Friday, March 28, 2008

A glimpse of pre-school

This may sound like a little thing, but I must tell you how proud I was of Sophie today. We were at Ms. Renee's Toddler Playtime, which she LOVES. She was really excited to be there and she ran around playing with the toys without a second glance back at me. She didn't even know where I was 75% of the time. This was a huge change compared to our first visits. Typically, Sophie would cling to me or play just inches away. She would walk in the other direction if another child came near her. Slowly, she has been coming out of her shell as we've been going every Friday. But, today was the ultimate! At the end of the playtime, all the adults put away the toys, while Ms. Renee gets ready for the next activity, running from wall to wall at the commands, "GO" and "STOP." I was having particular trouble putting away this tunnel that was suppose to break down flat. I assumed Sophie was standing next to me even though Ms. Renee had already started having the kids run across the gym. I looked to my left and right, but no Sophie. I looked across the gym and saw my little Sophie running along with the other children and stopping upon Ms. Renee's command. I felt like bursting into tears. She was on her own. She was listening and responding to the teacher. In that moment, she had straddled the world between toddler and pre-schooler. I was soooooo proud of her! Even now, I am tearing up telling you about it.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

A good little helper

  Sophie has been showing a lot of interest in helping. She loves to recieve praise! So far, her duties include: sorting clothes, helping put clothes in the washer, putting the soap tab in the dishwasher slot, clearing her food tray (though sometimes she likes to do this a bit early as if to say, "I'm done, Mama!") Sophie also helps outside by collecting acorns from the gravel paths.
 
  I keep meaning to take her to the toy store to get her a child-sized broom. She could help outdoors, where the things we sweep are easy to see like leaves.

Today, I invented a game to be played in the small foyer we have in our house. It's surrounded by carpet, so it makes an ideal contained area. I got out two sticks: a long one for me and a shorter one for her and. We practiced hitting two different sized balls. We didn't have to go chasing the balls, because the edges where the floor meets the carpet also served as an edge. Voila! Home-made putt-putt!
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

a refreshing new version

Have you ever wished upon a star? Perhaps you've gazed upward towards the heavens and pondered the cosmos. But, have you ever wanted to raise one of its starry appendages and give it a surprise tickle? Well, that just what you'll find in Sophie Kessler's latest cover of an old favorite, "Tickle, Tickle, little Tar."

Tickle, Tickle little tar!
...I wonder...are
upa above.....high
..................

Tickle, Tickle little tar!
....I wonder...are!

With flawless melody, mind you! Bravo!


Other new and impressive skill sets:

1. Can identify and draw a circle.
2. Hunts and retrieves shoes upon command.
3. Picks out musical instruments from teacher among the crowd of other big kids and put them away.
4. Can make all sounds on cue to the Dr. Seuss favorite, "Mr. Brown can Moo, can You?"

However, Daddy says Sophie has a lot of catching up to do.

Wondering already what you might bring to a hip birthday party in June for a cute 2-year old that would make you the most popular guest with the wee ones? We saw one of these bubble blowers in action. It has sugar in the solution that makes the bubbles last. It was way cool!