Preschool Observations

My little boy heads to preschool every Monday through Friday. This isn't exactly my preferred schedule for him, but this is how it is at his school and so far it is working out fine. Meanwhile, when I'm not at work, I hang around outside his classroom until the door shuts, at which point I can peer through the observation window. Or I swing by mid-morning to get an idea of what his day is like. Or I show up early at pickup to see how he's doing in circle time at the end of his morning. Many days I'm doing all three! The first day he seemed like he was nervous, but enjoying himself. I saw him working on a project and carefully finishing it to join the group for circle time. I've watched him follow his teacher around for lessons and gaze intently at her as she explains things, reads poetry or sings a song. I watch him sit calmly and politely at circle time, listening to songs or stories or other children sharing. And I also see him wandering around a lot. Not really aimlessly, but, well...kind of. He appears to be really taking in his surroundings. Watching other children, watching his teacher, examining the different materials and areas around the room. But, he is hesitant to initiate his own project. He just observes. And sings (a lot!). And fidgets a bit too. He's always been shy and a bit slow to warm up to new situations, so I'm not too worried. Preschool is a big change. And he seems happy to head there (although I have been asked "when are we going to stop going?"). He's never cried or protested as I drop him off at school. He seems to love his teacher. Actually in his words - "I kind of like her too." She is the calmest woman and so caring. I've watched his smile grow big and his eyes light up when she talks to him. But he still seems nervous about the whole experience. On the positive side, he does ask to stay longer to have lunch and play with the extended day children. We haven't done that yet, though. One step at a time! We'll see how it he continues to adjust...

On a completely different note, we have started decorating for the season. I love this time of year. We've hung up decorations and pumpkin lights and placed our first pumpkin out on the porch. He insists on eating off of his pumpkin plate now at dinner. His preschool is heading to the pumpkin patch later this month. We'll probably be heading there at least one other time as a family, too. I love trying to create new traditions with him.

Congratulations Kari!

My dear friend in Washington just gave birth to her first baby girl last night! Congratulations Mama! I can't wait to meet the little one.

Here comes the talent

Marek and his buddy Isaac put on a show for everyone at our friend's baby shower. Marek broke into song on the fireplace stage and Isaac was soon to follow. Marek's preschool teacher has commented on how he sings all the time at school. So far he seems to have an affinity for music and some talent, too!

Heading to the Forest

Marek had a great time at Enchanted Forest earlier this summer. Here are a few pictures of us taking a break for lunch. He loved running through the mazes, the boats and "cave" of Frontier town and seeing the lights and water show. The place hasn't seemed to change since I was little. Marek just loved it, though! He's been talking so much about it lately, that I think we'll be heading there again this weekend.

From Market to Table

Farmer's Market picks (along with a few tomatoes from the garden.)
Turned into a really delicious, fresh tomato, mozarella, and basil salad. So easy!

Back to School Pics

Marek getting ready to head inside preschool on his very first day! Marek with Grandma on his first day in front of his school.
We went out for lunch at a local cafe and celebrated this big event.
He received a collection of classic children's stories.

Baby Shower Season

I'm getting ready for my third baby shower of the past few weeks today. My best friend in Washington state is due at the beginning of October. (Several acquaintences also from Washington are pregnant or just had a baby.) Last weekend I gave a shower for a good friend here in town that is due at the end of October. Now two of my coworkers have wives who are expecting their first babies (one in November, one in January), so we're giving them a shower this evening. Since I love shopping for babies, this has been great!

Marek was a newborn in this photo above...

Now that Marek is almost four, I have been missing having a little baby around. I used to think I'd have 3 children. Probably because I come from a family of three kids. Of course, when I was about 10 years old, I really wanted 9 children. (!!!) I had created an elaborate future scenario for myself which included marrying a man from Germany named Augustine [because a) I was becoming interested in my German heritage and b) Augustine was about the only German name I could think of since it was also part of a piano song "Ach du lieber Augustine" that I was learning at the time]. I can't remember what I thought his occupation would be, but I had created a future for myself where I was a writer and mom of 9. I had names for everyone of them - but I can only remember Todd and Dominique.

A friend of mine recently shared this quote with me and I love it:

"Motherhood is not what we imagined.

It is more delightful, more heartbreaking...

It is not the calm after the storm we have been led to expect.

It is almost more than a person can bear. Almost." - Ariel Gore, author of The Mother Trip

Beginning Primary!

Marek started in his primary (preschool) class this week! His first day was Wednesday. We got to school really early (I got up really, really early...both of these things are unusual!!) and anxiously waited outside his room door. The children line up outside the door until their guide opens it and greets each one individually with a welcome and a handshake as they enter the room. His class is mixed-age, so only about 5? children are "new" this year. I think this helps a lot with classroom management! The older children had already been back for a week - and also had already adjusted to the idea of being away from home, preschool, etc. last year (or even the year prior). Marek did so well! I waited around and peered in through the parent window after they got started in circle time. He sat there, right along with the others...looking a tad nervous and fidgety, but nonetheless, part of the group! I also came to pick him up early enough to see that he was still managing quite well on his own three hours later! So far he's had two days of school and they've both gone really, really well!

It's a little sad for me, as mama...but he makes me so proud! I also now will have three days each week where I'm not at work...and he's in school. Meaning, three days x. three hours = 9 hours of "me" time!!!! What will I do with myself?!

I have pictures from his first day and a few others from our party last weekend for a friend's baby shower to post. But, alas, while my camera is here with me, all means to transfer photos to this computer are at my computer at home. More to come soon!

School is almost here

Last week I had a new parent orientation meeting at Marek's Montessori preschool. He got to play in the playpark outside while I met with his teacher, the administrators and other parents. I had been a little nervous about how he would separate from me there that evening, since he had only been there maybe two or three times before (and only once recently). When I found him after my meeting was over, he was at the top of the slide with other children. He smiled so big when he saw me, then his eyes quickly filled up with tears. I thought, "he missed me so much!" But then he exclaimed, "I don't want to go home, Mommy! Go away!" He was busy playing and having a great time! He and a handful of other children, along with one of the childcare workers, had gone on an imaginary trip to San Francisco and were heading up into space on their rocket ship next. He was quite excited about this. We were finally able to leave without too many tears or protests. But it was obvious that he was quite taken with his new surroundings. He went back two days later to have a one-on-one meeting with his guide in the classroom. She seems so sweet, friendly and calm. I think he will just love her. She showed him how to do a few things in the classroom, they fed the fish, and she showed him the bathroom. And once again, as we were leaving, he insisted that he wanted to stay longer there. His first day is Sept. 10th and I'm hoping it goes just as well as these initial introductions! I'm taking the full morning off from work that day. He's growing up so fast.

One humorous thing happened when he was playing at the playpark at his preschool last week. When I was signing him out, the childcare helper asked, "how do you spell his name?" I replied and she had this look of utter confusion on her face. "He told me his name was He," she explained. I just burst into laughter. Marek's been going through this phase for the past two or three months that his name is now "He." He claims Grandma changed his name. We've all had numerous discussions with him about why we sometimes use "he" when referring to someone, etc., etc. There's a bit of humor in his insistence on being "He", so I think he knows the truth. And, luckily, he still responds to Marek. But every once in awhile, he still says, "No, I'm He!" We'll see what he tells everyone at school!

Back again

I have been terribly bad about posting here regularly! We were on vacation last week, so I thought I'd share a few recent photos before summer is over! We took a trip to Portland and checked out the Children's Museum again, the Japanese Gardens, went shopping and had a really good time. We also drove up to Tacoma for a few days. One of my best friends had her baby shower on Sunday. Marek also attended the Lyon Olympics while he was up there. He had such a good time! He was so outgoing and happy...he just loves Tim and Kelly and Maureen. He kept telling Jake and I that he wanted to play with other people instead of us.

Now I'm working on getting him ready to transition for preschool in a few weeks. He meets his teacher (guide) this week. I really hope it goes well!!

Fourth of July

We were in the city's 4th of July parade (Marek helped decorate his wagon), followed by festive fireworks shared by Walter, the little boy who lives next door to Grandma. We ended the evening by watching fireworks on top of a hill nearby. Marek was so excited, exclaiming "look at the sparkley ones!"

ALA in Anaheim

I spent the weekend in Anaheim at the annual American Library Association conference. It was a great conference. I didn't have time to head to Disneyland, so my Anaheim experience wasn't what it normally would be. Of course, Disneymania was everywhere I looked, like it or not! My hotel wasn't near the conference center or the main conference hotels...actually, my hotel didn't seem to be near anything of interest, unless you count an outdoor mall. But it was nice and accomodating. The weather was great, the people were friendly, the sessions interesting, the exhibits fun (especially since I got to gush over my favorite YA author of the moment, John Green, and my all-time favorite author/pediatrician, T. Berry Brazelton), and the flights were smooth! I also attended a meeting on pursuing a PhD, which gave my dream all the more ammunition! I met a few people from UW, San Jose, U of Pittsburgh and U of Illinois. I learned that Simmons has an on-line program with a professional slant. University of Illinois still remains my top choice. The faculty and commitment to my area just doesn't seem matched at the other schools. It was great to connect with academic representatives in my field. Palm trees everywhere! I took a few photos of the conference area whilst taking a break from lugging overstuffed bags of Exhibit Hall swag on my shoulders all day (my shoulders still hurt, in case anyone's interested....)
Below is the arena where I heard Sally Ride and T. Berry Brazelton speak in two great sessions.
Foliage!
I'm tracking my experience at ALA on a wiki, for anyone who is library-minded and interested. It was a fun trip. I'm glad to be back with Marek, though! Tomorrow is the 4th...hoping to do the parade and take in all-things holiday-like!

Curious George at the Teddy Bear Picnic

Last Thursday was the Teddy Bear Picnic in town. About 400+ children and their families attend this annual summer event. It's fun to see such a big gathering of children in town. The special guest afterward was Curious George. We prepped the night before with a book about Curious George visiting a baseball game. We stood in line to meet the curious monkey. Marek was somewhat afraid of the character, as witnessed in the above photo. It seems that I was more excited to meet Curious George than he was!
Here is Grandma and Marek, picnicking at the park during the Teddy Bear Picnic.

25 Things About Marek

I know this is an old picture (he's certainly not 3 1/2 here!) and I think I've even posted it on this blog before, but as it's also one of my favorite photos of him, here it is again! I recently read a Father's Day idea of capturing your child's favorite things on paper, then framing it as a keepsake. Here is my version:

1. Marek's favorite color is purple.
2. He loves riding his red tricycle.
3. He loves hot chocolate - but not too hot! And not too much whipped cream!
4. He loves to sing, listen to music, and dance. I don't think he ever tires of singing the ABC song.
5. He has a great sense of humor. He definitely inherited the Ashby side of the family's fits of laughter.
6. He has a dimple in the same place on his face as his Grandpa Ed. Similarly, he loves popcorn, chocolate, oranges, reading, and Johnny Cash just like Grandpa did. They would have been the best of friends!
7. He loves to water things. Give him a hose and he'd be happy all day!
8. He has always achieved the various milestones of weaning, sleeping through the night and potty-training a year later than I expected, but at just the perfect time for him.
9. He loves giving kisses. Good morning kisses, boredom kisses, happy-to-see-you kisses, tired kisses, mad kisses!
10. He pretends he works at the library with me. He often says, "I need to go to work!" When I ask him what he does there he says, "I need to get books to bring home. What book does Grandma need?"
11. He wants to know exactly what he should eat to grow up.
12. He says that when he grows up he's going to drive the car with Mommy riding in the passenger seat and Grandma and Daddy in the back.
13. He wants to know how everything works. He often asks us, "Why you don't know why you don't know?" How does one answer that?!!
14. He loves to rhyme. The sillier the rhyme, the better.
15. He doesn't have many fears, fortunately. But the few he has are: getting haircuts, going too high in a swing, and loud noises (this includes noisy restaurants, hairdryers, and toilets flushing!).
16. He has a pretend friend named "France." She lives in a white house and doesn't have a car.
17. He doesn't like a lot of change. For example, he's not a big fan of the idea of caterpillars turning into butterflies, the idea of the moon waxing and waning, etc.
18. He's never been attached to just one teddy bear, stuffed animal, blanket or toy.
19. He never really used a pacifier as a baby. Unless you count me, the human pacifier. :)
20. When he first went to daycare as a baby, he refused to take a bottle for 3 days. He's always had a strong will.
21. In fact, he was kicked out of his daycare for refusing to nap as a baby.
22. During lunch last week he told a story: Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl and they went into the woods. They saw a witch and got scared and ran out! The end."
23. He's very concerned about turning off all of the lights in the house to help conserve energy.
24. He loves broccoli!
25. He loves uninterrupted, stay-at-home-all-day-and-play kind of days.

How's It Going Over There With Your's?

Tonight while we were eating dinner, Marek tells me how much he likes what he's eating. Then he turns to me saying, "how's it going over there with your's?" He cracks me up sometimes! I really, really need to get a new camera. I went shopping briefly this evening, but as usual, I was so indecisive that I decided to do more research on what camera to purchase and return later.

Marek has another attempt at a dentist appointment scheduled for this Thursday. Please keep him in your thoughts! The last time didn't go so well - he spit out all of his medicine prior to his appointment. I've been talking about it with him...trying to calm any fears and reassure him that he can be brave, get through it, and we'll do something extra special afterwards to celebrate his bravery. Hopefully it will work this time!

a summery day

Finally! A sunny day full of motivation for planting tomatoes, flowers, and carrots! Marek and I planted - he is such a great helper! He loves pulling weeds, watering with the hose and generally helping out in any way he can. We also worked all morning on a Father's Day gift.

Summer or spring, for that matter, is long overdue in my opinion. Today was so nice and hopefully it won't be the last day like this for awhile. With all of the crazy weather occuring across the nation, I can't truly complain about the lack of sun here these days. That's hardly a catastrophe. But, still, I'm really looking forward to summer right now...if the weather ever gets here and stays!

I haven't posted any new photos lately for several reasons. First, I haven't taken many since my camera doesn't have a rechargeable battery, which leaves me often with a great photo opportunity and no way to capture it. Secondly, most of my photos were on a desktop that this week completely crashed - blue screen of death and all. I hope to recover them, as virtually all of Marek's photos were on this computer. (I know, how can I be a librarian and not have an organized system of backup copies for archival purposes?)

So, as I sit at my laptop right now writing this, I have two new goals: 1. Invest in a new digital camera with a longer battery life! 2. Upload new photos regularly! I did create an album on picasa of a few past pictures of Marek, so I'll share that url soon.

Hoping you are all enjoying the month of June!

Recent photos

Gym Class fun

Here's a hodgepodge of photos from his last OSU gym class and post-class lunch on campus.

more Easter...

Easter inside

This is Easter morning. The weather was so cold and rainy that morning, so Marek explored his Easter eggs and basket inside. We spent Easter morning over at Grandma's house. In addition to his Easter basket from the Easter Bunny, Marek woke up to a chocolate bunny cake made for him. He had wanted a "brown bunny cake" for the occassion.
A pizza almost the size of Marek! He was excited for the delivery of pepperoni pizza this evening for dinner over at Grandma's. We just got back from a trip to Tacoma and Marek was looking forward to spending time at Grandma's when we returned. He hasn't been feeling well today, so it was a nice treat for him to spend the afternoon and evening, resting at Grandma's.

I promise to upload more pictures soon. I lost my USB plug to upload my photos from my camera. I'll try to transfer some this week to my laptop and send along more. Hope all is well with everyone! Happy Spring!