Trouble in Art
Thursday, Sep 4 2008 01:05 AM
| Permalink
Sophie got in trouble in art class today, and Sarah's sister was forced to put her into a timeout. Apparently Sophie felt compelled to get up repeatedly from her chair to watch other kids go to the bathroom. Yeesh.
I suspect it was harder on Susan than on Sophie.
I suspect it was harder on Susan than on Sophie.
Comments
Potty Progress Perpetuates
Saturday, Aug 30 2008 12:32 AM
| Permalink
Sophie seems to be making good progress with potty training. I think it's been several days since we had wet panties, although she still leaves bombs in her britches from time to time. She's started to take the initiative and announce, "I gotta go potty!" and make a beeline for the bathroom.
She refuses to use the little portable seats we got for the toilets; she prefers to just sit straight on the full-sized seat instead.
She's very gung-ho about being a big girl now, and goes out of her way to avoid things that make her feel like a baby.
This afternoon, we were getting ready to go out in my car, and while we were waiting for Sarah to finish getting ready, Sophie asked if she could hold my keys. I told her that she could, but that when I asked for them back, she would have to give them to me right away.
She agreed to that, so I handed over the keys. She flipped through them for a while, asking questions about them ("What's this one for?" mostly). Eventually, I asked for them back. She immediately handed them to me, saying, "You betcha!"
She refuses to use the little portable seats we got for the toilets; she prefers to just sit straight on the full-sized seat instead.
She's very gung-ho about being a big girl now, and goes out of her way to avoid things that make her feel like a baby.
This afternoon, we were getting ready to go out in my car, and while we were waiting for Sarah to finish getting ready, Sophie asked if she could hold my keys. I told her that she could, but that when I asked for them back, she would have to give them to me right away.
She agreed to that, so I handed over the keys. She flipped through them for a while, asking questions about them ("What's this one for?" mostly). Eventually, I asked for them back. She immediately handed them to me, saying, "You betcha!"
...And Then Not So Much
Tuesday, Aug 26 2008 11:25 AM
| Permalink
Sophie followed up on yesterday's potty victory with a wetting incident last night to beat all.
She was sitting on the recliner in her room when Sarah asked her to come to the changing table to get a diaper on for bedtime. Sophie got up, then said, "Mommy, the chair is wet!"
Argh.
Sarah fussed at her and made her go sit on the potty. When Sophie came back, Sarah started putting on her diaper, and asked, "Sophie, why did you go peepee on the chair?"
Sophie looked her dead in the eye and said, "I was practicing."
She has an answer for everything.
She was sitting on the recliner in her room when Sarah asked her to come to the changing table to get a diaper on for bedtime. Sophie got up, then said, "Mommy, the chair is wet!"
Argh.
Sarah fussed at her and made her go sit on the potty. When Sophie came back, Sarah started putting on her diaper, and asked, "Sophie, why did you go peepee on the chair?"
Sophie looked her dead in the eye and said, "I was practicing."
She has an answer for everything.
A Potty Victory
Tuesday, Aug 26 2008 11:22 AM
| Permalink
Yesterday afternoon, Sophie took the initiative and went potty without telling us until after she'd gone. Hooray!
Bambi
Saturday, Aug 23 2008 08:54 PM
| Permalink
Today, Sarah gave Sophie two new books: Bambi and Peter Pan. These are "early reading" versions of these stories. You know, with the violence removed and only one or two sentences per page. However, Sophie picked up Bambi and proceeded to read it to me. I had to help her with a few words here and there, but she actually read the entire book aloud to me!
Not bad at all for a three-year-old! Woohoo!
We also had a totally accident-free day today, which is great news.
She's already starting to pick up new habits from school, despite only having gone three days so far (and two of them short days, no less). Among these is her sudden tendency to say, "Yes sirree!" We don't know from whom she picked up this one, but it didn't come from us.
Suddenly I'm very aware that the days of our being the sole significant influences in shaping her personality are over. From here on out, she's going to be more and more her own person. That's... a weird feeling.
Not bad at all for a three-year-old! Woohoo!
We also had a totally accident-free day today, which is great news.
She's already starting to pick up new habits from school, despite only having gone three days so far (and two of them short days, no less). Among these is her sudden tendency to say, "Yes sirree!" We don't know from whom she picked up this one, but it didn't come from us.
Suddenly I'm very aware that the days of our being the sole significant influences in shaping her personality are over. From here on out, she's going to be more and more her own person. That's... a weird feeling.
First Day
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008 01:03 AM
| Permalink
Today was Sophie's first day of preschool, and by and large it was a success.
It was a shortened day, running from 10:45 until noon. Tomorrow will run on that schedule tomorrow (and will coincide with a parent meeting at the school). Wednesday is the first full-length day, starting at 9 AM and ending at noon.
Sophie took a tote bag with her name embroidered on it since her Wesley Day School bag hasn't arrived yet. They ask that the kids have tote bags instead of backpacks since backpacks are harder for small children to put things into on their own. Sophie's bag was packed with an extra pair of pants, two extra pairs of underwear, and an extra pair of socks. Better safe than sorry with an extremely tenuously potty-trained kid.
We parked and took her inside, stopping for a photo at the school flag outside. On the way in, we stopped by Aunt Susan's art classroom. After stopping for a quick hug, we tried to make our way down the hall to the classroom -- but Sophie didn't want to go. She made it clear she'd rather stay in the art room.
After some crying followed by promises that she'd get to do art later (which she didn't; today was music day), we got her to reluctantly head down the hall toward her classroom.
That came to an abrupt end and we wound up with more tears when we wouldn't let her veer off to go hang out in the music room. After a few minutes of negotiations, we got her into the classroom.
We hung her tote bag on the hook under her name and she started checking things out. After realizing it was just like it was on Wednesday at the tea party, she turned her attention to the sobbing children in the back of the room and said, "Mommy, what is that sound? Why is that baby crying?"
Then she went back into the corner and said to the two boys there, "Awwww... it be okay. You be all right, baby. You don't have to cry."
After expressing sympathy like this a few times, she finally wandered off, but not before a final directive: "Now you stop crying! Stop that crying!"
The details of what happened after we left are a little sketchy, as Sophie's not much of a story-teller just yet. What we've been able to get out of her so far includes "playing with toys," "reading a story," "going to music," and "playing outside."
We did get more details on playing outside. Apparently she played "chase" with another girl and eventually hid in a slide, only to be rousted by a boy sliding down at her. So she climbed up and slid down the big slide while he used the little one.
When we returned to pick Sophie up (only an hour and a half or so later), there were more tears because Sophie didn't want to leave. Mrs. Grant promised that she could come back tomorrow, and, with that, Sophie reluctantly and tearfully climbed into the car.
To our joy, she came home wearing the same clothes she arrived at school in. Progress!
It was a shortened day, running from 10:45 until noon. Tomorrow will run on that schedule tomorrow (and will coincide with a parent meeting at the school). Wednesday is the first full-length day, starting at 9 AM and ending at noon.
Sophie took a tote bag with her name embroidered on it since her Wesley Day School bag hasn't arrived yet. They ask that the kids have tote bags instead of backpacks since backpacks are harder for small children to put things into on their own. Sophie's bag was packed with an extra pair of pants, two extra pairs of underwear, and an extra pair of socks. Better safe than sorry with an extremely tenuously potty-trained kid.
We parked and took her inside, stopping for a photo at the school flag outside. On the way in, we stopped by Aunt Susan's art classroom. After stopping for a quick hug, we tried to make our way down the hall to the classroom -- but Sophie didn't want to go. She made it clear she'd rather stay in the art room.
After some crying followed by promises that she'd get to do art later (which she didn't; today was music day), we got her to reluctantly head down the hall toward her classroom.
That came to an abrupt end and we wound up with more tears when we wouldn't let her veer off to go hang out in the music room. After a few minutes of negotiations, we got her into the classroom.
We hung her tote bag on the hook under her name and she started checking things out. After realizing it was just like it was on Wednesday at the tea party, she turned her attention to the sobbing children in the back of the room and said, "Mommy, what is that sound? Why is that baby crying?"
Then she went back into the corner and said to the two boys there, "Awwww... it be okay. You be all right, baby. You don't have to cry."
After expressing sympathy like this a few times, she finally wandered off, but not before a final directive: "Now you stop crying! Stop that crying!"
The details of what happened after we left are a little sketchy, as Sophie's not much of a story-teller just yet. What we've been able to get out of her so far includes "playing with toys," "reading a story," "going to music," and "playing outside."
We did get more details on playing outside. Apparently she played "chase" with another girl and eventually hid in a slide, only to be rousted by a boy sliding down at her. So she climbed up and slid down the big slide while he used the little one.
When we returned to pick Sophie up (only an hour and a half or so later), there were more tears because Sophie didn't want to leave. Mrs. Grant promised that she could come back tomorrow, and, with that, Sophie reluctantly and tearfully climbed into the car.
To our joy, she came home wearing the same clothes she arrived at school in. Progress!
The Cleaner
Sunday, Aug 17 2008 11:05 AM
| Permalink
Yesterday afternoon, Sophie came in to where Sarah was and announced, "You stay right here. I go clean up."
This quite rightly set off alarm bells, so Sarah disobeyed the order and followed Sophie back into the playroom... to find that Sophie had been using a toy shovel to dig in a freshly-planted tree's pot, flinging dirt about the floor.
Sophie's toy broom was also among the mess, where she'd obviously been trying to clean it up herself after realizing what she'd done!
There's an instance of not being sure whether to be annoyed or proud -- sure, she made the mess, but on the other hand, she realized what she'd done and tried to make it right.
This quite rightly set off alarm bells, so Sarah disobeyed the order and followed Sophie back into the playroom... to find that Sophie had been using a toy shovel to dig in a freshly-planted tree's pot, flinging dirt about the floor.
Sophie's toy broom was also among the mess, where she'd obviously been trying to clean it up herself after realizing what she'd done!
There's an instance of not being sure whether to be annoyed or proud -- sure, she made the mess, but on the other hand, she realized what she'd done and tried to make it right.
Wesley Day School Tea Party
Wednesday, Aug 13 2008 10:38 PM
| Permalink
We had a successful visit to Sophie's school this evening. She got to check out her classroom, the art room, and the music room, plus the courtyard (where they had punch and cookies). Judging by the ear-splitting tantrum she threw when it was time to leave, she enjoyed herself immensely.
We also ordered her the mandatory Wesley Day School T-shirt (all students are required to have one, for field trips), a totebag, and shirts for Sarah and I.
She also met a few of her classmates, including Sarah and Anna. Sarah expects Sophie and Sarah will be best buddies, because they're so alike. We'll know soon enough! School starts in just five days!
We also ordered her the mandatory Wesley Day School T-shirt (all students are required to have one, for field trips), a totebag, and shirts for Sarah and I.
She also met a few of her classmates, including Sarah and Anna. Sarah expects Sophie and Sarah will be best buddies, because they're so alike. We'll know soon enough! School starts in just five days!
True Love
Wednesday, Aug 13 2008 01:29 AM
| Permalink
Tonight, we were having dinner, and I asked Sophie, "Who loves you?"
Sophie replied, as usual: "Mommy and Daddy!"
Then I asked a new question I'd not asked before. "And who do you love?"
"Miss Grant!"
School hasn't even started yet. Sheesh!
Sophie replied, as usual: "Mommy and Daddy!"
Then I asked a new question I'd not asked before. "And who do you love?"
"Miss Grant!"
School hasn't even started yet. Sheesh!
Mrs. Grant
Friday, Aug 8 2008 12:10 AM
| Permalink
Sophie met Mrs. Grant yesterday. That's her teacher for her upcoming first year of preschool.
They seemed to get along quite well; Sophie got Mrs. Grant on the floor playing with blocks with her for a while, and anyone that will do that is okay by Sophie.
Next Wednesday, there's a "get to know you" tea party at the school, and then school starts the following Monday with two 1 1/2 hour days, then a full 3-hour day on Wednesday. She'll be in school Monday through Wednesday this year.
On the 19th, there's a parent meeting so we can meet the various people on the school's staff and so forth. We already know the art teacher (Sarah's sister, Susan), but it'll be good to meet the others.
We have some paperwork to fill out. There's a form for volunteering to help with various things; I've filled that out for me, but I think Sarah needs to do it still. There are a couple other things, including needing to order a T-shirt for Sophie (they wear the shirts on outings, so they can be spotted easily).
We also need to get an immunization form filled out by Sophie's pediatrician.
Getting close to time now! Sophie's really looking forward to it.
They seemed to get along quite well; Sophie got Mrs. Grant on the floor playing with blocks with her for a while, and anyone that will do that is okay by Sophie.
Next Wednesday, there's a "get to know you" tea party at the school, and then school starts the following Monday with two 1 1/2 hour days, then a full 3-hour day on Wednesday. She'll be in school Monday through Wednesday this year.
On the 19th, there's a parent meeting so we can meet the various people on the school's staff and so forth. We already know the art teacher (Sarah's sister, Susan), but it'll be good to meet the others.
We have some paperwork to fill out. There's a form for volunteering to help with various things; I've filled that out for me, but I think Sarah needs to do it still. There are a couple other things, including needing to order a T-shirt for Sophie (they wear the shirts on outings, so they can be spotted easily).
We also need to get an immunization form filled out by Sophie's pediatrician.
Getting close to time now! Sophie's really looking forward to it.