Preschool Update

Cole loves school! He usually doesn't have much to tell me other than they did stuff and had snack, but every once in a while, he'll blurt out something. Yesterday, for instance, he randomly started telling me how he played bowling ball in the gym. He can name most of the kids in his class, even 2 out of the 3 girls. We had family night at the apple orchard last week and it was fun to see him recognize the other kids. I think this year will be really good for him. Two full days a week hasn't wiped him out like I thought it would. He's got a good group of kids in his class and he seems to be learning something! His teacher sent a note home about how he's such a good helper and listener. When I read it to Cole, I thought he was going to burst. He was so proud of himself!

School Readiness, Here He Comes!

I sent my baby to preschool today and I didn't shed a tear. In our district it's known as School Readiness and he goes 2 full days a week. The day has been going pretty fast for me and I'm anxious to see how it went for Cole. Only 45 more minutes of quiet....

As much as the kid annoys the snot out of me some days, I'm not quite ready for this milestone. It seems like just yesterday I was carrying him and his stupid heart monitor around and now he's in school, all day. (Now I'm starting to tear up.) Time can slow down any time now.

Without further ado, the proud preschooler:

It was also picture day today but I wasn't about to send him to school in church clothes. This was one of 2 non-stained plain shirts the kid owns. The other is in the hamper. Oh well, we already had professional pictures done this summer so I don't really need school photos.

As I was leaving school today I ran into one of the kindergarten paras. Mrs. R also has done a lot with the ECFE program so we've known her since Cole was a baby in his cranial helmet. She's gotten to watch him go through the special ed programs, physical therapy, and ECFE to become the short-legged, lime green backpack toting, preschooler he is today. She told me today what a role model I am for sticking with all the early intervention and was truly amazed at how far he's come and what a great job I've done with him. I was completely flattered and had no idea what to say. I feel like I rag and nag on the kid constantly. I know he's a good kid and I know how far he's come, but I certainly don't feel responsible for it or feel like I've done anything out of the ordinary. Wouldn't most parents do what they could to keep their kid on track? Anyway, it was still flattering.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Tate!

My baby is 2 today! It's amazing how much he has changed in the past year and how much fun he has become. He's certainly not a baby anymore! He loves to run, ride bike, play in the sandbox, and push his brother's buttons. He's full of bumps and bruises from trying to keep up with his big brother, but he doesn't seem to mind.

My bubble baby at birth.
First birthday.

My 2 year old monkey,
and his monkey cake.

June Review

I know, June isn't over yet, but by the time I post again, it probably will be :)

• The boys started swimming lessons. Cole's were every morning for 2 weeks. He wasn't the strongest swimmer in his class, but he did ok. I learned that he can be bought with donuts. After realizing that his teacher wasn't going to make him go under water, I tried bribery, and it worked! I'm hoping to hit up the pool a few times this summer so he can get more practice.
• Tate is also in swimming lessons, with me. We go twice a week and he is doing pretty well. He's more daring than his brother, but not overly so.
• Cole got his kindergarten shots. His doctor likes to do them at age 4 since their memory isn't quite as good and they are easier to restrain. When she broke the news to him he cried and flinched every time he heard a door in the hallway. Try getting a urine sample out of a 4 year old after 4 shots. We had to go back on Monday to attempt that and he was almost in tears when the tech said the nurse would call with results. I think he was terrified she'd come give him more shots.
• Cole's stats: 31"=21%, 36.8 lbs= 55%

Upcoming events:

• Pat's 10 year reunion
• Cole's first birthday party
• Cole's dental visit to attempt to fill a cavity
• Family trip through our dairy Co-op
  

Happy Birthday, Cole!

Cole is 4 today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. He keeps me on my toes with all of his nonstop questions. He loves to do chores, play farm, and tattle on his brother. I love watching him grow and learn. Happy Birthday, Cole! I love you!

Preschool Screening

Ya, ya, ya. I know. It's been a while. I do have a lot to blog about, but it's pretty low on the totem pole at the moment.

Anywhoozle, Cole had preschool screening 2 weeks ago. It went pretty well. I'm kind of glad we couldn't do it back in September. I think he would have had to be re screened at that point. He did everything he was asked except a few things. One was making a +. He made more of a T. He also couldn't stand on one foot, although he can, he was just goofing around. The other thing he didn't do was walking one foot in front of the other on a line. He apparently took some creative liberty with that one and decided to slide his feet down the line. The highlight for me was that we knew 3 of the 4 developmental screeners. We of course ended up with the one that we didn't know. She had stepped out and one of the other teachers stepped in and took us back to her station. Just as we were finishing, the speech therapist walked by and said she had wanted to screen Cole. Cole has never had speech. He's been tested once, but hasn't had a lot of contact with the speech therapist. However, every day she comes in to his preschool class to pull out kids he runs up says "Hi, Mrs. P~! How are you today?" I just wonder who in the world that kid is. He certainly isn't mine!