October is off and running! We're only 10 days in but already I feel like November is an arm's throw away. With the start of autumn, there have been the requisite trips to go apple picking and pumpkin picking, plenty of fall festivals and more activities (and apples!) than I can count!
Abby happily started "big girl" gymnastics a few weeks ago - this time, she's with 5 & 6-year old girls so it's the big leagues! She seems to be enjoying it quite a bit, though it's a very long day for her when she goes right from school to gym and isn't home until after 5 pm. But since it's only once a week, she seems to be doing well, and she goes to bed quite early those days!
Zach has a schedule that seems to better fit a 12-year old than a 2-year old! He goes to school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In-between on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he enjoys a gym class and a music class - two of his favorites! But recently, we signed him up for a soccer class on Friday afternoons which he LOVES so far, and seems to fit him well since he loves to run. He is doing the class with some of his "older" friends (3-year olds) and is doing great. And of course, he still naps for 2+ hours a day so he's quite a busy little bee.
The rest of this month will no doubt fly by, with me being at a work event in NYC this weekend for 3 days (including on my birthday) and then I'm off to Dallas for a week for work. Soon after I return, we'll have plenty of Halloween celebrations, from a Halloween-themed birthday party to two parades and of course, trick-or-treating. I won't give away what the kids will be dressed up as yet, but suffice it to say that they will be adorable and can't wait to get some candy!
Happy Fall!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Three Weeks In
It's officially 3 weeks ago today that Abby started kindergarten! On the big first day, she practically skipped onto the bus, sat down with her friend Jared and never looked back. Which is a good thing, considering mommy was crying! While the details have been few and far between, I do know that she is happy and excited to go each day, which can only be a good sign that she is liking it.
Today I had the opportunity to visit her classroom for the parents breakfast. It was a chance to see/meet the other kids and their parents, and see where Abby spends 6.5 hours of her day. The teacher seems great so far and the classroom is cute. The class is diverse and Abby is meeting new friends and she is lucky to have her very good friend Jared as well. She is also enrolled in kindergarten Hebrew school, where she'll hopefully continue to build on the Jewish foundations that she learned in preschool.
And as for the little guy (who, yes, is still quite little), he started preschool just about 2 weeks ago! Since he is attending the same school where he went to camp, he had no problem transitioning and is having a great time so far. He has some camp friends and some neighbor friends in his class, and so far, the word on the street is that he's enjoying his first school experience.
Here's to a new (Jewish) year and new opportunities for all!
Today I had the opportunity to visit her classroom for the parents breakfast. It was a chance to see/meet the other kids and their parents, and see where Abby spends 6.5 hours of her day. The teacher seems great so far and the classroom is cute. The class is diverse and Abby is meeting new friends and she is lucky to have her very good friend Jared as well. She is also enrolled in kindergarten Hebrew school, where she'll hopefully continue to build on the Jewish foundations that she learned in preschool.
And as for the little guy (who, yes, is still quite little), he started preschool just about 2 weeks ago! Since he is attending the same school where he went to camp, he had no problem transitioning and is having a great time so far. He has some camp friends and some neighbor friends in his class, and so far, the word on the street is that he's enjoying his first school experience.
Here's to a new (Jewish) year and new opportunities for all!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The 2-Week Countdown
The countdown to kindergarten has begun! Two weeks from today, my first born will step foot into her first "real" school classroom. I'm not sure who is more nervous - me or her! There is so much to be nervous and excited for: the bus ride, making new friends, learning new things, eating in a cafeteria, recess, homework, new teachers and more. And if I know my daughter, Abby will make the most of it by showing her sparkling smile and bubbly personality, and the teachers and kids will adore her (I hope).
So in the spirit of this significant occasion, I have compiled a little list of my hopes, dreams and desires for her, to achieve during her first year of school. In no particular order, they are to:
1. Learn all of your classmates names and get to know everyone individually
2. Enjoy the comfort in having your best friend in your class, but be sure to spend time with other kids at lunch, on the playground and on the bus
3. Tell me one great thing and one not so great thing about school each day
4. Learn to read
5. Not be bullied or be a bully, and say something if you see bullying happening
6. Befriend someone in the class who doesn’t know anyone
7. Learn a little math, a little spelling and a little science
8. Bring home a new library book once a week
9. Try something new from the cafeteria each week
10. Be yourself
11. Do your school assignments carefully and ask for help when it’s needed
12. Be kind to everyone: the custodians, librarians, bus driver, teachers and other kids
13. Remember to wait your turn, raise your hand and overall, be a good student and friend
14. Learn from your mistakes
I know that come September 6th, my big girl will board the bus with excitement and trepidation and I’ll watch with tears in my eyes and wonder how she grew up so quickly. Good luck, Abby – I am so proud of you and wish you much success at the start of this huge journey in your life.
So in the spirit of this significant occasion, I have compiled a little list of my hopes, dreams and desires for her, to achieve during her first year of school. In no particular order, they are to:
1. Learn all of your classmates names and get to know everyone individually
2. Enjoy the comfort in having your best friend in your class, but be sure to spend time with other kids at lunch, on the playground and on the bus
3. Tell me one great thing and one not so great thing about school each day
4. Learn to read
5. Not be bullied or be a bully, and say something if you see bullying happening
6. Befriend someone in the class who doesn’t know anyone
7. Learn a little math, a little spelling and a little science
8. Bring home a new library book once a week
9. Try something new from the cafeteria each week
10. Be yourself
11. Do your school assignments carefully and ask for help when it’s needed
12. Be kind to everyone: the custodians, librarians, bus driver, teachers and other kids
13. Remember to wait your turn, raise your hand and overall, be a good student and friend
14. Learn from your mistakes
I know that come September 6th, my big girl will board the bus with excitement and trepidation and I’ll watch with tears in my eyes and wonder how she grew up so quickly. Good luck, Abby – I am so proud of you and wish you much success at the start of this huge journey in your life.
Monday, July 30, 2012
July Flew By!
It is hard to believe that I last posted a MONTH ago, when the summer was just kicking in! But alas, as summers tend to do, this one has flown by. This past month was filled with plenty of sun and play.
At the beginning of the month, I took the week off from work to give my nanny a well-deserved vacation. It afforded me the opportunity to see what the “other” half is like by being with my kids full-time during the week. And what an eye-opening experience it was! In just the two days before July 4th, we had one PT session, three camp drop-offs and pick-ups, one 5-year doctor’s checkup, a playdate, a trip to the vet and of course, the “regular” chores that somehow get done during the week.
Having the opportunity to spend time with my kids doing what they normally do during the week was wonderful; I got to meet their camp counselors and see where they are enjoying their summer, I took the kids to the pool, I actually hung out with Zach (who I rarely get one-on-one time with) and I even had a few minutes of quiet time when he was napping and Abby wasn’t home from camp yet. Of course, that quiet time was punctuated with loads of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, making lunch and dinner and paying bills, but it was still uninterrupted nonetheless.
After those few days, we packed up the car and headed to the Jersey shore, where we met up with Jason's sister, parents and grandmothers for a long weekend in the beach house they rented last year. While it was a quick trip, the kids had a great time and it was fun to get away (though a bit tiring, as expected).
The rest of the month was filled up with birthday parties, a trip to Dutch Wonderland with our friends and plenty of pool time. The best news of the summer so far is that Abby is really and truly learning how to swim!! In just a few days time, she learned to swim the width of our pool, even with her head under and eyes open, unassisted! She also loves to jump off the side of the pool now, which she never did before. It's really fun watching her newfound confidence and I am beginning to relax, just a bit, when she is alone in the pool.
Abby's 5-year checkup was good - she is still quite small for her age - 33 lbs (7%) and 40.5" (12%) - but she got two shots and did great - and was rewarded with an ice cream sundae after! I also took Zach to an endocrinologist in the city to see if there is anything we can do about his (lack of) height and weight, and while the exam was normal, she'd like to run some bloodwork to just be sure there aren't any deficiencies. So that will be a lot of fun when I have to take him back for that!
All in all, it's been a fun summer, with both kids loving camp and having a great time. Seeing their tired, happy faces at the end of the day is a wonderful, and I just can't believe we are 5 weeks out from Abby starting kindergarten and 6 weeks from Zach starting preschool! In the meantime, we'll all try to enjoy the last few weeks of the summer, with mini-camp, classes and visits from friends & family on the agenda.
At the beginning of the month, I took the week off from work to give my nanny a well-deserved vacation. It afforded me the opportunity to see what the “other” half is like by being with my kids full-time during the week. And what an eye-opening experience it was! In just the two days before July 4th, we had one PT session, three camp drop-offs and pick-ups, one 5-year doctor’s checkup, a playdate, a trip to the vet and of course, the “regular” chores that somehow get done during the week.
Having the opportunity to spend time with my kids doing what they normally do during the week was wonderful; I got to meet their camp counselors and see where they are enjoying their summer, I took the kids to the pool, I actually hung out with Zach (who I rarely get one-on-one time with) and I even had a few minutes of quiet time when he was napping and Abby wasn’t home from camp yet. Of course, that quiet time was punctuated with loads of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, making lunch and dinner and paying bills, but it was still uninterrupted nonetheless.
After those few days, we packed up the car and headed to the Jersey shore, where we met up with Jason's sister, parents and grandmothers for a long weekend in the beach house they rented last year. While it was a quick trip, the kids had a great time and it was fun to get away (though a bit tiring, as expected).
The rest of the month was filled up with birthday parties, a trip to Dutch Wonderland with our friends and plenty of pool time. The best news of the summer so far is that Abby is really and truly learning how to swim!! In just a few days time, she learned to swim the width of our pool, even with her head under and eyes open, unassisted! She also loves to jump off the side of the pool now, which she never did before. It's really fun watching her newfound confidence and I am beginning to relax, just a bit, when she is alone in the pool.
Abby's 5-year checkup was good - she is still quite small for her age - 33 lbs (7%) and 40.5" (12%) - but she got two shots and did great - and was rewarded with an ice cream sundae after! I also took Zach to an endocrinologist in the city to see if there is anything we can do about his (lack of) height and weight, and while the exam was normal, she'd like to run some bloodwork to just be sure there aren't any deficiencies. So that will be a lot of fun when I have to take him back for that!
All in all, it's been a fun summer, with both kids loving camp and having a great time. Seeing their tired, happy faces at the end of the day is a wonderful, and I just can't believe we are 5 weeks out from Abby starting kindergarten and 6 weeks from Zach starting preschool! In the meantime, we'll all try to enjoy the last few weeks of the summer, with mini-camp, classes and visits from friends & family on the agenda.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Little Campers
This week marked the start of summer camp for most Westchester residents, including my TWO kids.
On Tuesday, Zach took a huge step in his first time separating from Cora or I at Training Camp, where he'll be going for 2 hours, twice a week. Cora said he happily went in to the classroom, and when she said "Zach, you're going to camp!", he said, "ME?!?" And yes, it was him who didn't cry, who had a great day and who was so wiped out that he napped as soon as he got home!
Abby started Camp Rainbow again on Wednesday and this year, she is in a group with her 4 girl friends and 1 boy friend from school. I expect that they will all have fun together and I hope she gets more comfortable with swimming as well. Luckily, her private swim lessons once a week have helped, and she is taking a few strokes on her own now!
This week I found out that I have a "tilted knee," (my kneecap is misaligned) so I have to start PT to help strengthen the muscles around my knee. Luckily, Zach's great physical therapist's husband works with adults, so I will be seeing him 2 times a week.
Next week, it's mommy and kids week! Cora is off on vacation so I took the week off. Monday and Tuesday will be our somewhat "regular" routine - Zach's PT, camp drop-offs, Abby's 5-yr checkup, etc. Wednesday the 4th will hopefully be a low-key day and then we'll leave for the beach (the IL's rented beach house) on Thursday after camp for the weekend, and Jason will meet us there on Friday night. Hopefully I can hold everything together like Cora does without losing a kid or my mind!
On Tuesday, Zach took a huge step in his first time separating from Cora or I at Training Camp, where he'll be going for 2 hours, twice a week. Cora said he happily went in to the classroom, and when she said "Zach, you're going to camp!", he said, "ME?!?" And yes, it was him who didn't cry, who had a great day and who was so wiped out that he napped as soon as he got home!
Abby started Camp Rainbow again on Wednesday and this year, she is in a group with her 4 girl friends and 1 boy friend from school. I expect that they will all have fun together and I hope she gets more comfortable with swimming as well. Luckily, her private swim lessons once a week have helped, and she is taking a few strokes on her own now!
This week I found out that I have a "tilted knee," (my kneecap is misaligned) so I have to start PT to help strengthen the muscles around my knee. Luckily, Zach's great physical therapist's husband works with adults, so I will be seeing him 2 times a week.
Next week, it's mommy and kids week! Cora is off on vacation so I took the week off. Monday and Tuesday will be our somewhat "regular" routine - Zach's PT, camp drop-offs, Abby's 5-yr checkup, etc. Wednesday the 4th will hopefully be a low-key day and then we'll leave for the beach (the IL's rented beach house) on Thursday after camp for the weekend, and Jason will meet us there on Friday night. Hopefully I can hold everything together like Cora does without losing a kid or my mind!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Birthday Girl!
On June 19, 2007 at 8:59 am, my beautiful first child was born, and it feels like it was just yesterday. How on earth did 5 whole years fly by and now I have a kindergarten-bound 5-year old?? The weeks and months must have sped up the last few years, because I don't remember a time when 5 years went by that quickly (maybe college?). Abby is 5 now, and we have so many fun things to look forward to in the next 1-1.5 years: losing her first tooth, learning how to read, perhaps removing training wheels from her bike, taking the school bus, eating lunch at school and so much more.
Abby has become a little girl in every sense of the phrase - she is independent and head-strong, yet still wants to ride in a stroller and get dressed herself. She is silly and funny and sensitive. She is creative, outgoing and smart. We often can't believe how our baby girl seems to be a teenager at times!
My wish for her is to let herself have a great summer and year in kindergarten. I want her to continue to be the carefree, happy child that she is, even when homework and bullying threaten to take away the innocence. I want Abby to be grateful and appreciative for everything she is able to do but at the same time, realize that she is a tiny person in a very big world, and to help make a difference wherever she can. I hope she treats others with respect and stands up for herself when necessary. Above all, I want Abby to remember that she's smart, beautiful and strong, no matter what comes her way.
Happy birthday, Abigail Jordan, we love you!!
Abby has become a little girl in every sense of the phrase - she is independent and head-strong, yet still wants to ride in a stroller and get dressed herself. She is silly and funny and sensitive. She is creative, outgoing and smart. We often can't believe how our baby girl seems to be a teenager at times!
My wish for her is to let herself have a great summer and year in kindergarten. I want her to continue to be the carefree, happy child that she is, even when homework and bullying threaten to take away the innocence. I want Abby to be grateful and appreciative for everything she is able to do but at the same time, realize that she is a tiny person in a very big world, and to help make a difference wherever she can. I hope she treats others with respect and stands up for herself when necessary. Above all, I want Abby to remember that she's smart, beautiful and strong, no matter what comes her way.
Happy birthday, Abigail Jordan, we love you!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Graduation Day
Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered. To Abby's nursery school graduation, that is. I had been anticipating the day ever since her first “moving up” ceremony in the 2s. I watched the seemingly “old” 5-year olds get up on stage (not run off the stage, as my almost 3-year old did), sing all the songs and know all the moves to their choreographed dances. I watched as the 4s parents took pictures, cried and congratulated each other on their children graduating from nursery school and moving on to kindergarten. And as I sat there, with my 5-week old baby boy near me, I did not think that my time as a parent of a grad would be here anytime soon.
Yet, in a flash, it was. Fast-forward 2 years to watching my 2-year old trying to run to his sister on stage and the same little girl who 2 years ago ran off stage crying who was now singing along with her friends. My big girl, all grown up and ready for kindergarten. Well, sort of…she still needs my help every now and then and still acts every bit her age of “almost 5.”
In some ways, I feel that I’M the one who graduated – from my first experience with nursery school, making new friends of my own, navigating the PTA/school board world and draining my bank account for every school fundraiser, photo and field trip. And what a wild ride it’s been for me, one that I’m anxious and excited to start all over again this fall with Zach, who will entering the 2s. I’ve learned that graduation, while not as sad as I anticipated it would be (I brought a stack of tissues with me), was an emotional time to look back on the people and place that helped shape Abby's first few years. I realized that without this experience, she might not be the person she is now – happy, funny, smart, sensitive and caring. I hope she made friends who will stick with her for years, despite attending different schools and living in different towns.
And as for me, I hope I’ll have the strength I had at Abby's nursery school graduation come time for my “baby” boy’s graduation 3 years from now. Which should be interesting considering I am already teary at the thought of sending him to camp alone for 4 hours a week!
Yet, in a flash, it was. Fast-forward 2 years to watching my 2-year old trying to run to his sister on stage and the same little girl who 2 years ago ran off stage crying who was now singing along with her friends. My big girl, all grown up and ready for kindergarten. Well, sort of…she still needs my help every now and then and still acts every bit her age of “almost 5.”
In some ways, I feel that I’M the one who graduated – from my first experience with nursery school, making new friends of my own, navigating the PTA/school board world and draining my bank account for every school fundraiser, photo and field trip. And what a wild ride it’s been for me, one that I’m anxious and excited to start all over again this fall with Zach, who will entering the 2s. I’ve learned that graduation, while not as sad as I anticipated it would be (I brought a stack of tissues with me), was an emotional time to look back on the people and place that helped shape Abby's first few years. I realized that without this experience, she might not be the person she is now – happy, funny, smart, sensitive and caring. I hope she made friends who will stick with her for years, despite attending different schools and living in different towns.
And as for me, I hope I’ll have the strength I had at Abby's nursery school graduation come time for my “baby” boy’s graduation 3 years from now. Which should be interesting considering I am already teary at the thought of sending him to camp alone for 4 hours a week!
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