Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Friday Mom – Jaime:
It’s no secret that I was completely freaked out about Andrew’s first day at his new daycare. Freaked out might just be an understatement, but as it turns out – of course – I was worrying for nothing.

Sunday night, Andrew looked at me and asked if he was going to his new school in the morning. When I said yes, he was quiet for a moment before nodding and saying, “Mommy… I ready.” He was smiled broadly and then shyly asked whether we could stay with him for a few minutes in the morning before going off to work. He also begged to be able to bring in cupcakes for all his new friends.

So we stopped and picked up mini cupcakes. WITH sprinkles. (Apparently this was very important). And, while it made Andrew very happy, I figured it probably made a terrible introduction for us. “Hey. We’re the new guys. Let’s get all the kids tanked up on sugar as we run out the door so YOU have to deal with the resulting sugar high…from 17 kids!”

Actually, we forgot them the first day… But Andrew did great without them. He got there, checked out the location of his new cubby for about 2 seconds before running off to the puzzles. He put two together with Hubby while I talked to his new teachers (one of whom I actually went to high school with – not that Andrew believed for a second that I knew her for over 20 years and that we used to play field hockey together).

Each day, he’d run into the classroom, thrilled to be there. We’d do a puzzle or two and then he’d say, “Okay. I fine. Go to work.” The cupcakes probably endeared him to a couple of the kids, who all stared at them in awe marveling at the fact that Andrew brought in cupcakes (WITH SPRINKLES). But he’s done great with the change.

He already has his coloring buddies. He loves the crazy girl in class, who just might be even wilder than he is. And, of course, he’s in good with the class troublemakers…

Today he and Hubby are going to head down to Great Adventure to the safari and ride some rides. I’m totally jealous since I’ll be working.

Have a great weekend everyone.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Many of us are preparing for Easter this weekend.  We’ve accomplished a few fun things to celebrate the special holiday including egg hunts, decorated eggs, and picked out our church outfits.  Well, the latter was more of a mommy thing.  Tate loves to go on egg hunts.  He also realized he loves to hide everything, not just eggs.  He finds it comical watching us search for something until we find it. I guess I can’t be frustrated when he is playing the game fair.  Eventually my missing items will show up, right?

Since Jack is a little older and wiser, he is able to tell us what Easter is all about.  When I asked him the meaning of Easter on the car ride home today he replied with: “God made Jesus stand up and be alive again so he could forgive us for doing bad things.”  I was amazed at his answer because he knew the meaning and understood it as well.  Of course, since he listens to his teacher, Jack also thinks the Easter bunny gives him candy .  I had to chuckle at his comment.

We are looking forward to Jack’s Easter party and other fun activities this weekend.  I love seeing all the children dressed up and celebrating a wonderful time of year.  I hope the Easter bunny brings you a basket full of goodies!

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
I can’t believe it. Tomorrow my little girl will be an entire year old! Being that she’s now running, she’s officially a toddler by any definition. I can’t comprehend that I’m not the mother of a baby anymore. I’m apprehensive about the coming stage, but looking forward to it. Our dear, dear friends recently announced they are having their second child—their first is younger than Haley. We are absolutely thrilled for them, though I think I’ll take a bit of a longer hiatus from baby care. It’s been a wonderful year, but not exactly the easiest.

Haley’s personality is really coming through, and it’s thrilling to see. She does this hilarious fake laugh all day long. Her grandmother recently got her one of those plush kids’ lounge chairs with Haley’s name on it. Haley loves to climb on it, as well as dive off of it and bang her head on the floor if we don’t catch her in time! We say to her “where does it say Haley?” and she points at her name. It’s so cute. She also dances on command, claps when music comes on, and says hi and bye at the appropriate moments without being told. I love all of her tricks!

As I’ve mentioned before, Haley is also very mischievous. She loves throwing her sippy cup on the ground because of the reaction she gets. (She just loves my stern face.) When I close the blinds and turn on the small fan in the nursery, she knows that it’s naptime and toddles out of the room as fast as she can manage. She loves splashing in the bath and seeing her parents when she wakes up in the morning. Like her father, her reaction to eating broccoli seems to be extreme physical pain. (They share a flare for the dramatic.) It’s simply the worst thing in the world.

It’s been a great year, and I cherish every moment. I really appreciate the opportunity to write for this blog and share the experience with all of you. I also want to give a “shout-out” to one of my best friends, and a devoted reader of this blog, whose birthday was yesterday. I love you, Erin. I hope that Haley grows up to be just like you.