Daddy Game Night

We invited a few friends over for a Board Game Night. I think it was a success and we should do it again.We decided to keep it small and see how it went. The Mommies chatted, the other two had new babies, Tracey a first time mom.And the Daddies had time to play a game. We also ordered food. The kids had a lot of fun playing and we all had a great conversation.The play date was short so it was just a trial run. But we had fun. Also it was a chance to catch up we friends we don't get to see that often.This little guy is getting to be so grown up. I think he is about 8 months here.Madelyn and her new baby brother were our other friends. Madelyn is doing great to the adjustment. We hope to see everyone again soon.

Run and Play

Ladybug build blocks--- crash

Coco eat too

We're back

So I did it. After an eight week hiatus we are back in music class. Though much has changed.First off, the Tuesday class is cancelled. So now we attend class on Monday mornings.This was at the time that we normally had Speech therapy. So we had to move that to Thursdays.It has only been one week so far, so we are just settling in, but I think it is going to be good. We missed our friends and our class.

1000 Posts

I feel like I should do something more remarkable for my 1000th post. Amazingly enough, Holly is 980 days old today. It has been over a year, or wow has it been two, since I decided to try and post almost every day, though over that time I decided it was too stressful and cut down.But then the issue is that we are so very busy that I am always several months behind on my pictures. Right now the pictures I have been posted are from play dates we had between June and September, I haven't even downloaded pictures from the last two months from my camera, though I think I should get on that right away. I think if I counted the play date folder's I have left to post still, it is about 100.So sometimes I try and post pictures twice a day. the thing is some days I am talkative, like today. other's I just don't feel like writing or describing or narrating, and really how many times do you guys want to hear me talk about Chloe's house or Music class. The play dates that occur quite regularly I usually just post pictures of without commentary.Then there is the notion of going through the pictures, for the really fun and exciting play dates I sometimes have about 500 pictures that I have to sort through and upload one at a time into the post. I usually widdle it down to about 30-40 highlights from the day's adventure. But it takes a long time to go through them and then of course to write about the adventure.
Wow... it sounds like I am complaining, I am not. I love this blog, I am sure the fact that there are 1000 posts are a testament to that. But sometimes, like this past week, I was just tired, we were sick and I simply did not feel like writing or posting. I wish actually that there was just a faster way to upload the photos, I have to do them one at a time and that takes forever. If I could come up with a faster way to sort and load pictures my life would be much easier.To be honest I have started to slow down on the picture taking. It has been an interesting change of pace. It is a little like an obsession some times. There are some play dates that I get through it just fine and don't even think about that fact that I am not taking photo's, but then there are other's where I feel like I am missing out on a cute shot or something I want to remember and archive. I actually have taken a lot more iPhone pictures due to this, so that I have a back up for when I don't have the camera. In fact, I have quite a few video's there, all of which I have not posted. Maybe I should go through and find some. Well I guess that is enough of that. I hope you have enjoyed today's post, Number 1000!

Small Voices

I am not sure what recent updates I have posted about Holly's pre-pre school program, but it is going great. I have been leaving her now either right at drop off, or right at the end of open play before Circle starts. Her teacher's report she is doing wonderfully. She is talking more then ever, she has to in order to ask for help, or for the things she wants from others. It is hard to imagine, as I am always with her otherwise, so I wonder how she acts and what she does when I am not around. I wish I could have a video camera and record the day just to check it out. She loves it, but she also misses me very much and is super clingy when I pick her up at the end of the class, lots and lots of hugs and super kisses wait for Mommy. Even though it is so good for her, her confidence, development, and Independence I miss her and I think the transition may be harder on me then her. I am feeling disconnected to the class, her work and progress, her teacher's and the other kids and families.

On that note we decided that I would visit class every other Wednesday. This would give me a chance to check in with everyone, and hang out with Holly and observe how things have changed. We have not actually instituted this schedule yet, as I have only just started leaving her a few weeks ago and then these past two weeks we were sick and missed three days of school. However, in Theory I think it will work well. I also think that it is good practice for me as in this environment I have the flexibility to come and visit, so it will help me learn good transition habits, like updates to and from the teachers at drop off and pick up time, so that once Holly starts regular school we can have a system in place.

I talked to another family who has there child in a similar program in Oakland, it is for 2.5 hours 2X a week. But they have a one hour parent support meeting every class session, so twice a week. They spend the first part with the kids and then leave the last hour. I was so jealous. In our program we only have a parent meeting one time a month, and in October we didn't have one at all. And in September I missed it, but it was a special speaker for Dads. I have asked the facilitator to schedule the meetings in advance so we are sure to all make it, and requested that we do it twice a month, but she said they didn't have the resources. I think I will bring it up again at the next meeting, this week, perhaps she can talk to the other Oakland program and find out how they do it. I was told by the other parent that there are about twelve kids in there program, and they only have two teacher's and one volunteer, we only have ten kids, and we have 2 teachers, a staff person and then at least one volunteer, so I feel like we could swing it, even ones a week, like every Wednesday would be great.

I guess we will see. We were sad to be sick this week because two of our friends graduated and we did not get to say god bye to them, though we saw them both over the weekend at one of there Birthday parties. It is hard to believe that in less then 4 months that will be us. It doesn't seem like that far away, especially when this picture was taken almost that long ago.

Citlali

In Late August we went to visit Citlali and her Baby brother. She had been cooped up in the house because of said little brother, he was only a few weeks old when we visited.We had been missing her in School and Swim and Gym. I can't believe I didn't actually get any pictures of the new baby. But I was having so much fun talking to her Mommy Karen, and watching the girls play, that I didn't take many pictures at all.Several of our friends had recently had new siblings arrive so we made a few and froze them. We brought it over for Citlali's family when we were visiting. I remember when we first brought Holly home and how grateful we were to have cooked meals.I can;t imagine when it will be like with a new baby in the house, and dealing with a toddler. On this day Citlali was still having a hard time adjusting, but just today I saw her being very protective of her little brother, and holding his cheeks and giving him a big kiss, it was adorable.
It was wonderful to see Holly and Citlali playing so well together, they get along really well. Citlali is very possessive of Holly too, it seems most of her friends are. Citlali shared all of her toys, and there were no meltdowns, or pushing and hitting. Seeing the girls together is very sweet, they are great friends.

Lake Anza

We finally made it out to Lake Anza. This year the summer was long, and even after the swim season ended the days were hot.On this day, it was in the 90's and Lake Anza opened special during the weekdays to compensate for the extremely hot weather.We had been wanting to go all summer and simply never got around it, so this was lucky for us. it was great timing. When we arrived, we find an amazingly shady spot near the water.We ended up running into our friend Otter, who just happened to also be going swim on the same day. It was great to run into them and chat, as it had been a long while since we last saw them.The water was nice a cool, the sand was great for digging and Holly was having a wonderful time. We had plans on meeting Chloe there, but they were running late.We borrowed some cool sand toys from other kids and had a great time digging and playing. We also used a raft and Holly floated around in the water, she loved it. She had so much fun.We wished Daddy could be with us, but he was hard at work. We hope to come often next summer, but there are just so many great places to go.By the end of the day it was Hot, and we were super tired and exhausted. We were ready to make our way home and take a nice long nap.

Heavy Lifting