Reese's first birthday

REESE IS ONE! 

Now I have a one year old and a five year old. Life is crazy, but I'm really enjoying the stage we are at right now. I think I've even said that before. Reese is such an easy baby. So complete opposite of her first 4.5 months of life. We were all so miserable back then, its amazing she has such a sweet disposition at this time.

We got our check-up at the Dr. yesterday. (Maddie also missed school for the first time. She was running a fever and had some cold-like symptoms, so I took her in for a sick visit with Reese's well visit. It turns out she has strep throat. A first for Maddie.) Reese weighs 22lb's 75% and is 29 in. 75%.

A few things to add on to last month, Reese can now go from crawling to sitting to standing while holding onto furniture. She can move her feet a couple of steps, but that's about it as far as cruising. She will move her feet a little bit if I hold her hands also.

She plays well by herself, even if she is getting into EVERYTHING. Her favorite is to mess with the TV sound system and turn it off and on. Reese also imitates well. I am trying to teach her sign language starting with "more" and "all done". I am actually impressed at how well its going.

Reese also has a new game she learned. When you ask her "where did Reesey go?" she will cover he eyes with her fists, hold for a couple of seconds then show her eyes again.

Reese still loves to cuddle - especially before bed time and she still loves her lovie giraffe. I don't usually let her play with it outside of bed time, but when its with her, she will take him wherever she goes.

She is still in size 4 diapers and wears 12months clothes (not for much longer) and mostly 18 months.

For her birthday we had a small gathering and the Theme was Reese's Pieces. I had a lot of fun with that. I will probably be doing that theme again in the future. This theme was also easy to do at this time of year. Everything is orange and black, so it wasn't hard to find.

We did some crafts

This is Reese's classic face

Reese had her own smash cake, a large Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (only it was a vanilla cake with chocolate icing) 

Reese's monthly photos on the mantle. 

Kindergarten

School. It has begun. At least this time its not for me. Although it might as well be since I'm also the one having to wake up at the crack of dawn to get sister fed and ready to go. Maddie has to be there at 7:20 a.m. and it's been rough on all of us. She has told me before "Can you not wake me up and just let me wake up by myself?" oh how I wish I could let you do that.

Her first day was an exciting/terrifying day. We had just moved into our house the Friday before, so this was a lot of change in just a 3 day period. Brian had taken off of work for the move, so we all went together to drop Maddie off. The Kindergarteners were gathered in the cafeteria and that's where we were supposed to drop them off. (new system, not quite happy about how they decided to do things this year) We stood there with her for a while, but melt-downs started happening when the parents where dismissed. Brian was holding Reese and Maddie had her arms wrapped around my leg as if her life depended on it. She was almost hysterical. I could not let her go. I had to call Brian for re-enforcements. He gave me Reese and peeled Maddie off of me so he could try talking to her. I took Reese and walked out of the cafeteria before I went hysterical like some of the kids. I did see other moms crying as they were walking away too, so I wasn't alone.

It went kind of like how I imagined. I had been gearing up for this day since May, so there where no surprises. According to Maddie, the day went really well and according to Brian, (who takes her to school on his way to work) drop off for the rest of the week went well. On Friday of that week we where finally able to meet her teacher (Maddie didn't get her teacher assignment till Thursday afternoon) We ALL once more dropped her off at school, saw her classroom and met her teacher. She again had a minor melt down, but this time her teacher was able to comfort her and she had a great rest of the day.

Maddie is loving school. She still comes home tired from the long day and still misses the fun special activities she did at preschool, but I just have to remind her shes in kindergarten now and shes doing things she didn't get to do in preschool. I am nervous about the high expectations they are placing on kids these days - its amazing the academic expectations they have for these little kindergarteners already. Its forcing them to grow up to fast and that's sad.

 I look SO tired!!

  

 

Maddie and her teacher

Second week of school.