Prayers and .....other things she's said.

Lauren has said some noteworthy things lately...... too long for the "Lauren Quoted" side bar.

Recently, her prayers turned from:

"Dear Henly Fodder, fank you for everyfing, name Jesus Christ, amen"

to lengthy expressions of gratitude for her food, her little brother, her toys, her pillow pet, her bed, bless my food, please make my food cool down, etc. And a few days ago, she really impressed us:

"...please bless me, even though I can't see you, but I can feel you next to me."

"I'm sorry Jesus, for making bad decisions."

This was one of those times when Dave and I look at each other in surprise, beaming with pride and gratitude. :)

Then there are these statements:

"I don't like you, Mommy. I wanna find a different mommy and daddy that let me do whatever I want. I don't like you very much - or this house. I wanna find a different house and different people to keep me." (2-28-12)

Yikes.

"Mommy, if you don't help me with my job, then I'm going to spank you and put you in time out." (2-29-12)

Hmmm. Why do I say stuff like that? And why are kids so observant and impressionable!? I think I threatened to spank her once, and then quickly realized how ineffective that is. Another reminder to watch what I say! The time-out thing, I'm totally fine with. She'll probably hear that one again and again....... :)

PRESCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So one day, it got to the point where I had to make a change.

In a rare free moment, I laid aside all inhibition and got on the phone to sign Lauren up for preschool. Yes, mid - year. I didn't know that was possible, but it is. And co-incidentally, they had one opening. We took it, and in two days, Lauren was walking into her classroom and taking her seat in a yellow chair.

When I picked her up, I wanted to take a picture of her, but she wouldn't hold still for a second! She was wired and crazy. Giddy, you might say. This was the best I could do:



As we were leaving for her second day, we had this little dialogue:

Lauren: "I'm going to tell my teacher that I want a different chair"
Me: "Oh, why?'
Lauren: "Because I don't like yellow. I like green and blue and all the boy colors and I like pink, but I don't like yellow."

As I dropped her off, I looked into the classroom and noticed that there are 3 tables: one with blue chairs, one with red chairs, and one with yellow chairs :). And Lauren immediately, upon seeing her teacher, requested a different chair. (Which request was either not understood immediately, or side-stepped by her teacher, who said, "Hi Lauren! Find your seat... and can you start tracing your name?" )
I have no idea why she decided she doesn't like yellow, but I think she may have to accept her assignment for a few more months. :) We'll see if she brings it up again.
She is very opinionated and very sure about what she does and doesn't like.
But she loves preschool and I love the 3-hour break I get every Tues. and Thurs. and I am a happier mom. :)

(though, as mentioned in a previous post, it is bittersweet to watch your kids grow up. The first time I dropped her off, I almost didn't know what to do with myself when I got home. I missed her! I am used to her companionship and conversation!)

Overall, I think this was a good move.

We love preschool.

Little ball of Joy

This is my roly poly ball of joy.

My sister took this picture when we went for a walk on a gorgeous sunny day. (January has been surprisingly warm and clear - not too much inversion yet. Awesome.)
At almost 5 mo. Jacob is generally happy, though seeming to have an unsatiable appetite. He ALWAYS has his hands in his mouth, and if not his hands, the closest thing he can grab and bring to his mouth.

No one can make him laugh like Lauren can. He laughs randomly when he sees her. He laughs when she plays with him or talks to him. He laughs watching her play. It is sooooo cute.

He rolled over for the first time on Jan 11 and now he won't stay on his back! We finally moved him from the cradle in our room to a crib in his own room this week (Jan 9th) and it made me cry to see that empty cradle in our room when I went to bed. :( It's so bittersweet to see your kids grow.

I love this boy!!!

Bowl o' Snow

There's nothin' like a big, cold, heaping bowl of snow. And a variety of spoons with which to eat it.

Mmm... Mmm... Mmm...

FYI - that bowl of snow was served up after the big storm on Saturday and finds it's way in and out of our freezer almost every day. It's all Lauren wanted for dinner tonight - seriously. I had a hard time getting her to eat food. All she wanted was snow.
The girl loves snow!