Barf-O-Rama

Well I wish I could report that preschool went very smoothly this week but unfortunately I would be lying. Day 2 resulting in a Barf-O-Rama outside of Chase's classroom. Chase has a sensitive gag reflex and we have numerous stories of embarrassing throw-ups. So here we are looking all cute in our Polo shirt and new sneakers just waiting calmly for our turn to go inside (the teacher takes each child in) and then it's our turn so we step up and Chase starts a mild boohoo, cough, puke- PUKE- PUKE! So now we are still standing in the hall way but our Polo is covered in vomit as well as our shoes, there is a gross puddle around us and everyone is staring! Good Times! My poor baby- thankfully we had a change a clothes and Chase settled down as I changed and held him. The school was very understanding ( I guess this is a normal occurrence the first week) and helped us get cleaned up and into class. As I walked to the car I was shaking. As if leaving him wasn't hard enough but to top it off I had to leave him after he got sick. And just to clarify he wasn't sick he just got a tickle in his throat and then started to cry which triggered it.
On a brighter note, school on Thursday was good. Chase got a little nervous and teary but then he went in and calmed right down. Some of the kids go in kicking and screaming and clinging- I could not deal with that. When I picked him up all of the kids looked happy and were playing with their teacher, who is very nice!!

Hands On

Olivia seems to be blowing through her milestones. I am not sure whether it is because we are so busy and this time I don't have time to focus on her skills or whether she is just picking things up quickly but wow she is learning things so fast. This particular day (in the video) I had read an old blog entry where Chase had just learned to clap and decided I would start trying to teach Olivia. This video was about 5 minutes later.

First Day Fun

On our way to school

Getting settled

Yeah! We did it!

Chase had a great first day in preschool. I was shocked at how well it went. Ryan had taken the day off and the whole family ventured into Chase's classroom for the first time. Thankfully Chase's teacher, Ms. Michele, was very friendly and sweet and the classroom had some of his favorite toys (kitchen, cash register). We played together while the other families arrived and got their kids checked in. I don't think Chase would have even cried except when the parents were asked to step out a few of the girls in his class started screaming and then he got panicky and started to cling and cry too. We hung around in the hall way for a few minutes and then I asked another adult to look in and she said he was playing already. So we went ahead and left. When we came back to pick him up we were waiting in the hall (we were about 20 minutes early) and all of the sudden the door opens and Chase comes out. I was so happy to see him!! He had asked the teacher to use the potty and she was walking him to the bathroom. So I took him and then we packed up and headed home. Ms. Michele said he did great- he even helped her calm some of the kids that were upset! He probably looked like an angel compared to the girls who were screaming bloody murder for 3 hours, Ms. Michele looked totally worn out. We were supposed to stay and have a small orientation after the class but Ms. Michele said it had been a rough day and she felt the kids couldn't handle staying any longer than necessary.On the way home Chase told us he had colored, played on the playground, read a story, they had crackers for snack and his friend Ella had been crying (not bad for a 2 year old). He also told me Ms. Michele had been crying because of a booboo and needed a band aid ( I have no idea if that is true).
We head back on Tuesday. Hopefully he will be excited and the girls will be more relaxed.

My Big Boy

Tomorrow is a big day for us. Chase is starting preschool!!
We decided earlier in the year to sign Chase up for a church run preschool program. It is only 2 mornings a week, but I thought it would give Chase a great opportunity to develop some independence and burn off some steam and would give Olivia and I a chance to have some alone time.

Although a part of me is excited about having more time to get some errands done, most of me is feeling nervous and scared. I really hope tomorrow goes smoothly and that his teacher is nice- otherwise we are in serious trouble.

Safe and Sound

Well, our vacation went off without a hitch. Our first flight was busier than I had expected because it was 7-9:30pm I thought they would both fall fast asleep and it would be peaceful and relaxing (I even brought a magazine to read, hahah). Olivia slept for about 30 minutes but other than that they were both very excited about the adventure. Olivia got a lot of attention from the people around us so she was have a grand time being the "in flight entertainment "(my arms were killing me when we landed) and Chase was mesmerized by the airplane experience. So all in all we had a good flight.

We has a lovely visit with my parents. The weather was chilly but it was a nice break from the FL heat for us. Chase did a lot of driving (boat, truck, lawn mower). My Dad was actually letting Chase "drive" all around his lawn in his full size truck. Chase loved the speed of the boat, he had the biggest smile I have ever seen on. We also went peach picking, Chase grabbed the first one he saw and just started eating even though it was rock hard.

Olivia had fun too. She loved the outdoors, although she hated walking in the grass. She is still working on getting her upper teeth in (two are about half way through and 2 are just breaking through) so she has been a little less smiley and happy go lucky than normal. She was also thrown off by the big trip and was pretty clingy but she is at a hard age for separation issues anyway. She really started to full up crawl at my parents house and has even started pulling up on furniture (and storage bins- see above). Today at home all she wanted to do was pull up on things (she hasn't learned that there are good objects and bad object for pulling up yet so any toy no matter how small has been tried today). Now I have to watch her every second or she'll end up trying to stand holding on to the wipes container and fall over.

So Sweet

Looking at these smiling pictures you are probably thinking- motherhood is a breeze. They are so sweet (when they want to be). We are heading out on Olivia's first airplane ride and my first ride with both babies, PRAY for me!! My parents are so excited and we are really looking forward to getting outside again.

Who said white kids can't dance?

Late last week, Linda sent the kids a music card, which they love. It kept them entertained for at least 20 minutes. The great thing about those cards is they last forever, we have a card collection and when we get bored I pull out our music cards and we have instant entertainment.

Gramma Lovin

We spent the weekend at Ryan's parents' house. We had a lovely time despite the fact that neither of my babies could sleep that night and Ryan and I both woke up totally exhausted. We visited Linda's work and she had a chance to show off her grandkids. Chase was also able to enjoy his first golf cart ride! He was really into it. He also loved the dogs. He kept going to the door where the dogs were sleeping and saying "need dogs". Olivia was all smiles, of course. And was able to show off her new teeth.
We made it home by lunch time and took turns napping upstairs while the other was downstairs entertaining the kids.