Constructingalife.com

Introducing www.constructingalife.com. It will be the new space for this blog in the future. The new site is still somewhat under construction, but all posts have been migrated to the new site.

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Colors

Sean went out of town this weekend to New Mexico for his birthday to go golfing. That left Stephen and I this weekend on a rainy, wet weekend. We had fun coloring with crayons, eating, and trying to take rain walks. We found that crayons are a lot less messy than markers, and they have a cool built in sharpener in the back of the box of 64. He says pretty much a new word everyday now. He likes "off" to take off his clothes, "Mo" for "Elmo", "up" to get mommy up.

And he's out like a light

The rare times when I can just sit and watch him sleep when I can actually see him in the light, I think to myself that he is so angelic. All sins are forgiven and he is so peaceful. There's no 2 year old devilish ways, no "no", just being. The past couple of days, he's been napping in his stroller while I take a walk with the dogs after being tired out at school, but unable to sleep. It's only in the low 90's here :), so it is "cool" enough to take a walk in the afternoon without getting too hot. It's good for all of us, good for the dogs to be getting out, good for Stephen, and good exercise for me.

Dallas Aquarium

Sean, Stephen, and I had a great time at the Dallas Aquarium today. It was packed, but Stephen loved to see all of the animals. I think it was more accessible than the zoo, because the animals are mostly small animals and he could walk around a lot. We got him a rubber snake at the end because at the wedding in Atlanta he loved playing with a rubber snake.

What a week

Stephen hated school. It's official. He had a tough week last week. He didn't nap and cried and whined all day, saying, "ma ma", but apparently he did learn some artistic skills, as he has created his first marker masterpiece for mommy this weekend. After school he was plastered on mommy until an early bedtime, and woke up a bunch during the night, apparently scared that we had left him forever. This weekend he has a runny nose, but finally (and thank goodness for 3 day weekend), we have all three of us caught up on sleep and feel a little better. I know in my heart that it really is the best thing for him, as it gives him opportunities for socializing, art, and other things that he may not get at home (although I need to add to my child art supplies, which should be fun) There were bright sides to school, apparently they have an 18 year old high school student as an intern one day of week, and Stephen had an instant report with him and was just his buddy the whole time he was there. It is just going to take a while before he really feels as comfortable as he did with Juana or with us.

We had a nice time with Nancy and Frank this weekend, who came up for Kaitlyn's soccer game on Friday night, which they won. Stephen didn't make it to the game, but he did to the tailgate. We also had a really nice time at the SMU boulevarding, essentially their tailgating for their football game on Saturday. Stephen really enjoyed the parade with a band.

Stephen is REALLY enjoying playing football. He has several footballs that I've developed a game with him to play. He goes back to pass, he can tackle, kick an extra point, and do a touchdown dance (essentially 2 fist pumps). He says "ball" every time we pass the Highland Park football stadium or the SMU stadium or see anyone in the park play pee wee football or etc.

We are off to the Arboretum and/or the Aquarium today for a little family time.

Not Sick Anymore

So, Stephen didn't go to preschool because he hasn't been feeling very well, but following a doctor's appointment, where she pronounced nothing was seriously wrong, he is better. We think it might have been some kind of stomach bug where Stephen didn't really want to eat much for the past week and has been uncharacteristically lethargic. Not even his favorite Yo Baby Yogurt, which is when we know that something is really wrong, when he won't eat his yogurt. We think he is going to be well enough to go to preschool tomorrow...Here he is napping on our bed, which he rarely does.

Big changes coming

On August 31st, Stephen is going to preschool at Carlisle School just on Lovers Lane near our house. It is a Montessori school and they have uniforms...right now he just has to wear a blue shirt with the school name on it and blue shorts. He will go every day and we will let go our wonderful nanny Juana, who has been such a help to us in the last couple of months. We think it will be good for him, very good for him, but we are bracing for the transition period.