"Paws" to Read

Our local library has all sorts of incredible free programming for kids. One of the programs they offer is called "Paws to Read". They invite therapy dogs and their owners in to the library and have kids in grades K-5 come in and read to them in 15 minute time windows. It's good for the dogs who need to keep up their "credentials" as therapy dogs, and it's great for the kids.

These are the program's most gentle dogs because they need to be comfortable around kids and around other animals in public. It shows. There are about 5 dog-child pairs in the room at one time, and it's amazing how quiet and relaxed the atmosphere is in the room.

Zoe, you clearly felt so proud to be reading, but it was doubly special to have time with a dog.

Mia Speak

While in the tub and pointing a Zebra bath toy at me, Mia says "Mom, if you don't want to be a girl anymore, this giraffe will turn you in to a princess."

First Day Ashlawn Elementary - Preschool - Mia

And a very happy day it was! Mia, you were so excited to start school. You barely said good bye to me as you put your backpack away and ran to join the kids at circle time.

A few play dates earlier this month with other kids in your class and visits to the class room over the past few weeks helped you feel much more at ease about joining the activities straight away. Montessori has multi-age classrooms, and you are in the same class as Zoe with Ms. Dasbach. This is likely the only time you will be in a class with any of your sisters. You were both very excited about it.

To prepare for today, you had a backpack with your lunch in it and a plant you brought to contribute to the class room. You felt very proud that you could buckle the back pack all by yourself. You also announced that you plan to keep your fingers out of your mouth.

You come home after lunch at 1:15PM. We were fortunate to find a half-day school option in the public school system that is also Montessori.

Starting your day, you were so enthusiastic and friendly with your class mates. Ending your day, you announced that you "get to go back tomorrow!" Way to go Mia! I'm so happy that you're having such a good experience at school.

Sophie - Eighteen Months

Sophie, you are now a year and half old. That feels very big to me!

You are a happy, independent, clear-in-your-preferences, giggly, and vocal little girl. Those qualities along with your physical strength help you join the play with your sisters much more easily. You can climb up on nearly any piece of furniture, run, and manipulate most toys. You'll try nearly anything at the play ground, and you listen well at story time and participate in music classes. You can pronounce Mia's name completely, and you have your own way of saying Zoe's name. You join their pretend play on a regular basis which is very fun to watch. Most of the pretend play is centered around eating and cooking in the play kitchen.

You follow requests and clearly understand what's being asked of you most of the time. When you hear me tell someone else I'm going out or to get ready, you run to the front door, pick up your shoes and sit on the stairs waiting for someone to come put them on for you and take you out. If no one comes, you jump back up and go find us calling "shoes, shoes, shoes". You are excited to go out at every opportunity.

In general, you are able to express yourself to us much more clearly, although I'm not sure that many others can understand your words yet. You love books and being read to and call for "booo's" regularly.

We took our second trip to the beach this summer and you loved it. You are clearly a water baby. You also loved going on so many new rides!

You got to visit with all three sets of grandparents this month - lucky lady!

When we went apple picking and farm visiting, you got cozy with the goats.

And with the apples.

You are not yet showing signs of getting rid of your morning nap, but we're likely to help you get ready for loosing that nap as soon as we see any change in your afternoon nap or night time sleep.

You are still a nursing champ. We'll likely drop a nursing session in the next weeks. You've gotten increasingly proficient at drinking whole milk and breast milk from a sippy cup without spilling much. You really like the independence of holding your own cup and eating utensils.

You're still riding your own curve on the pediatrician's charts: 21 lbs, 6 oz (5th %ile) for weight and 32.5 inches tall (75th %ile) for height. You're also up to 13 teeth. We can braid your hair now too. See why 18 months seems so big to me!

Happy 18 months Sophie.

Love you,

Mom

Rehoboth Beach, DE - August 2011

We were so happy to make two visits to Rehoboth this summer. Thanks again to Michele and Julie for letting us stay at their awesome beach house these past few years.

On our second trip, we were especially fortunate because we missed major weather events on both ends of our trip by a very narrow margin. We had beautiful weather all week. And, Grandpa Randy and Grandma Mickey joined our fun too!

The "swimming in the sand" game made a reappearance. You would start at one end of the beach near the board walk and worm your way all the way to the water. It's no wonder why sand is completely embedded in the fabric of your swim suits.

We gave boogie boards a try this year. Our first attempt was thwarted by a surprise wave that knocked everyone over. After that, you got the hang of it and spent all day running around and being pulled on your boards.

The ocean is a magnet for you Sophie. You're strong enough now to play in the surf safely, and you were happiest in the water.
One of our favorite things to do is eat dinner by the water at night. Usually there are volley ball players on this stretch of beach. They weren't here the night we went, so you girls got to have the whole area to yourselves.
We visited the Jungle Jim's water park for the first time. There was so much to do! Big water slides, pools of all sizes, spray grounds, boats, obstacle courses, lazy river, wave pool...

Zoe, your display on the rope ladder was really impressive. You couldn't reach any of the supports below and made it all the way across. Strong arms!

Fun land is still a big hit. This year, you played some of the games and won stuffed animal snakes. Thank you Grandpa Randy!In general, you are all challenging yourselves more on the rides. You go to the top of the mazes, the rides that go faster and backwards, etc. Dad was recruited to go on Paratrooper with you. This was a first for him.Sophie, you graduated to many more rides, and you LOVED them all!
This is a video of your first ever swing ride. The only thing missing is the audio of you giggling the whole time. Mia, you're sitting next to Sophie and loving the swings too. Zoe's in the background asking dad about whether or not he's shooting a video.

Who knew that we could turn our family bike ride of 5 in to a family bike ride of 7! We also went riding on regular bikes on the boardwalk. Zoe sans training wheels for the first time at Rehoboth. Looking forward to next summer!

Zoe Speak

Zoe: "I want to bring a sweater to school. Sometimes I get cold, and I get chickey dots on my arms."

Scott: "Do you mean goose bumps?"

Zoe: "Oh, yes. Goose bumps."

BBB#6

Six years and counting! Congratulations to the Milk Mom's whose dedication, openness, non-critical parenting, and friendship have led to the sustainability of a very special group.

Thank you all and your wonderful kids.

And, my favorite clip from the party: the largest Ring Around the Rosy and Hokey Pokey ever.

First Day Kindergarten - Ashlawn Elementary - Zoe

Zoe, you started Kindergarten today at Ashlawn Elementary School. You were so easy-going, courageous, and also excited about starting school. You wanted to pick out a special dress and have your hair done nicely. You carried a small plant in for the class and wanted to have your back pack on your back and buckled just so. As we approached the school, you were a little more cautious, taking everything in. It helped that you saw so many kids that you recognized from our neighborhood. You were really interested in the kids who wore neon belts to help people cross the street, and you were happy to greet your teacher Ms. Dasbach.

After school, you told me that you made a friend, school reminded you of camp, and that you didn't like the TV. Apparently the 5th graders share morning announcements that are broadcasted on a TV monitor. I'm not sure what about this you don't like, but I'm sure I'll learn more when you're ready.

You have a pretty long day at school (9AM to 3:41PM), but you really like the timing. You have a cubby at school and some kids bring blankets to have a nap mid-day. You prefer to do quiet activities like reading instead.

For me, it was a little hard to see you seem so tiny in such a relatively big place. I think I'll always be impressed by the parental urge to protect whenever a child seems vulnerable. Of course, you're in a great place with a terrific teacher and a lot to look forward to. There is just a part of me that wants to home school you, so I don't have to turn you over to someone else for 7 hours each day.

I know we're off to a good start though. Tonight, during our bed time chat, you're "rose" and your "bud" were both school. You should be very proud of yourself Zoe. You handled yourself with a lot of grace today.

Bike Riding - Zoe

Training wheels came off for you at the end of July. At first, we tried what I remembered from my childhood, which was basically running behind you and holding the bicycle seat from behind. That was back braking. You mostly had the hang of it, but didn't want me to let go.

Then, we tried an approach that was newer to me, and within two hours you were riding solo. We took the peddles off, and did a progressive series of taking steps and gliding until you were ready to glide, put your feet on the replaced peddles and ride. I never touched you or the bike the whole time.

Turns out that learning to ride a bike can be an emotional sport! Each new experience was seriously hard work. You did it!!!

You can now go up and down mild hills and turn around in the cul de sac. You were so proud and excited to ride your bike up and down the boardwalk when we went to Rehoboth Beach recently. You were able to weave around all the other people walking and riding bikes without a single collision. Way to go!

Here you are on the bike trail near our house in Arlington. It's so fun to be able to ride bikes with you now. Congratulations to you.

Butterflies

The other day, Zoe and Mia invented a game of butterflies. It started out with wrapping themselves in blankets like burritos. They quickly decided that they looked more like butterflies in cocoons. They would then shed their chrysalises, turn the blankets in to wings, and fly around like butterflies. It didn't take long for Sophie to want to join the action.