Mila LOVES Preschool!

Shawn picked Mila up after her first day of preschool and she didn't want to leave :) The teacher said she had a great first day! Today it was so strange just dropping her off and saying goodbye! It was just Sofia and I for a bit and we enjoyed our time together! I couldn't WAIT to pick her up and when I pulled up, they brought her out and instead of her usual "OH my goodness I missed you so much mama" squeal, she turned and tried to walk away from me back into the school! So I scooped her up and she promptly slapped me across my face because she was not ready to leave school!!! 

Now I know what you're thinking, you'd be so broken hearted if your child reacted that way right? Not me! I was so excited! I was excited because there was a time, not so long ago, that this very child fought for her life, she fought without a mama or daddy holding her hand. So for the next THREE years she took comfort in her mama-preferring me over anyone and everyone else, in every instance....clinging and so very needy and very dependent on mama in so many ways....needing to know I'd never leave her. And today, when she slapped me and chose preschool over mama, I thought, she feels safe and loved....for the first time SHE was ready to face this world without mama or daddy by her side....which tells me the love and effort we've poured into her over the past 3 years is paying off in so many ways. So today, even if it sounds weird to you, I'm happy Mila slapped me. I'm happy she wanted to stay at school...I'm happy she is strong enough and well enough and comfortable enough to go to preschool without mama. To hear that the other kids LOVE her and that she feels accepted there, just makes my heart so happy! Of course I wouldn't mind (selfishly) if she never ever wanted to leave my side....but really, I'd rather have THIS reaction than having her not want to go to school! We didn't send her right when she turned 3 (which is typically how it goes with kids with special needs-in order to get their services) because we just didn't feel like she was ready yet. I wasn't 100% sure she was ready, but felt peace in my mama heart and so we decided to go for it. I know it's only been 2 days, but I can already tell Mila thinks she's pretty cool going to school. The whole way home she kept repeating "R" (she calls her teacher Miss R.) and her helper's name! I promised her she could go back again next week :) 

The reports today were that Mila did great, prefers to sit in her helper's lap for story time as opposed to her cube chair (she's a snuggler), even colored a worksheet a little bit (she normally refuses to color at home), went potty and stayed dry no problem, had a snack, and that the other kids just love her! It made my heart so happy to hear that!!!! We're slowly extending her day each week, although I'm pretty certain she could do the full morning with no problem after seeing how much she wanted to stay today! 

She fell asleep in the swing within an hour of being home...preschool is exhausting I guess! 

Mila Goes to Preschool!

Really, I'm trying to be a better blogger, but life just hasn't given me much time lately! With Mama back to work very part time, Zoya on a shortened K day schedule, and now Mila in preschool two mornings a week....I feel like I live in the car! Zoya's and Mila's schools are in opposite directions of one another (with our house being in the middle).  All 3 little ladies are also dancing this year, but now that we've moved it's a 25 minute drive one way. Thankfully they all dance on Tuesdays which is Shawn's day off, so I can shuttle the little ladies over for their class, shuttle them home and swap Shawn Mila and Sofia for Zoya and head back over to dance. Mila and Sofia have outpatient speech once a week, and Mila has outpatient PT once a week as well. Between all that and all the (necessary) kindergarten and preschool planning and revision meetings, I think it's safe to say I don't think I can add one more single spinning plate to what I've got going right now! I can only laugh because 6 months ago my plan was for this year to be our "year of respite...." where we'd lay low and hunker down shutting out the world....but it wasn't to be! Soooo anyways, now that I've given Excuse #398 for not blogging.....hopefully this will make up for it!

Mila is attending preschool two mornings a week. We found a great preschool that we think is going to be a fabulous fit for Mila! We just planned to keep her home this year because most places were already full by the time we moved (apparently people sign their kids up for preschool years in advance or something?!).....anyways, we heard about this school and figured we'd take a visit just to say we tried, and we ended up falling in love with the place! She's in a typical preschool class with a "classroom aide" who is mostly there to assist her, but can also help other kids when Mila is ready for more independence. Our goals for Mila are mostly social goals at this point...being part of a group, listening to adults other than mom and dad, making friends, playing with friends, you know all the typical preschool stuff. We didn't set any academic goals because she's really doing very well just working on those things at home. She can name all of her colors, shapes, numbers to 9, letters (upper and lowercase), and even surprised me with naming some sight words (that I did not work on with her!). That's the good thing about having an older sister I guess! Mila is *nearly* potty trained and has only been wearing pull ups for sleep time or long car rides....she's still heavily reliant on reminders from us, but will tell us many times when she has to go too! She's even learned the 'ol "get out of non preferred activity by playing the potty card" trick!

She was SO excited about going to school. She was literally RUNNING up and down the living room squealing this morning. When she got to school she was like a kid in a candy shop....going from one thing to the next checking it all out and squealing with delight! I may have overstayed my welcome (haha) but when I finally felt okay to leave I said goodbye to Mila and she said bye bye and was easily distracted by a letter puzzle. They said she did great and Shawn says when he went to pick her up she didn't want to leave! So I'd say all-in-all, a successful first day!!

On to the pictures..........

New big girl glasses and she looks so much older....

Put a backpack on the kid and she instantly looks YEARS older! Where is my baby?

Even more years added with this pose...seriously Mila, STOP!

Attempt at a nice pic with Mama, LOL! 

 Being silly with Dada!

Off she goes! 

Just a little video of Mila surprising me with some sight words! 

And just because this is one of my all time favorite pictures! (no its not photoshopped haha)

"Beautiful Night, Beautiful People" 

Zoya's First Day of Her Last Year of Preschool!

Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes For Breakfast.....

She was shocked when she realized her pancake was shaped like Mickey Mouse! 

She thought it was pretty cool! 

Daddy fed the little ones (usually I let them feed themselves but we didn't have time for baths before leaving for our trek to school and chocolate chip pancakes always equals a bath with them!)

Here is is, all ready for her first day! I love her in purple. She picked out her outfit today! 

We've gotten three years out of this backpack! I will have to do a side by side from all 3 years because as she gets bigger the backpack looks smaller! 

Ready to conquer the world today! 

That American flag in the background had me a bit emotional, thanking the Lord we were able to bring her to this country and give her a wonderful life AND education! 

Off they go! Shawn had today off, so thankfully, I got to take a leisurely walk behind them! LOL. This load is weighing in at just under 125 pounds this year...there's one big hill on the way to school that I nearly die on every time! Walking is way easier than fighting the thousand cars trying to drop their kids off at school, AND way easier than buckling and unbuckling 3 5-point harnesses and then loading them into the wagon or stroller just to get from the car to the door.....PLUS it's a good workout for me and friendly to the earth, so we do it as long as we can (until old man winter hits). 

They were so excited watching the busses pass! 

Here comes another one! 

I hope her teacher is ready for this :) 

Mila was cheering Daddy up the hill! 

Zoya's saying hello to some friends passing by! 

In she goes, a little nervous at first...

Oh, I've got it from here....see ya mom! 

Zoya's fabulous teacher....so nurturing and accepting and holds the bar high for our Zoya girl! <3 p="">

Waiting in line. She kept asking where her best friend was! 

 Saying hello to old friends....

And then there were two.....

Mila says, "What now, mom?" And all I could think when she looked back at me was "I'm NEVER going to be able to let her go next!"

Back to School....

Tomorrow starts Zoya's third year of preschool! Since she has a June birthday, we decided to do one more year of preschool. Especially with me being home now, we're in no rush or need to send her to full day kindergarten just yet! She still naps 3-4 days out of the week and, well, I'd miss her too much if she was gone all day! LOL. Although she is ready skills wise, we just think Zoya could use one more year, emotionally, before she starts kindergarten.  Babies aren't babies forever but I'm trying my best to keep her little as long as I can :) The class Zoya is in now is multi-age from 3 years through kindergarten, so by doing one more year of preschool we buy her another year in this awesome classroom! It is the same class she was in last year and she knows she is loved and safe and expected to do her best in her classroom. Her team is amazing and we're excited about another year full of growth! I'm going to miss her lots, but she is ready to be back with her friends and she's so excited school is FINALLY starting again! 

Happy New School Year! 

A Great First Week!

Zoya's first week of school went fabulously! Her teacher is AH-mazing :) Every single day I picked her up she gave Zoya a compliment about her day. Talk about building trust and confidence. I really like the Montessori concept and Zoya's teacher really seems to understand that Zoya really needs to build a foundation of trust and know that she is safe, in order to effectively learn. Her teacher is the perfect mixture of nurture and high expectations.

Zoya has this amazing talent, you see, where she can walk into a room of 25 people and find each and every single person who has low expectations for her and totally play those people. Seriously, I don't know how she does it, but she certainly knows when she can get away with behaving in a way she'd never get away with here. I'm so happy that her teacher already has her card and knows that she is capable of behaving like her friends. Of course Zoya struggles a little more with some aspects of behavior such as attention to task and impulsivity, but she can clearly follow the same directions (just maybe with more prompting) as the rest of her class.

Zoya comes home each day exhausted, but singing songs she has learned and talking about her favorite friends. Sometimes she tells me things that really happened, while other times her information is not so accurate! haha! Her speech is still limited, but I try hard to ask a lot of questions about her day. I'm so proud of her great first week. I know not every week will be just as great, but I'm confident with her team this year, we can roll with the punches and make adaptations/accommodations that are in Zoya's best interest!

Zoya's First Day of School 2012

This is Zoya's second year of preschool! I can't even believe it. It was hard saying goodbye to her this morning even though I know she's in great hands. I just don't like being away from her!! Waaahhhh! Especially after we had all summer together! She woke up very excited and said "SCHOOL!" So many people are so ready for their kids to go back to school, and believe me there were a few days toward the end of summer where I thought that same thing, but today, I wish she could stay smaller longer and not have to go to school yet. But it is good for her, this mama heart just misses her! I know, it's only a few hours...and I'm counting down!

So blessed to love these two!

And she's OFF!

"What Mom? I have to wait for you?"

Really excited!

Silly girls!

Saying hello to her teacher!

Here's hoping for a good year!!!