Preschool Update

I promise, more pictures will be uploaded soon enough!  But for now, a quick update!  We spent the last couple of days practicing how to ask Miss Linda (or Miss Libby) for help.  After talking about it many times, I think what may have happened is that he was at the top of the slide and got scared and didn't want to go down, so another child pushed him down.  He's going through an "I'm scared..." phase.  So, that's what we worked on, and reminded him to tell the teacher if he had to use the potty, and practiced drinking out of a cup without a lid.  

I was so glad that there weren't any tears this morning when we packed up the car to head to school.  I left a little early so I could take him in to use the potty there before he went into class to see if that helped, and ding ding ding!  I saw the problem immediately.  Unfortunately, the bathrooms aren't in the classrooms, and not only that, they're using adult sized restrooms with handicapped toilets (with a stool).  So I knew right away that he hadn't used the bathroom on Tuesday because he wasn't sure what to do.  I asked him, and he said he didn't want to sit on the potty because he was afraid he'd fall.  Preschool is turning out to be quite a learning experience for mommy!  I'm realizing all these things that I haven't helped him learn to do!  So, after showing him how he could use the stool to stand up to pee, and talking with him, the teacher, and the director about what he should do, I left him playing in his room happily with my fingers crossed that he'd have a great day.  

I used my 'free time' (seriously...it's crazy to pull out of the parking lot with only Riley asleep in the car!) to run in Target and head to a doctor's appt for me, and then waited patiently in the parking lot until 11:00.  As soon as I walked, Libby told me he had a much better day.  I was so thrilled to walk into his classroom and hear him say, "Mommy!" and see his face light up.  He couldn't wait to show me the craft he'd made (Mr. Square!) and tell me that he used the potty and no one pushed him down the slide! :)  What an awesome mommy moment!

Now, let's just hope the rest of the year goes well!

Wordless Wednesday

Gavin's first day at preschool

Today was Gavin's first day of preschool!  It's so hard to believe he started school...  

Everything was ready to go last night so we had a smooth morning...

He woke up super excited.  We went through his routine - you know me, I have a step by step routine posted in the bathroom - and he was ready to go in record time!

I loved how excited he was...

We got there and I could immediately hear some kids crying.  I was hoping that wouldn't be us...  The kids have to wash their hands before they go into their classroom.  I was so surprised that even with the stool, he couldn't reach the soap!  He's still so little!  He pushed his way through the crowd to go right into his classroom. Miss Linda showed him his cubby, and of course, he wouldn't look at me for a picture.

Then, Jarrod and I left.  He hugged us goodbye and there were NO tears, nothing!  I felt so good leaving...I didn't even cry!

At about 10:15, Jarrod texted me to see how I thought he was doing.  I thought that was cute...he was thinking about his day while he was working.

I showed up to get him right at 11, and my heart sunk when I saw him.  He was crying, and wearing his extra pair of shorts.  I put Riley's seat down and hugged him, and in between sobs, I heard something about being pushed down the slide.  I asked him if that's why he was in different shorts (thinking maybe the slide was wet???) and he said yes.  But, then Miss Libby (the director) came over and told me he had a great day until the playground.

She said they noticed he was crying as they were leaving the playground, but he wouldn't tell them why.  Then, once they were back in the classroom, he had a potty accident.  :(  While she was helping him change, he told her someone pushed him down the slide.  We talked about how he should tell the teacher, and make sure to use the potty, and I tried to get him to show me what he did to get his mind off things, but he wasn't too interested.  

I got him loaded in the car and told him I was going to take him to Chick-fil-a for a special lunch for his first day, but he just wanted to go home (What?!?!  This must be serious! Haha...)  On the way home, while playing a game on my phone, he said, "I wanted you when I was sad, Mommy."  And...cue the tears.  I had held it together all morning, but now, there I was driving down the street and trying not to let Gavin know I was crying.  I did the normal mom thing - told him that I would always come get him, but he told me I was gone too long.  He missed me.  :(

I got a little more out of him.  He played with airplanes by himself, and liked the playground.  He wasn't hungry so he didn't eat snack and they had apple juice but he didn't drink any.  I asked him why, because he loves apple juice, and he said because he needed a lid.  Another mental note - work with him on drinking out of a regular cup!  

We came home and had a picnic lunch in the backyard and I showered him with love!  I just hope he doesn't have a negative memory of preschool and that Thursday's drop off goes well.  Fingers crossed he still wants to go.

Preschool Orientation

At the end of August, we were invited to Gavin's preschool orientation, where we had a parent information meeting and then got to look around his classroom.  He was SO excited to go.  We met Jarrod there, and he didn't even want to wait for him to arrive...he was ready to go in!  It was beyond strange for me to sit through the meeting.  As she was talking, all I kept thinking about what our own Meet and Greet nights when I was teaching.  I went through the folder of papers and had flashbacks of Augusts past.  Scholastic book order forms, permission slips, discipline policies, 'Items Wanted', volunteer sign-ups...  I was the parent now, not the teacher.  Very surreal!  But, Miss Linda seems very sweet and I know Gavin's going to love it!

Of course, I had to snap a pic of my cute kiddos before we left!

Silly boy didn't want to let me take his picture... 

 He kept busy while we were meeting...

...and showed Daddy and Miss Linda what he was playing with.

 Then we explored his classroom a bit!

Can't wait to see how he does on Tuesday!

Photo Dump

I haven't been the greatest at the blog this week, so here are some random photos to help me feel 'caught up.'  I'm working on posts about Gavin's preschool orientation and our visit from Memaw and Gigi, too.  

Time for Sister to spend time on Brother's big bed!

 Love her round little face!

 I tried taking some pics of Gavin playing on the computer and he wasn't thrilled with me.  He is, however, extremely thrilled any time I let him get on and play pbskids.org.  I swear I don't know how he figured out how to do some of the things he has to do, but he loves technology!

 A little quality time with my favorite boy and his new bath toys!

 Sweet cheeks and bright eyes...what's not to love?