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And So It Begins…

27 Aug

I’m a mess. Tomorrow is Nia’s first day of school (Pre-K) and I’m freaking out.  I never thought I would be like this.  I’ve always been able to handle leaving the kids on their own with daycare workers or at the YMCA child watch.  This is different though.  This time I’m dropping her off all by herself and it’s not to have fun with friends like at daycare.  It’s to learn and listen and make new friends.  From tomorrow on, she will be judged for how much she knows and how she acts.  It’s just unnerving to me.  I’m even totally stressing out about where to drop her off – you should see the freaking map we have to follow for drop off and pick up!  I’m so afraid I’m going to be ‘that parent’ who drives the wrong way or something!

She doesn’t seem fazed by the idea of starting school.  I took her there for an open house last week and she walked right in and started playing with the toy kitchen. She was fine.  She was also ok that a few other little kids were  playing together – when two of them came over to play with the kitchen, she didn’t want to play with them.  That made me worry that she might not make friends or something but by the end of our time there she was playing with them.  I know it will all work out the way it’s supposed to – I just wish I didn’t worry about it so much.  I know Nia will adjust and have a good time there – as long as I make it through drop off and pick up, the rest should be a breeze.

 

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“How do you spell lotion?”

15 Aug

SpongeBob SquarePants?  Backyardigans?  Ariel?  Little Mermaid? I don’t know?

It doesn’t matter the word – sometimes it’s a bunch of words – Nia is now going through a phase where she wants to know how to spell EVERYTHING.  Part of me thinks it’s neat that she’s showing an interest in learning how to spell but the other part of me finds it a little bit silly at times. It’s not like she’s really paying attention to me as I grant her request – she usually just goes on to the next thing.

She has started picking up on certain words as I’m reading to her though.  The other night she kept interrupting me to point out every “at” or “to” on a page.  She would say, “Why is there an ‘at’ there?”  Don’t get me wrong, I’m really proud of her for being so smart, it’s just sometimes she goes overboard.  I’ve started to give her limits on how many words I’ll spell in a row.  I’ll say, “Ok – one more.”  She’ll say, “How do you spell one?”

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Tiny Girlfriends

13 Aug

So Sweet

This weekend Nia got to have a blast with her best friend from Savannah.  Avery and her parents came to stay with us and it was such a great time.  It just amazes me how much these two little girls click.  They went to the same daycare together since they were like six months old or something and were inseparable from the start. Their cribs were even next to each other!  Taking Nia away from her Avery was really hard for us but it seems (thankfully) the distance hasn’t hurt their friendship. 

As soon as Avery got in the door (around 11:00 pm Friday) Nia and her were hugging and screaming and destroying the house.  It was so awesome hearing them giggling at 7:00 am and watching them hold hands as they walked.  This was the first “sleepover” for both girls and they did great.  They actually went to sleep and they were in the same room!  They were playing really hard though and we did keep them super busy.

On Saturday, we went to Stone Mountain Park and stayed out until 11:00 pm watching a laser/fireworks show on the mountain.  Before that, the kids ran around like crazy in a big barn full of foam balls and nets to climb.

Best of Friends

On Sunday, we went back to the Georgia Aquarium (it was Avery’s first visit there) and had a picnic near the tank of the Beluga Whales.  (It was so crowded there we couldn’t find a table!  It all worked out for the best though – just look at what we got to see while we ate!)

Our Entertainment during Lunch

The girls played so well together and it was like they had never been apart.  Andrew and I got along really great with Avery’s parents too (even the big kids had a ton of fun) so I know we’ll be seeing more of them – I just wish the girls could grow up together.  We just have to do all we can to make sure they keep in touch and see each other as much as possible – it would just be so sad to not see where their friendship leads.

Munchkins

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What about Nia?

5 Aug

It’s just the way it is.  Babies get more attention.  I know Nate is not a baby anymore but he’s still in that age range where people notice him and talk to him.  It happens all the time when we take the kids out to eat or shop.  People approach Nate and start goo-goo talking to him.  Nia usually doesn’t pay it any mind but I think she’s started to catch on that these strangers are going all silly over her brother and not her.  The last time it happened was particularly sweet to me.

The waitress was having a conversation of sorts with Nate.  As it continued for a good few minutes, Nia sat up taller, stuck out her head, smiled her hugest smile and batted her big eyes, hoping she’d get something from the lady – anything.  The waitress never even glanced up at Nia.  She walked away leaving Nia to wonder, “How’s come she didn’t see me?”

Well, I saw you Nia.  Mommy always sees you – no matter how many smiles and laughs Nate is sharing with others – you have my attention – and you don’t even have to work for it.

Beautiful Princess

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The Valles Home is Vacant

2 Aug

We were booked up all through July but now it’s just us again and I’m trying to adapt.  It went something like this –

  • Our friends Chris and Julie arrived first
  • Andrew’s mom (“Lola”) came next
  • Andrew’s sister (Aunt “Ree”) and our niece Baby Ella came to take Lola home with them (we are good sharers)
  • just us for a few days (I read Harry Potter!)
  • Andrew’s mom came back with his dad (Papa Dave)
  • Papa Nick and Grandma Kris made the trip down here

A lot of the visits overlapped each other too – Lola first came down while Chris and Julie were here and that worked out great – we played board games and she watched the kids for us while Chris, Julie and us hit Atlanta for a fun night out.  My dad’s visit also overlapped Lola’s and Papa Dave’s but that turned out to be just fine too – we all went to the zoo and had a great time.  It’s just a blessing that we have a house that can accommodate everyone.  It would not have been possible at our Savannah house that’s for sure!

I’m just so thankful for all of the visitors we had – they brought so much love, laughter and comfort to us and it’s so hard to say goodbye and adjust to not having anyone here.  Nia will wake up and ask where people are.  Nate was picking up new words (he actually says Mommy now!) while everyone was here and I saw how they all helped his little brain get a boost.  (With me he only walks around talking like a caveman.)  We were so spoiled and the only reason that I’m not all down-in-the-dumps is because I know I’ll be seeing some of them and more (my mom and Ginger, Lee and Cami) in a month on the beach!  My dad and Kris just left us yesterday and Nia already asked, “When’s Honey (my mom) coming?”  Not soon enough!

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Memory Queen

23 Jul

Her stack is bigger than mine

 

We don’t even let her win!  I actually try really hard to get more “Memory” cards but she wins almost every time!  It’s pretty amazing watching her sweep the table – taking pair after pair.

She’s addicted to playing.  In the morning, “Wanna play “Membory”?  In the afternoon, “Wanna play “Membory”?  A few minutes after that, “Wanna play “Membory”?  Before dinner, “Wanna play “Membory”?  Recently, our good friends from home (West Virginia home) came to visit us and experienced the round-the-clock “Membory” marathon that I endure.  She had Julie playing any chance she could.  (Thanks Julie! You’re a real team player!)

So far, Nia’s a super good sport about losing too.  “That’s okay Momma.  Maybe you’ll just win next time.”

I doubt it.

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There will be much worse, but…

18 Jul

I know things are going to happen to our kids that we aren’t going to like.  I know it would be best if I deal with them accordingly at the time and then push them out of my mind.  But I just can’t seem to shake that a little girl (brat) spit at Nia.

It happened at the end of her gymnastics class on Monday.  During the last 10 minutes, the kids get to play in a big  pit that’s filled with foam squares.  Nia has a blast.  She can jump in like a madwoman – she can get buried under the blocks – all we hear are giggles – tons of giggles.  On Monday though, the little girl (bully) came out crying and walked over to her mom (miserable looking woman).  I had no idea at the time why she was crying.

It wasn’t until we were in the car that I asked Nia – “Why was that one girl crying?”

Nia – “She spit at my face.”

Andrew’s mom and Me – “WHAT?!?!”

Our reaction made her think she did something wrong and she put on a sad face.  I told her I wasn’t mad at her I just needed to know what happened.

Apparently, the girl (meanie) wanted a certain block but Nia was playing with it.  Nia said the girl (terror) began throwing blocks at her head and then spit at her face.

She said her cheek got a little wet but the rest of the nastiness landed on that girl’s (spitter’s) chin.  Nia said the teacher saw what happened and made the girl (who the heck taught her to spit at people anyway?!?!) leave the pit and say she was sorry.  That’s when the teacher walked her over to her mom.  Nia didn’t even act like anything was wrong.  Even after she told me what happened I asked her if she liked the girl (her mom better watch out) and she said, “When she doesn’t spit at me.”

Why can’t I be like that?  Nia could care less and I’m all distraught.  I want to believe that the girl (undisciplined) was just kind of jealous because she usually gets all the attention but there was a different teacher that day so she wasn’t given special treatment.  Also, Nia had her hair in a French braid that wraps in a circle and looked like a princess and was getting some extra attention because of it.  Maybe those things along with the block incident put that girl (just a kid) over the edge.

I might just be making up excuses but for some reason it feels better to do that than to think someone was mean to my little sweetie (not always innocent) because she didn’t like her.

What makes me even more crazy is that this is only the beginning of wanting to protect my kids from the spitters of the world.  What the heck am I going to be like when she comes home crying because someone made fun of her because she’s not wearing the right brand of shoes.  Or worse, the boy she likes doesn’t like her back.

I know she’ll survive and all the let downs make you stronger – but come on – she’s my baby.
 

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Underwater Explorers

9 Jul

The Georgia Aquarium ROCKS!

Whale Shark!

Today the Valles Family and our good friends from home (West Virginia), Chris and Julie, explored the awesome attraction.  It was a ton of fun and I can’t wait to go back!  Nia and Nate really had a blast.  Just take a gander at the pics and video.  Nate went crazy for the penguin!

The Fish are EVERYWHERE!

Checking Out the Fish

Tuckered Out Nate

Tuckered Out Nia

Looks Like Them, Huh?

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Fun and Sun at the Park

2 Jul
Picnic Time

 

Bird Watching

 

Teeter Totter Princess

 

Super Nate!

 

Squeezing Down the Slide

 

Daddy Spinning Daughter

 

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Sweet Memory

1 Jul

Tonight, I was feeling a little brave – not in the “I’m going to save a life” way but in the “I’m going to let the kids make cookies with me” way.  I’m calling that brave because I am a nervous person when it comes to cooking – especially cookies.  Even when there aren’t kids distracting me, I still do something dumb like use baking powder instead of baking soda.  Despite my fears, this baking experience went wonderfully.

Yum

Yum

The kids helped me put the ingredients in and I let them put their hand on the blender as I mixed.  They had a blast helping mom cook but, of course, they had a better time helping mom and dad eat.

Cookie Face

Cookie Face

 

Happy Kids

Happy Kids

 

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