Foto Finish Friday: Week 53?

Apparently I messed up the numbering somewhere along the way... Regardless, here's the final Foto Friday for 2011.. all the best for a wonderful 2012, love Shauna, Matt, Norah and Roddie

Foto Finish Friday: Week 52

Foto Finish Friday: Week 51

Adventure Chronicles: Close to Home

I had a really great weekend this week.  We didn't go anywhere, but that was just the point.

I started off with a shopping day on Friday - I dropped the kids off and headed to the Mall -  and I didn't come back until all my Christmas shopping was done, right down to the stocking stuffers!  Matt had his office Christmas party that afternoon, so we weren't expecting him for supper, so the kids and I went out for dinner with our neighbour, Megan.  When we got home, Norah and Matt enjoyed watching Frosty the Snowman on TV

Saturday morning, we decided to divide and conquer - with Matt taking Norah out for breakfast and bonding and Rod and I going for groceries.  Naturally, Matt and Norah had some other errands to do, so Roddie and I had the morning to ourselves... we spent some time outside before heading in to clean the floors inside - Roddie was surprisingly helpful and it was a fun activity.  The pictures below are from last weekend, but they capture our outside time just the same.

Saturday afternoon was low-key - Rod and Matt both managed long naps.  After an hour or so of quiet time, Norah gave up on her nap, but we spent some time watching ballet videos on YouTube in anticipation of that night's outing - to the Nutcracker. Our neighbour friends Erin and her mom Jen came with us and the girls just had a blast!  Check out the anticipation on Norah's face!

The Nutcracker was a huge hit, and Norah was in total awe the entire time.  She chattered away during the first half, about what she'd done in her own dance class, or what she was going to do when she was big etc.  She started to fade after intermission, leaning over to me at one point and saying "Mommy, we didn't bring our jammies!"  She was still buzzing about it the next morning, and wore her dance shoes while we trimmed the tree. 

I decided that there was no point in saving their Christmas outfits for a single day - since we're staying put this year, there are no family gatherings to go to, and between Norah's wide selection of hand-me-down fancy dresses and the fact that Rod will outgrow his in short order, I figured they may as well wear the stuff during the whole Christmas season!  It also gave me the opportunity to take a few pictures for the Christmas card :)  So Norah and I trimmed the tree while Roddie napped and Matt puttered around nearby.  I have, for a long time, collected random Christmas ornaments, and each one on our tree has a story or a history - handpainted ornaments from my grandmother's tree, 70's era glass ones from my mom's, mementos from various travels, wedding and baby ornaments and so on.  I really enjoyed talking to Norah about the story behind each one and look forward to her telling them back to me one day.

 Norah went down for a much needed nap after that was done, and Rod and I went out to run a quick errand.  Rod was really interested in staying outside when we returned, so we did!  He and I kicked around the yard for an hour or so.. picking up sticks and rocks, walking around the block, kicking a ball.. I described it to Matt as good for the body and soul.. so I sent him outside with Roddie for another little while as I prepped some cookie dough.  When they got back in, and Norah woke up, we made a big deal of putting the angel on the top of the tree.  We also took the opportunity to kick off an annual tradition from my side of the family - Christmas headgear!

The weekend wrapped up with an excellent meal, prepared by Matt, some nice story and cuddle time with both kids, wrapping up a few Christmas items on Amazon.com, and some sofa time with Matt.

Norah News: Big Girl Photo Update

As I was getting the Christmas card together for this year, I realized I didn't have a lot of really good pictures of Norah from the past few months.  I guess I've been so concentrated on ensuring I don't forget to document Roddie's development that I've been a little slack on taking pictures of Norah.  In addition, she's taken to making funny faces and sticking out her tongue when I try to take a picture!  Anyway, turns out I got a few really nice ones over the past week or two and I thought I should take the opportunity to update the blog about what Norah has been up to!

She is developing into a really interesting young lady.  She's very articulate and observant, often noticing things that I don't - commonalities between words, places, people for instance.  She still loves her little brother, but they're developing something closer to a peer relationship - a sibling relationship I guess you'd call it - whereby they both love and antagonize each other.  She also tends to mother him from time to time, which can be disconcerting as I hear my own voice coming from her!

At school, she's doing well in preschool, and knows and can write all her letters and can count up to 21.  She knows all the sounds of her letters as has great fun sounding out words - or at least their leading sounds - at every opportunity.  She still loves to read, and we all look forward to her story time each night before bed.  She started dance class in September and is LOVING it, and looking forward to her recital this upcoming weekend. 

She's making her own friendships now, and clearly prefers the company of some kids over others, though is still inclusive for the most part.  It's really interesting to hear her talking with her friends (or herself) for that matter as her intellect evolves. 

One of the most interesting things about Norah at this stage is her imagination.  She has a way of pretending that any available toy fits into whatever game she wants to play.  She draws all kinds of interesting things and makes up stories (and words)

Trying out the Xmas Headgear

Ready to head to Jack's Birthday Party

Ready to head to the Nutcracker

Ready to decorate the Xmas tree

Foto Finish Friday: Week 50

Roddie Report: *sniff*

As I posted the other day, Roddie is in with the big-kids now... and we're both ready for that.  What I am NOT ready for is the change in my daily greeting from the little man!  For the past 6 months or more, ever since he started moving on his own power, he has beelined it to the door to see me the minute he knew I was out there.  Yesterday, his first official day in Toddlers, he looked up, showed me the block he was playing with, and then returned his attention to whatever he was building. 

I was heartbroken.

Thankfully, as I got down to his level to see what he was doing, he threw himself into my arms for a big hug... and then went back to building again.

Foto Finish Friday: Week 49

Roddie Report: It's official - he's a big boy

Well, as of today, I no longer have an infant, at least by the standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.  You see, the EEC decides the ratio of kids to teachers in childcare settings and as of 15 months, it changes from 1:3 to 1:4... and our daycare, like most, moves the kids to a Toddler classroom.

Much like his sister, I feel like Roddie is ready for the move - while he still doesn't have many words to share, he's communicating in his own way and he's certainly more than capable physically - he's one of the bigger kids in the class already!  However, unlike when Norah went, I haven't shed a single tear over it.  I'm not sure why exactly, maybe because I know what to expect, including the routine, the teachers, the slightly reduced tuition...  Maybe I know what's to come and that walking and talking kids that sleep all night and feed themselves are a lot of fun, so moving on from the infant room really isn't a bad thing.  Maybe, now I realize that it's going to happen, no matter what, and to embrace it. 

Alright, I am a little sad, in a way, since we don't plan on having any more babies, but I think I got over that hurdle when I started giving away all our baby gear.  As I write this, I'm realizing what's left in all this is that Roddie really is a Toddler now, and he belongs with the big kids.  I must admit he looks right at home and seems to be doing very well in his new environment - you go big boy!

Roddie the Red Sox fan

Foto Finish Friday: Week 48

Happiness is....

Highlights of the week

There were a few really cool things that happened this week that I wanted to log here on the blog..

• First, a really really cool sibling moment... Norah and Roddie both woke up from an afternoon nap around the same time Saturday.  They were both a little groggy and were sitting on either side of me on the sofa.  Roddie reached out and took Norah's hand, and she let him.  I sat there, in between them, with their clasped hands right in front of me, and just took in the moment.
• Then, today, Matt was working late to help me with some logistics on my end and it was just me and the kids tonight.  After I read books with both kids on our bed I was getting ready to put Rod to bed and was talking to Norah about it, when Rod slid off the bed and took off down the hall.  I wasn't sure where he went, and he didn't come running when I called to him, so I investigated.  He had managed to climb up on one of the kitchen chairs - all on his own - and he was trying to reach what was left of his milk from dinner time!
• The kids in our hood are getting to be old enough to stay and play without parents, and it's starting to get fun!  Norah and Erin have a blast on long weekends, and yesterday Jack's mom got a kid-free trip to the grocery store while Jack joined our fun outside.  We had a blast playing pretend camping! I sent the kids off running around the yard "collecting firewood" which resulted not only in a pretend campfire, but also a pile of sticks that were *not* all over Laura's yard!  I'd join the fun from time to time, sing a camp song, tell a ghost story, or "roast some s'mores" but their imagination really took over, right down to "Pooch" Jack's imaginary pet dog!

Roddie Report: 15 months!

Roddie turned 15 months recently, so it's time for an update on how he's doing

• I had Roddie in for his 15 month check up and he's doing great!  He weighed in at 23.2 pounds (50th percentile) and 33 inches (95th percentile, or the height of an average 20 month old)  This explains why I've regularly been asked if he was 18 months old for some time now.  He's about the same size that Norah was at 18 months.
• He also recently had his evaluation at school - he's doing well there also!  He had highest marks in all areas, except his verbal skills - he doesn't have a lot of words beyond Mama that he uses on a regular basis.  I'm not overly concernd though, since he babbles up a storm and clearly has no comprehnsion or hearing issues.  I expect we may see some changes in the coming weeks as he transitions to the toddler room.  I was also told that, like his sister, he's quite clever!
• Today, after his appointment, I dropped him off directly in the toddler room, for the first time.  I wasn't a pile of tears like I was when I dropped Norah off in toddlers for the first time, but it was mid morning and I've been avoiding it all week!  This is his transition month, so he spends time each day in both the infant classroom and the toddler classroom.  All reports are that he's doing well there and having fun.  When we pick him up "with the big kids" he certainly seems like he belongs there (maybe because he's bigger than some of the other kids!)  Overall, I think he, and I, are ready for his big move at the end of the month.
• I am amazed at his level of understanding - today, in the waiting room at the doctors office, I was giving him a fruit snack.  I took the wrapper off, and despite the fact that he was anxious for the snack, I said to him "there is a trash can over there, near the fishies (aquarium) - put this in it please".  He walked over to the aquarium, looked from side to side, spotted the tras can, put the wrapper in and came back
• He immediately removes his coat and hands it to Matt or I to hang up when we come in the house.  In the infant room, his coat is stored in a bin in the sleeping area.  When I pick him up there, I say - let's go get your coat - and off he goes to get it.
• Apparently they are going to miss him in the infant room when he moves on.. he's quite the helper from what I hear.  I guess he picks up wayward binkies and hand them to the appropriate owner.  He's also been known to give a certain baby a bottle - I guess he was sitting in a bouncey seat and the teacher had put the bottle down beside him, and when he started crying, Rod helped out.  I wonder if I can get a discount on tuition for that.. ;)
• Rod has a partner in crime, named Kendall.  She's a cute-as-a-button brunette (who reminds me of my neice Hartleigh) just a few weeks younger than he is, so she's making the move to toddlers with him.  She always comes running when we arrive and they have a lot of fun together.
• Rod is definitely showing some athletic tendancies - he can already kick a soccer ball (a mini one, mind you) more reliably than Norah can.  He also has a decent overhand toss and is not too bad at catching either!  His teacher Digna has commented that he reminds her of our neighbor, Jack, in that way - and Jack was easily sinking the equivalent of 3-pointers in his mini-basketball net last summer.
• Rod and Norah have an interesting and evolving relationship.  Norah at times is getting a little aggressive with him, for no reason.  At the same time, Rod likes to insert himself in the middle of whatever is going on - ever try to put tights on a 3 year old with a large 1 year old on your lap??  That being said, he adores her and often just wants ot be in the middle of what she's doing, which she does not always appreciate - sounds like older sisters and little brothers the world over, right?  At the end of the day (literally) she is the first person who gets a good night 'tiss and hug from him come bed time.
• Rod is off all bottles and no bed time sippy either!  I was worried this would be a problem, since he did get a bottle or boob at bed time for a long time, but we've moved on.  He now has a story and a song with a snuggle, and most nights goes right down.  He still doesn't eat as much fruit and vegetables as I'd like, but I have seen him eat an entire bowl of broccoli on occasion.  He has typically male eating habits overall - lots of meat (pork chops, chicken, beef, you name it!) and carbs.
• He's still not a snuggler, but his hugs are the BEST!  If we are sitting on the floor, he will often back in for a quick visit to my lap (and a hug) and then move on.  So opposite from Norah, but so special just the same!

Foto Finish Friday: Week 47

Foto Finish Friday: Week 46

The Difference a Year Makes...

After our belated Halloween outing, I have been thinking about how much things change with the kids in a single year... first and foremost, the kids themselves, get so much bigger and more mature - for Rod, this is obvious as he's grown from an infant to a toddler. With Norah, who is now a mature preschooler, the change is more subtle, but it's there just the same.  Look at how grown up she is in this picture from the Halloween parade at school compared to last year! 



I was struck by the the following additional, Halloween related comparisons

• Last year, Roddie was tucked tightly into his stroller and never came out... this year, he barely sat in the wagon once he realized that people were giving him something if he went to their door!  He walked almost as fast and as far as Norah did!
• Last year, trick or treating with the neighbours was an impromptu arrangement, this year it seemed all the kids were looking forward to it!
• Last year, I put Norah's treats in the cupboard and she pretty much forgot about it, unless we brought it up.  This year, she asks about 50 times a day if she can have a treat.
• Last year, Roddie knew nothing but boobie milk, this year he's shown an affinity for peanut butter cups, among many other solid foods.
• Last year, Norah was blown away that people gave her treats at every house, this year she couldn't wait to collect her goodies, and it was Roddie who was amazed (see above) and he doesn't even really know what candy is!
• Last  year, Norah and Erin held hands running from house to house...they hadn't really started to be friends yet, like they are now, but were happy to have each other nonetheless.  This year, Norah ditched Erin for a boy.  Despite the fact that all she talked about was going trick or treating with Erin and Allie, she held fast to Jack's hand and passed on Erin's, even after Jack had gone home.  It made me sad, in a way, but I need to let her decide what kind of friend she's going to be, and I'm sure it won't be the last time she chooses a boy over her buddy (even though Jack is a buddy, who happens to be a boy)

and of course, last year, Halloween was on October 31, and not November 6!!

Boo! Halloween, finally!

Halloween was a bit delayed for us this year due to a snowstorm - yes, that's right, a snow storm!  We had a really bad storm last weekend that not only delayed trick-or-treat, but left us without power for 5 full days!  We survived the power outage, and trick or treat was postponed until today. 

Rod, sporting his dinosaur costume, which turned out to be too small to wear on Halloween night

Norah, the cutest witch ever!

Sibling love!

Yippee!  Look at us!

Norah pumpkin carving on November 5...

With her dad...

Ready to roll, with out neighbour friends Erin and Allie

The Neighbourhood gang - Allie (2) the butterfly, Erin (4) the lady bug, Rod (1) a doggie, Norah (3.5) the witch, and Jack (just about 4) the UPS man

Rod, surprisingly totally got the hang of trick or treating and really got into it

By the end, Rod was ready to pass out!

Rod and Matt hitting another house



Foto Finish Friday: Week 45