I could not wish for a smoother transition from home to school! The first week was hard on everyone as we got into a new routine and adjusted to someone else caring for Reese. I continued to call at least twice a day to check in on her and I even stopped by one morning to drop off medicine for a bug bite we discovered on her ear. Reese wasn't so sure about all the new people and rooms at first, but she is becoming a social butterfly before our very eyes.
We live for the daily update sheets which we receive at the end of each day as they give us some insight to her activities. We learn things like: Reese played peek-a-boo with Jane, Reese made Sue laugh while she followed her up and down the ramp on the play structure, Reese read a book and then put it back on the shelf, Reese expressed her joy during music class by clapping after each song and smiling at the class, Reese was not interested in eating cheez nips during snack, Reese and Jane played on the riding toys during outside play, Reese enjoyed chasing bubbles and playing the xylophone. We love reading these little tidbits from her day and we can already see that she is learning new things.
Reese - The Artist, painting Jungle Prints. Last week she painted Dinosaur Prints and gave her first piece of art to Grandpa Sam. He is going to make a scrap book of all of Reese's art.
Riding her toy through the house. She likes it when we push her from behind.
It has been so hot after work that we have not been taking our evening walks. However, we went to the park on Saturday and Sunday morning to beat the heat and see what new things Reese could do.
She still swings like a champ. I bet she missed the swing since they do not have swings at school.
Reese - The Explorer
All of the kids at the park were sporting their crocs, so Reese fit right in.
Reese can climb up the steps and go down the slide by herself.
Sticking out her tongue helps and is also a new game she likes to play with Mommy.
Saturday afternoon we took Reese to Stride Rite to buy some new shoes. She needed a bigger size and something skid proof for school. I think this means we are graduating from our beloved PediPeds.
Later we went to dinner at Terlingua in Bellaire, and Reese danced around in her new Keds.
She also gave Mommy some love!
On our way home we stopped by the park for the second time to show Daddy her new skills.
I love love love this shot of Reese!!!
Reese has also taken a liking to her pink hippo (a gift from Maylee) which plays a sweet nursery rhyme.
Sunday morning we were off again to the park!
Reese wore her other new shoes which Daddy picked out for her.
Look at her, so big!
I can get up by myself!
Playing in her diaper before bedtime (and before I could get her pj's on her body).
She has recently decided she loves to play with keys! Don't try to take them from her even if you need them to drive her somewhere!!
I finally bought Reese a toothbrush (before I would just wipe her teeth with a cloth) and she loves it!
She has a mouth full of teeth with three more coming in right now. These teeth have been hard on her (and us)! Did I mention that middle of the night teething attacks can only be soothed by watching Sprout? We've sat for an hour or more watching late night cartoons until she was calm enough to head back to bed.
This look is what I call the one-eyed rooster.
Tonight Reese found her school bag and entertained herself by pulling it behind her all through the house.
Dining room . . .
Living room . . .
Back to the dining room . . .
And back again . . .
Then she would back up and sit in my lap so we could cuddle.
Here are a few other things Reese has been up to lately:
- Can say: Uh-oh, wawa (for water), mama (when mad), nana (for no), up (once to her teacher at school). So does this mean we don't need a speech therapist? Hmm, Mommy thinks so!
- Blow kisses; she just started doing this even though I do it to her all of the time. While at the park on Sunday, a Mommy blew her son a kiss and Reese saw it and blew her one back. :)
- Tries to put her shoes on by herself. I guess her new shoes have inspired her to try and put them on the wrong foot while balancing on one leg. At first I thought they must take the kids shoes off for nap, so she is learning to put them back on, but they don't. So she is just a smart kid who wants to be a big girl!
- Switches objects from one hand to the other when I say "switch hands". For example, she usually is holding something when I am trying to dress or undress her, so I ask her to switch hands, so I can put her shirt on or take her shirt off. I told Reese she was a Smart Cookie. :)
- She LOVES pens! You would think that I would not let her run around with a pen, but I've been known to because she is fascinated by them. One time she even marked up her cute white pants with a click pen! Oops, luckily it came out with a lot of Oxyclean and elbow grease.
- We are also practicing drinking from a straw. She can do it, but doesn't quite get that she should stop sucking before she moves her mouth. It's messy, but she knows how to suck on the straw which took a while to learn.
- Reese also knows how to give Eskimo kisses. She loves moving her head from side to side and rubbing her nose against mine. I love them too!
Sam update - It looks like he will get to go home this Friday! We are so thankful and happy her will be home for Father's Day! This also means Grandma Ruth will be staying with Mom and Sam to help Sam during the day and take him to appointments and such.
