I knew that Sprout would miss The Bean when he started kindergarten. I didn't really realize how much she would miss him.
I've tried to have some fun activities planned with her. I've taken her to SkyZone (an indoor trampoline park), the Brickworks (an awesome nature preserve), the library and some really great parks around the city. Still, nearly everyday I get some variation of "Where's [The Bean]?", "I miss [The Bean]" and one time when we were driving home I heard the saddest little voice from the backseat of the car saying, "I'm ready to pick up [The Bean] from school now." Poor bug.
She's told me she doesn't have any friends, and when I list her friends she often asks me to call them so they can meet up with us. Sometimes it works out, but I do think she would rather have her brother around.
She actually cried when we dropped him off on the first day of school, sad that she wasn't going with him. I'm not sure why she had it in her head that she'd be going to kindergarten too, but she did. While she now understands that she won't be going to kindergarten until next fall, she often says, "But I can go to daycare." I think it's fair to say she doesn't like that she's been left behind.
At home she plays school. She asks me to write her notes for her lunchbox like I've been doing for her brother. I have to be the teacher and read her stories or direct her to different activities.
We're starting some programs in the next few weeks and I'm hoping that the routine and structure helps her out a bit. I'm also hoping that we make a few new friends for her. I think she'd like that.
It's been a bit bumpy, but The Bean seems to be adjusting well, overall. Day 2 was tougher than day one, and many mornings he will say that he doesn't want to go to school. However, he has made at least three new friends that he talks about often. The one friend even gave him a huge hug when I dropped him off one day last week. I liked seeing that. He won't give us a full run down of his days, but he is starting to sing some new songs and will give us little snippets of what's been going on over the course of the evening. He's usually pretty tired in the evenings and often a bit grumpy, I suspect because most days he hasn't been eating much of what I've packed. He can be impatient and snippy with Sprout, which makes me sad, because I know how much she misses him. Things seem to be getting better though. Hopefully by October we'll all have settled into a new routine and not be finding things quite so difficult.
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Friday, July 31, 2015
SBL #1, 3, 8 and 9
Okay, time for another Summer Bucket List Update!
I've been putting off crossing a few of these items off, because I haven't taken as many photos as I would have liked too. Even though it's not even August, I feel like the summer is flying by and I should be crossing off more items though! So, with not quite as many photos as I would have liked...
We've been doing a pretty good job of getting around to different parks this summer. I like variety, so I don't mind driving out of our area to check out someplace new. There are SO many parks in the city. Some are beautiful with trees and gardens and great play equipment and others... meh. I discovered that a small local pool that I went to as a teen has been totally revamped into a much nicer pool and completely amazing splash pad. I also discovered that another fairly nearby park was redone at some point over the past year and has amazing new equipment and even some "natural playground" elements. We also found a couple of playgrounds that have skate parks (The Bean's new obsession). Of course, we've continued to make visits to the park with the giant mud pit and our favourite nature preserve in the middle of the city and gone back to some favourites that we don't get to quite as often (Hello castle playground! I'm talking about you!!).
We have also been to the zoo several times this summer. I usually bring the camera, but two kids at the zoo can be a bit of a handful, so it's rarely taken out of my bag. That is to say, there are very few zoo photos. The kids love the splash pad at the zoo and the "Kids Zoo" area which has a big slide and a sandbox alongside some small animal exhibits. (Sprout loves the bunnies.) Last time we went we paid a visit to the pandas as well as checked out the butterfly house for what may have been the first time. There were a lot of people, which wasn't ideal, but on a less busy day it'd be pretty amazing. I tell the kids if they're cooperative that they can ride the merry-go-round when we're leaving. This (mostly) keeps them on their best behaviour. We still need to make it to the city farm as we haven't been since the spring, but there is still plenty of time for that... right?!
It has been SO hot this past week. It was also the first week that they had locally grown peaches for sale at the grocery store. I bought a basket full and we used some of them to make smoothie popsicles. Sprout got brain freeze on her first bite, but that didn't stop her from polishing off the rest of her pop!
Regrettably I took NO photos, but we had a very nice get together with some other bloggers last Saturday. The kids alternated eating snacks and climbing all over the massive wooden castle climber while we chatted. It was nice to finally meet some of the moms and moms-to-be in person and spend time with others who we've met before. Looking forward to more blogger meet ups before the summer is over!
---
After completing this post, I realized I have taken a lot more photos that I thought! Ha!
--- UPDATED: The Two Moms to Be Summer Bucket List for 2015
1. Check out new parks and go back to old favourites.
2. Swim in Lake Ontario.
3. Visit animals at the zoo.
4. Spend time in nature. Look for new "nature spots" in the city.
5. Donate books to the book bank.
6. Smell flowers at botanical gardens.
7. Go to the Toronto Islands.
8. Make popsicles.
9. Meet up with local bloggers.
13. Eat things that we have grown and/or picked ourselves.
Update on #13: We grew beans! They are delicious!
I've been putting off crossing a few of these items off, because I haven't taken as many photos as I would have liked too. Even though it's not even August, I feel like the summer is flying by and I should be crossing off more items though! So, with not quite as many photos as I would have liked...
We've been doing a pretty good job of getting around to different parks this summer. I like variety, so I don't mind driving out of our area to check out someplace new. There are SO many parks in the city. Some are beautiful with trees and gardens and great play equipment and others... meh. I discovered that a small local pool that I went to as a teen has been totally revamped into a much nicer pool and completely amazing splash pad. I also discovered that another fairly nearby park was redone at some point over the past year and has amazing new equipment and even some "natural playground" elements. We also found a couple of playgrounds that have skate parks (The Bean's new obsession). Of course, we've continued to make visits to the park with the giant mud pit and our favourite nature preserve in the middle of the city and gone back to some favourites that we don't get to quite as often (Hello castle playground! I'm talking about you!!).
We have also been to the zoo several times this summer. I usually bring the camera, but two kids at the zoo can be a bit of a handful, so it's rarely taken out of my bag. That is to say, there are very few zoo photos. The kids love the splash pad at the zoo and the "Kids Zoo" area which has a big slide and a sandbox alongside some small animal exhibits. (Sprout loves the bunnies.) Last time we went we paid a visit to the pandas as well as checked out the butterfly house for what may have been the first time. There were a lot of people, which wasn't ideal, but on a less busy day it'd be pretty amazing. I tell the kids if they're cooperative that they can ride the merry-go-round when we're leaving. This (mostly) keeps them on their best behaviour. We still need to make it to the city farm as we haven't been since the spring, but there is still plenty of time for that... right?!
It has been SO hot this past week. It was also the first week that they had locally grown peaches for sale at the grocery store. I bought a basket full and we used some of them to make smoothie popsicles. Sprout got brain freeze on her first bite, but that didn't stop her from polishing off the rest of her pop!
Regrettably I took NO photos, but we had a very nice get together with some other bloggers last Saturday. The kids alternated eating snacks and climbing all over the massive wooden castle climber while we chatted. It was nice to finally meet some of the moms and moms-to-be in person and spend time with others who we've met before. Looking forward to more blogger meet ups before the summer is over!
---
After completing this post, I realized I have taken a lot more photos that I thought! Ha!
--- UPDATED: The Two Moms to Be Summer Bucket List for 2015
10. Paint rocks that we find at the beach.
11. Go to a fair.
12. Take a moms-only trip.
Update on #13: We grew beans! They are delicious!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sprout is Eleven Months Old!
Today Sprout is eleven months old!
Oh my. A year ago I was hugely pregnant and anxiously anticipating my mid-December due date.
Now we're anticipating our baby's first birthday. It's amazing the changes that happen in just one year.
-To be completely honest, this month has been tough. Shortly after my last update I reached a breaking point with sleep. It had been a long time coming, but a few nights of hourly wake-ups did me in. I took to the couch and Jen patiently laid Sprout down each time she peeked her little head up over the side of the Pack'n'Play. After about a week I returned to the bedroom. Sprout is still waking fairly often, but usually goes back down after a few minutes of stand up/put down. She nurses around 2am most nights, and again between 4am and 5am off and on until we get up. So, still not a fantastic, but manageable.
-Her schedule is more or less the same as it has been, though I've bumped her morning nap back slightly and her afternoon forward. When she wasn't sick and her teething wasn't so bad she seemed to be going down more quickly with these small changes.
-Teething and sickness have certainly not helped on the sleep front. Sprout's top right lateral incisor came through on November 3rd, followed by her top left lateral incisor on the 5th. Vampire baby, just like her brother. I was sure a few more would be popping through, but we're still waiting. There are a couple more that are thisclose. This girl does not teethe easily. She also has some awful congestion right now, which does not make things any easier.
-On a more positive note, eating continues to go well. She loves her protein! Dhal is her absolute favourite, followed by chicken. I feel guilty for not making her baby food from scratch, like we did for The Bean, but there just doesn't seem to be the time. She often gets little bites of whatever I'm eating, but she gags quite a lot, so we have to be careful. I'm excited to take her for Thanksgiving dinner at Jen's Nan and Pap's.
-Her mobility continues to improve. She's a super-speedy crawler and cruises around like a pro. She'll free stand for a few seconds before plunking down on her bum, but has yet to even attempt any steps on her own. She does like pushing things around and will happily walk holding on to someone's fingers. For a while I thought she'd take her first steps before turning one, but anymore I think it won't happen until after her birthday.
-This month her favourite games have been peek-a-boo, rolling a ball back and forth, and putting things into containers. She also loves crawling through the tunnel.
-Her favourite book by far this month has been "Who's Hiding on the Farm" which is a lift the flap book. There's a mirror on the last page that she just LOVES looking into. Funny girl.
-She's really into "sharing" food, toys, etc. and will give a huge smile if you say "Thank you!" and make a big deal out of it. She also leans in for smooches and has starting giving air kisses.
-She just figured out how to clap and does it to get a reaction, when she is happy, or when she is listening to music. She's really been enjoying our city-run music program. We sing a song called "Sleeping Bunnies" and she'll put her head down on the mat and "sleep" when we sing it. It's pretty frickin' adorable. (She's the only baby in the program who does this, and I think the instructor gets a kick out of it.)
-We stopped swim classes. She wasn't enjoying them and I wasn't keen on taking her during the cold weather. We plan on starting her back up in the spring and seeing where it goes from there.
-Her growth has definitely slowed down and Jen and I have commented to each other that we think she's stretching out, though she still has a nice round belly and roly poly thighs. Her twelve month check up won't be until the new year so we'll get all her stats then.
Even though things have been a bit difficult, our little girl still has the nicest disposition, the sweetest smile, and brightens up every one of our days. We love her to pieces.
Oh my. A year ago I was hugely pregnant and anxiously anticipating my mid-December due date.
Now we're anticipating our baby's first birthday. It's amazing the changes that happen in just one year.
-To be completely honest, this month has been tough. Shortly after my last update I reached a breaking point with sleep. It had been a long time coming, but a few nights of hourly wake-ups did me in. I took to the couch and Jen patiently laid Sprout down each time she peeked her little head up over the side of the Pack'n'Play. After about a week I returned to the bedroom. Sprout is still waking fairly often, but usually goes back down after a few minutes of stand up/put down. She nurses around 2am most nights, and again between 4am and 5am off and on until we get up. So, still not a fantastic, but manageable.
-Her schedule is more or less the same as it has been, though I've bumped her morning nap back slightly and her afternoon forward. When she wasn't sick and her teething wasn't so bad she seemed to be going down more quickly with these small changes.
-Teething and sickness have certainly not helped on the sleep front. Sprout's top right lateral incisor came through on November 3rd, followed by her top left lateral incisor on the 5th. Vampire baby, just like her brother. I was sure a few more would be popping through, but we're still waiting. There are a couple more that are thisclose. This girl does not teethe easily. She also has some awful congestion right now, which does not make things any easier.
-On a more positive note, eating continues to go well. She loves her protein! Dhal is her absolute favourite, followed by chicken. I feel guilty for not making her baby food from scratch, like we did for The Bean, but there just doesn't seem to be the time. She often gets little bites of whatever I'm eating, but she gags quite a lot, so we have to be careful. I'm excited to take her for Thanksgiving dinner at Jen's Nan and Pap's.
-Her mobility continues to improve. She's a super-speedy crawler and cruises around like a pro. She'll free stand for a few seconds before plunking down on her bum, but has yet to even attempt any steps on her own. She does like pushing things around and will happily walk holding on to someone's fingers. For a while I thought she'd take her first steps before turning one, but anymore I think it won't happen until after her birthday.
-This month her favourite games have been peek-a-boo, rolling a ball back and forth, and putting things into containers. She also loves crawling through the tunnel.
-Her favourite book by far this month has been "Who's Hiding on the Farm" which is a lift the flap book. There's a mirror on the last page that she just LOVES looking into. Funny girl.
-She's really into "sharing" food, toys, etc. and will give a huge smile if you say "Thank you!" and make a big deal out of it. She also leans in for smooches and has starting giving air kisses.
-She just figured out how to clap and does it to get a reaction, when she is happy, or when she is listening to music. She's really been enjoying our city-run music program. We sing a song called "Sleeping Bunnies" and she'll put her head down on the mat and "sleep" when we sing it. It's pretty frickin' adorable. (She's the only baby in the program who does this, and I think the instructor gets a kick out of it.)
-We stopped swim classes. She wasn't enjoying them and I wasn't keen on taking her during the cold weather. We plan on starting her back up in the spring and seeing where it goes from there.
-Her growth has definitely slowed down and Jen and I have commented to each other that we think she's stretching out, though she still has a nice round belly and roly poly thighs. Her twelve month check up won't be until the new year so we'll get all her stats then.
Even though things have been a bit difficult, our little girl still has the nicest disposition, the sweetest smile, and brightens up every one of our days. We love her to pieces.
Friday, October 25, 2013
{this moment} poppy and tea cozy
A Friday ritual. A single photo (except this week I couldn't resist posting two!) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Inspired by SouleMama.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
{this moment} soccer ball
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Inspired by SouleMama.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Friday, June 21, 2013
{this moment} Mama/Son Park Date
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Friday, May 10, 2013
{this moment} playtime
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
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