Preschool - Week 2

So week 2 started pretty well. Miss Grace is still having a hard time letting go of Mommy. She skips, runs, jumps all the way to the door, then when we get inside (because she's there before 7:30) she has to go to a holding room, which has all ages of kids. She'd rather go to her classroom, so we throw Fit #1. Fit #2 is when mom attempts to leave. I wait until her teacher shows, but I'm not going to be able to do that forever, so we'll figure it out. I know that she's fine by the time I reach the car, but the image I'm left with isn't pretty.
Walked in yesterday (Day #9) to pick her up and was told, "Mom, we need to talk" by the teacher. She had been hitting and kicking, and was in time out twice. Well, Miss Grace then didn't get TV privileges and had other things taken away. I think she got the message. She was still pretty happy at bedtime, but while watching Barack's speech, her gag reflex kicked in - while she was sound asleep - and she woke up covered in puke. So she began to cry. I went in with her and she puked again. I stripped her and the bed and threw everything in the washer and re-clothed her and her bed, and she was back to sleep within 10 minutes or so. I think she was most upset that she couldn't go back to bed right away. She woke up this morning quite happy and slept the rest of the night without coughing, so I guess the Baby Vicks does really work!
School started with students for me. So far, so good. I'm getting used to my schedule, but not getting used to Chelsea and Ed being elsewhere. That will take more time, I'm afraid. 5 years of habit is hard to break.
Ryan's job is going well, but he's working longer hours since he's the boss. He's got the same work ethic I do when you're in charge of something - get it done right and how you want it. That stuff takes time. We just miss him, that's all. Darn him for being gifted in writing. Write that novel and you can stay home! :)
Today was a better day for Miss Grace - no hitting, no kicking, and she said, "Mom, are you proud of me?" I didn't tell her that I'm proud of her all the time, but of course I'm most proud when she's a nice girl....which she was today. A three-day weekend and then we start all over again!

Gracie's new house

On a recent Wal-Mart trip, we went looking for something to go over the "crop circles" in our backyard created by ours and Gracie's pools. We were thinking swing set or something like that. All choices were gone on swing sets. It's too late in the year, but for hot-blooded people like Ryan and Grace, the best time to play outside is the fall - breezy, cooler temps and shade. Anyway, we found a bouncy house on clearance. It's little and will probably work in the basement during the "off" seasons, but right now, it's her new best friend. See videos on youtube below; I can't get them to post. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFE4aQ9VBuU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdutqgOVZrM

Random Conversation

When you're a parent of one, it's often fun to listen in on conversations when no one thinks you're listening. Grace does the bulk of her "imaginary" conversation with her "friends" (polly pocket dolls from Happy Meals and her Disney Princess dolls - who seem to fight too much and end up in time out an awful lot). Anyway, last night in the tub, I overheard two girls (Freda and Freeda - don't know why, those where the names she picked) who asked each other if they wanted to get married. My ears perked up, and I listened a bit more as they agreed, hugged, and continued to swim with Gracer. I asked her if her girls were married, and she said yes. I asked if they were going to lived together, and she was a little perplexed. Then I asked what she thought married meant. She said (without a moment of hesitation), "Married had a little lamb." Life is good.

Day 5

Was a short day because Miss Grace had such a diaper blowout that it was deemed "not contained" and if you have one of those, you have to go home. So I was called at 10:30ish to go pick her up from the school. She was happy otherwise, but wearing different clothes. So far, she's just enjoyed being home, had DaDonald's chicken nuggets and fries and played with her Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Cinderella dolls. Pretty good day, but I didn't get much done without her in school. Oh well. She's only young once. Hopefully she doesn't come down with the flu. That wouldn't be good! To next week!

Gracie's 1st week

Gracie started preschool this week. We've gradually gotten to sleep a bit earlier and up a bit earlier every day, and we've also gotten to the school a bit earlier every morning, so we're doing well.

Day 1 - Gracie had a good first day. She didn't cry when I left, but she did have one breakdown when the teachers wanted her to sit down at the table. She threw a fit and then calmed down and sat at the table. It happens a lot when you're three. She didn't go on the potty for them, refusing to even sit down. We'll work on that one. We left early to make it to the health department for a TB screening (no shot, just a questionnaire) and a lead test. She had to get the finger prick, so after that, I caved and let her have some treats at Walgreens. She picked out a soft Sleeping Beauty doll that went with her to school on Day 2.

Day 2 - Gracie's day was pretty good. She LOVES to be outside. In fact, when I went to pick her up, there she was on the playground, saw me, and kept playing with the rocks. I was able to chat with her teacher a bit that day since she was playing. She did sit on the potty for the teachers but no results. Baby steps, I have to remind myself. She got good marks for her vocabulary being so strong, and although she did collapse when I went to leave, she recovered pretty quickly. No big problems today. Just 3-year-old fun.

Day 3 - Gracie refused to eat today - she's getting picky at what she eats. She'd love to eat chicken nuggets, fries and milk for every meal. She also threw a fit when I left, refusing this time to even go in the classroom, and trying finally to run after me as I tried to scoot out. She offered another fit when they tried to reduce the lunch tables from 3 to 2 because they had a smaller group of kids on Day 3. She had sat in the same seat for the first 2 days, so I assume she thought it was assigned and didn't want to move. That was during lunch, which might explain why she didn't eat. When playing outside though, she did get in a bit of trouble for putting rocks in her mouth. The playground has a small pebble/rock flooring, like a large sandbox. Grace loves it, but apparently was trying to eat the rocks. When we got in the car, I asked her why she did that. She said, "Open." I later got out of her that she thought there was something in the rocks and she was putting them in her mouth to open them. I asked her what she thought was in there, and she said, "Chocolate." My kid.

Day 4 - When I dropped her off, she did great - playing with a puzzle and I just slipped out. When I returned to pick her up, she was doing a puzzle at the table. Since she loves puzzles, I thought that was fine. Then I was informed that she was sitting there as punishment because she was making faces at the snack table for snack time. The teacher informed me that she was just being like her neighbor who started it all, but since both of them refused to stop making faces and giggling, they couldn't play with the other toys in the room as punishment and had to do puzzles quietly at the table. Doesn't sound like too much of a punishment to me. I laughed later. She ate better today and sat for the teachers on the potty, but no results yet. She did tell me tonight that she needed to poop and by the time we got to the potty, she was done. I told her if she went on the potty (pee or poop) on Day 5 for the teachers, she could get a Barbie out of its perch in the bathroom - where it's been as a bribe since May. We'll see how things go.

We are online!

So the Ryan, Jennifer, Gracie, Chipper, Pepper Keith blog is up and running. It's just a little bit overdue and I thought I had started one before, but since I never kept up with it, I'll try harder now. School starts for Grace is one week - preschool at a daycare, and Dad is home for vacation this week so we're still visiting inlaws. Just wanted to get this up and running so I can add the links to friends' blogs to keep updated. Love you all!