Back to PreSchool Playgroup after Winter Break

Today we went back to preschool after Winter Break and it wasn't easy getting Thomas to go this morning. He was perfectly content to hang out, lounge on his couch and watch his morning Tractor Tom while I got breakfast going. It's hard because he didn't sleep well last night, and I ended up sleeping in a few segments with him on the floor of our room just to get through the night. I don't know what was up, but at 1 am he decided he was done sleeping. I put him back to bed at 2 am after a round of Tractor Tom and Tubbie Toast on the couch, but he was up again at 3 am. This time I put him in our bed, only to find that he was keeping John awake crawling all over him, asking about the fire alarm light and playing with his face. I decided the only humane thing to do with John was to pull him onto the floor with me and try to ignore the fact that Thomas was going to cuddle and snore in my face for what was left of the night.

So, I was less than excited about rushing off for playgroup this morning, but figured with the break last week, we needed to get Tommy back into the swing of things. Especially since I have yet to be able to leave him alone in the room, much less the church building at this point.

Although Thomas did better at playing the whole time, and without his Dubbie this time around per Teacher Dana's request, Thomas cried on the way out that he didn't want to go swimming with Justin. That was fine with me, as I was exhausted after covering the teacher's helper shift for the entire time, as opposed to just hanging out with Thomas. Exhausted and really just wanting to go home and curl up on the couch instead of watching a swim lesson with an exhausted little boy. So, we took the easy route and headed home. Thomas was out cold within minutes of his lunch and I quickly followed. Nap time is such a wonderful thing!

Showing Love for the Boat Bed

Thomas has enjoyed jumping on his boat bed, wrestling on his boat bed, watching movies on his boat bed, dancing on this boat bed engine, and climbing from his boat bed into his crib, but so far has resisted actually SLEEPING in his boat bed. Tonight that all changed. At bedtime, while getting ready, he told John that he wanted to sleep in his boat bed. John did not hesistate, and went about fortifying the bed with extra pillows and the bean bag to support him while he slept. It's pretty amazing that just last night he was continuing his love affair with his crib. Tonight it all changes and he's quite the big boy in his big boy boat bed!

Valentines Day 2007

Thomas should have woke up to his Valentine Gift this morning, but unfortunately the part he didn't find last night, the bag of Hershey kisses-I ate. Yep, that's right. I ate it all up, as Tommy would say. Yes, pretty much a whole bag of Hershey kisses gone...in about two days. So much for filling his bag up with his favorite treat. He did find some of his present last night, the race car tin that had race car chocolates (that I also ate) in it, but I was going to fill it up with what he really likes....Hershey kisses. Poor guy! Having to deal with a pregnant and very chocolate-hungry mother to deal with on Valentine's Day.

John brought home roses at lunch time, and Thomas enjoyed sharing with grandma his "rosens" with her. Thomas' wish for Valentine's was a dump truck and the movie Polar Express. While we were out and about this morning, he told me again that he wanted a dump truck and Polar Express. When John got home from work tonight, Thomas was able to open Polar Express. Today our double jog stroller also came, which is a sobering reminder that this big event is definitely taking shape, no matter how much I try to deny it. Soon, instead of eating chocolate, I'll be pushing two little boys around! I don't think I truly understand how this is going to change it all for us!

Sayings for February 2007

Thomas has become very literal in the last week. One moment he may be pretending he is a fish, and then when you ask him something like a fish, he'll respond with, "No, I'm a boy!" Or, he commented the other day as we drove in the car, "Look, Mommy, a storm." I responded, "Oh, no, we might get all wet." To which he replied, "No, Mommy, the rain will get the windshield all wet."

"Daddy, focus, focus," when getting him ready for a bath.

"Ooohhh, that's amazing!"

"I'm a goober-diber" as he dives into the tub.

"I want my bi-per off"

"Think, Mommy" after he asks me to be Farmer Fee and he's Tractor Tom.

"What you say?" when he wants you to repeat something.

"The ship pulled up at the boobie (buoy) at the -eena (marina)"

Spring Days ahead!

This last week and weekend have been absolutely fabulous and Thomas has enjoyed a lot of his time outdoors. We've enjoyed time out at the parks and down on the beach, enjoying a break in the cold weather. Thomas didn't dig the cold much, and wouldn't go out in it, but now he's figured out that when the sun is out he should go out and see if it's warm enough for him. The last few days he's been asking more and more to go out, which is great because he can run and run, pretending to be monster trucks and big machines until he's exhausted.

Swim lessons Attempt #2

Today, due to the confusion with preschool times and swim lessons over lapping, I decided to give it another shot and see if he could make it through a private one on one lesson without needing a time out (how crazy is that!) We had to race from the parking lot at Catch the Son to the Y, stuffing some peanut butter and jelly down for energy, and it was a wild dash. He did fantastic, and it was clear that although he doesn't have the attention span to wait it out with his hand on the wall in a full class, he certainly can handle the lesson itself. It was great to see his instructor, Justin, teaching him to swim with his arm out and head in the water, and they spent a lot of time trying this out. This is new for Thomas and I was eager to see if he could progress from singing on the wall like at Bayside. He did a great job and was able to work with Justin "swimming" for the toy cars Justin allowed him to use and floating with assistance on his back, which was a great struggle for him at Bayside. After jumping time after time into the pool, which he loved, it was time to finish it up. No complaints from Thomas, and no time out warnings necessary. Justin was happy with how it went. On our way out, with an exhausted Thomas tugging at my hand, he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, that was awesome!" with a big, toothy grin on his face. That was all I needed to hear.

Visit to Play Group at Catch the Son preschool

Today we went to try out the Play Group for 2 1/2 year olds- 3 year olds at Catch the Son preschool up at the Lutheran church near our neighborhood. Thomas has been on this wait list since last spring, so almost a year now, and despite having signed up for swim lessons shortly before getting the call that we'd been entered, it is our priority to get him going now so that he can go there for preschool come fall. I was excited about Thomas having the opportunity to interact with other kids his age and begin to learn all the fun new things a set up like this can provide, but more apprehensive than I thought I would be. I was anxious about how he would handle the new environment, how he would do without mom as his number one fan and coach, and the new expectations he would need to learn. Having been warned twice in Monday's swim lesson that he would get a time out, I suddenly questioned whether I had adequately prepared him for what was ahead, although how can you "adequately" practice standing in line for your turn, going to chapel, sitting at a big table for snack and sharing with a bunch of other kids until you're actually in that spot. Although I was there, I tried to keep my distance and let him join in with the other kids, and it was quick to see that although he did spend a fair amount of time solo, he did engage with the other kids at the right times. When I left the room for a minute, he did notice, although it was a while before he came looking for me, and I quickly sent him on his way. When walking in a line to chapel time, I did walk near him, encouraging him to stay in the train line like a good train car. Teacher Dana was the engine and he seemed to like the idea. In chapel, he joined the others in singing a new song and then dipping their fingers in a bowl of water to symbolize baptims (the pastor gave a 2 minute-ish talk on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He did okay during circle time, although I had to remind him a couple times to get back on his letter and sit and listen to the lesson on shapes. When the ball was rolled to him signaling his turn to share who he loves the most, he said, "My mommy and daddy" in a very clear voice. I thought I was going to cry right there, hiding behind the doorway. And it was particularly adorable to watch him eating his snack with the other kids. I was pretty impressed with my little guy, and thought about all the times mothers feel their hearts swell with pride for their little ones. I'm not sure how I will feel leaving him alone on his first day come this Monday, but I have several more days to sweat it out, dwell on it, stress out and contemplate my decision. Who knows? He may just surprise me yet again! After all, I suspect it's all my issues and not his, right?!!!

Swimming at the Y- Try #1

After several less than fun outings to the aquatic center, I decided it was time to give another pool a try. Today was the first day of lessons and I was hoping it would be an outing for Thomas and I to enjoy on our days together but one that I would not have to actively participate in. I'm in no mood to put on a swim suit and get in a kiddie pool at this stage of my pregnancy! Although Thomas did well for his age (not quite three!) he did not do well enough with the older kids to keep him from being warned numerous times, followed by two warnings towards a time out. Now, I'm all for structure and order, safety and the like, but I wasn't too thrilled with my son being warned with timeouts for infractions that included not staying on the wall as directed, not keeping his hand on the wall and staying on the step while waiting for 4 other kids to take their turn. Watching it, I realized he is just not ready and up there with the 4 and 5 year olds in this class, nor should he be. He wasn't doing it deliberately, he just couldn't follow the directions like the others could and he couldn't stand still long enough while waiting. I saved his little buns from time out more than once, and by the time the lesson was over I was exhausted from trying to keep a reign on Thomas and not fall into the pool myself. Although Thomas said he had fun, it really wasn't the experience I want for him at 2 1/2. It should be about fun, splashing, learning some skills and learning to listen to some extent. It should not be about timeouts and warnings, as I feel he is still too young to be restrictive to this degree.

Lucky for us, the instructor and I agreed that the money I forked over for lessons could be applied to private instruction, where he can work and play with Thomas one on one in the pool. This worked out quickly, as when we got to the car the message on my phone was that Thomas was finally offered a spot off the wait list at Catch the Son preschool, at exactly the same time as the lessons that I'd just paid for at the Y. Justin was willing to work with Thomas at 11:30- 15 minutes after Thomas finishes Play Group. And I thought our Mondays and Fridays were going to be quiet!