Labor Day Weekend Fun

We broke out Harper's pool for one last hurrah this weekend. Afterwards, we indulged in some pizza for lunch and just enjoyed being around the house and with each other for a couple of days.





I let him watch one of his Elmo videos while he ate (another sign of vacation weekend). Boy... who knew Elmo was so scary? He had to hide behind me so I could "protept" him.

First Homework Assignment

I bought a book on tracing for H a while back, but we've never used it. Naturally, his first homework assignment involves tracing and connecting the dots.

He did pretty good connecting the dots, then he wanted to color the rest of the picture.


I helped some with the letter tracing. It's pretty obvious where.


Still, he did a good job. He was mad that we had to give it back.

Go Ahead, Try To Tell Me My Kid Isn't Adorable

Last night, we were eating dinner, and I was asking him about school.
Mommy: Did you play with any boys or girls today?
Harper: Yes.
M: Was Isaac there? Did you play with him?
H: Yes.
M: What about Gavin? Did you play with him? (These are the only two little boys' names I know.)
H: No. He's kinda naughty. There's something not right about naughty.
M: You are definitely right, Little Man. There is something not right about naughty. Are you good? Or are you naughty?
H: (look of shock) I'm *good*!
***
After taking a shower, he was standing on the bath mat and I was about to clean his ears. There were only two q-tips left in the canister.
H: We're almost out of q-tips!
M: I know. I have more, I just need to put them in there.
H: I can get you some.
M: You can? From where? (Thinking he knows where I keep them...)
H: Daddy's house. Or Nana's. They have a bunch.
My little clepto. Always thinking...
***
While putting on his jammies
H: If Hayden isn't nice, my Nana will beat him up.
M: I seriously doubt that, but she might give him a serious scolding.
***
We had finished reading stories and I was attempting to rock and sing to him, as is our nightly ritual. He wouldn't settle down though and was so giggly and cute. He was super kissy and would say, 'I'll give you Mommy kisses.' Then he'd kiss me all over my face and crack up laughing. Then he'd say, 'I'll give you a small kiss.' Then he'd kiss me ever so lightly on my lips, then lean back and say 'Aww'. So adorable.

Bad News for the Bakery

This morning Harper woke up and said, 'Can we go to Krispy Kreme today?'

Now I'm one who likes to support local business, and we usually go to the bakery by our house, but I have to agree with H, KK's doughnuts are amazing. I told him we'd have to wait until Saturday, then we'll endulge in the deliciousness that is known as the "original glazed doughnut".

Yum!

Playdate

Yesterday after school, Harper and I met his friend Emily, and her mom (my friend), Angie, at Cici's and went to a splash park to play. They had so much fun! They hadn't seen each other in a while, but they weren't overly shy... no pushing was involved... just good old fashioned fun! I was so pleased.

The funny thing was, he kept calling Emily Ella. I can see how it happens... it was just funny. Then he'd do it and say, 'El.. noo... Emily!' He laughed about it the whole way home.

Harper enjoying his brownie at Cici's:

Emily watching H devour his brownie:

Harper's crazy hair:

Emily's crazy hair:

H and E under the snake:

Emily under the rainbow:

Captain Wetface:

The only picture with me in TWO MONTHS! You can tell he's thrilled:

A video of my breakdancing buddy. I don't know where he gets his moves, but he sure is smooth:

Doctor Who?

Harper said this morning he didn't want to go to school because he didn't feel well and needed to go to the doctor, then he'd feel better.

He's hated going to the doctor his entire life and now he wants to go there instead of school? This is major desperation.

When it was time to leave the house, he kept saying, 'I want to go back to bed!' Because if he's in bed sleeping, it's not time to go to school.

He also told me, as I was pulling out of the neighborhood, to go 'that way', which was the opposite direction of school. When I wouldn't turn left instead of right, he told me to keep driving past his school.

I know he's just avoiding. But it gets harder, not easier, every day to leave him.

Confidence

Well, Harper still had a crying fit this morning going to school. I sincerely hope he snaps out of it. Personally? I like his school. It has grown on me and now that the official school year has started, it's less like a daycare and more like a school.

The regular kids are in there and the room smells so nice and clean when I drop him off in the mornings. There have been two teachers there every day (with the exception of the first couple of days he was going). And he finally has a cubby of his own! When H and I get there, at least four little girls run up to see him every time. Now, this could be because he's so sweet, funny and handsome, or it could be because he's throwing the biggest fit they've ever seen in their lives.

This morning when we got there, Jeff, the owner/director was in his office and he witnessed H sobbing. He said, 'Is everything okay?' I said, 'Oh yeah. He just hates going to school.' I took Harper into his room and was attempting the drop off and Jeff came in. He saw what we went through and walked out with me. He asked if it was hard to leave him when he acts like that. I replied honestly, no. I mean, I feel bad for him, because I know he's sad, and would rather be home with me, Daddy or Mimi, but I know he's in good hands at the school. He's been there long enough to bond with other kids and teachers. And I know that in a few minutes he'll be fine.

As we stood at the front of the school, I could hear Harper crying from the back of the building. After a couple of minutes, though, I couldn't hear him at all. I know that he'd gotten distracted with donuts, bananas, and toys. I usually call up there around 9:30 and they always say the same thing, 'He had a rough start, but he's doing great now!' And I sent a picture of me with my phone number on it, so he can hold 'me' and call whenever he wants.

This is good for him. He needs to experience life outside of the house and a mother's day out program. He'll be in kindergarten before you know it and he needs to be somewhat adjusted. He's going to be great, I know it! Now if I can only convince him...

Mmm... Popcorn

Yesterday, after H woke up from his nap, he wanted to watch 'Toy Story'. Again. So I made him some chocolate milk and popcorn, and just for fun, I sprinkled some M&Ms in the popcorn bowl. Oh man... you would think that the Angels were singing on high, because his little eyes just lit up when he saw what I had done.

As he was eating his snack, every now and then he'd look up at me with this dreamy expression and just say, 'popcorn', or 'I love M&Ms'.

I've always heard it and now I know it's true, the way to a (little) man's heart is through his stomach.

Life Lessons From A Three Year Old

Whenever H and I are cross with each other (which, let's face it, happens), he always says to me, 'But I love you Momma. I just love you so much.' To which I reply, 'I love you, too, Angel. I just need you to [mind me, pick up your toys, take a shower, get dressed, insert action here]'. And when he says that and I reply that, both of our demeanors change and we're suddenly not cross anymore.

Friday night was our slumber party night. Basically, my only rule is, you have to watch the movie while laying in bed. Lay properly: head on pillow, legs under covers. Well, we were laying in my bed watching 'Toy Story' and suddenly, his head is at the foot of the bed and he's wallering all over the place, not really paying attention to the movie. I told him he had to lay in bed properly and pay attention, or I was going to turn it off. Before you know it, it's a battle of wills and the t.v. is turned off. No more movie. Just time to go to sleep. Then he's whining and crying for me to turn it back on, and I realized that when I replied, it got worse, or louder, or BOTH. So I quit. I just laid there and let him whine and fuss and before I knew it, he was done. Then he says, 'Hold me Momma. I just love you and need you to hold me.' *Melt* So I snuggled up next to him, wrapped my arm around him, kissed him on the forehead and he was asleep within two minutes.

I think he thinks if we're cross with each other, that I don't love him anymore. He needs to hear me say that I love him, or hold him, (especially when we're cross) to reassure him that I still love him. Maybe Paul McCartney is right... All you need is love.

SM Part Deux

Well, I picked H up from school yesterday and he was smiling! He said he had fun and when I asked if he liked his lunch he said, 'Oh yes!' That's great!

But when he was getting in the shower last night, it started again... 'I don't want to go to school. School is yucky.' *Sigh* Imagine me, head down, shaking it in silent agony. He agreed not to fuss about school anymore last night, since he didn't have to go again until the morning.

Then morning comes... Huge tears, sticking that bottom lip out... 'I want to go back home! I will run away and go to your work.' I was sure to tell the teacher that one. They need to keep a close eye on him, because I have no doubt that my little one would try to sneak out. Geez... I have a panic attack just thinking about it!

We're going to try something new next week. I'm going to make a poster board look like a calendar and buy some stickers. Then at the end of each day, he can put a sticker on the board and he'll get some kind of prize if he's a good boy when I drop him off in the mornings. At the end of the week, if he has a sticker on every day, he'll get a big prize. I don't know what that is yet... could just be going to Cici's or a dvd that I've been saving to give to him. We'll see. Hopefully it'll help.

Chef Gone Wild

Harper came home from Daddy's/Daycare Monday afternoon with a stuffy nose and a bit of congestion. I sent him to school on Tuesday, but that night he coughed a lot. Wednesday morning, he woke up crying and coughing around 5a, so I gave him some medicine and he crawled in bed with me. I sent my boss a text to let him know I'd be staying home with a sick buddy.

H was in good spirits, but that cough was really bothering me. I made him a doctor's appointment (potentially as bad as being dropped off at school) and we got ready for the day.

I told him we were going to the doctor, but he wouldn't have to get a shot. I told him what the doctor was going to do (listen to him breathing, weigh him, etc) and he was totally fine with it! He was really good at the office and didn't cry one single time! Small prayer for the day answered. We learned that he weighs 39 lbs and he has a throat infection. Poor guy! He shook the Dr's hand and said "It was nice to see you!" and we headed out to drop of his prescription.

For the record, generic medications are supposed to be less expensive. I don't know who it is that thinks $47.90 w/insurance is inexpensive?... but they're insane. I guess I balked at the pharmacist when she said the cost, because she said she'd write off $17.90 and charge me $30 instead.

Anyway... Harper was just not himself yesterday. He would be in a great mood, then be really argumentative and flip out, then be fine again. It took him forever to go to sleep for his nap. Then I had to wake him up because it was his day to spend the afternoon with Daddy. He was hacked off that I woke him up. (Well... if he'd gone to sleep when I'd laid him down, he wouldn't have been so mad when it was time to wake up.) Jody got there about five minutes after he'd gotten out of bed, and H had just settled in to watch an episode of Thomas. So they hung out for about ten minutes, then headed to Jody's place. My phone rang 15 minutes later. Harper was screaming and crying that he wanted to come home. I told him and Jody both that he's been talking about spending time with Daddy for two days. If he comes home, he'll regret it. I would be there, and of course he can come home, but try to settle down and have some fun. Sure enough, five minutes passed and I got a text from J saying that everything was fine. Then when J brought H home, he didn't want him to leave. He's called Jody about ten times since he came home last night.

Normally, we start bedtime at 6:45ish. Since H slept a little late (not LONG, just late), I told him he could watch a couple of episodes of Thomas, while I got his bed ready and jammies out. He wanted chocolate milk and I said no way, because he was going to drink some in a few minutes and I didn't want him to wet the bed. We went around and around and I finally told him if he argued with me any more, he wasn't getting any at bedtime. I then went into the utility room to swap out the laundry and get his clean pjs. I was only gone for about 60 seconds. I came back into the kitchen and he's walking fast towards me saying 'I'm sorry Mommy. I'm so so sorry.' I'm thinking, 'Oh man! What did he do?' When I get in the kitchen I see water spilled on the floor, the half gallon container of milk (that's half full) has something brown and sticky on the outside and towards the top and some on the inside and it's not the creamy white that milk should be... it's brownish colored. The sugar free chocolate syrup container (that was half full) is now empty and laying on it's side next to the milk. There's a blue spoon in the milk and his chocolate milk cup is sitting next to it. Hmm...

Here's my theory:

Harper wanted chocolate milk. He opened the fridge, pulled out the necessities and couldn't get his cup open. So he got his cup of water that I'd made for him minutes earlier. He set it down, but accidentally knocked it over. He picks up the ice, and puts it back in the cup. Since he can't get into his purple cup, he'll pour the syrup into the milk and stir. Oh shoot... the spoon fell in there. Oh no! Here comes Mommy!

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME:

THE SPOON:

THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

I had to turn my head so he wouldn't see me laugh. You have to give him an A for his initiative! Of course now, I only have VERY chocolaty milk. No regular. He doesn't seem to mind. ;)

Spider Monkey Chronicles

Well, Harper's introduction to school was no indication of how actually going to school was going to be. He *loathes* it. From the time I pick him up in the afternoon, to the time I drop him off the next morning, he cries and says "I don't want to go to school! I'll stay home with you! Don't go to work! School is yucky! School is dirty! I don't like the boys and girls. I don't want to play..." etc etc. *Sigh* This is grueling for me, since I'm the one who has to drop him off everyday. When I do, I get the huge tears, "Mommy! I NEED you!", spider monkey (wraps-his-arms-and-legs-around-me-so-tight-a-teacher-has-to-pry-him-off-of-me-with-the-jaws-of-life grip).

I wasn't that thrilled with it last week, either. There are a bunch of kids in the class. So many it makes me wonder what the teacher/student ratio is supposed to be in Oklahoma. When I dropped him off the other day, there were already 25 kids in the class and two teachers! He doesn't have a cubby, so I have to haul his stuff back and forth everyday. A couple of times when I dropped him off, there was just one teacher and the breakfast lady. I was assured that the next teacher would be there in a few minutes, so I begrudgingly left him there. One of the little girls announced that her dad would be out of jail after Christmas (to which, sweet Angela reminds me that daycare is probably the most stability some of the kids may have).

The upsides of the school are that the teachers are SO nice. They have a phone in the room, and encourage me to call. I usually call once a day, just to make sure he's settling in. I've only talked to him once. When I did, he repeatedly said, "Come and get me Momma". They serve really good food for breakfast, lunch and snacks. Harper is learning to eat the new food, which is transitioning to home. He's trying so much more and *liking* it! Paranoid Mom that I am, though, I pack a peanut butter sandwich and pretzels, just in case he doesn't want what they're serving. Sometimes it comes back, sometimes he eats it. Hey, as long as he's getting some nutrition, I'm happy. The teachers always give me a report (verbal, not written) and let me know how's he's done during the day, what he's eaten, etc.

We'll see how it goes. I actually toured another school with him (major mistake). Now all he says is "I don't want to go to my new school (meaning his current school)! I want to go to the other school (the one we toured together)!" I hope he gives this school a chance. The teachers are nice, they sing songs and read stories. They even have sprinkler day on Fridays in August! If he doesn't calm down after a couple of weeks, Jody and I have agreed to reevaluate and decide what to do. It doesn't matter how much *we* like a school, if he doesn't enjoy himself while he's there.

So please pray that he settles in and starts to enjoy himself! I hate to think of my baby being miserable all day while he's away.

Slacking

I know, I know... I've been really bad about posting the last few days. I do have some stuff to put up here (H and how he *really* feels about daycare, and his chef skills at making chocolate milk - unsupervised - without me knowing it). I promise I'll do it Thursday!

Finding Nemo

Harper's current favorite movie is Finding Nemo. Here he is settling in to watch it for a slumber party with Mommy.

Introductions

This morning I met Jody and Harper at his new school so we could get aquainted with his future teacher and classroom. He starts on Tuesday and will be going 8-5 M-F! It's going to be a major adjustment.

Normally, Mimi takes care of him during the day and he's home. However, Mimi had a really good opportunity come her way, so she's going to give it a shot.

Harper has most recently been in a two year old Mother's Day out program at the church near our house. But honestly, we didn't care for the director of the program, so we didn't enroll him for the fall. But that program is just two days a week... I'm really curious how H is going to handle going five days in a row.

He surprised both of us when we got there. The school had hooked up some sprinkler in the outdoor play area and all the kids were running around in swim trunks and having a blast. The first thing H said was, "I want to play in the sprinkler!" So we're definitely off to a good start.

We talked to Miss Kelly, the head teacher of his class. Now, he's going from a two year old class to a Pre-K class. She said he won't be the youngest one. The kids' ages are from 3-5. So that was a big relief.

He was excited to see a train table in his classroom and we had to pry him away from it when it was time to go.

I hope he's this excited about it on Tuesday when I drop him off. It may be a different story when both Mommy and Daddy aren't standing right there. Fingers crossed and prayers to God that it's a smooth transition!