Katelyn, keep trying!

Well, Katelyn has discovered a new way to be bipedal. Although it has been almost three weeks since the last post, she has only improved her walking a little bit. Instead of 2 or 3 steps, she can now take 5-7 steps, and can "catch" the fact that she is about to drop which makes her wobble around like a bobble head trying to maintain her balance. Sometimes she is successful, sometimes not. Often, she will take several steps, lose the balance, and then drop to her knees, at which point she finishes crossing the room by shuffling her knees in a "half-walk". And of course, she's not using her hands, so after a few knee steps she looks up at me with a big smile and waves her hands around as if to say, "Look, Mom, no hands! I'm walking upright." Check out the video Jeff just put online and you'll get a peek. Unfortunately, he cuts it off just before she sends out the grin.

She's quite happy playing around the room, picking things up and chewing on them. Her stacking cups are her favorite things to walk around with and chew on. She's starting to like chopped up fruit and pasta (as evidenced by the lovely Spaghetti face Jeff posted), but just won't touch chopped veggies, only pureed, jarred ones.

She's finally sleeping better, thank goodness. About two weeks ago, she went to waking up only once in the night, around 3am, and then this last week, the first wake up has moved to an average 5am, give or take an hour. Ah, six hour stretches of sleep at last! :o)

AT play centers, she loves to crawl around and fall of of cushiony mats of different sizes, so at home I pulled all the cushions off the couches so she could jump around and crawl on those. Which she did for about one minute, and then realized that the couch (sans cushions) was low enough to climb up on and then she could get to the fascinating things sitting up on the end tables, like the candy dish she constantly sees her brother at, picture frames, plants, etc. Or the best thing of all, she can climb right onto the end tables! Aaaarrrgghhh!

First Steps!

Katelyn took her very first steps yesterday! I was at a playcenter with the kids to scout birthday party venues, and Katelyn was cruising along a piece of equiptment. She had let go of it and did her usual standing balance thing, and I watched her only with half an eye because I completely expected her to sink to her knees as soon as she wanted to move. But instead, she took 3 good, solid, balanced steps before sinking down to the ground! She didn't want to try any more that morning, but later in the evening while cooking dinner she tried it several times again, but didn't really get any good steps in. Anyway, I'm hoping that in the next week or two she may be walking around!

Kyle's first day of school.

So I dropped Kyle off at his first day of school this morning (Jan.3,2007). It went something like this:

We pull into the parking lot of the school.

Dad: This is your new school Kyle. Do you remember it?
Kyle: Yeah. But I already came here, with Mommy.
Kyle: Hey, there’s the playground!
Dad: Yep, that’s where you’ll play with the other boys and girls.
Kyle: Are you going to stay here with me?
Dad: No Kyle, I have to go to work.
Kyle: But… Is MOMMY going to stay here with me?
Dad: No, but she is going to come later with Katelyn to bring you home.
Kyle: [loudly] But I just don’t want to be here all by myself.
Dad: Kyle, you won’t be here by yourself, there are other kids and teachers here who will play with you.
Kyle: [crying] But I just don’t want to go to school by myself.
Dad: I think you’ll be fine Kyle. Let’s just go inside the school and take a look around.
Kyle: [crying] Up Up Up. I just want you to hold me.
Dad: Kyle, you can walk – I have too many things to carry. How about I hold your hand?
Kyle: [crying] O K

We walk into the school and I sign him in.

Teacher Denise (school director and teacher for the 4-6yr olds) comes into the office.

Denise: Good morning Kyle
Dad: Kyle, this is Teacher Denise. Do you want to say hi to her?
Kyle: [hiding behind Dad’s leg] I just don’t want to talk to that teacher.
Denise: Oh, are we having a hard time this morning?
Dad: He’ll be fine.
Dad: Come on Kyle, let’s go find your cubby and put your stuff (lunch, blanket, pillow, extra clothes) away.
Kyle: [standing in doorway of classroom, but no longer crying] But I’m just scared.
Dad: It’s OK Kyle – come over here; let’s put your stuff away.
Denise: He’ll be fine once he starts playing with the other kids.
Dad: I know. I’m not worried.

I give Denise the family picture they asked us to bring so they can tape it inside his cubby. Kyle wanders over to where the toys are. Denise opens and inspects his lunch to see what we packed for him (pb&j, carrots, wheat thins, milk), then zips it back up. (I guess we did OK – I didn’t get any reprimand. J )

Kyle: [standing by the toy shelf] What are these?
Denise: Those are counting blocks
Kyle: But can we play with them?
Denise: Yes, you can play with them. Do you want me to show you how to use them for counting?

I walk with Denise over to where Kyle is standing.

Dad: Is there anything else you need me to do before I go?
Denise: No, I saw you signed him in, we’re all set.
Dad: OK Kyle, I have to go to work. I will see you later OK?
Kyle: OK
Dad: Can I have a kiss?
Kyle: [ignoring the request - continues to look at the toys on the shelf]
Dad: [gives Kyle a kiss on the cheek] Mommy will be here at four o’clock to pick you up.
Kyle [still ignoring and fiddling with blocks]
Dad: Goodbye Kyle.

And out the door I go. Fairly typical first drop off I would guess.