School???

Now that Cora is three years old it seems like pressure is coming from all over to put her in preschool. Almost all of her friends that are 3 or older are in preschool or daycare for at least a couple days a week.

With all the questions about if Cora's going to start preschool, it makes me wonder if I should think about it a little more seriously. So I have been.

I have very mixed feelings about it all. Here are some thoughts.

1) A change of pace for both Cora and I: Since I only teach piano lessons for 2.5 hours/week, Cora is with me almost all week long (or with Brad). So selfishly I think it would be nice to "have a break" one or two mornings a week. I do think she would enjoy preschool, socially, too. Whereas MOMS club previously met the social needs for both Cora and I, things have changed and it doesn't really meet that need anymore for either of us.

2) Academics?: I am not concerned about Cora doing well in school in the future (not because it's not important to me but because I'm pretty sure she's going to do fine). So it makes me just want to laugh at the idea that she will be "behind" when she gets to kindergarten if she hasn't gone to preschool first. Really? Maybe I'm just totally unaware of what kids learn in preschool and need to know before kindergarten. So I'm doing some research, just to be sure that I know what I'm talking about!

3) Social skills: Again, not concerned. She goes to Little Lambs class at church each week and does have babysitters or other families from church and grandparents take care of her. I think she understands that she has to listen and take instruction from adults other than mommy and daddy. I DO think a little more social interaction with her peers, learning to share toys and take turns, would be a good thing for her, however.

4) Time and money: I'm not excited about having to bring her to and from school already - especially since the nearest preschool is a 15 minute drive, unless she goes to one of the public school preschools nearby. They are hard to get into, but free. We have not budgeted for preschool tuition yet, so we would have to rearrange the budget a bit to make it work for a private, Christian preschool.

We can obviously wait a year for preschool, since Cora won't start kindergarten until fall of 2012. It makes me a little sad to think of starting her in school already! One day a week sounds nice, but I think I would miss her if it was two days a week or more! Isn't that silly?

I would love feedback from those of you who have been there already with your kids, or have insight to offer.

Common Cora Quotes

Here are some things we hear from Cora regularly.

"Of course" (an answer to your request)
"Gidget's using her foot, Mommy! I'm so proud of her!"
"Hiiiiiiii, Peter!"
"Don't be mean to me" (when we're being firm with her, however, not mean!)
"I hear footsteps" - a tribute to her imagination
"I made Peter smile!"
"It's starting to wind" (As in "the wind is starting to blow" or "it's getting windy")
(Let me interject a cute story. Recently we were outside and Peter was laying on my lap. He was trying to roll over right as the wind picked up. Cora shouted, "Oh no, Peter is winding away!" Isn't that darling?)
"Would that be a great idea?" along with "That would be a great idea!"
"Mommy, will you read to me?" - still a book worm!
"Will you cuddle with me?" - a new favorite pre-bedtime habit
"Can I help you make dinner?"
"That's my favorite _____ in the whole wide world I ever knew in my whole life!"
"Daddy, can I go with you?"
"Don't be sad" (whether or not you are sad)

Sewing projects

Repurposing: taking an item that no longer functions in its original form and transforming it, giving it a new purpose and making it useful in a new way.

A pair of Brad's camouflage pants from his days in the Marines no longer fit and were worn out. Now it is a bib with a unique and meaningful history.
A pair of holey-knee pants and a too-big skirt become a fun summer time outfit, with no extra costs involved.

Peter is 6 months old

Half a year already. Is every milestone always bittersweet?

Height: ?
Weight: ?
Clothes: 6-9 month size
Food: Mama's milk 4-5x/day, infant rice cereal 2-3x/day
New things he can do: roll tummy to back and back to tummy; sit with support but not for long; grab and pull anything into his mouth; transfer toys from one hand to the other; eat his toes!
Favorite toys/activities: Lamaze "Peacock"; still likes his floor gym and the crib mirror toy; loves the exersaucer. He is really intrigued by you if you sing to him.
Teeth: 2 front bottom teeth!
Daily routine: Peter wakes up around 6:30 am and eats, then plays in his exersaucer in the kitchen while we eat breakfast; naps around 8:30, eats milk and some rice cereal after waking up; we have been taking a quick trip to the park on our street mid-day, then Peter naps again around 12; he eats again after waking and then he takes a catnap around 4:30 whether at home, in the stroller for a walk or in the car out running errands. He sits at the table with us while we eat dinner and plays with toys or eats some rice cereal. Sometimes he takes a bath with Cora, then he gets his jammies on, nurses again and goes to bed around 7pm. Intersperse a number of diaper changes and playtime throughout the day and there you have it!

Perhaps you've noticed a few things: he is only napping 2-3 times a day; he is no longer eating late-night before I go to bed or middle of the night; there is some semblance of predictability. All of these things, to me, are answers to my prayers and the prayers that many of you have offered on our behalf for the last few weeks! Peter has been taking naps of 1-1.5 hours for at least one of his naps and he's sleeping almost all night long! He often wakes but will get back to sleep after some fussing, or we'll give him his paci, but no more nursing! Some might say this is all a phase he's entering or leaving...But I'm going to give God the credit. We prayed, he answered. Thank you, Lord! I can see a difference in his mood, how long he stays awake and the way he wakes up from naps. All are improved! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I hope these improvements continue.

Big Day

Two significant things happened today:

Peter's first tooth cut through! Bottom left incisor. He was significantly fussy last night during dinner and was only happy if someone was holding him. I could feel his tooth was close and now we know it was the reason for his misery!

Peter ate "solid" food today. Rice cereal mixed with mommy's milk. He accepted it eagerly, as you can see. He tried swiping my food so many times at dinner last night I decided he really is ready.
This is affection, Peter-style. He's in a face and hair grabbing stage!

Swimming

Last week went to Ouray with my mom and swam in the hot springs. It was a beautiful day to be there!


Cora just finished a session of swimming lessons. She has figured out how to hold her breath and go underwater. She looked like a "jack-in-the-box" popping up and down in the water!