Some Randomness

Let's first start with the best thing that has happened in the last few days. Whit has started pooping in the potty!!! He has decided to stop being poopcaso and has started using the toilet. I don't want to jinx myself but I am going to say it, Whit has started pooping in the potty!!!! (Ok, I think enough exclamation points). He hasn't been 100 percent accident free but he has only had two poop diapers in the last 6 days. To make it look like the tides are turning to being diaper free, he pooped in the toilet at the pool on Sunday and woke Pearson up at 5:15 this morning to go to the bathroom. What has changed? I am not certain. After the theatrics of two weeks ago of smearing poop all over the walls (twice), I have decided to double down on my efforts to spend more quality time with Whitaker and be more present with him. Who knows if this is the reason for the change or he decided he was ready to be a big boy? Regardless, I will take it. I am so proud of him. 

Second randomness thing. Today, Mae asked me, "Mom when are my feet going to grow up?" Holy cuteness. I am almost squeezed her death in that second. I love how kids can be so literal. 

Third, my parents have been driving our car cross country for the last two weeks. With their departure, I have been a little bit less focused on keeping the house cleaned and focusing a little bit more on my kids, who I feel have been desperately needing my attention. We have been "bending" my parents rules about some of the household things. Here is just the kids goofing off.

Mae has been insanely focused on drawing, stickers, and art recently. She will sit and do art for hours now. It might be all her new birthday gifts or it might just mean that she needs some downtime after school or it might just mean that she is a budding artists. Regardless, I love watching her sit during these quiet moments and create and use her imagination. Her favorite thing to draw in the last few days is rainbows. Here she is playing with one of her removable sticker books.

Today, Mae asked for corn, which she saw in the refrigerator. I said, "ok, you want corn." But I said this while my back was turned to her and I was in motion, meaning she didn't probably hear my reply clearly. She said, "No I don't want porn I want corn." She doesn't know what porn is yet (thank goodness) but funny that is what she thought she heard and unbeknownst to her is an actual word.

Finally, Whit's language seems to develop more and more each day. I will stop and realize he actually strung four words together in a row. For example, "Mae put window up." He still reverts to his caveman way of talking still. I love when he does this. (I don't believe I have reported on it yet). Whit will scream a few words in a row to get out his point. The reason why I consider this caveman is because he screams it (as mentioned) and he has really deep, low voice. Case in point, he will scream, "ROLLER COASTER" "FALL" "HEAD." This means I was riding the roller coaster [this toy at Heather's house], I fell down, and I hit my head. About the low voice this is not something that I am making up. My mom comments on it frequently and we joke that when he hits puberty I can't imagine how low his voice will become. 

Ok that is all the randomness I can report on for the day. 

First Day of Preschool

I am a little delinquent in reporting about Mae's first day of school. The good thing about my delinquency, I have a little bit more to report about it all. To rewind, Mae started preschool at Blessed Sacrament a week and half ago. She went on Wednesday, September 4th for a one hour orientation and then went "full" time starting the next day from 8:45 to 11:45. She will attend school five days a week, which is definitely a big transition from going only two days last year. The church affliated with the school is my childhood parish and still my parent's parish. I also attended ECC preschool many, many moons ago and my younger sister, Julie, attended grade school at Blessed Sacrament. So although we are familiar with it, I don't remember my days as a preschooler and I definitely have a different lens as a parent. 

After over a week of Mae attending preschool, I can say that it is a great school and I am so happy that she is at Blessed Sacrament. Even better, Mae also thinks it is a great school and loves going and learning. Since the preschool is attached to the K8 school, it is run really well. The communication about things happening is top notch. The procedures in place to make the kids safe are first rate and the learning and development that is happening seems to me excellent. Along with doing the usual things in preschool - play, circle time, art - Mae has four enrichment activities on Monday through Thursday. They include library, Spanish/French, Music, and PE. I love that they use the grade school teachers for the activities and go to the location in the school where these are taught. 

Also a few other projects they are working/will work on: 

*At back to school night, photographs were hanging on the wall that the teachers took of each kid. Each kid was holding a sign that said "First Day." Underneath the photograph they had to draw a picture of themselves. 

*The teachers started a book where each kids name was written on a page. The kids were then told to write their name on the page. They will do it again throughout the year and the teacher remarked how fascinating it is to see how much they have developed with writing in that year. 

*Starting in October, they will start doing the Letter Bag. Each week will be a different letter, starting with A. The kids will each need to bring an item with that letter and they will each say what they brought. So sort of like, "show and tell" every week. 

*Starting at the first of the year, one kid a week will be sent home with a plain piece of poster board. They will then each need to decorate the poster board of stuff about them. They will then explain it to the class. 

Here are photos that I took of Mae on her very first day of school. 

Settling In

There is so much to write about settling into our new life here in Virginia. I don't think I can or am capable to write that post yet.  Mainly because I don't feel settled. But also, I have so many concerns, doubts, and worries about it all. I try to remember how long did it take for me to feel settled in Seattle? How long did it take for me to have real friends? How long did it take for me to feel like it was my home? How long did it take for me to be truly happy? Looking back now, I think quite awhile. As for moving back to VA, I don't know how long it will take but hope that it will come sooner rather than later. However long this settlement thing takes for myself, I want my kids to feel settled and happy immediately. Today I got a glimpse of it. Note: children - my children especially - are quite amazing creatures and I hope to learn a lot from them from this move.

As we were walking through the parking lot after picking Mae up at school. Mae saw one of her classmates and gave the biggest wave ever. Followed by the biggest, most genuine goodbye EVER. I love that girl so much and her ability to make a new friend immediately. As I said, I think I need to follow my kids lead throughout this whole process. 

Saying Goodbye

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this post. Although, my heart is extremely heavy, I am happy and thankful for the dog loving people of this world. When I wrote about saying goodbye to Seattle, I mentioned that we weren't going to be able to bring Ditka with us. It is complicated and filled with lots of emotion but Ditka comes with some challenges and considering we were living with my folks we didn't want to put that stress on my parents. Also, since it looks like we will probably be renting our place in Seattle, which means we will be renting a place here, we feared trying to find housing that would allow us to bring a dog. 

About a week ago, we still had no idea where Ditka was going to go or if we were going to be able to provide her with a forever home. My heart is full of love to report that a worker at where we board Ditka has given her a home. It was pure luck and maybe the cosmic dogs were working in our favor. While we were at the beach, our friend picked Ditka up at boarding to keep her for a week. Unfortunately or fortunately, Pearson's credit card on file didn't work. Our friend called me and put me on the phone with the front desk person at the boarding place. As we were getting off the phone I mentioned that we had to find Ditka a home. He was very polite but said he already had two dogs and didn't know of anyone that was looking.  I got off the phone thinking Ditka was doomed. As I said, the cosmic dogs were working. About three hours later I got a voice mail saying that one of the workers wanted to take Ditka. In fact, she was one of her favorite dogs. However, she had been unemployed until recently and was worried that she wouldn't be able to afford one. 

I called the guy back and he put me in touch with Ellie, the woman who wanted to take her. She said to me, "When I met Ditka I was wearing a Bears shirt so I knew we were meant to be the best of friends." In our conversation, Ellie told me Ditka would be going to the ranch where we board her four times a week and she lives in the country so they would be going on hikes. I could not have imagined a better home for Ditka. 

So on Saturday, Ellie came to our house in Seattle and picked Ditka up. I wasn't there, thankfully. I would have cried like a baby. Ellie has already sent us a status update and said she is doing great. I could not THANK this woman enough for giving Ditka such a caring and loving home. 

I am sad that Ditka will no longer be a part of our family but I am absolute certain that we have found her the best home possible. Actually I think it is a better home then we could give her. I will miss her terribly. Her absolute loyalty and love for me, the kids, and Pearson will never be forgotten. I can't wait to see her again when we come and visit Seattle.  

To my Ditka, 

Despite you being my problem child, you were my first baby. You gave me peace of mind when Pearson was out of town. You protected my home and my/your babies. You were always willing to forgive me for yelling at you. As soon as I called your name you came running. You were my running partner. You knew if I was sad that I just needed your presence next to me. You knew if I was stress/annoyed/mad you gave me the space I needed. Although you created your fair share of problems, you loved your babies with such gentleness. I will remember you everyday and wonder how you are doing. You will always be in my heart forever. 

xoxo, Your [First] Mom

Apple Picking

I lived in Seattle for 7 years and never once went apple picking. I have been in Virginia for less then two months and I have already been twice. Why is this fact at ALL interesting? Washington State is the apple capitol of the country. 

When I moved here, I had asked my sister here if she knew of any good farms. Reason being, anytime I ask the kids where they want to go, Whit instantly screams farm. My sister referred me to Homestead Farm in Maryland. So after deciding the menu for Mae's 4th Birthday celebration, I knew I wanted to make peach lemonade for the kids. With nothing to do one day I decided that just the kids and I would check out this upick farm for some fresh peaches and as luck would have it apples were also in season already. 

Homestead Farm is a a great working farm with tons of upick orchards. On our first visit we even met the man who owns the farm, Farmer Ben. I thought this was great since the farmer in the Bernstein Bears books is also named Ben and Mae can't get enough reading them. They also have some goats, a llama, a cow, and chickens to feed. 

This past Saturday Heather wanted to take the kids and with Pearson out of town and nothing else to do, we decided to join them. Also the kids had such a good time our first go around, they wanted to do it again. Here are a whole mess of photos from our two times. 

Mae picking her teeth. 

One For the Record Books

I have so many posts to catch up on...Mae's 4th Birthday, Mae's First Day of School, Mae's 4 year old wellness checkup. I promise I will get them up and I will probably back date them so that they fall on the day they actually happened. In the meantime, I am going to turn my attention to Whitaker. Since I don't have a lot of energy right now, I am just going to cut and paste the synopsis of my day that I shared on Facebook.

I have just been thoroughly defeated and humiliated by a two year old today. After putting Whit down for a nap I hear some noise and walk in on him making wall art with his own poop (absolutely disgusting). I bleach the whole room, put him in zip PJs backwards and then put him back down. All the while thinking to myself I have this won. I go in to check on him after 10 minutes to make sure he is asleep. I discover him sitting on the bed covered in lip stick (he somehow discovered a lipstick of my mom's in a closed container on a dresser). The walls are also painted in a deep red lipstick. I clean up the whole mess and put on new PJ's (backwards again). I go back in after 10 minutes to check on him and to make sure he is FINALLY asleep. Nope. He found a tube of creamy desitin and covered the walls and his bed with it. REALLY?!?!

There you have it that was my day. Oh and I failed to mention in my Facebook post that Whitaker started the morning off by trying to pour himself a cup of coffee. In fact, he dumped the entire coffee pot all over the floor. Thank god, only a few drops of scalding hot coffee got on his foot. That kid is going to make me go gray in the next year. 

FOUR

Mae is FOUR!! Holy cow. It seems like just yesterday she was born yet it seems like she has been in my life forever. I have so much to say about her and hope to get a four year old letter up for her in the next few days to chronicle how much she has grown this year and what an amazing little lady she still remains. 

We threw Mae a fourth birthday party today - one day prior to her actual birthday. It was quite a birthday party - in large part because of Julie. We had a moon bounce, cotton candy machine, popcorn machine and to top it all off we had so many wonderful friends and family join us. Despite just moving here all our old friends came to celebrate Mae's birthday with her. We all felt especially blessed. I felt especially proud of my beautiful, confident, intelligent, and kind "almost" four year old. 

Grandma K. putting the finishing touches on the cake prior to the guests arrival. 

The CAKE. Mae asked about 101 times if she could have a piece prior to us actually cutting it. 

Bouncing. 

Mae enjoying some grape tomatoes prior to the guests arriving. 

Pearson working the popcorn machine. 

Me and The Birthday Girl. 

Table for adults and one for kids. My mom and I also made the bunting in the background for the party. 

Family getting setup. 

Cousins digging into the popcorn already. 

A girl and her popcorn. 

Me working the cotton candy machine. By the end I considered myself a pro. 

Yum. Cotton candy. 

Old Friends: Seth, Bob, Pearson and Joe. 

Ready for the cake. 

She is pretty excited. 

Just as I set it down. Will blows out all the candles. 

Mae still ok with it. But because it is her birthday we decided to do it again. 

Waiting for me to find matches. 

Round 2. 

Success. 

Pure joy. 

Outfit change after something getting spilled all over her dress. Enjoying the cake and ice cream. 

Natalie and Mae. 

Natalie, Joseph, Mae, Reid, and Greta. 

Teddy, Malin, and Whitaker. 

Whitaker and Georgia.

Greta, Miles, and Teddy

Pearson, Joe, and I

David, Me, Pearson, and Athena

Will and Kerry just unwinding after a whole lot of bouncing.

Mae and Will checking out one of her gifts.

After the big party the day before we decided to have a much lower key actual birthday. So, when Mae woke up and we sang her Happy Birthday, she said, "You mean I have two birthdays!" The day consisted of her playing with all her new birthday presents from the day before. Pearson and I also got the rare opportunity to spend some one on two time with just Mae. The three of us hit the pool, while Whit took a nap (thank goodness for living with my parents). Mae also got two Facetime calls from her good friends Lucy and Nora. The highlight of the day was my parents gift to Mae - a dress up box. I told my mom just to throw in a bunch of our old dance costumes and she would be in heaven. She added a few other princess things for good measure. Mae insisted everyone wear a costume so here are photos from everyone getting in on the action.