09.29.06
Protected: The little bliss of being a working mom
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Protected: To my dear 5 months old
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09.22.06
My little artist
Maddy fell in love with coloring a little before she turned three. She got a coloring page last night from the library, and asked to color it the first thing she woke up this morning.
This is by far the best coloring page she’s done. She did the whole page on her own with no help from mommy or daddy.
New West Regional Library
The new library next to us opened last weekend!! It took me a WHOLE ten minutes (that was including us stopping twice to talk to neighbors on the way) to stroll both girls over last night for the regular Thursday Pajama Story Time which goes on at all the Wake County libraries. Â
It’s too bad they don’t have a ‘dog rack’ at the library. It would be nice to take Brownie along for the stroll… or a nice cafe where we can get coffee and a warm muffin… (sigh).. greedy me.Â
We went over on Tuesday night as well because it was too crowded to borrow any books last Sat. We giggled about the one minute drive. I think the time we loaded and unloaded the kids was longer than the actual drive. Maddy was so excited. She walked back and forth not knowing where to begin. A whole library of brand new books and 70 big flat screen computers would make any bookworm jump for joy.
09.21.06
Memories of the past
With the recent preschool saga, I realized how blessed we have been with Maddy’s preschool choices since she’s a young baby. A huge part of me able to be a happy working mom is because of them.
While I was cleaning up some files at work, I found an old report of Maddy given by Cisco Daycare. She was about Livy’s age then. It brought back a lot of good memories, and man the girls do look alike!
I’m visiting Livy during lunch time like I visited Maddy back then. I’m getting to know the teachers in school more and more each day just like before. Amazingly, it is just as much fun as the first time around. In fact, it feels even more natural second time around.Â
09.17.06
Done playing SAHM
I’ve been back to work full swing for a week now, and am surprised about how smooth things are.. with exceptions of two days when I had to go back home right after I got to work only to realize I forgot my pump.Â
Livy is doing well in school. She started sleeping through the night, and is generally a very happy baby. Ms S. says her favorite activity at school is watching other babies. She loves laying on the mat or the bouncer and just watches all that is surrounding her. Towards the end of the week, she also started to nap two hours straight in school instead of multiple short naps.Â
Maddy has adjusted back to the old school quite well too. They started the phonics program seriously in the three’s class (It’s more just for fun in the two’s class), and Maddy comes home asking “what starts with x?” and so proudly announced “What starts with O? Owen starts with O” and such.
Surprisingly, I still remember how to log into my routers and have started new projects already. Co-workers are as wonderful as they’ve always been and joked with me about my pregnancy and my extended ‘vacation’.Â
Not to say that everything is easy. Schedules have to be planned strategically so I can spend time with both girls, spend time with each of them separately, get all the chores done, etc. I’m pooped by 10:00pm now… unfortunately, I still need to be awake for the midnight pumping.
Still… It’s a good tired feeling. I’m glad to have taken the maximum LOA this time, and am also glad that I’m back to work.Â
09.15.06
It’s in the paper
Conversation after Maddy came home from school-
Maddy:Â Today is Jacob’s birthday.
Daddy: Oh yea? Can you tell me about it?
Maddy: No. It’s in my paper (daily report from school). You can go and read about it.
09.09.06
Parade Pro
First year: totally clueless; only cared about her paci.
Second year: liked the attention but still trying to figure out what was the big deal about these big comotion.
Third year: grown up and proudly walked her walk, and sang “it’s a small small world” for the rest of the day.Â
Lost and found
Dear Maddy,
Just one short week back at the old school, I am seeing so many changes and am grateful to have found all that was lost.
When I dropped in to pick you up at random times throughout the week, the class was always calm and all the kids were engaged with structured activities. I marvel at how all 16 kids sat in one long carpet quietly and listened to the audio book while Ms Url turned each page. You listened so intently you didn’t even notice that I came, which is quite different from what I’ve seen you during your circle time at the new school. Your teachers asked everyone to line up for outdoor playtime. She only asked once in a low tone but all of you stood in line within 10 seconds and out you went. It had always taken more than 5 minutes at the new school for any line formation, and no wonder why many of you simply lost concentration and interests to follow instructions.
In this four day short week, the parents were asked to bring in a stamped envelope for sending art work to grandparents for Grandparent Day and photos of you as a baby and as a three year old for a “growing up†project in class. I miss the parent involvement during the past three months, and couldn’t be happier to participate in your school work again. The arts and craft you brought home are very different as well. I can tell that each of them was carefully thought through by your teachers. None of the free dribble free drawing “just kill your time†work you brought home from the new school any more.
Yesterday you put the cup in the sink after finished your milk without any prompting…. something you haven’t done for a while. I know instantly that you got the good habit back. At the new school, the teachers clean up after you. In the old school, each kid is responsible to put away his/her plate and cup after meals. I’m a firm believer that love means instilling good habits in you and not doing everything for you. I’m proud of you for picking up the life application from school on your own. You’re happy when I talk to your teachers. You know you’ve been a good girl and you cheerfully wait next to me while I chat with your teachers every day… something you didn’t really want me to do at the new school. You give your teachers sweet good-bye hugs now. I can tell that you feel secure and are warming up to them each day.
Most importantly, there is a change in your attitude and mannerism at home. You use “please†and “sorry†willingly and proudly. You listen and follow after just one asking. The evil-Maddy somehow had disappeared just like that. Back in this wonderful environment has brought out the better side of you again…. I cried in the car today as I thought about all the changes in you this week. I am tearfully thankful!!
Love you. Mommy
09.05.06
Enter the unspeakable era
Both Joe and I had vowed never to become minivan owners. We love our CRVs, and have our eyes on the Pilot for as long as we can remember.
Something caught my eyes recently:Â Under Yahoo Auto ads “The Nissan Quest is the minivan for people who can’t bear to own a minivan”.Â
We test drove the Quest last Friday, and what got us is the awesome SkyView glass-paneled roof (oh it makes the minivan so un-minivanlike).
And so…There is a Quest sitting in our garage tonight. It’s just a free loaner (not the model or color we want) since daddy traded in his CRV. We are so excited (Daddy is more pathetic than mommy. He sat in the van in the garage at midnight and watched a movie using the DVD)!! Too excited for SUV lovers in my opinion, but can’t wait to show the girls our new family toy!!
09.03.06
Revelation
Maddy got promoted to the three year old class at church today. I thought she would come back telling me about all the new things she got to do in class, instead she ran to me with her revelation when I picked her up:
Maddy: Mommy, mommy, my teachers in the new class know CHINESE!! They speak Chinese.
I’m not sure if I should be happy that she actually recognizes Chinese language or sad because it only took her two years to realize that we go to a Chinese church.