I am being lazy and copying some of my friend's pictures from facebook in order to save time. I know most of you have seen them on fb, but I thought it would be nice for the grandparents.
Facebook Greg Kline's Photos - Our Medicine for Nature Deficit Disorder
The local metro-park was having a "get outside and play" day, and we attended with our friends, Greg and Alli. As you can see, the girls had a blast. I am still sore from all of the walking with Tai on my back, but it was excellent exercise.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Maia Update
I know it has been an eternity since I last posted something. Life has been kind of hectic with school starting and getting accustomed to our new routine. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, like a hampster on his wheel, going through the same continous motions, but not getting anywhere. It seems like the second I stop to take a break, all the flat surfaces of my house become covered with things that don't belong there. It doesn't take long for a mess to get out of control when you have two little ones. They have a lot of stuff. I've been having visions of getting rid of a lot of toys, but my sentimental Maia has not let me. She becomes attached to things quite easily.
Speaking of Maia, I decided that this post would be about her. There was so much potential material, so I needed to narrow it down in order to inspire myself.
Lately, I've been so proud of Maia. She has stepped into her role of big sister very well, and is adjusting to having less attention. It hasn't all been easy. She has had some pretty serious melt-downs since Tai's arrival, but that is to be expected. She has always been a very mellow kid, so I can't complain about dealing with a few tantrums. Luckily, things have improved tremendously and it is rare to hear Maia crying these days.
Starting school was very exciting, and she is really enjoying it. Her teachers have such wonderful things to say about her, and I always feel so proud. She is turning out to be a very bright little girl. I predict she will be reading soon as she already knows most of her phonics. Thought I'd like to take credit, I must admit that she is a quick study. If you explain something to her once or twice, she grasps it immediately.
This year, we enrolled Maia in a weekly Japanese class, mostly at my insistence, because I was worried that we might miss a window of opportunity for her to learn the reading and writing and to attain native speaker fluency. Yoshi is very good about speaking to Maia only in Japanese, and that is very helpful, but he works a lot and often doesn't have time to read to her or give her writing instruction. With Japanese, I think it's very important not to fall behind with the reading, because it is so difficult to learn unless you do so as a child.
I have always seen myself as one of those people who disliked hearing other parents bragging about their kids and all the countless activities they are participating in, but now I fear I may have become one of them. It's hard not to when you see all the potential in your child. I wish I could give the world to Maia, but for now the occassional ballet, gymnasics, swimming, and Japanese lesson will have to do. Until next year when she starts piano lessons that is. Then there's Greek school to think about...
Speaking of Maia, I decided that this post would be about her. There was so much potential material, so I needed to narrow it down in order to inspire myself.
Lately, I've been so proud of Maia. She has stepped into her role of big sister very well, and is adjusting to having less attention. It hasn't all been easy. She has had some pretty serious melt-downs since Tai's arrival, but that is to be expected. She has always been a very mellow kid, so I can't complain about dealing with a few tantrums. Luckily, things have improved tremendously and it is rare to hear Maia crying these days.
Starting school was very exciting, and she is really enjoying it. Her teachers have such wonderful things to say about her, and I always feel so proud. She is turning out to be a very bright little girl. I predict she will be reading soon as she already knows most of her phonics. Thought I'd like to take credit, I must admit that she is a quick study. If you explain something to her once or twice, she grasps it immediately.
This year, we enrolled Maia in a weekly Japanese class, mostly at my insistence, because I was worried that we might miss a window of opportunity for her to learn the reading and writing and to attain native speaker fluency. Yoshi is very good about speaking to Maia only in Japanese, and that is very helpful, but he works a lot and often doesn't have time to read to her or give her writing instruction. With Japanese, I think it's very important not to fall behind with the reading, because it is so difficult to learn unless you do so as a child.
I have always seen myself as one of those people who disliked hearing other parents bragging about their kids and all the countless activities they are participating in, but now I fear I may have become one of them. It's hard not to when you see all the potential in your child. I wish I could give the world to Maia, but for now the occassional ballet, gymnasics, swimming, and Japanese lesson will have to do. Until next year when she starts piano lessons that is. Then there's Greek school to think about...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Who Stole the Cookies?
You are not going to believe this. Seven month old Tai found some cookies on the coffee table, got them down, and devoured them. I suspect big sister Maia did not secure the lid well, but a part of me wouldn't be surprized if he had also managed to open them himself!
My first instinct was to get the cookies away from him so he wouldn't choke! But I controlled the impulse long enough to take some pictures. After all, how often is it that a seven month old gorges on Trader Joe's chocolate cat cookies? For the record, he did not choke, though I am still working on removing the chocolate stains from the carpet.
My first instinct was to get the cookies away from him so he wouldn't choke! But I controlled the impulse long enough to take some pictures. After all, how often is it that a seven month old gorges on Trader Joe's chocolate cat cookies? For the record, he did not choke, though I am still working on removing the chocolate stains from the carpet.
Sometimes I wonder if Tai is a two year old trapped in a seven month old's body!
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