Changes! Four Year Old Check-Up and First Day of Pre-Kindergarten!

My big 4 year 1 month old is 41 inches and 36.4 pounds!!  He's at the 50th percentile for weight and 62nd percentile for height!  He gained 5 pounds and grew 2 3/4 inches.  He increased his weight percentile, up from the 42nd percentile, though he decreased in the height percentile, down from 61st percentile.  People do always remark that he seems so very tall, but I think that's because he's tall and lean with long legs giving the impression of length!  We'll go with it :)

All was well.  He had a hearing test.  It was so cute to watch.  The nurse put headphones on him and told him to raise his hand on the side he heard the noise.  At first he put his hand up when he heard the first sound, then he started raising both hands or no hands.  Then he started telling us what the sounds sounded like...trains and doorbells.  It took a bit, but he finally 'got it.'

They also did an eye exam which he whizzed through!  He didn't fuss about anything, not the blood pressure or examination until it was time for the immunizations!  I mistakenly told him he was getting a couple of shots (I only did DtAP and IPV).  He started whining and crying immediately.  At that point I don't think he even knew what a shot was.  We've never talked about them, not ever.  Sigh.  Well he was a mess crying "No Mommy, please Mommy!"  Now I've never felt the least bit bad about him getting a shot, not even when he was 2 months old.  I've never wanted to cry because it hurt like many other moms do.  Though I insisted upon splitting the injections up over the course of the years, I didn't get upset.  Until this time.  There was a brief moment when he was begging me not to let the nurse do it that I felt myself ready to tear up.  He just broke my heart.  He was begging the one person who has promised to protect him always and forever to not let this 'bad' thing happen to him.  I took a big breath and held him down though and we made it through with no tears on my part and a howl and kicking on his part.  Everyone survived.  He got a couple of Thomas stickers and we made our way down the street to get him a new Thomas train.  He chose Connor! 

Tuesday morning rolled around and it was time for me to go back to work and Tate to go back to daycare/school.  

More importantly, it was Tate's first day of PRE-KINDERGARTEN!!!

I cannot believe my little boy is in Pre-K.  I am shaken to my core with awe, pride and disbelief.  My son will be going to elementary school in one year.  One year.  Big boy school.

Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.

School actually started on Monday, but we had our other plans, so rebels that we are, Tate and I started on Tuesday (wonder if that will work next year!!??)

So excited about his new lunchbox!
His pre-school teacher who absolutely
adores has a sister who is the one
who gave Tate the lunchbox!
Isn't that just the sweetest?

There's that smirk I love!!!

In front of his favorite center - The Train Center!
Thanks Ms. D!!!! 

At his new desk!!!

He's been on green all week!! 

Hanging with his new teacher, Ms. D!

Early morning they combine classes as teachers arrive!
Mrs. L was Tate's teacher the year 2011-2012!
He loves her!

It's been a great week!  Tate's doing really well, and has transitioned amazingly well.  No tears or complaints.  He's been extremely happy in the evenings the past three nights, happily playing with his trains as soon as we walk in the door.  He's been loving, buggy and just the sweetest little boy.  He's a fantastic listener most of the time and really tries hard to please.  We certainly have our moments, but they are quite few.  He's smart as a whip too!  (doesn't every parent think so?)  He can count to 100, he can to 90 by tens, he can tell you what letter any word starts with, seems like he has a few sight words and he loves books!  

I have been utterly blessed.  Truly blessed.  I read all these posts about kids with sensory issues, developmental delays, kids who hit and spit and have mean-spirited dispositions or are just plain difficult.  And I see kids like that every single day at my office.  The sheer number of children that we see on a daily basis with some sort of diagnosis of mental difficulty or sensory issues or acting out (I'm shocked by how many kids hit and kick their parents in anger.  Absolutely shocked).  

And I know I'm blessed.  God is amazing.  I'm so very grateful that He has given me this soul to love and nurture.  I know I fail miserably in my nurturing sometimes, and I throw myself on His mercy and beg forgiveness for He has trusted me with one of His children.  I'm lucky.  So lucky.

I get to be Tate's mom.

Summer Fun - Weekend 11 - Summer's Over

The last official weekend of summer!!!!  More importantly Thursday, August 23rd was the last official workday of summer!!  The kids were to all be back to school on Monday, the 26th!  Work has been crazy, hectic all summer.  I can't even articulate how busy we were.  I was so looking forward to summer being over! And yay!  It's over!

Our fun began Thursday!  I was given a mini-early birthday celebration at lunchtime with this very yummy cake!!  Isn't it just beautiful? 

Thursday evening we joined everyone for the monthly Southwestern Happy Hour. Tate had a blast, and I had a much deserved, much needed glass of Pinot Noir.  There was a great turnout, so my sister who is one of the organizers, member of the Alumni Board, was thrilled.  Tate was super excited because a girl from his gymnastics camp class walked in right behind him!  They colored and 'chatted' for a good portion of the evening.

 

Friday morning Tate and I lazed about a bit, but we had to get Vinnie off to the vet for his annual exam!  Sweet Tate was so worried about him and was so cute at the vet's office, asking if we were going to go back with him and hold his hand.  He was slightly distraught when the nurse came up and took Vinnie away.  I had to promise him we'd be back soon to get Vincent!

Then we were off to swim lessons!  Last lesson for this session!  As always Tate did great!  They worked heavily on his backstroke...he's coming along really well.  We got his little report card, blow-pop (sigh), changed and we were on the road to get me my new phone!  I dropped my 4S a few weeks ago, and was just waiting til I could get a new phone.  Longest 3 1/2 weeks ever! :)  It wasn't worth it to me to fix the 4, so I just waited.  The guy at the AT&T was nice enough to transfer all my 4S data to my old 3, so I did have a phone.  I bought the 5 on Friday.  Yes I opted to not wait for the 5S.  I have no need for a faster, better, more techy phone.  I'm unimpressed by new technology.  The 5 suits my purposes just fine and works as fast as I need it to.

We ran home for some lunch then out to one of my salons to get my brows waxed.  Tate patiently waits while I have the hairs on my face ripped out, with little to no sympathy :).  We then went off to get his haircut.  As always he hopped up into the chair happy as could be, but when Mr. Kirk went to edge him up this time Tate was way too ticklish and wiggling about :(.  He even started crying.  Neither one of us could believe it.  He's been getting up on that chair all by himself since he was 14 months old (I didn't have to convince him at all that first time!!  He was such a big boy!).  Kirk has been edging him up for the past year.  I tried to hold him a bit to get it done, but he was having none of it, so we just moved on and let him hop down.  He was back to his happy self within moments.

We came home and just hung out.  Tate's favorite place to be!!!!!

Saturday morning came with some trains on Mommy's new phone as I turned back over and tried to desperately get some more sleep or at least snooze...which I did until almost 8.  We ate breakfast, got my hair washed and house ready for the birthday luncheon celebration!  My mom (whose birthday is August 27) and I had decided to do lunch at my house...she made a yummy cake and I made chicken spaghetti.  Everyone else brought food and drink as well.  Even Aunt Shelley came over to hang out and eat with us...love  her so much!  Tate was sooooo excited for the birthday parties and he had his own decorating ideas.  He ran around pulling things out and getting the table ready for my mom and me. 

Some people question why I opted to cook, but I would cook for my mom for her birthday, so this works great, and she enjoys making cakes for her kids, so this works for us.  We had a lovely time!  Tate spent most of the day calling me Jennifer....so very cute.  I have not a clue why!

Just hanging out for the afternoon...

Tate and I hung out the rest of the afternoon.  I couldn't have dreamed a better birthday celebration.

We had a very lazy Sunday morning which was my 46th birthday!  Tate even slept in!  Until 6:44am!!  It drizzled and rained, so we stayed in our pajamas as long as we could.  We then went off to have a playdate with a new friend (for both of us!).  We are going on a Disney cruise soon with a friend I made during Tate's swim lessons late last summer.  I'm very excited about my new friend as she's a black woman, and I really think it's important that Tate and I both start spending time with other black families.  I want him to have a diverse community of friends, and I desperately need some diversity in my friend community, so this has been so great.  Anyway, N mentioned early this summer that she and another friend of hers had just bought tickets for a cruise...would Tate and I like to go?  It's just going to be N and her daughter, no husband;  her friend is coming with her family (2 kids, husband, nanny and nanny's husband).  I immediately jumped on the bandwagon and bought our tickets later that same afternoon!

We three woman have been emailing a bit about the cruise and the other woman suggested that I have Tate and her son (turns 4 in September) have a playdate.  As I was reading her email with her signature I realized that I had met her last year at a private school diversity luncheon!  I verified that with her and she said yes that was her!!  Yay!!  She had given me her business card last year so we could get the kids together then, but per my usual I never followed up.  So, I was really glad we have reconnected!!!  Tate and I made our way to their house, and the boys did well together!  Tate's favorite toy was this of course.....

Later that afternoon after we returned home, I checked my email.  Lo and behold, I had an email from this guy...

I knew he wouldn't forget!

My Tate had promised me 100 hugs for my birthday and 10 kisses.  I collected on the hugs spontaneously on Saturday as we were on the floor reaching into a cabinet to get plates and cups for the lunch celebration.  Tate told me he wanted to give me my 100 birthday hugs.  He wrapped his beautiful baby boy arms around my neck, nestled his head on my right shoulder and hugged and hugged and hugged me while counting slowly and methodically to 100.  I was in bliss.  So much love from my sweet boy and so very proud of him counting to 100!!  He only misspoke two times .... at 71, 72, 74, but went back to 70 all on his own picking up 73 and did the same thing at 90, realized his mistake on his own and went back to 90!  But the hug...a-ma-zing.  Complete with an "I love you". 

Who needs anything else for their birthday? 

Sunday he did give me lots and lots of kisses and many more hugs.  Just what I needed!  Sunday evening we had a birthday dinner at 'The French Fry Place' with Aunt Lindsey. 

A perfect way to end a perfect birthday.





Summer Fun - Weekend Ten

I should probably have titled this post Summer Fun-Jennifer's Weekend of Fun :)

I had to work all day Friday, so my parents worked out and came over to take care of Tate for me by 7:15am!  Yep they were up at their usual time to work out of 5am!  73 and 72 (almost) years old!  They are amazing.  In any event, they came over here and took Tate to swim lessons for me then back home with them for the rest of the day and night!  

I worked my ass butt off all day (trying to get every last child's teeth cleaned, drilled and filled before school starts) and was ready to get on the road with my dear friend JL for the....

KEITH URBAN LIGHT THE FUSE TOUR CONCERT!!!

If you look real close around second 15 he

winks at me!  Yes he does! He does!!!

Look closer!!!

We danced like we were 21!  Drank like we had just become legal and all around had just a fantastic time!  It took us almost 90 minutes to get up to the concert with all the Houston traffic, but we still had time to check into our hotel, freshen up and head over to the concert and our 6th row seats :)!   A huge rainstorm had come through, so it was ridiculously humid, though a tad cooler, so more than alot sticky (it's an outdoor venue, in Houston, in August).  No matter - we just had an absolute blast!!!  At one point I leaned over to hug JL telling her I had forgotten how much fun I had when we got together.  And we do have fun!! We graduated dental school together...she practices general dentistry here in town and has a 12 year old son.  I've spent many a night out at their house pre-Tate hanging out in the pool, just having enjoying each other's friendship.  It's harder now with both of us having kids and our kids being such different ages, but we have got to remember to make the effort to see one another!  

We returned to our hotel and I got cleaned up and into bed by midnight while JL hung out with a few friends for a bit.  It was so nice to sleep in an absolutely quiet cool kid-free room.  However, I still woke up at 5:30 and again at 7.  We finally got up and moving around 9.  We checked out and I was back home by 10:30.  I picked up a few things then headed over to my parents' to see my sweet guy.  He had done well overnight, slept with his beloved Papa in the double bed in the spare bedroom...my poor daddy...Tate is a huge kicker especially when he's out of his normal routine.  During breakfast Saturday morning he told my dad "I'm not staying here a long time."  Sweet boy.  I had been preparing him for the overnight for a couple of weeks, talking it up etc.  But I think he was really remembering the last time he had stayed there...back in April when I got both strains of the flu and was down for the count for over a week.  He ended up at my parents from Sunday morning til Wednesday evening with no preparation.  When we had skyped that Monday he had cried saying he wanted to come home (we didn't skype anymore), so I really didn't want him to feel so out of sorts this time.   

We hung out and played a bit and he had some lunch.  My mom and I then headed out to a wedding shower for my sister's college roommate who is like one of our family.  Sweet Tiffany is getting married in just a few weeks.  So we headed off to the restaurant for some yummy margaritas and girl time.

I dropped my mom back off at home and loaded my sweet boy up in the car!  He was so very excited to be going home...his absolute favorite place to be.  I got him situated and fed, then it was time for me to head out for an evening with my girls.  We were celebrating sweet K's upcoming baby boy...her second!  Tate's favorite teacher babysat for me.  Goodness I love her, and my Tate absolutely adores her.  I got him bathed and fed...she read him two stories and he was sound asleep by 7:20.  (He'd awoken at 5:40 Saturday morning, and the emotion of being away from me had worn him out I think).
He and Ms. J had a train race before bed apparently...

I had a fantastic evening with some fantastic girls.  We laughed, told stories, giggled, drank wine, ate delicious food and just loved being together.  Our urban tribe...the female side.  We've been together for 11 years.  This is love.

I was home by 9:30 and curled up with my baby boy by 10:30.  He even made my morning by not waking up until just after 7am!!!!

Sunday was all about me and Tate.  After his 'late' wake-up we lazed around in bed, had a pajama morning and just played.  We did Playstix, laundry, trains, Thomas movie, house cleaning and lots of hugging and kissing.

Then we went outside so he could play with his Stomp Rocket...Best. Toy. Ever.

We sent Uncle Roland a special text to thank him!  This toy is just great.  I've been putting off using it because it's so ridiculously hot outside, and I wondered how much fun it could possibly be to stomp on a piece of plastic and watch a foam rocket shoot into the sky.  

Don't tell Roland, but I'm now pretty sure he really does know everything.

Guess that's why he's the executor of my will huh?  And Tate's secondary guardian. :)

He ran around after those rockets for the better part of 45 minutes.  He was so very happy.

And I was so very happy.  Happy to reconnect with some of the most important women in my life, myself included.  It was wonderful to reconnect with what makes me happy.  It was fabulous to have fun all of my own.   I was exhausted, yet recharged.  

I love my life.