Just got an e-mail from Connor's teacher that brought tears to my eyes. I've been waiting for these words. This is what she sent:
"Just wanted to let you know Connor had a fantastic day! No tears, no why do we have full days, no I want to go home.... I let him know over and over again how impressed I was with his day and I also gave him a certificate. Anyhow, just thought you'd love to know---it was his best full day yet!"
Progress! Hallelujah. I have been super impressed with his teacher and the school, who did call me the day they said they would (love when people actually do that!) with a plan to support Connor better, and it is working!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Isabel's 3-year stats, and party
Isabel had her 3-year checkup today. Everything looks great! We went to a new pediatrician 'cuz of the move. I miss my old pediatrician terribly. I seriously loved her.
Anyway, the new one was nice and commented that Isabel certainly doesn't have any problems communicating! Right-o. She continues to be tiny. Here are her stats:
Weight: 24 1/4 pounds - 4th percentile
Height: 34 3/4 inches - 5th percentile
At least she is maintaining her growth curve, which is all that really matters. She did have a lovely little tantrum in the doctor's office and proceeded to rip apart most of the paper on the exam table. And then once it was over she was lovely and charming as ever. So the ped really saw her true colors - all of them!
Also, her party was Saturday night. I did an Ariel theme, since she LOVES Ariel. We had some close friends and family here to celebrate with us. She had a great party, loved her cake, loves her presents, and is happy as can be to be 3! A few pics from the party:
And my handsome boys enjoyed the party too!
Anyway, the new one was nice and commented that Isabel certainly doesn't have any problems communicating! Right-o. She continues to be tiny. Here are her stats:
Weight: 24 1/4 pounds - 4th percentile
Height: 34 3/4 inches - 5th percentile
At least she is maintaining her growth curve, which is all that really matters. She did have a lovely little tantrum in the doctor's office and proceeded to rip apart most of the paper on the exam table. And then once it was over she was lovely and charming as ever. So the ped really saw her true colors - all of them!
Also, her party was Saturday night. I did an Ariel theme, since she LOVES Ariel. We had some close friends and family here to celebrate with us. She had a great party, loved her cake, loves her presents, and is happy as can be to be 3! A few pics from the party:
And my handsome boys enjoyed the party too!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Isabel!
Isabel is 3 today! She has been awaiting her birthday for weeks. A few things about our darling daughter as she turns 3.
- She becomes more of a candy girl as time goes by. She said for her birthday dinner she wants cake, ice cream, cupcakes, cookies and candy (she's getting 3 of the 5). She has a serious sweet tooth.
- She is HIGHLY imaginative. Actually, the way she plays reminds me a lot of myself when I was young; I had a wild imagination too. She is not likely to be found playing with dolls (I never did either). She does wonderful play out of the littlest things. Yesterday she spent at least an hour making up some story/play using a hair pin, pen cap, a little bowl and her stuffed bear (really, why buy toys?) Serious imagination. Sometimes I overhear her making up stories, and they are really something.
- She loves art projects, painting, coloring, writing, etc.
- She loves Sesame Street; I can hardly get her attention at all when it's on.
- She is well-rounded. She can be a total princess with makeup and dress up heels, and then go dig in the dirt and make a huge mess. I love this about her.
- She sings a lot, and loves music and dancing. She is flourishing in her ballet/tap class!
- She has an amazing ability to communicate. She had more than 50 words when she was 14 months! I can hold very advanced conversations with her.
- She loves The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo.
- She exemplifies the poem, "There once was a girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very, very good; and when she was bad, she was horrid." She is either the sweetest, funnest little girl, or the most strong-willed, fiesty child EVER. There is little in-between with her.
- She has a fun sense of adventures, and loves learning/exploring new things and places. She is full of life, and everything is a fun adventure to her.
We all just love and adore our spirited, creative, fiesty, determined, fun-loving girl. Happy Birthday Isabel! Here's how she's changed since joining our family three years ago.
A lovely reminder of why I have such awful stretch marks from her. This was taken just before we left for the hospital to have her. Can you say basketball?
- She becomes more of a candy girl as time goes by. She said for her birthday dinner she wants cake, ice cream, cupcakes, cookies and candy (she's getting 3 of the 5). She has a serious sweet tooth.
- She is HIGHLY imaginative. Actually, the way she plays reminds me a lot of myself when I was young; I had a wild imagination too. She is not likely to be found playing with dolls (I never did either). She does wonderful play out of the littlest things. Yesterday she spent at least an hour making up some story/play using a hair pin, pen cap, a little bowl and her stuffed bear (really, why buy toys?) Serious imagination. Sometimes I overhear her making up stories, and they are really something.
- She loves art projects, painting, coloring, writing, etc.
- She loves Sesame Street; I can hardly get her attention at all when it's on.
- She is well-rounded. She can be a total princess with makeup and dress up heels, and then go dig in the dirt and make a huge mess. I love this about her.
- She sings a lot, and loves music and dancing. She is flourishing in her ballet/tap class!
- She has an amazing ability to communicate. She had more than 50 words when she was 14 months! I can hold very advanced conversations with her.
- She loves The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo.
- She exemplifies the poem, "There once was a girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very, very good; and when she was bad, she was horrid." She is either the sweetest, funnest little girl, or the most strong-willed, fiesty child EVER. There is little in-between with her.
- She has a fun sense of adventures, and loves learning/exploring new things and places. She is full of life, and everything is a fun adventure to her.
We all just love and adore our spirited, creative, fiesty, determined, fun-loving girl. Happy Birthday Isabel! Here's how she's changed since joining our family three years ago.
A lovely reminder of why I have such awful stretch marks from her. This was taken just before we left for the hospital to have her. Can you say basketball?
Friday, October 10, 2008
A day in Estes Park
We are having a great time with my family; the kids (and Brian and I!) love having them visit. The week has flown by, packed with activities. My mom and I have even just about finished Isabel's quilt (squeal of delight!) and have also found some cute Halloween stuff (pictures coming later on these).
On Wednesday, we spent the day in ever-beautiful Estes Park. It was a beautiful Fall day in the mountains (so beautiful I'm going to call it Fall-orado!)
We stopped at the kids' favorite old-fashioned candy store. Isabel in a candy store is always highly entertaining:
Just to prove that Isabel has gotten taller, here is a picture in the same spot in the same store exactly one year ago:
Enjoying their choices:
We went on a super cool, if not chilly and windy, alpine hike above the treeline at 11,500 feet. My kids were born to hike:
The view from the top of Colorado:
Then we played in the rocks and trees, the ideal kid environment. Connor my super climber:
Isabel is always using that super-creative imagination of hers wherever we are:
Lucas wanted to climb and slide down all the rocks he could find:
Those lovely aspens:
Tomorrow is Isabel's 3rd birthday! Wasn't I just doing her 2nd birthday party? Where in the world does a year go???
On Wednesday, we spent the day in ever-beautiful Estes Park. It was a beautiful Fall day in the mountains (so beautiful I'm going to call it Fall-orado!)
We stopped at the kids' favorite old-fashioned candy store. Isabel in a candy store is always highly entertaining:
Just to prove that Isabel has gotten taller, here is a picture in the same spot in the same store exactly one year ago:
Enjoying their choices:
We went on a super cool, if not chilly and windy, alpine hike above the treeline at 11,500 feet. My kids were born to hike:
The view from the top of Colorado:
Then we played in the rocks and trees, the ideal kid environment. Connor my super climber:
Isabel is always using that super-creative imagination of hers wherever we are:
Lucas wanted to climb and slide down all the rocks he could find:
Those lovely aspens:
Tomorrow is Isabel's 3rd birthday! Wasn't I just doing her 2nd birthday party? Where in the world does a year go???
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pumpkin perfection
It's feast or famine with my family, I swear. Months will go by with no visitors, and then BAM! - they all come at once. I love company, so it's fine, but geez, sometimes they could spread the love a little ;)
My parents arrived yesterday for a week's visit. They are very active, and we always pack in lots of adventures when they visit. They've already taken the kids biking, on a walk, to the park, and played lots, and on the agenda is: a trip to the mountains, a trip to a pumpkin patch, swimming at our rec center's water park, and Isabel's big 3rd birthday bash!
Who doesn't love some silly grandpa play time?
In addition, my sister and her son Nolan arrive on Thursday for a week, and next Thursday my brother Nate and his new wife Alli come for 4 days. Like I said, feast or famine! But it's fun.
Speaking of feasting, I promised some of my favorite fall recipes. For now, here's 2 pumpkin desserts you'll go over the moon for.
The first is my mom's Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. They are dense and moist and fabulous. I am pretty much famous for them.
Pumpkin Bars
4 eggs
1 cup oil
15 oz. can pumpkin
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix eggs, oil, pumpkin and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes in a greased and floured jelly roll pan (10 x 15). Spread with cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese frosting
3 ounces cream cheese
3/4 stick butter
1/2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Beat together first 4 ingredients; add powdered sugar to desired consistency.
This second recipe I acquired last year at a party. Consider yourself warned. It is rich and wonderful, and quite possibly one of the best desserts I've ever had. Or close to.
Pumpkin Delight
Grease and flour a 9 x 13 glass dish.
Beat 3 eggs well. Add 1 cup sugar, 15 ounce can pumpkin, 1 large size can evaporated milk (I think it's 10 ounces give or take), 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon allspice) and mix. Pour into glass dish.
Sprinkle the dry contents of 1 box of yellow cake mix over the top. Melt and drizzle 1 1/2 sticks of butter on top of the dry cake mix. Bake about 45 or 50 minutes at 350.
Serve warm with whipped cream, chocolate chips and/or pecans sprinkled on top (I highly recommend the toppings!). Enjoy. A lot.
My parents arrived yesterday for a week's visit. They are very active, and we always pack in lots of adventures when they visit. They've already taken the kids biking, on a walk, to the park, and played lots, and on the agenda is: a trip to the mountains, a trip to a pumpkin patch, swimming at our rec center's water park, and Isabel's big 3rd birthday bash!
Who doesn't love some silly grandpa play time?
In addition, my sister and her son Nolan arrive on Thursday for a week, and next Thursday my brother Nate and his new wife Alli come for 4 days. Like I said, feast or famine! But it's fun.
Speaking of feasting, I promised some of my favorite fall recipes. For now, here's 2 pumpkin desserts you'll go over the moon for.
The first is my mom's Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. They are dense and moist and fabulous. I am pretty much famous for them.
Pumpkin Bars
4 eggs
1 cup oil
15 oz. can pumpkin
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix eggs, oil, pumpkin and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes in a greased and floured jelly roll pan (10 x 15). Spread with cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese frosting
3 ounces cream cheese
3/4 stick butter
1/2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Beat together first 4 ingredients; add powdered sugar to desired consistency.
This second recipe I acquired last year at a party. Consider yourself warned. It is rich and wonderful, and quite possibly one of the best desserts I've ever had. Or close to.
Pumpkin Delight
Grease and flour a 9 x 13 glass dish.
Beat 3 eggs well. Add 1 cup sugar, 15 ounce can pumpkin, 1 large size can evaporated milk (I think it's 10 ounces give or take), 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon allspice) and mix. Pour into glass dish.
Sprinkle the dry contents of 1 box of yellow cake mix over the top. Melt and drizzle 1 1/2 sticks of butter on top of the dry cake mix. Bake about 45 or 50 minutes at 350.
Serve warm with whipped cream, chocolate chips and/or pecans sprinkled on top (I highly recommend the toppings!). Enjoy. A lot.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The word on the street is "struggle"
As the kids were watching Sesame Street this morning while I was getting ready to take Isabel to dance, I happened to catch a little scene with Tyra Banks. She was trying to put on a sweater, and was teaching about the word struggle. She struggled and struggled to finally get it on, then when the sweater was on, she said the word struggle about 4 times. Interesting that struggle should happen to be the "word on the street" today.
After dance, Brian and I went to our first parent/teacher conference for Connor. We walked into the classroom and sat down across from Mrs. Prough (pronounced Pro). First thing she said was, "how is Connor doing?" I looked at her for a minute, and then said two words: "he's struggling." "I know," was her reply.
This wasn't exactly earth-shattering news to us, and it was nice to have a chance to sit down and really discuss things. Connor's academics are really strong - advanced in some areas - and he is starting to read really well. But his social abilities are causing some concerns, as I feared they would. He is struggling big-time with recess, and the unstructured interaction that it brings. There has been a child who has been somewhat controlling over Connor, which hasn't helped. But mostly he just struggles to have appropriate and meaningful interactions.
He has become fixated on his "long" days (T and Th) because there are 3 recesses. This fixation often gets in the way of him enjoying other parts of school. He must ask me - and dad - and Mrs. Prough - 100 times a day why there has to be long days at school. We talk about it incessantly. Sometimes I have to draw a line and say we can talk about anything he wants, but not about recess. As a parent, it is so difficult to walk that line between enablement and tough-love. With Connor, I find myself walking it a lot.
Mrs. Prough has been doing some role-plays in the classroom to help teach how to play with others, and has assigned him special play buddies from time to time. She has created a picture schedule that he keeps at his desk to help him know how the day will go, and what is coming next. And she has spent a lot of time with him at recess lately. She felt like yesterday they reached a new level of comfort for the first time, and he did report having had a better day yesterday.
Because of his autism, he has an IEP (individual education program) to help him get the services he needs (mainly speech and special education). Mrs. Prough and Brian and I agree that he needs more special ed (Mrs. Claypool is the special ed teacher) and less speech. Mrs. Prough reports that Connor is much more relaxed when she or Mrs. Claypool is working with him. He currently has only 15 minutes twice a week of special ed support, and Mrs. Prough said it's not cutting it. The most effective way to see that changed, she said, is to push the school to provide more.
So, after the conference Brian and I went to the principal's office, and he welcomed us into his office immediately to discuss our concerns. He agreed more support is needed, and is going to bring it up at a meeting on Monday to formulate a plan to help Connor adjust more and struggle less.
Again, we all feel - Mrs. Prough, the Principal, Brian and I - that there is a fine line in place. I don't want Connor to become too co-dependent on an adult, but as has been the case before, he needs some more tools to help him adjust to this new world of kindergarten. Oh, it's so different from preschool! The principal said he might try much more support for a specific time frame, then back off a bit to see how Connor handles things, and to really identify his needs.
There are many parts of school Connor enjoys: art, music, reading, 4th-grade reading buddies, writing. He is engaged in his work and follows directions. He just struggles socially. And Mrs. Prough is very in tune to the fact that he is also a very senstive boy.
So, there you have it. We all struggle with things, right? I guess the lesson is to learn from our struggles. We all feel Connor can get there, with the right support. He has so many strenghts, and they will help fill in his weakness. We love him dearly and want him to succeed in whatever ways he can. And we know he will!
In other news, I think if you look up "power struggle" in the dictionary, it might simply say, "Melissa and Isabel."
I am a firm believer that the terrible twos are not so much a real thing, but 3 is a significantly more challenging age. As Miss Isabel has entered the home stretch to her third birthday (which is next Saturday), holy schnockers has she become challenging. She can be the sweetest thing in the world, "oh, mommy, you're so beautiful! you're so nice. I love your shirt" all said with hugs and kisses and the sweetest voice imaginable. And then, as though a switch has been flipped, she is a nightmare. She literally goes from this:
to this:
in a matter of seconds. Power struggles from morning 'til evening. "I wanted to go first! I wanted to do it myself! I wanted my shirt on and then my shorts! I wanted to pick up my toothbrush myself! I only want to wear my orange dress!" and on and on and on. I'm fiesty and she's fiesty so you can imagine the power struggles. Again, because I'm not an indulger, I'm often willing to go the battle rather than give in and let her think temper tantrums are an effective way to get her message across. Yikes, she is as strong-willed as any child I've known. I'm holding on for a crazy ride with this one!
So there you have it. Struggle. Struggle. Struggle. Life is full of them. You gotta face 'em head on. You know, like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music? "Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, 'til you find your dream."
After dance, Brian and I went to our first parent/teacher conference for Connor. We walked into the classroom and sat down across from Mrs. Prough (pronounced Pro). First thing she said was, "how is Connor doing?" I looked at her for a minute, and then said two words: "he's struggling." "I know," was her reply.
This wasn't exactly earth-shattering news to us, and it was nice to have a chance to sit down and really discuss things. Connor's academics are really strong - advanced in some areas - and he is starting to read really well. But his social abilities are causing some concerns, as I feared they would. He is struggling big-time with recess, and the unstructured interaction that it brings. There has been a child who has been somewhat controlling over Connor, which hasn't helped. But mostly he just struggles to have appropriate and meaningful interactions.
He has become fixated on his "long" days (T and Th) because there are 3 recesses. This fixation often gets in the way of him enjoying other parts of school. He must ask me - and dad - and Mrs. Prough - 100 times a day why there has to be long days at school. We talk about it incessantly. Sometimes I have to draw a line and say we can talk about anything he wants, but not about recess. As a parent, it is so difficult to walk that line between enablement and tough-love. With Connor, I find myself walking it a lot.
Mrs. Prough has been doing some role-plays in the classroom to help teach how to play with others, and has assigned him special play buddies from time to time. She has created a picture schedule that he keeps at his desk to help him know how the day will go, and what is coming next. And she has spent a lot of time with him at recess lately. She felt like yesterday they reached a new level of comfort for the first time, and he did report having had a better day yesterday.
Because of his autism, he has an IEP (individual education program) to help him get the services he needs (mainly speech and special education). Mrs. Prough and Brian and I agree that he needs more special ed (Mrs. Claypool is the special ed teacher) and less speech. Mrs. Prough reports that Connor is much more relaxed when she or Mrs. Claypool is working with him. He currently has only 15 minutes twice a week of special ed support, and Mrs. Prough said it's not cutting it. The most effective way to see that changed, she said, is to push the school to provide more.
So, after the conference Brian and I went to the principal's office, and he welcomed us into his office immediately to discuss our concerns. He agreed more support is needed, and is going to bring it up at a meeting on Monday to formulate a plan to help Connor adjust more and struggle less.
Again, we all feel - Mrs. Prough, the Principal, Brian and I - that there is a fine line in place. I don't want Connor to become too co-dependent on an adult, but as has been the case before, he needs some more tools to help him adjust to this new world of kindergarten. Oh, it's so different from preschool! The principal said he might try much more support for a specific time frame, then back off a bit to see how Connor handles things, and to really identify his needs.
There are many parts of school Connor enjoys: art, music, reading, 4th-grade reading buddies, writing. He is engaged in his work and follows directions. He just struggles socially. And Mrs. Prough is very in tune to the fact that he is also a very senstive boy.
So, there you have it. We all struggle with things, right? I guess the lesson is to learn from our struggles. We all feel Connor can get there, with the right support. He has so many strenghts, and they will help fill in his weakness. We love him dearly and want him to succeed in whatever ways he can. And we know he will!
In other news, I think if you look up "power struggle" in the dictionary, it might simply say, "Melissa and Isabel."
I am a firm believer that the terrible twos are not so much a real thing, but 3 is a significantly more challenging age. As Miss Isabel has entered the home stretch to her third birthday (which is next Saturday), holy schnockers has she become challenging. She can be the sweetest thing in the world, "oh, mommy, you're so beautiful! you're so nice. I love your shirt" all said with hugs and kisses and the sweetest voice imaginable. And then, as though a switch has been flipped, she is a nightmare. She literally goes from this:
to this:
in a matter of seconds. Power struggles from morning 'til evening. "I wanted to go first! I wanted to do it myself! I wanted my shirt on and then my shorts! I wanted to pick up my toothbrush myself! I only want to wear my orange dress!" and on and on and on. I'm fiesty and she's fiesty so you can imagine the power struggles. Again, because I'm not an indulger, I'm often willing to go the battle rather than give in and let her think temper tantrums are an effective way to get her message across. Yikes, she is as strong-willed as any child I've known. I'm holding on for a crazy ride with this one!
So there you have it. Struggle. Struggle. Struggle. Life is full of them. You gotta face 'em head on. You know, like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music? "Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, 'til you find your dream."
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Family pictures!
Our family pictures from last week are ready! So exciting. It's always so fun to look at them, and realize that the photo shoot was a success overall, despite how I felt the day we took the pictures! Kristie always does such a fantastic job - thank you x a million! It will be difficult to choose.
Here are a few of my initial favorites. In the first family picture the wind was a bit strong and my hair looks crazy; Kristie is going to work to swap a better head of mine for this, and might swap a body here or there as necessary with three young children. But here's a representation of how things turned out. If you would like to see all of the shots, click here and then enter access code #m9228.
I love looking at pictures of my family, it just makes me happy. Kristie always managing to capture things I never can. That's why she's so good. :) In general, do you like the sitting or standing family picture better?
Here are a few of my initial favorites. In the first family picture the wind was a bit strong and my hair looks crazy; Kristie is going to work to swap a better head of mine for this, and might swap a body here or there as necessary with three young children. But here's a representation of how things turned out. If you would like to see all of the shots, click here and then enter access code #m9228.
I love looking at pictures of my family, it just makes me happy. Kristie always managing to capture things I never can. That's why she's so good. :) In general, do you like the sitting or standing family picture better?
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