Leaf Peepin'...

Alexander likes to help Daddy with the leaves...

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, September 21st - Sunday, September 27th, 2009)

yes, I blocked out Aidan & Grace's face so your computer does not have a weird blurb...

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, September 21st - Sunday, September 27th, 2009)

Weekly Glance

Weekly Glance (Monday, September 21st - Sunday, September 27th, 2009)

• Pretty good week at school & home
• Mommy was the Mystery Reader at school
• First Field Trip on a school bus - Apple Picking!
• Went potty at school several times
• Was cranky on Friday at school, not listening to Miss Lori & had to sit down for not listening
• After school on Friday, went grocery shopping with Mommy - helped picked out fruit
• Mommy & Alexander had a lowkey weekend planned as Daddy was in NJ
  
• Had a playdate lunch on Saturday with Mommy's friend Stacey, Kelley, & Elizabeth (Kelley's 5 yr old daughter)
• Alexander did well during playdate despite making himself at home and running around Kelley's living room
• After lunch date, we went to Mimi & Papi's
  
• Napped at Mimi & Papi's and then took a bit to wake up (wanted to snuggle with Mommy longer than usual)
• Sleepover at Mimi & Papi's
• Woke up super early on Sunday and wouldn't go back to bed
• Helped Mimi make lasagna & did a very good job of mixing
  
• Lowkey day on Sunday because of the rain & Mommy feeling under the weather
• Got home & hung out with Daddy for a bit
  

Weekend Activities...

This past weekend, Daddy was in NJ so Mommy & Alexander had the weekend to chill...
It started out Friday night where I asked him if he wanted to go to Target & he opted for Stop & Shop instead. What kid would love grocery shopping as opposed to a hot dog...mine, I guess.

Then Saturday we were planning to go over Mommy's friends house for lunch. She has a 5 year old, Elizabeth, so we thought it would be a fun play date. We had fun at Kelley's house in which it only took Alexander approximately 5 minutes to warm up and then he began running all over the place.

Before lunch, we had some arts & craft time where we made pumpkins that Elizabeth used to decorate the living room. Then we had pizza, fruit & salad for lunch and Alexander did pretty good with both eating & manners.

After lunch it was time to head to Mimi & Papi's. We originally planned to go apple picking on Sunday (hence the reason for the sleepover) but the rain damped that plan. So we still went over for the sleep-over and had a lowkey visit.

Field Trip: Apple Picking...

Alexander had his first school field trip today - apple picking! He got to ride on a school bus & pick apples on a farm.

He was very excited for both apple picking & the school bus (especially when he saw the school bus). He was excited to be on the bus with Aidan & Aidan's Daddy (Aidan's Daddy & I were a couple of the chaperone's for the field trip) and the boys kept looking for each other in their seats.

At the farm, we walked by some horses which got all the kids excited. Then it was time to ride out to the apples on a tractor pulled hayride. Alexander wanted to stand on my lap and look at everything around rather than sit.

Once we got out to the trees, we got out and the kids immediately started picking apples...and then eating them. Aidan's Daddy & I cleaned a couple apples for Alexander & Aidan while we started picking because the boys really had no interest. They wanted to run in between the trees and hide under branches.

It was a gorgeous day & everyone had a blast! We filled up our bags & then it was time to go back on the tractor. We got back to the farm for a story & snack time. Then they let the kids go see the animals before it was time to get back on the bus for school.

Alexander liked the bunny & the goats but wanted no part of the horse. He thought the goat scratching his head on the fence was great.

It was time to head back to school just in time for lunch/naptime and that couldn't have come soon enough as Alexander & his friends were starting to hit that wall. I know Alexander was starting to crash fast. We got back to their class and Aidan & Alexander were close to meltdowns...so Aidan's Daddy & I left quickly so Miss Lori & Miss Alexa could take control of the room and get everyone settled.

Overall, everyone had a wonderful time! Perfect first time field trip!

Apple Picking Pictures...

Here are some pictures from Alexander's Apple Picking Field Trip...

Here's Alexander all strapped in on the bus ready to go!Alexander & Aidan out picking apples, finding that kicking the ones on the ground is just as funAlexander found the perfect one to snack on
Petting the goat
Alexander and some classmates checking out the goats

Mystery Reader...

I signed up to be the Mystery Reader in Alexander's class. They have a "Mystery Reader" once a week that you can sign up for. They ask you not to tell your child so it can truly be a surprise & they can tell all the kids who at the same time. So today was my day!

I was very nervous & I'm not sure why because it's only a room of 2 year olds. But it went so well! They were all sitting down when I got there waiting…Miss Lori told them earlier that Alexander’s Mommy was coming to read and she said Alexander got super excited but then super angry when other kids kept saying “my Mommy”. I came in, he ran over & gave me a big hug so we told him to sit back down so we could read.

All the kids were sitting down and came crowded over to my feet so they could see the books. I brought in "Monster at the end of the book" and "Hungry Little Caterpillar" books (since we read them at home & I have them memorized). I asked them which one first – they all wanted Grover first.

I thought it was interesting that only Alexander read along. Some kids would talk during parts & ask questions but for the most part they just sat there & listened. It was very cute. I tried to make sure I read to each kid so it wasn’t just Alexander.

And I was good... I read it the way I normally do and even got a few chuckles out of them! Then we read the caterpillar book and they were all picking out colors they found in the book. Then I asked Miss Lori if they have these books in the class and she said no, so I told her to keep them for the class and the kids got very excited.

It wasn’t very long but it was super cute & fun. Definitely have to do that again…

Month Recap...

The latest Monthly update is pretty consistent that things are pretty status quo...since the last update we have had some items to note:

• Two trips to the ER
• Started a new classroom
• Vocabulary is improving every day
  
• Getting better with counting, colors, shapes & numbers
  

His eating, sleeping schedules have remained the same without any variation but we are trying to sneak different things in. Some days he'll be adventurous & try things (pepper, baby tomato) and other days not so much...

His vocabulary & how he's saying his words is getting much clearer. And he's starting to listen when I tell him not to cry or freak out when he can't figure something out (for example moving the seat belt over the carseat & then his foot gets stuck)...

His favorite thing to watch on tv (which we don't let him watch a whole lot) is Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Curious George & Elmo. He also loves to watch golf. He was recently asked if he was going to play football when he got older and he said "no golf" so he told us!

We also now have three rules that he'll repeat them. He usually is asked to repeat them when he's starting to break one of the three rules.
Rule 1: No whining
Rule 2: No screaming
Rule 3: No hitting

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, September 14th - Sunday, September 20th, 2009)

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, September 14th - Sunday, September 20th, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, September 14th - Sunday, September 20th, 2009)

• Very lowkey week
• Pee'd twice in the potty at school on Monday
• Screams at you when he doesn't like what you tell/say to him - learned this from Connor at school
• Is getting really good at brushing his teeth before school & bed
• Learned about colors of our eyes this week at school
• Daddy did bedtime twice this week as Mommy went out with friend Stacey
• However was a bit whiney on Friday at school
• Went to Target with Mommy Friday after school and was extremely well behaved
• Loved seeing his Target friend & he pretty much orders his meal now without help
• Mommy & Alexander morning on Saturday - had a cereal picnic
• Helped Daddy with leaves on Saturday
• Took a very long nap Saturday afternoon (Mommy did too) which was needed
• Sunday morning, hung out with Daddy
• Went to brunch with Mommy, Daddy, Mimi & Papi - loved to see the chef cook the omelets, loved the fruit, had some ketchup on scrambled eggs & not a fan of the mailman statue in the corner
• Played outside after brunch - raked leaves, ran around with Mimi, played in the sandbox
• Watched some football with Mimi & Papi after nap
• Watched his rap video & got a huge CHUCKLE out of it every single time

Littlest Patriot

Introducing the littlest Patriot...

the Pats may have lost today's game but Alexander did get to debut his Pats jersey...

Sunday Morning Brunch...

This morning we met Mimi & Papi for brunch. Alexander loaded up his plate with a pancake, waffle, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, & fruit. He ate a few bites of things and then proceeded to fill up on fruit.

At first we had a table near a statue of a mailman which freaked him out. He wouldn't move off Mimi's arm...so we got another table and he was in much better spirits!

He was more excited about going to check out the chef making the omelettes and seeing what was going on than sitting for long period of time while eating.

But at least he ate a variety of things, so that's a plus...

Little Things...

This morning, Alexander & Mommy were having their typical Saturday morning (breakfast, painting, Einsteins) when Alexander came running over to me with a box of cereal. He wanted to have some cereal with Mommy. And he wanted his own bowl - he even got out two bowls so we could each have one!

I've tried to give him cereal in the past (in a bowl with milk) and he was never interested. More recently I tried to see his interest in cereal & he took a bite of mine but didn't seem to want more. But this time he was all about the cereal. I gave him some cereal & he helped me pour the milk.

We sat on the floor & had a little picnic with our cereal...he made a bit of a mess, but it was worth to have him eat something new & enjoy it!