August 18, 2015 ~ The Tooth Fairy Came!

New Smile

Teagan’s tooth came out last night. After over a week of wiggling, of anxiety and worry and questions.  It didn’t just fall out, Teagan decided she was brave enough to pull it out.  It was so loose, it was barely hanging on and the new tooth had broken the surface, you could see it waiting.  We were surprised that it didn’t fall out with the gentle brushing or her “swish and spit” fluoride rinse. She was terrified of the suggestion – Stu offered to do it – ten minutes before actually doing it herself.  She had a tooth when we put Ashlin to bed, and as we were closing her sister’s door, she didn’t.

It was good that it was finally out, she had been so worried it would just fall out and she’d loose it – in the pool, while eating, while coloring, while swinging, in her sleep – and then the tooth fairy wouldn’t come.  She worried that the tooth fairy wouldn’t believe us if we left a picture, or if she used an orange pip instead of the lost tooth, or if we/she wrote a note to the tooth fairy.  No amount of explaining would make her feel at ease.

She did swim a little, though spent most of the time at the pool yesterday coloring.  It was hard seeing her worried and not having fun.

Another worry of hers was that people would laugh at her once her tooth was out, that they would think her smile was funny.  We tried to explain that her friends weren’t laughed at, they were envied, when they lost teeth.  Maybe the big teeth looked funny as they grew in, surrounded by baby teeth that were smaller, but it wasn’t a funny ha-ha thing at all.

Having the tooth out stopped many of the worries and anxieties.  Tooth Fairy treats helped.

And seeing her smile when she told me the tooth fairy came, and gave her treats was priceless.  There was a set of legos, with a pirate and a toothy shark, a dollar and two of each coin – quarter, dime, nickel and penny.

What if we can’t find it?

Toothy Shark

May 1, 2015 ~ Get Up And Dance With Me!

Heading Out

Tonight Stu took Teagan to their first Father-Daughter dance.  Our school allows the Kindy kids to attend.  So sweet.

The PTA was able to get some students from a local salon to provide free up-do’s for the girls, if they wanted.  Teagan wasn’t sure about it, but decided she did want “fancy hair” and we went over.  She asked for twists, like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz had, but with a pony tail in the back, not on the sides.  I don’t think the stylist we were assigned to really knew how to do Dorothy Twists, but she did something that made Teagan happy.  With a little extra curl to the back.  Teagan asked if I could try to curl her hair too.  We’ll see, I said.  I’ve never had a curling iron.

Ash was very disappointed that she couldn’t go.  That is, once she woke up from the nap she refuses to admit she needs, and realized that she really wasn’t going to be able to go.

Stu had no idea what to expect.  He’s not from the US so is unfamiliar with the entire school system.  I did suggest he wear a tie.

They had a great time.  Teagan was well behaved (Yay!), introduced him to her classmates and the older girls she knew.  Stu said the DJ was probably very popular in the older-second-or-third-wedding circles, some of the music choices were a bit dated.  Dated enough to get the fifth graders to storm out for not playing Uptown Funk or some other requests.

He did play some slow songs, and Teagan and Stu danced.  He spun her, which was the best thing ever.  He bent over and danced at her height.  He picked her up and danced with her at his.  She loved it.

Teagan came home with at least fifty glow necklaces.  They said that she had more, but Stu made them into bracelets that she then traded with the older girls for swag for her classmates.  She didn’t hesitate to walk up to the “cool kids” and show them her bracelets and then offer to trade with them.  They allowed her to join their circle for a bit.  I really wish I could have seen that!  My kid is so awesome.  The smile on her face as she was telling me she traded the bracelets for balloons and leis was just wonderful.

I really can’t wait to be able to chaperone.

 

August 27, 2014 ~ First Day

First Day

I think this image is what I kept going back to most of the day. My (not so) little girl walking away to start a new adventure.  I so wanted it to be a good adventure, one she enjoyed and wanted to be on.  One with new things and excitement and friends.  And there was no way I could ensure that it was.  That made me sad.

I know I can help shape how she responds to things, how she may interpret events and possible how she may influence them.  But not what happens.  I want her to be liked by class mates, to have lots of friends.  I want her time in school to be as happy and joyful as possible.

Of course, I want the same for Ashlin.  For my little peanut to succeed and remain the happy – and quirky – little thing she is.  I want her stutter to be something that doesn’t frustrate her, that never holds her back.  That stops her from shining.

Off to School

At least she looked back at me as she walked away.

August 26, 2014 ~ The Day Before

First Day of School Outfit

This is the outfit Teagan wants to wear tomorrow.  I was going to give her a choice of a few outfits, have her pick from them, but I needn’t have worried.  She wanted the first outfit I showed her, saying “Mama, that’s exactly what I wanted to wear!”

I ironed it for her.  That is not a wrinkle on the left side.  Really.  It’s just a shadow.  From the pleat.

I can’t believe summer is over already.  It flew by.  We spent most of it at Lake Compounce, with occasional trips to Bounce U or a playground.  Towards the end, we also played a bit of Just Dance on the Wii.  Ashlin often scored higher than Teagan, but neither girl really paid attention to the scores.

Lunch for Teagan is packed, snacks for Ashlin. Back packs are labeled and ready. Well, I need a spare outfit for Ashin – just in case!  Both girls are excited for school, and Ashlin is jealous of Teagan being able to take the bus.  She has to be driven, special, to her pre-K class.  She’s also upset that she doesn’t have a fuzzy blanket for nap time, even though she doesn’t have nap time.

I think they’ll both do great tomorrow.  I hope they do.  I’m sure they will.  Hopefully, I’ll do just as well.

Teagan’s new fuzzy blanket

July 25, 2014 ~ We Had a Great Day!

On C.P. Huntington Train

It was a super way to spend some time together!

Lake Compounce with Teagan was excellent.  She was so well behaved, even for being so excited.  We packed a lunch and got there just after opening.

I suggested we go on a few rides – the first I requested was the train ride.  Ashlin and I had done the trolley, which was fine, but we hadn’t done the train.  At first, Teagan didn’t want to, but after hearing that it would probably be the only ride I asked for, she agreed.  And, she really enjoyed it, a lovely and picturesque ride on the lakeside.

After the train, I suggested the carousel, which she was a bit resistant to as well, but then asked to stay on.  Then we walked to the far side of the park so I could show her the American Flyer and the Gas n’ Go car rides.

American Flyer

The Flyer ride made her a bit nervous – not scared – at first.  But by the time it was our turn – a very short wait – she was ready to go.  This turned into one of the favorite rides of the day.  A giant swing shaped vaguely like an airplane.  I don’t even know how many times we rode that, we just kept going back.

The cars were also a big hit, and these she asked to go on all by herself.  It was a bit bittersweet watching her drive away, she’s getting so big, so grown up.

We ate a packed lunch watching one of the shows – the singers – and I clapped for them.  They didn’t have a big audience, but it was still early in the day.

Rock star!

After lunch, Teagan  went back to the flyers, and then back to the kid area.  She asked to ride on the roller coaster alone.  Such a rock star, she sat in the front seat several times, holding her hands up.  This was the first trip to Lake Compounce that I haven’t ridden the roller coaster.

We also went on the Drop Zone at least three times.  If I laugh, it’s not so bad.  She’s lucky I have the stomach for all these rides!  She did the Pirate Ship (hands up!), Elephants, Caterpillar train and motorcycles a few times too.

After hearing a bit from Ashlin’s trip Tuesday, she wanted to be sure to see the acrobats – trampoline artists – Cirque en Vol. And she loved them.  She asked that we watch a second show, and also some of the practice.  She was so enthralled that she stopped talking for about 10 minutes.  This is big.  She giggled at practice, watching them get things better than the first show – they did drop a few of the juggling pins, over-rotate after a long trampoline run or make an impressive landing.  Although the show was very good, watching her watch the show made it so much better.

She was so good, all day, that we shared a treat – churros! – and ended up leaving much later than I was hoping.

I’m very glad we were given season passes this year.  I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a lot of time there this summer.

Hands up!

So big

Teagan and Cirque En Vol

Success!

 

July 15, 2014 ~ Life In General

Riding Away

So.  It’s been a rough ride these past few weeks.  I didn’t mean to effectively disappear, but wasn’t in the right mind – or with enough free time – to write about any of it.

The girls are awesome.  Well, mostly.  Still some behavior issues, but that’s to be expected at three and five.  Some sleep issues, but well.  We do what we can there.

The bizarre thing that is my now life allowed for the girls to attend daily swim lessons up at the pool I grew up at.  Well, where I spent entire summers before I could drive.  The girls and I stayed at my folks, as Stu still had to work.  My mom helped me keep the girls entertained – Fire House, Police Station, Zoo, Cat statues, nature lesson, ducks, library.  Dad would come watch the lesson and leave for his job at the post office.

Ashlin started the first lesson off timid.  Shy.  Terrified.  She’s never good at transitions, strangers, new things.  But she eventually got in the water, did a few of the activities the first day.  We praised her and she was better the second.  Teagan was a rock star, though she was nervous too.

The second and following lessons were much better.  Both girls needed different psych up chats – Teagan to sit still and listen, Ashlin to do what the instructors asked.  They were better and better.  I got us into a pool a day once or twice (where I took a total of three (!) pads removed from Teagan’s float vest!  And got Ashlin out alone with her float vest with a noodle.) before we left to go home for the weekend.  Home.  To Stu.

The second week was even better.  Teagan was able to do a few paddles on her own power at the begining, and swam halfway across the pool – from a jumping start! – by the end.  Ashlin advanced far enough to not have a death grip on your neck, but only hold a finger or two, and blow bubbles and float a tiny bit on her back, if you didn’t let go.  By that second Friday, she was rocking her vest.  Alone.

So proud of them.

As we needed to be in New Jersey – the shore! – for a family gathering on Saturday, the three of us met up with Stu south of my folks, east of our house and left his car for what we thought would be a long weekend, but was shortened due to poor wi-fi.

My knitting is calling, as is the thunderstorm, so I’ll leave the tale here.  For now.  I will be better about updating more frequently.  Promise.  I will have a lot more free time  – at least for a while.

 

PS.  Some pictures of our adventures are up on flickr….  I’m still going through some of them.  Go and check them out!

I floating mama!

Big circles

June 3, 2014 ~ Big Yellow Bus

Big Yellow Bus!

Teagan finally got to realize one of her dreams today – to ride a school bus!

Today was orientation for the coming school year – kindergarten.  Gah.  I told her that there would be a bus ride before we left, and her eyes grew three times bigger.

When they called the kids, she was reluctant to line up with the others.  She held my hand and asked me to stand with her.  I had to stay with the other parents.  I told her that and that I knew she could do it, that would rock whatever it was they were going to do.  I’m not sure she believed me.  I think the lure of the school bus ride helped fortify her.

She looked so small, climbing up into the bus.  I’m glad she got a seat by the window.  She looked so nervous.  Sometimes she’s not very brave with new things, she needs some reassurance, some time to gather her courage.

Driving to day care, she told me she didn’t like the bus – it was too loud and bouncy. I told her that buses are always loud, but the bouncy part was the fun part. Growing up, we learned where the biggest potholes and bumps were, and would start bouncing in our seats so that we had a lot of inertia going.  When the bus would then hit the bump, we’d bounce really high, almost flying like on an amusement park ride.

– Mama, what’s an amusement park? 

– Lake Compounce is an amusement park.   

– Oh.  Ok.  I like your car better.

-Why, honey?

-Because you have music.  There wasn’t music on the bus.

– Sometimes buses have music.  My bus did when I was younger.  Maybe they didn’t have it turned on because it was your first time?

– Oh.  Ok.

She wanted to go into day care with her name tag on.  I think she was really proud of that.

 

May 7, 2014 ~ Trike!

Look at her go!  She was so proud of herself Sunday.  We were so proud of her.  She’s growing up, losing what little baby she had left.  She wants to go on roller coasters, swim, go to kindergarten like her big sister.

Slow down, just a little. Be my baby, just a little bit longer.

Please.

March 21, 2014 ~ So Big

Someone’s Head is Going to Explode

Today we took the side off Ashlin’s crib.  She had been climbing out for months now, though without much frequency.  That is, until this week.  Also, she’s only just figured out how to open her door by herself.  Up until then, her sister would let her out so they could color in Teagan’s room.

There really isn’t a problem with her climbing out, other than that she doesn’t stay in her room.  If we’re lucky, she goes into Teagan’s room for a bit.  But this week, every morning, she was in our room.  She would climb in bed and snuggle, (which is nice!), sit on the floor and read, (there are still some books on the floor where she settled in), then endless demands for downstairs and bananas.

So, decided to take the side off before she broke her bed, or maybe hurt herself.  To make room for her to have better access to her books, we pushed the twin beds together and off to the side, blocking the second closet, and put the crib in the corner.  I also got a small table and chairs so she could color in her room if she wanted. Or invite her sister in.

Left Room for the Glider

I wanted to keep the  glider, she still likes being rocked before bed, if only for a few moments.  She needs to keep a little bit of the baby…  Just for a little bit longer.

We hadn’t told her we would be doing this today, all the pieces fell together for it to be done.  We took the girls out for a burger, told her there was a surprise waiting for her at home.  When she saw her new room, her face lit up, and she didn’t know where to look first, what to touch first.

As we were rocking before bed tonight, (gotta keep that glider!), she told me she really likes this new place.

She’s been quiet up there.

So far.

Fingers crossed she’s a good, big girl, in the morning!

Happy Big Girl

February 24, 2014 ~ So Big!

So Big!

This silly girl is getting so big.  So fast.

She’s finally decided that toilet training isn’t the inconvenience she’s previously thought it was.  It’s been five days now, with no accidents, not even during naps.  We haven’t tried for night time yet.

Yesterday I took her to buy underwear.  They were one of the few incentives that worked.  That and the thought that she may have to stay in the “baby” room if she didn’t train.  That day care wouldn’t let her go up to the three’s if she wasn’t trained.

So, underwear.  She wanted Ariel underwear.  We went to Target to buy some.  As she’s looking at all the styles, she said she wanted Thomas underwear, then Spider-man, Sophia, Tinkerbell, Wonder Woman.  She wouldn’t make up her mind.  The boy underwear wasn’t in her size, the Wonder Woman was, and she said those.  But then she saw the Dora ones.  Those are the ones she said she wanted.  Those were her special underwear.  Ok, you sure you don’t want the princess ones you’ve been talking about for days?  No?  That’s fine.  They are her undies.  Whatever.

We ended up with both the Dora and the Wonder Woman – lady super heroes – underwear.

But five days.  Five dry days.  Five days with no accidents at all.

She’s so proud of herself.

We’re so proud of her too.