Revisiting the Past

February 2006, two years ago - that was when this picture of Matthew was taken. I look at this picture and can't decide if time has flown by and this was just yesterday or if this seems like an eternity ago. Knowing how Matt is today I can't believe this time even existed with him. The quiet time when he was my "easy" baby. He was content and easily pleased. He napped!! I didn't have huge messes of multiple boy toys to clean up and he didn't mind being confined to an exersaucer. Hey, he wasn't even truly mobile. Move time 2 years ahead and this little person exists in a totally different way. Matt is not so "easy" anymore - lovable, yes; easy, NO. His famous words now are "but, but, but," "wait" and "I cannot do it". Yes, the delay tactic words for when he is asked to do something before getting put in time out. Words - what a total difference in time.....this boy can talk. I don't like to compare so let me put it this way, Emily in no way verbally prepared us for the onslaught of words a 3 1/3 year old learns and uses as vocabulary. He calls me "mamaseeta" uses the word "nosy pants" and one of his famous things is asking you a question and if you answer "correctly" he'll say "you're right, good job". He has many classic one liners - he's used "you're killing me", "just one more minute", "you're making me upset". UGH - my words come back to haunt me with this one. As for being confined, forgettaboutit!!! This boy loves to run around in circles to loud music. The last few days he has had an inkling to get outside and play in the dirt and mommy has said go at it - just dress warm. His interest in TV has moved to the computer.....daddy got him addicted to fire truck videos on YouTube. Now I compete for computer time with Matt. His interests on YouTube now have expanded to Lego everything, Thomas train, trains and the cars movie music videos besides the everything fire videos. Napping is done only at preschool now and at home only at inopportune times like 4:30 - 5 after several days without napping. Of course, when he wakes up from those naps, it usually isn't in a good mood. TOYS - oh, toys. This boys has so many cars it is ridiculous. Let's put it this way it is time for mommy to do a huge toy purge here at home. Like Emily at his age bringing all the toys out is easy it is the putting away that is the issue. I have resorted to the "clean it up or they go in the garbage bag" tactic with him - mom and dad can attest to that. He won that bout, not because mommy caved in but had to pick up daddy from the train and he conned his sister into cleaning up for him.......not good I have a con artist on my hands. So , with all this crazy change comes amazing change - Matt now gives me little kisses and "big, huge kisses", he out of no where will say "I love you mamaseeta", the laughter he gives with his word usage can fill you heart with laughter, he shows us all how much he loves us - Emily very much included. In two years, it will be interesting to see how much he has changed from this moment in his life...for the time being we are all enjoying the ride....going gray and shaking my head but enjoying it.

Art 101

While in Tennessee, we attended mom and dad's church Sunday morning. Emily participated in a "moment" they call "Pastor's Pals" where all the kids who attend the children's church time go up on the platform and the pastor tells them a little story, has them repeat a prayer and gives them a treat - Emily loses all shyness when it comes to getting a treat, she would tell you that. Then the kids head off to their church time. This is one of the pictures that Emily drew in that class. Emily is funny in that she won't give you any details about what she was taught or learned in her Sunday church hour. Her normal response when asked these questions is "God" or "Jesus". Maybe later in the day we may hear a little more but not much. This picture tells me everything she is learning about. I have to say this is the first picture, with the exception of Christmas manger scenes, that I've seen her visualize God or Jesus. Although not as detailed like most of her drawings, it tells the simple story of Christ on the cross and God being a part of it all. This is a picture I will keep for as long as I live because it shows that God is truly in the minds of all of us, even a little girl who can't always tell in detail the things she learned. I look forward to the day when I can tell you all that Emily is a child of God through the acceptance of Jesus as her Savior. Until that day, I know that the Spirit is working within her - here is my proof.

Math Again

So, we are having to make a decision on Emily and her math situation. She is currently in the math inclusion class and doing the beginning work of the 1st grade math curriculum in her small special ed class. We have to decide if we are going to have her continue in the inclusion class or have her just do math in the small class. Emily has show improvement in her math skills. Homework has gotten back to me explaining what she needs to do and her pretty much doing it on her own with assistance from me only when asked or on the crazy reasoning problems at the end. I asked her special ed teacher how she is doing emotionally when she goes to the inclusion math class and that is what has us wondering what to do. When her teacher tells her it is time for inclusion math, Emily will get upset and sometimes plead with her not to send her. After a pep talk from her, she will go in but may still whimper at first while in class. Now this doesn't happen every day but is more of a regular occurrence than a rarity. The work I've seen come out of the class that she has done is done well so we are thinking it is just an emotional response that she is having. In the class, she doesn't have the one on one assistance as in her small class, so we think that makes her uncomfortable - an aide goes in but does not sit directly with her. Also, she panics when she hears that there is a quiz or test in this class - not in her small class, she asks for tests there. We really think it is just an insecurity issue of less help and Emily doesn't like to or want to make mistakes. We've told her to just do her best and leave what she doesn't know. Emily has told us how much she likes the inclusion teacher, Miss Rocha, so we have ruled out a personality conflict. Today she is having a chapter test and we did a review last night of what would be on the test - she did well but at first when we sat down, knowing it was test material, she immediately said I don't know what to do. My concern is that this is the type of class room atmosphere she will go into next year so do we keep her in so she adjusts to at least that aspect. The other question is how the two math sessions - special ed and inclusion - would be combined to produce a grading for her. It is all very confusing. Please pray that God gives us clear direction in the way we should proceed with this matter. She is doing much better at her math skills and that is a true encouragement. Emily still loves going to school. When I ask her her favorite part of school, she says recess. After prodding her for a curriculum aspect she likes, she says handwriting. The good thing is that this emotional math matter has not overshadowed her whole school experience.

Fireman Matt

Matt was in his glory when Papa Joe let him climb the tall painting ladder in order to fight a fire - of course the fire was pretend. I was actually out of the house when Matt took his first climb up the ladder. When I got home, we had Matt experience a full blown fire fighting adventure. Matt very willingly put on his Lightening McQueen "fire" rain boots, his play fire helmet and grabbed his new fire hose ball thrower (a gift from Nana and Papa) in order to complete the look of a real firefighter hero. I know this is a moment Matt will never forget. I'm sure if Dave had been home he would have been right there with Matt.

What a Time

We are back from our visit to Tennessee and back into the craziness of every day life ...kind of. I've had a little extra on my plate as Dave's end of the year brutal work week didn't happen while we were away but this week and I've been helping out at Matt's preschool. I'm missing the laid back atmosphere of Tennessee...New Jersey is just so "inhabited". Our week with mom and dad was very relaxing. The weather wasn't extremely warm but pleasant. The kids enjoyed themselves but both are glad to be back to all of their toys - they miss Nana and Papa Joe though. Thanks mom and dad for letting us come and spend some time with you....it was great!