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!

A New Furry Friend

Emily was watching a movie we rented from the video store and it had a ferret in it, so guess what pet she wants now ..... a ferret. She drew this picture of "her" ferret and all the things it needs. The ferret is on the diving board of it's pool which has a pink flamingo standing in the water and a palm tree for shade. Above that is a shelf whose items are a vase of flowers, big green candle, microwave, globe and a card with a heart on it. On the wall is picture of a star and a calendar with a flower. Under that is the ferret's tub with shower head. On top of the dresser is a polka dot lamp. On the table top, there is a computer and computer mouse. Apparently this ferret of hers is going to live a pampered life. Little does she know that she'll have to have her own house before she can have a ferret for a pet. A girl can dream though.

Revisiting the Past

"Here fishy, fishy"......I know it is a little hard to figure out which child it is who has their face in the fishbowl but the apple outfit should give it away - it is Emily. This toy was given to her by the Bergacs' and she loved it. It had three balls that went inside but on the outside it had water encased in it with plastic sea animals and glitter that would float along when you moved it. On top of that it had lights and music - two thing kids adore. At this stage of her development, I think Emily was probably wondering where the fish were "inside" the bowl when she could see them on outside of the bowl. Needless to say, it made a great photograph.

Art 101

We are diverting from Emily's animal book drawings in order for you to see one of her school work projects. I have to tell you that when I pulled this picture out of her backpack folder I had one of those proud mom moments where you get that warm feeling in your heart and a big smile on your face. I was so happy to see that her drawing capabilities are actually being used in her schoolwork. So, as you can see this is a sequencing project of a butterfly's growth. I love how the caterpillar is sitting on the leaf and the butterfly but I think what most impressed me was her cocoon. I know it is plain but I though it was very well done. Now I don't know if all the kids sequenced the same "event" or if this is something she just drew from her own mind. In either situation, the result is the same a very proud mom. Great job Emily!!

Add to that a Builder

This week of renovating the bathroom has had a bit of an influence on Matthew. The other day I asked him again, "what do you want to be when you grown up?" I expected the usual, "a fireman and an army man" but this time he responded differently "a fireman, an army man and a builder". Once again, I assured him he could be anything he wants to be but inside my head I'm thinking you are going to be one busy and tired man if you do all those things. Although if he keeps just half of the energy he has now into adulthood, he could make it happen.

I took this picture of Matt after his haircut on Saturday. We did more of his summer cut so it would take a little longer to grow out before the next cut. He is so funny getting his hair done. I don't even have to stand by him. He sits in the big chair and this time even had a little conversation with Maria, the stylist he goes too. At the end of the cut, she asked him if he wanted gel in his hair and he said "of course" - now I've never put gel in his hair, so I have no idea what he thought gel was. Maria styled it so it came up in the front. It made him look so grown up, where did my baby/toddler go. You have to love that big smile!

Where Have I Been

So, you've been wondering where I am, well, I've been busy assisting my dad in the cosmetic renovation of our upstairs bathroom. Saturday, January 31, my mom and dad came to NJ for a little visit with their grandchildren and some major assistance from dad on redoing the bathroom. We took Sunday off and started work bright and early Monday morning. The main plan was to strip the old green and ivory striped wallpaper with its floral border from the walls (I already removed a major portion from the walls), install beadboard on the lower half of the wall and paint the upper half. We also planned to replace the sink top, faucet, medicine cabinet and wall light fixture. The first day into the project that plan changed, due to the fact that instead of drywall or plaster walls it was masonite. So, in order to avoid any future issues with the painted area, we decided to wallpaper the upper half. Now, I found a wonderful textured beige wallpaper but the main issue was that out of my dad, mom and I only my mom has wallpapered and that was a long, long time ago. So, Wednesday morning, after a trip to Home Depot for the new fixtures, we all three did the wallpaper. I actually did the hanging of the paper with supervision from mom and dad. I have to say I'm very happy with the outcome but don't plan on doing that any time soon. After that was done, we put up the beadboard. Thursday we spent putting up ceiling molding, that was no fun at all but definitely gave the room a finished look, along with dad reassembling the sink, hanging the light and medicine cabinet. By Saturday night, it was done and this is the outcome. We are very happy with the end result. I forgot to mention that we - meaning I - got a little sidelined from the job on Friday. On Wednesday night, I noticed that my hearing in my right ear was very muffled, I figured it was just congestion from a cold. Thursday it was still the same but occasionally I would get a pinch in my ear. So, after debating with myself and asking Dave whether I should go to the doctor or not, I called and got an appointment Friday morning. It was a good thing I went. I have a very severe ear infection - you know it is severe when the second thing the doctor says after "this is bad, really bad" is "do you know of an ear specialist in your plan?" Not only was that an issue but when he checked my lungs he heard wheezing which I didn't even notice I had. So, I'm currently on an antibiotic and have to go back on Friday for the doctor to see if both issues are clearing up the way he wants them to.

Mom and dad are both still here. This week dad is painting the living room ceiling and kitchen. Then, Emily, Matt and I are driving Nana Joan and Papa Joe back to Tennessee and staying there for a week - it is winter break from school. The kids and I will be traveling back from TN on that Friday and Saturday, with a stop overnight in Maryland to break up the 9 hour trip. So, now you know where I have been for the last week+.