Meet the Teacher

Kayden starts school next week and today was meet the teacher. When we first got in the room, I tried to put her down so the photographer could take her picture. This was met with eye slowly filling with tears and a quivering bottom lip. Not a good start.

I bent down for the picture so she wasn't so scared and then we went and sat over on the side of the room. For a good 10 minutes, she sat next to me with her little hand on my thigh. She did eventually venture off a little to play - but she remained within arms reach at all times. Hopefully school will go a little better...

Mind of Her Own

The other day after her nap, Keeley and I were in her room reading. She picked up a book and turned it over. On the back of the book are several pictures of other books the author has written. She pointed to a particular book and this is the conversation that followed:

Keeley: "Want to read that"
Me: "Okay. I don't know where it is."
Keeley: "Need to find it."
Me: "You want to go look for it?"
Keeley: "No, you find it. (pause) I'll open door for you."

I'm loving the verbal explosion that has happened since she started school, even if it does make her a little more bossy. It just cracks me up to hear her thoughts.

Back to School

Today completed Keeley's first week at her school. She had SO much fun and came home covered in dirt and exhausted every day. While never one to hold back her words, she's become even more a chatterbox this week. Today while we were eating she said "my friends miss me". I said they probably were sad to see her leave today (we were one of the first pickups). She responded with "I miss my friends." That confirms to me that we have definitely, definitely made the right decision.

She goes every morning for 3 hours. I was worried about this and concerned that the weeks would be too long for her to be scheduled every day, but I think it will be just fine. She is attending a montessori school so I don't think she feels too scheduled just due to the philosophy of montessori being more child directed. This particular school spends a lot of time doing works outside which has been great for her (and me!)

Some highlights of the week:
* She learned to spread during snack one day. They spread cream cheese on a bagel. She told me about it and then did it with some yogurt and a pea pancake at lunch.
* She has learned some Spanish (one of her teachers is from Mexico). On Wednesday she said "this is my pie" and pointed to her foot. She has also learned nose and hands.
* Gavin and Lucas are still her best friends at school but she also talks a lot about Owen now...
* Apparently, she is a tattle-tell. She came home on Tuesday and said many time "Cage didn't listen. Cage didn't listen to Sutton" (Cage is a little boy in her class and Mrs. Sutton is one of her teachers). I asked Mrs. Alva about it and she laughed saying that Cage didn't listen to Mrs. Sutton yesterday.

Here she is getting ready to leave on her first day of school. She's holding Cassie and Teddy Bear. Teddy Bear is new. We got him two weeks ago as a phase the paci out step. Instead of 10 pacis in her crib, she now just has her favorite blue one and we stuffed the other 9 inside the bear. So far so good!

Kayden is 15 months!

I can't believe she is already 15 months old. I look at her all the time and think "Keeley was this age when Kayden came home from the hospital. People must have thought we were crazy." Maybe we were/are! She definitely fills our lives with lots of smiles, cuddles, and childproofing tests.

She is becoming more and more verbal - both in the words she uses and the amount of words she uses to convey certain ideas. The doctor laughs at her because she understands so much of what is going on. When we were at the office yesterday for her check-up, she kept pointing to her mouth and then to the cabinet where the suckers were and saying "more".

Her stats:
* Weight - 23.9 (61%)
* Height - 31 (67%)
* Head 18.75 (90%)...apparently she has a big head!!

and she really is SUPER strong. Rose, our nurse, actually had to reposition her hands a couple of times when giving the shots because she couldn't hold Kayden's legs still.

She is very, very much in love with Keeley and is a very different little kid when it is just her. Keeley had her first week of school this week and it has been a bit traumatic for Kayden when we drop Keeley off every day. She tries to get out of her seat when Keeley is getting out and then points after her and says "Keeley" when the teachers take her inside.

Last week we were trying all of Keeley's clothes on for school and Kayden insisted on wearing a uniform too. Here she is saying "cheese" for the camera in Keeley's uniform.

Super Strong

Today, the girls and I were rearranging some play stuff in our house to better accommodate our little climber. Kayden decided that she needed to help. I realize that the book shelf is on sliding things, but she is still pushing a book case!

Some Updates

The girls are so sweet and have so much fun together. They have to be doing the same thing 99% of the time. Sometimes this is adorable. Here they are both hugging their babies.Other times it can be a bit trying on poor Mom.


Keeley:
* "Read" her first book last week. We were in the kitchen and she brought me an entire bag of books and said "want to read mommy". We sat down and read together for about 15 minutes and then I needed to cook dinner. Apparently I was being too noisy because she soon said "Quiet, Mommy. I'm reading". And, sure enough, she was! She was reading the correct words and turning the pages at the correct time. I understand she can't actually read yet, but she memorized all the words and what pages they are on! I was super impressed.

* Is still into interesting outfits. She has now expanded this to helping Kayden get dressed. Last week she insisted on 1. Wearing matching outfits with Kayden (again); 2. Picking out Kayden's shoes and socks AND putting them on her.


and 3. Wearing a hooded jacket... in the middle of August... in Texas...with flip flops!
* Has also expanded her dressing to helping Daddy get dressed. (I might have encouraged this one just a little bit. I couldn't resist. They were getting ready to go to the store)* Really is into her toes matching Oma or Mommy if there is a polish change. Not sure what she is matching here...


Kayden:
* Is going to be starting MDO soon. I've been doing some trial runs at the church nursery on Sunday and the childcare program they have during the week. So far, Kayden is NOT a happy camper. Keeley cried when I dropped her off but always stopped as soon as I was out of site - not the case with Kayden so far. I fear that this coupled with the monkey in her might pose a problem. Regardless, we just got her a cute little back pack. She was very excited to wear it and is running toward me saying "cheese" right here. How can you not love that little face?!


* She really and truly must have monkey ancestry. It got quiet this weekend and I wasn't worried because the only step stool in the bathroom was that tiny pink one (you can barely see it in the picture). When Kayden stands on it, her head doesn't even clear the top of the counter. Somehow though, she used her monkey toes and incredible strength to get herself in the sink....and then proceed to try to use Kelly's toothbrush.

Look at that deadpan look she is giving Kelly. "Yes, Dad. I'm IN the sink and about to use your toothbrush. I see no problem with this"

Clothes

As most of you know, Keeley has been quite the fashionista since she was about a year old. She is definitely opinionated about her clothes, shoes, and hair. This has frequently frustrated me because she often look like a bit of a ragamuffin in public but I have let this go.

Recently, the battle has switched. She now asks on a regular basis "what's kayden wearing" before deciding what to wear. It is absolutely unacceptable to her if she doesn't have a matching outfit or close to matching outfit. Unfortunately for her, she doensn't have many matching outfits because I specifically didn't want to dress my girls alike. This results in much crying.

Today she came running out of her room crying big crocodille tears with a face all red and puffy. I asked what was wrong. Her response: "Kayden touched my shoe". Oh dear...I fear we are starting the beginning of a very long road with this one!