Thursday, September 4, 2008
Lola’s Current Obession - Dress up
What is it about little girls and dress up? This may sound absurdly sexist, if so guilty as charged - for Oliver NEVER had this obsession!
Our little girl can already put her pants on ALL BY HERSELF thank you very much. Grunting with frustration as she does, she will not, I repeat, not, accept any assistance!
I can’t believe how quickly she is growing up!
Current words, aged 18 months: water, mama, dinner, flannel, ice, hot, oh, boat, doctor, cracker, dog, flower, fly, no more, bubble, thank you, bye, ball, duck, baby
Current teeth: 4 on top, three on bottom and molars ( I fear) on the way!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Naptime. Where did it go? Ever since Oliver started school his naps are now replaced by quietly playing in his room. What’s THAT all about???
Pluses: he is exhausted come 7.30pm
Minuses: however will we get through the weekends????
Tags: Naps, Oliver, Transitions
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Oliver started at his new school this week - so hard!
Poor thing - not only is he one of the younger kids there, but its French immersion to boot so he has no idea what’s going on. When the week started I was very anxious. Far worse for Mom I think! Oliver and I have been so close since coming back from vacation, he hasn’t adjusted at all to me going back to work. Every morning there have been tears and the first day of school was no exception.
The teachers encourage the parents to hang around for a bit before leaving, but I really don’t know if it helps or not, or just prolongs the agony. But I did and when the time came for me to go - yikes - tears, clinging. Devastating. You feel like the worse parent in the world. I went back after 15 minutes and peeked in - he looked so sad, still blotchy and shuffling about in a forlorn way. Bad bad mama.
But.
It got easier.
When I returned to pick him up there were huge smiles and an exclamation of “We had cake!”
The next day was easier still and today, one of the teachers distracted him with a book and he was totally cool with me going. No tears at all!
From this I’ve realized a couple of things.
1. Picking him up each day is a BIG DEAL for him and really matters. Even if it means me crossing Santa Monica to and fro every day, it is so worth it to see how happy he is when I get there.
2. Telling him every day what is going to happen - that he goes to school and Mama goes to work and after lunch Mama comes to pick him up - really helps. I’ve also incorporated tales of first days at school into the daily night time adventures of Marvin the ant and his friends, Candy the caterpillar, Lucy the ladybird and Pepe the beetle.
Don’t ask. Long story. Literally.
Tags: Milestones, Oliver, School
Monday, September 1, 2008
Once our little Lo can settle herself for more than two seconds to listen to a story - these are her current obsessions:
Goodnight Gorilla
Little Gorilla
Dear Zoo
Dig Dig Digging
Sneakers the Cat
The Very Hungry Caterpiller
As you can see animals are a constant source of fascination, unlike her brother, where cars and trucks prevail. Still.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I’ve just put Lola down to bed - she’s been having a hard time of it lately. Not wanting me to put her down and crying before grumpily settling down with her milk. One thing that definitely eases the transition though is reading a few bedtime favorites. Like most parents I try and read to them as much as possible, to install the same love of reading that remained with me from my childhood.
My personal classics, some of which my children have also enjoyed - but some are pleasures still to come. Here are a few from my childhood to share with you. Most of them reflect my father’s somewhat subversive sense of humor.
Bears in the Night
No Kiss for Mother
Mouse Trouble A Quentin Blake classic.
The Tiger who Came to Tea
The Happy Lion
and of course, the ever controversial Captain Pugwash
Tags: Books
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I wrote on Intent about how hard it is coming back from a vacation - just from my own perspective of having enjoyed all that time with the kids and trying to get back into the swing of work.
What I failed to mention is how much harder it is for them!
Oliver has had a couple of weeks off before he starts at his new school and the poor thing is suffering badly from the scattered routine. Both he and Lola are up at nights, clinging madly whenever I leave the house, following me from room to room, and generally not being the best version of themselves.
It’s hard to be away, but it’s hard again to be home, as those precious moments at the start and end of each day are never enough for any of us.
Roll on school starting in September I say!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
So check out Oliver swimming with coach Sid - or beginning to learn anyway with lesson number one. My boy’s problem, if you can call it that, is that his confidence is greater than his ability - hence the lessons. The coach said he’s a “bit wild”. Jesus. God help us all.
I’d strongly recommend this place LA Surf & Swim, based on what I’ve seen so far. Coach is very patient and I like the one-on-one tuition. Bit of a funky pool set up - above ground squeezed into someone’s backyard. Very Venice, I liked it. And don’t you just dig that hat?!
Tags: Oliver, Sports, Swimming
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Well, truth by told I had to bribe Oliver to sit with his sister for just one moment of forced sibling cameraderie - but I don’t care - it was well worth it!
Thanks to Grandpops for teaching them this current obsession!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The very best of times. I can’t believe we are already back from Maine. Those ten wonderful, exhausting, fabulous days were gone in a flash.
More highlights:
- Anna and Steve came to visit. So great catching up with Anna again and spending some quality time together. Steve is awesome, really enjoyed hanging out with them.
- Cooking - lots of cooking - soups especially. I miss that - in LA I’m always so damn tired!
- Oliver’s language explosion! He really is a little boy right now. Getting used to debating my decsions is all new - LOL!
Being back in LA is good, getting back into the work groove. Oliver got into L’Ecole Claire Fontaine - which is fantastic! We went for one morning tour yesterday and he liked it so much he stayed for the rest of the day! Looking forward to getting more involved in that and really loving speaking my rusty French again.
But it’s hard being away from the kids so much once more, read all about my vacation withdrawal.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Highlights so far?
- Oliver peeing in the garden in front of 50 guests at the Ouellette family reunion
- Lola being carried around by Olivia in Boston, happy as a clam with her new surrogate big sister
- My Dad trying to teach Oliver the dangers of the garbage disposal whilst they help with the dishes (whilst I furiously whisper to him to “not even go there”)
- Dad “Grandpops” reading “In the Night Kitchen” to Oliver
- Oliver and Lola chasing the persistently disinterested Mackie dog under Dad & Esther’s table
- Steven in his element hauling lobster traps on his father’s boat, whilst Oliver calls out encouragement and directions (so knowing aged 3!)
- Loring and Claudette losing ten years apiece in their sheer joy at being out on the ocean
- Lola and Oliver squealing with delight playing in the sprinkler on the farm
- Oliver rushing into the ocean at Sylvesters Cove, the thrill of the sensation overriding the fear of the almost unbearably cold water!
And on and on it goes. Unforgettable moments of happiness, singing in the dusk of warm summer nights in a home made of love and hard-won beauty.
Tags: Maine
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