Tater on the move!

His Motivation…The Remote!

Preschool…oh boy, here we go!

Riley had his first day of preschool today! Riley is attending Mount Calvary Preschool, which is located in our church, 3 days a week  (M T Th)  from 12:30-3pm.  His class is a mixture of 3,4 and some 5 year olds.  There are about 10 kids in total. 

Ryan and I were both excited and worried…this day could go one of 2 ways:

1.  Riley does wonderfully and loves it!

2. The teachers ask us kindly to never bring our son back

I knew we wouldn't have to worry about tears shed by Riley, he would jump right in and not miss a beat.  There was, however, one mom dragging her screaming toddler in the door.  As I pictured, all the parents dropping their darlings off at preschool had they're "professional" cameras, capturing every moment…I came prepare with my "amateur" camera (pop-up flash and all)  attempting to capture every moment, but Riley waltz in like he owned the joint, hung up his back pack, washed his hands like the teacher told him and went and play with toys.  Ryan and I stood there like "Big Gulps…huh…?  well see ya later!"  I Knew he wouldn't make a scene, but I at least thought he would show a little worry about us leaving him…for all he knew, we were dropping him off for good!  We stood by the door watching Riley play with a puzzle while the other kids stuck by their parents or wondered around like lost puppies. We decided it was time to go so I walked up to him and said very carefully " Ok, buddy…mommy and daddy are leaving now…"  Riley responded "Ok…bye!"  And that was that….we officially have a preschooler!

While Riley was at preschool, Tate slept and I worked.  Before we knew it, it was time to pick Riley up.  I got to the church about 5 minutes before 3pm and saw that all the parents were heading inside to pick up their kids.  So I grabbed Tate and headed inside also…all the parents were cramming in by the door, while the preschoolers were finishing up their final song across the room.   The teacher was standing facing the kids, doing actions to a song and the kids were standing facing her mimicking her actions... the kids were standing together in a pack…while our little Riley was FRONT AND CENTER rocking out those actions!

That is, until he spotted me out of the corner of his eye…then he stopped his awesome hand gestures and went up to the teacher, yanked on her skirt and yelled "LOOK MY MOMMY'S HERE!!!!!!" and sprinted towards me.  Then of coarse all the other kids saw their parents and ran over also, which abruptly ended class for the day…now I know not to go in early!

I asked Riley how preschool went and this is what he told me:

They washed their hands

He played with a train, airplane and firetruck

They red a book about a dragon that spilled paint

They sang songs

They used the potty

He did not sit in the corner

I asked him if he wanted to go back and he said, "No, I go home and see Bear…"  then I asked if he would wanted to go back in a couple days and he said "YEAH!"

3 Years

Here are some of Riley's 3 year pictures…there are more coming soon!  I found this cool old building, with a boarded up door, Riley was more than uncooperative, but it only takes one shot!

My Tater Likes Taters….

I don't have any pictures yet….but Tate has tried bananas, sweet potatoes, avocado and apples.  He liked everything but the avocado.  He also got his first tooth on the 16th [front-bottom-left].

Tater

The Evolution of a Mother

Anyone who has more than one child knows, that the way you parent your second child, isn't always the same as it was with your first child.  I found this journal entry on Riley when he was 5 months and it is very interesting to me how different things are now.   I was most surprised by how large Riley was 19.5 pounds by the end of his 5th month…what a chunk-a-monk!  I gave rice cereal to Riley at 2 months and waited with Tate until around 4 1/2 months.  Can you tell which one is which?  

Here is Riley's Schedule from when he was 5 months olds

Riley is now 5 months old!  This last month was crazy: It was Riley's first Christmas, he met Uncle Jesse and Aunt Jen for the first time, he started solids, he gained 3 pounds and a whole bunch more!    Riley also started  formula......not as happy of a baby.  Ryan and I are offically true believers that breast milk makes a happy baby!  We started solids 1 month before formula and as soon as he stopped getting breast milk he was fussier, harder to put to sleep, spit up more, didn't sleep as well, constipated...the list goes on.  I guess now we know for baby # 2 to nurse longer (it's just rough on mom)  Hopefully he just needs time to adjust. I make Riley homemade baby food, I just bake or steam, puree and freeze in ice cube trays.  When it's time to eat, I get 2 cubes and zap in the microwave for 1 minute!  (Making his food also makes me feel less guilty about giving him formula) Here is a list of this past months accomplishments!

• Sits without support
• Grabs feet - sucks on toes
• Splashes in tub- protests when you take him out
• Pets dog and cat- laughs at bear
• Laughs when tickled
• Rolls over both ways
• Turns when he hears mom and now dad’s voice! ( he will crank his neck to see dad)
• Teething-can hold teethers now
• Too big for car seat and bouncy chair
• Pull up to stand from sitting
• Stand holding on to someone
• 9 month/12 month clothes
• Size 3 & 4 diapers
• Eats breast milk (1/1/2009 started formula) and homemade solids
  -sweet potatoes, pears, bananas, peaches, acorn squash, green beans, apples, & avocado
• Eats from the high chair
• Holds his own bottle for short periods
• 19.5 pounds as of 1/14/2009

Schedule

7 am Breakfast (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz fruit)

8-10am Nap

-play-

11am Lunch (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz vegi)

12-2pm Nap

2:30 Snack (8oz bottle)

-play-

4-5:30pm Nap

6pm Supper (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz vegi)

-bath, read a book, anything relaxing-

8 pm Bedtime