Brave

We anticipated Nathan's first day of school for a long time. The funny thing about time is it keeps going. Events happen even when it feels forever away. So the big day came and Nathan said the best thing that morning. "I'm ready Mommy." Yay! He said he was excited and practically dragged us out the door. We were all excited I guess. We were among the first to arrive. We went right to his classroom where the wonderful teachers there took control right away. He has his name written on a little orange shark attached to a magnet on the door frame. The kids grab their own and put it in the basket in the classroom as a sort of attendance. I helped him find his, then Ms. Christy came over and told him to say goodbye. It was then he got that look in his eye. His little mouth turned down and doubt set in. I kissed him first, Daddy bent down with Benny, then Daddy got a quick kiss too. I think. I had turned away by then so he didn't see my own tears. Even Daddy got misty. But even though he started to get sad and nervous, he was so brave. He still said goodbye to us and went with his teacher. Leo and I went to another room for parent orientation, otherwise we would have just dropped him off like today. We waited in the drop off line then unloaded him when the teacher came to the car. Again, he had that little frown start to form but he bravely said "bye Mommy" and off he went.

When he came home from the first day, he was all smiles. Sweaty from running around outside and hungry! He talked about a couple things that he did but it will never be enough detail for me. I'm used to overseeing his every minute and now I'm missing three hours of his life! This is when the flashbacks begin but from a different point of view. I'm in the car with my mom and she's asking "How was your day?" and I say with little enthusiasm, "Fine." The tables are turned and now it's me asking all the annoying questions to squeeze any detail I can out of the kid. It came out a little at a time but the main thing is he likes it. He's happy and even excited to go back again. I expect a little backsliding when he realizes this is a long term thing (like for the next 15 years!) but he will be fine. He's my big brave boy.

Party, Sleeping & School

The Big Birthday Bash was, as usual, a success. We had many people passing in and out of here all afternoon, including a dozen and a half kids or so. The kid quotient keeps rising. Nathan loves this. Leo less so. We welcome them of course but Leo longs for the old days of late night parties and the hangovers that follow them. I personally did not mind getting to bed by 10p and waking at a normal time without a headache. I must be old. In any event, it was a good time. We borrowed Aunt Kerri's bouncy house - always very popular - and broke out the beer pong (aka Beiruit). We received lots of compliments on our new deck too. I was so very happy to show it off and use it. Guess what - it didn't fall down either. Ha. Uncle Matt joined us for the weekend too.

The sleep training continues. It's so much harder than the first time around. There is more going on in our lives, more distractions, etc. You would think the patience and experience would have made the process easier. Not so. It still sucks to hear your baby cry. But this process worked for Nathan and we're sticking to it. I hope that this time next week I will be able to tell you it worked this time too. In the meantime, I'm hiding behind my ipod to drown out the noise.

Last week we went to Nathan's preschool for a little meet and greet. His teachers seemed nice and he liked playing in his classroom and the playground. We're a little worried he will make himself too comfortable and pee out there on the playground or get in trouble for singing "I'm Sexy and I Know it." But we'll cross that bridge when it comes. Because it is coming.

Moving forward it seems like we have turned a page. Between our summer project being (mostly) completed, a big party with all our friends, school and new daytime schedules - it actually feels like September should feel; like when it did when I was a kid. Something changes in the air too and you just start fresh. Only I can't believe that the coming months will include Halloween costumes and holidays plans already!

Sneak

I thought I would sneak in a post while I have a few extra minutes, which is rare! I have no organized thoughts so here's what's happening as I'm thinking . . .

Benny has not been on any regular schedule and the poor thing has been kept up as late as Nathan all this time. His naps were terrible and he was cranky by dinner time so we decided to change things up and put him on a proper timetable. Morning nap - good. Afternoon nap - non existent. Late afternoon nap - a mess (he slept while we ate dinner instead). Early bedtime - success. So far. This will be an interesting transition. Hopefully it will help with keeping Benny asleep all night, napping better during the day and giving mommy a break now and then.

Another transition will be Nathan going to preschool starting next week. Yikes! Before I know it I will be sending him off to college! I know I will have mixed emotions next Tuesday when he starts. Sad and anxious about not having him with me all day but excited and happy for his independence and yet another little break for mommy. (Hmmm, I may be able to breathe soon!)

G'pa Truck has been around for over a week now. He stayed with us for a while to hang. He was a huge help with all that we have going on. Over the weekend he headed down to the Kokers to help with the arrival of Patrick John. Logan now has a little brother! Patrick's first few days were rough but after a little help he is doing just fine and got to go home with Kerri Monday. Leo got to see him but I will have to wait, hopefully this weekend.

Tomorrow is Leo's birthday and this weekend is the big bash. And just in time, our deck is (for the most part) completed. We started re-doing it weeks ago and have been diligently working on it during every spare moment we can find (not many to be found). But it's very near completion and it looks great. Stay tuned for a silly video showing the whole process.

I'm sure there is more but that's all I can extract out of this tired old brain for today. (If I were pressed to say more, all that would come out is stuff about sleep habits for babies since I have been studying sleep books like I was trying the pass the bar.) Hopefully the new nap and school schedules will allow for more down time for me, more blog-reading for you!