A day in the life

Monday, September 27, 2010

Toddler Time

Shira walks! Last week Shira took her first step while Samuel and I watched. A couple of days later she took a couple of steps in a row for Steve. Today she repeatedly got up and walked several steps, each time walking farther than the time before. It is pretty clear that our crawling days are numbered. I must say I am pleased, I feel so bad about letting her rough up her knees on the ground all the time. That and she gets completely filthy. It's probably wishful thinking that she will be cleaner now that she isn't crawling. Perhaps she will not lie down flat (face first) in the dirt and make dirt angels, quite as often though.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

4 Teeth in 4 Weeks

True to Silberman-Kafka form, Shira did not get a single tooth until 14 months, at which point she has done her best to catch up as quickly as possible. We haven't slept much for the past 4 weeks, but, fingers crossed, I think we are through the worst of it. Shira now has her top two and bottom two front teeth. Once again, it looks like my genes have won out.

Family Pictures

Samuel Rides a Two Wheeler

Several weeks ago I lamented to Steve that although Samuel is a pro at riding his balance bike, he wasn't much for pedaling. In fact, he almost never road the two tricycles that we have. Steve begged to differ, and recounted how just the day before Samuel had gotten on another child's tricycle at the park and was riding around like a speed demon.

As soon as Samuel had become competent on his balance bike, I had promised that as soon as he was comfortable pedaling I would by him a two wheeler.

The very next day, as Samuel, Shira and I were walking down the street, we saw a two wheeler for sale in someone's driveway that was not only the perfect height for Samuel, but was also BLUE, and only 17 bucks. It was fate. Samuel's size, favorite color, AND the right price for this Mom's bargain hunting heart. I didn't even try to haggle (shock! gasp!), that's how perfect it seemed. I bought it on the spot.

We headed straight to the park where Samuel got a few pedals in on his first try. We didn't have much time to practice, as it was our first day of preschool, and we didn't want to be late, but when school was out, we headed out to try the two wheeler some more. It was hard work and Samuel was tired.

A couple of days later, he wanted to try again, and lo and behold, by the time Steve got home at the end of the day, Samuel was a two wheel riding maniac. We now head over to the park or the elementary school black top twice a day to get Samuel's riding fix in. He's amazing.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Preschool without Mommy

Today was Samuel's first day of preschool sans parent. I had been prepping him for this, and although on Tuesday he was clingy during my day as a work parent, today he had no problem without me.

Not only was the day a success for Samuel, it was also a success for Shira, Penelope and I. Truth be told, I was probably just as nervous about today as Samuel was. Katherine has been taking care of Shira during my workdays, and today was my turn to fulfill my end of the swap by taking Penelope on Katherine's work day. So Katherine dropped Penelope off at our house at 11:30, I attached the trailer to Samuel's trailer bike, and I hauled Shira in the Ibert, Samuel on the trailer bike and Penelope in the trailer the 2 miles to preschool. My menagerie was at least 10 feet long, and weighed as much as I do.

The drop off was a little hectic with two babies in tow. I handed Samuel off to Teacher Claire with a big smack on the cheek and told him to have a good time.

Samuel looked a little nervous, but it was reported to me that after a couple of minutes he went about his business and had a great time. I hear that he rode the trikes, planted seeds (carrots and peas), ate grapes ("not off the vine, Mommy, they were just on a plant"), had bananas ("again" big sigh and shoulder shrug) for snack, painted a flower, wanted to paint a butterfly, and was perfectly behaved during circle time.

As for my day, it went better than I could have imagined. We got home and I tossed Shira and Penelope in the stroller, where Shira fell asleep after a 10 minute walk. I went home, and held Penelope while catching up on email, and she miraculously fell asleep sitting on my lap. Definitely not a child of mine.

End of the day Storytime.