We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We were very busy with our 5 days of celebrating. Abby was very into opening her gifts this year. She was awesome at waiting for her turn. She was also a trooper with LONG days. Cars were the favorite for this year. Today was our first day with no plans and she is almost at a 3 hour nap. She is getting some much needed rest. Overall we had a great holiday. We were at Sean's mom's on Christmas eve and went to our 7 PM service. Christmas afternoon and evening we were at my parents in Columbia. Abby was enjoying her last Christmas as the only kiddo there since Kevin and Catherine are expecting. Friday we did a day trip to southern Maryland to see some of Sean's dad's family. Saturday we had a gathering at our house for our friends with LOTS of kids!!! Sunday afternoon we had the Martin Christmas followed by a quick viist Sean's Dad's to welcome his sister from Georgia.
Many people have been asking how first grade is going so I thought I would give an update. It is going very well. At the moment I have 23 kids. They are a good group of kids. It has been a challenge dealing with that number of students for some activities. I feel myself finding the need to work in small groups a lot, but it isn't always possible. It has been fun getting to plan and participate in whole grade activities such as our field trip to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm and Gingerbread houses. It is also very nice to have my own schedule that doesnt' usually get changed at a minutes notice. I am very busy. I do bring home more work than I did before. So overall it is going well and I am glad that I was given the opportunity to make this change. There are times when I feel like things get away from me.
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was a busy multi day event as usual. It was great to visit with all three families and reflect on what we are thankful for. Abby is thankful for her family!! Ms. Claire helped her learn that. Abby and I will be back to the usual schedule on Tuesday. Sean took a few extra days for hunting.
Abby has found another food she likes. Tomato Soup. We were at the store picking up a few things. She saw it and said I want that. I started to explain that I don't know if she would like it when I realized she loves pizza sauce and the sauce on beefaroni. So we bought a can and had it for lunch. She ate almost the whole can. Another one of those things Sean and I don't really eat, but she loved it. Orange juice is the other.
As we begin the busy holiday season, I hope to keep the spirit of the season. Tomorrow Abby will start her countdown calendar until Christmas. She is very excited about Santa and gift. We also want her to remember that it is Jesus' birthday as well. She does know this and also is pretty sure Santa's birthday is August 12th :)
So this may seem odd, but Abby had her first hair cut today. It wasn't that we didn't want to cut it we just didn't feel like fighting with her. She has gone with mommy a lot. So this week I told her that we were going to get haircuts on Saturday. She said she wanted to sit on my lap. She did great. She sat on my lap and we read book. We didn't cut a lot, more like just a trim. Then Karen put some gel in and blew dry it. Abby seemed to enjoy it. Of course it was followed by a lollipop.
Abby was very excited about the first snow as well. We did take a little walk last night to head to the neighbors house to play. It was pretty icy just walking.
We are getting ready for the busy holiday season and looking forward to spending time with family.
Abigail had a fun weekend. It started with Trick or Treat on Friday. She was very into being Tigger. Abby and I walked around for a bit while daddy handed out candy. Then we walked around with Abby's friend Katelynn from down the street. They were so cute. They walked up to the doors together. Abby would yell trick or treat and Happy Halloween.
On Saturday we went to see Disney on Ice in Baltimore with Katelynn (and some of her family and friends)Abby loved it!! Especially the Cars part. She wasn't as thrilled with the second half (Tinkerbell). Most because she had no idea who Tinkerbell was. She enjoyed the Lion King and Little Mermaid parts as well.
Saturday evening we went to a Hayride and bonfire at my uncles. She was so excited to ride in the wagon. She snuggled with Nanny and talked the whole time. Back at the fire she wanted to go see the horses. So Great Uncle Al took her and Emily to see the horses. Then Abby gobbled up a hot dog and played for a bit. Then she feel asleep on her belly on one of the benches around the fire. Long days will do that!!!
She seems to becoming a little more confident of new things. She is also trying new things at meal time.
Abby has started the lovely stage of WHY? It is good at times, because she asks really good questions. But there are times when why isn't really needed. Oh well, Sean said he likes it because it means she is trying to learn new things.
She still continues to amaze us with her learning. She has a whole pile of word cards for family members and pets. She can read many of them. She also has number cards which she knows up to 20.
Lately her focus on cars has lessened. She is becoming more interested in her stuffed toys and dolls. She comes up and puts them all over the house on blankets because they are sleeping. She also feeds them a lot. She still plays with the cars, but is branching out a bit.
She is excited about wearing her Halloween costume and getting lollipops (the only candy she likes). She will be a bouncy Tigger. Should be cute.
So Abigail and I are home today. She is sick. She didn't each much dinner last night. We didn't think much of it at first since doesn't really eat a lot on most days. After dinner I realized she was warm. Took her temp- around 102. Gave she some tylenol then left her lounge. She didn't really want to play anything. She went to bed fine and slept all night. I got up a lot to check on her since I had to decide if I was going to work or not. I decided a little after 5 just to keep her home. The temp had gone down some, but figured better safe then sorry. Of course by 10 AM she was doing just fine. Oh well. So in the next week I am going to miss 3 days of school. Today, Thursday (Science inservice), and Monday was a planned Personal day.
Gymboree update: Abby and I went to the music class last week. She enjoyed playing on the play floor before and after more than the class. The class was really large (she said they were accidently over 2 kids) and LOUD! I guess I pictured the kids sitting and following a long with the teacher. Some of the kids just ran around and screamed during the 45 minutes. It was a 3-5 year old class so I thought there would some control. Abby enjoyed playing the different instruments and moving around. She actually ventured away from me a few times. I think we are going to keep looking for some things to. A neighbor mentioned taking Abby and their daughter to Tumbletown at the mall sometime. I would love to do some swimming again too.
Everyone else is doing well. Buddy and cats have adjusted to the back to school schedule. Buddy doesn't have a crate at all now. (although some days he should). Work for Sean and I is going well. I think I have adjusted to first grade. I find myself doing a lot more at home, but that hasn't been a problem.
On Saturday we had family pictures taken for the church directory. We haven't taken Abby for pictures in a long time. We tried on her first birthday and she didn't really cooperate. We had a family pic shortly after that she cried for most of it. Since then she has had pictures taken at school. These always turn out pretty good so we buy them. She did well on Saturday. We did the family first, then mommy and daddy, and ended with Abigail. She didn't really want to pose how he said but she did smile. The photographer had to keep telling her to put her tongue back in her mouth.
First grade is going well. It has been a change to occupy 20 kids for a day vs. a few at a time. I have gotten into the routine and I am enjoying the new adventure.
Abigail has been busy learning new things: holding a pencil, talking about weather, what to do when someone is hurt, and I could go on and on. Tomorrow we are previewing a music class at Gymboree. Abby seems to enjoy music and singing so I thought we would give it a try. Gymboree is offering a free session of one class this month.
Potty training is going well. She did have 2 accidents in the last couple of days, but overall she seems to get it.
We have been very busy lately. On Thursday we went to the Solanco Fair with my parents. Abby was very excited to see all the animals, especially the ducklings that climb the ramp and slide down when they try to get food. She also enjoyed sitting on the tractors! On Friday we went to see the York Revolution play the Barnstormers with Sean's mom. Abby enjoyed watching Downtown and going to the potty A LOT!! Saturday we were busy around the house. Sean replaced our mailbox. It was pretty close to falling over.
Potty training is going well. She hasn't had an accident for almost a week other then a few times at naptime. She is doing great. She tells us when she has to go and most times is already on the potty going before we get there. We are so proud of our big girl.
First grade is going well too. I feel like I am into the routine now. Just have to finish switching our things from one room to the other. That will come as soon as time allows. My class is great.
I have survived three days of first grade. It felt like I was subbing the first day. The second and third felt a little more normal. The kids seem like they are adjusting to the change.
Potty Training- Abby stopped holding it so long in the middle of the week. Wednesday she had quite a few accidents. It was a bit of relief for me since I was concerned about her holding it so long. Thursday she only had one accident at school. Friday she stayed dry ALL day long. We are still adjusting to the constant trips to the bathroom. She seems to be getting the hang of it. She is always very proud to show off her stickers on her shirt. GO BIG GIRL ABBY!!
