Under the Big Top

Each month Beau's school has a theme for their curriculum.  This month it was "My Little Sprout Goes to the Circus!"  Each week Beau's vocabulary words (eg, circus, elephant, jump, fly, tent, lion), art projects (eg, lion hand print pudding paintings), and science/sensory lessons (eg, "I Spy" circus items) revolved around the Greatest Show on Earth. 

The month was capped off with a Circus performance by the Pre-K class.  All the students were asked to dress up like their favorite circus personality (eg, ringmaster, trapeze artist, clown) or animal.  The problem is, they didn't tell us about dressing up until Wednesday evening!  That meant I had 48 hours to put together a suitable costume. 

Well, move over, Martha.  I think for $10 and three hours Beau had the cutest costume in the entire class.  Plus it doesn't hurt that he loves to "ROAR!" 

I love this shot because this is how Beau now mosies around the house...chest out with his hands behind his back. 

Well, I had to get a shot of that cute tail!!  Notice the red ribbon...it's all in the details. 

This might be the most appropriate photo of the bunch - deep in thought reading his book with one shoe off.  Classic Beau. 



Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?

Today Billy and I were playing with Beau after dinner and I found myself telling Beau, "Honey, you have meat in your eyelids."  Then it struck me, "Goodness, the things that come out of my mouth these days."  So I sat down and started to think about the strange phrases Billy and I have uttered recently.  Ahhhh...life with a toddler...it's an interesting affair.  So, enjoy.

"Beau, please don't put the remote control in your poop." 

"Honey, don't put the spaghetti in your hair." 

"Take your sock out of your mouth."  (This one I seem to say daily.)

"Honey, stop lifting mommy's shirt up."  (He is now obsessed with my growing belly.  This is fine at home, but not so appropriate at the grocery store.) 

"Billy, let me go change my shirt; I'm covered in snot again."  (Beau had a particularly bad runny nose last week that was compounded by some serious crying.)

"You know, Kelly, I think he might have eaten that leaf." 

"Sweetie, pantyliners are not toys." 

"Please don't eat the emory board." 

"Yes, that is your nose.  No, your finger does not belong in there." 

"Honey, take your hand out of mommy's mouth." 

"Please don't stick that blueberry up your nose."

"Beau, don't sit on Drew." 

"Ok, mommy has had enough tastes."  (He loves playing with spoons and "cooking."  He insists on making you "taste" what he "cooks.")

"Please don't spit on the floor/chair/your books/Murphy." 

"No, there's no baby in there."  (Beau knows that there is a baby in mommy's belly.  However, he mistakeningly asked if there was also one in my boobs the other day.  Hmmm...what does that say about my chest?) 

I know I'm missing some others, but these are ones I find myself saying fairly often.  Oh yes, these were not one time occasions.  This kid keeps us laughing! 

Wow. That was fast!

So Beau has officially been in school for just over a week but there have been so many new developments. 

To start with, separation anxiety set in around Day Three.  So, instead of having to steal a kiss to say good-bye his teacher now has to pry his tiny hands from my neck.  (He has a surprisingly strong grip for a baby.)  But, the crying spells have been shorter and shorter.  And by Monday he was dancing in the corner minutes after I left. 

Next, naptime that first day was a disaster.  There was no nap - just ninety minutes of crying.  Day two - Beau's teacher patted his back as he lay on his kindermat until he fell asleep.  He slept for an hour.  Day three - Beau walked up to his mat, covered himself with his blanket and slept for just under two hours.  WOW.  We really didn't think that would happen so soon. 

Finally, Beau went to the doctor today - pink eye and an ear infection.  Ok, so I knew that sending him to school would subject him to lots of germs and that really doesn't bother me.  I mean, everyone told me, "Hey, you're building up his immunity!"  But wow!  That was fast!  (PS - looks like Mommy and Daddy might have pink eyes too.  Yippee!) 

Well, no school tomorrow...or the next day.  But, we're looking forward to continuing on and more progress. 

UPDATE:  After one day of antibiotics and eye drops Beau slept through the night and his eyes are almost completely clear.  That too was fast!  Mommy on the other hand woke up with her left eye swollen shut.  Sheesh. 

An Apple a Day

I learned a long time ago that Beau is sly.  I can't count the number of times I turned my back and he had magically retrieved my blackberry from the far reaches of my purse/diaper bag/nightstand/sofa/etc...I think you get the picture.  And, now that he is getting bigger and taller, the little guy has incredible reach.  Seriously, EVERYTHING must be placed at least five inches from the edge of the countertops!

So I guess it should not have surprised me when at the grocery store yesterday he reached over to the apple bin and selected a bright red gala.  When I turned around and saw what had happened it was too late.  Not only had he grabbed the apple but he had taken a huge bite out of it.  Beau has NEVER eaten a whole apple before.  Applesauce, yes.  Apple chunks, yes.  The whole thing, no. 

When he realized what he did he was beside himself.  A look of sheer joy spread across his face...as did the apple juice dripping from his chin.  Not wanting to rock the boat (we've had a rough week with school starting) I let him enjoy a few more bites while I checked out. 

He was none too happy that I took away the apple for the ride home, but hey, my negligent parenting stops at choking hazards.  But when we arrived at the house and I returned to him his snack he was gleeful!  He walked around the house chomping away.  He managed to eat about two-thirds of the apple before I finally took it away to get him ready for dinner. 

It's a silly little story...but it's the little funny stories like this that have made the past fourteen months so enjoyable. 

Aww man, it's soooo good!

Yippee!

Nom, nom, nom, nom...

I can't believe you've been holding out on me, Mom.  (Check out the copious amounts of apple juice on his shirt.) 

First Day of School

Today marked Beau's first day of school at My Little Sprout.  We've been getting him ready for the transition for some time now.  We changed his meal and nap schedule to reflect his school schedule.  We've been shopping for fun "play clothes."  And he spent a couple hours at the daycare a few weeks ago and met his teachers.  On this last one he had a bit of an advantage as Nan is one of the teachers for the one year old class - lucky duck! 

I even did a little preparation of my own.  Beau needed a mat cover for his kinder mat and I couldn't find any I, I mean, he liked.  So I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in a year and made a mat cover.  With the extra fabric I made a matching bag for his school supplies (ie, extra clothes, wipes, and aquaphor).  I'm no master seamstress, but I was proud of the final product. 

This morning started off as any normal morning - so much so Beau was too preoccupied with playing and visiting with Daddy and Murphy to stop for me to get an official "first day of school" photo.  THIS is what I ended up with instead. 

Once at school we explored his room.  Ok, I explored his room; he immediately began playing with toys and his new friends.  In fact, there were no tears when I left.  Hell, he didn't even realize I was leaving.  I had to chase him down to steal a kiss. 

Each kiddo has their own folder for "important paperwork."  See those little handprint antler paintings peeking out of the top?  I can't wait for my own little handprint paintings!! 

Beau's class will learn how to express themselves beyond screaming.  Wow, won't that be nice? 



Hmmmm...yes, we may have issues with no. 2. 



The day went very well, with one exception - NAP TIME.  Beau is a notoriously bad napper, unless he sleeps in his own crib.  At school each child walks up to their mat, lays down, covers themself with a blanket, and nods off.  When Billy and I first heard that we both thought, "HA!  Like that's going to happen."  Turns out we were right.  While other kiddos went immediately to sleep Beau refused to nap on his mat, choosing instead to nap on a teacher's shoulder or otherwise cry.  Hmmmm...better luck tomorrow.  

Oh, and how do we know how the other kids behaved?  Because Beau's school runs a live video stream on the password protected website.  It's a pain to get into, but once you're there, the footage is priceless.  The kids are adorable.  And let's just say I have A LOT more respect for Lindsay's profession. 

When time came to pick him up he was in good spirits but obviously exhausted from his lack of a good nap.  He ran to me when he saw me and started crying...just a little.  (This might be terrible, but it made my heart melt again - he still needs me!)  Once home it was a quick dinner and bath and then off to sleep.  Man, falling asleep tonight simply took me turning off the light.  By the time I walked to our rocking chair, he was O-U-T! 

So, Beau survived his first day of school.  And, with the 24/7 video stream available, so did his Maw Maw and Paw Paw.  Yes, his best buddies are going through withdrawal just 24 hours into the new schedule.  But I'm sure they'll make it.  After all, they'll be here tomorrow evening just to visit. 

Here's to tomorrow!