps we can to make the morning run smoothly: backpack organized the night before, snack ready to go, clothes picked out. Grant and Ross take for.ev.er to brush their teeth and put on their shoes. And then--then--both of them have to poop right before we get in the car! Of course, Grant won't go upstairs to take care of business; NOOO. He's too afraid of being upstairs by himself. So then it's a turn taking event instead of a simultaneous one. AND THEN WE RUN OUT OF TOILET PAPER DOWNSTAIRS. Use kleenex and baby wipes. Wash hands again. Get in car. Grant walks with neighbors.

Then I feel completely guilty for rushing around like a crazy woman and hollering at the boys to "Hurry up!" That's not exactly the vibe I want to have Grant feeling as I send him off to school.

But wait, there's more: Ross and I still have to go to school to get a tshirt (yes, I 'm co chair of school clothing sales this year) for a kindergartener whose mom ordered one yesterday. This means finding a parking space, going to the PTA lockers and actually using a combination to open the lock, finding the right shirt in the right size, finding the child's teacher, and quickly explaining in the hallway as all the children are coming in why I am giving her this shirt.

Drag Ross to the bank for some cash, navigate road construction, finally get to campus, bring Ross to preschool, drive to my own building, which is now two blocks away, park, and FINALLY get into my office. Then guess what--I needed to make my own trip to the bathroom, too. And it's only 9:05, folks.

Ross's First Day of School 2009

It's hard to believe my second-born babe is in his third year at the MSUM Early Education Center. Ross started there in the toddler room at age 16 months (that's younger than Hope is now!), and is now in one of the preschool classrooms. He had a great first day back with his new teacher and his buddies Z and C from last year. I'm so proud of how much Ross has grown over the summer. I think we are past the awful behaviors that seem to mark the beginning of age 3. Isn't he handsome?






BTW, Kris N--Ross is sporting his new shirt from Pout Baby Boutique, and he'd be happy to read it to you!