Fall break 2012

We decided to stay home for fall break this year. We slept in, went to bed late, spent a day or 2 in our pajamas, went out for a couple lunches and dinners, and hung out a lot as a family. One day I took the kids to the kids gym to get some fun time in for them. Another day, we went to the zoo. The kids loved it! It was nice weather and we really had a good time. I got a massage in and a lunch with my best girlfriends. It was so nice! We closed out fall break with a day with the Tortora's. it was a beautiful day so we spent the entire day outside to let the kids play, ride bikes, and run around. Such a good week! I so enjoy my breaks home with the kids.

 

 

2nd year of dance

Bella has started dance at a new studio this year. I loved our other studio, it was just so far. The new studio is close and she loves it. She has a recital in December at Glendale glitters that we are excited for. She's getting better every Saturday. She really seems to enjoy dance, hopefully she sticks with it.

 

 

mommy bragging time

Bella's 1st teacher conference was on Wednesday. The 1st conference of the year is discussing social emotional skills only. This is the area of which I am most concerned for her, so I was happy I would get to sit with the teacher and discuss her progress. Mrs. Cornelius said Bella was initially very shy and didn't talk much. I knew she would struggle most with socializing. I have noticed when the teacher hugs each student in the morning as they enter the classroom, Bella seems uncomfortable and shy. She loves school and gets so excited to go, but she is just so darn shy. Anyway, the teacher said just in the last week she has come around more and is using a louder talking voice. She said she has started to vocalize when she doesn't like something another friend does in class and the teacher has really encouraged her to use her words more. I told her with me being a speech therapist, I'm always on her about speaking her mind, but she only does it when she's comfortable. I am and have been so worried about her making sure she speaks up and the teacher assures me that she's coming around. I'm seeing now its just part of her personality and all I can do is build up her confidence.

Speaking of confidence, the teacher has tried to do just that by having Bella try and help the other kids in the class with rhyming. Apparently, she's the ONLY one of the 13 kids that understands the concept of rhyming;) she said Bella was quiet when trying to help her classmates, but I am so proud of her! Word and number concepts are really a strength of hers. She has started adding and subtracting a little. She knows how to do simple addition and makes a math problem out of silly things (wonder where she gets that from). She has also started to spell out simple words such as cat, dog, fan, etc. she is always asking how to spell a word and she will sound it out herself. Her pre reading and math skills are amazing for a 4 year old. So proud of her!

 

The next teacher conference covers academic skills and her teacher said I don't need to attend because Bella is doing amazingly in the area of academics. I'm a happy mama! Mrs Cornelius said Bella has such a kind and caring nature about her. I agreed with her. She also said she is very respectful. I also agree. She's made being her mommy so easy and rewarding.

This baby girl of mine continuously amazes me and she has taught me so much. I hope she's this sweet in middle school!! Hmmm I just think about myself in middle school , and if she's anything like me, I'm in for a fun ride! In the meantime, I'm enjoying every minute of her still being somewhat little.




Here is a card she sent to her auntie Amy in New Jersey

 

 

Bella-itis

About a week ago, Eric and I were watching Monday night football on the couch together. The kids were in the playroom, playing together. Bella all the sudden comes in to the living room where eric and I are, holding her notebook in hand while scribbling in it and a stethoscope around her neck, and says, " I have a really tough case to crack, mom". I say " oh really, what's wrong Bella." She says, " you and dad have a serious case of do-nothing-itis!!" My response was "what????" She explains that " you guys are just sitting here doing nothing but watching tv". Ahhh gotta love that 4 year old going on 10 year old mind of hers. I at first felt sad that she said that because I don't want her feeling ignored EVER, but then all I could do was laugh it off. She was doing her favorite thing to do..pretend play. She then took her stethoscope and blood pressure cuff and checked me out. A future Dr. Hoover on our hands??

 

They love to play dress-up

 

 

The kids are really in to dress up and pretend play right now. Their favorite is to play "vacation". They dress up with their pretend luggage and sunglasses and get on an airplane and go to the hotel. It's super cute. Julian always end up in girl clothes because he doesn't have boy clothes to dress up in. It's super cute seeing him in girl sparkly shoes, so funny! Bella likes to wear her princess dresses whenever she can. The plan is for Santa to bring them more dress up clothes for Christmas ;)

 

Bella starts preschool

We finally decided on a preschool for Bella. I don't know why, but it was a very hard choice. In the end, I think we made a good choice. Her teacher is great and Bella really loves her. It is a Christian preschool, so Bella is learning a lot of things about God that I have not taught her and I love it. She is learning how important it is to be a kind person and to think about others. She is writing her letters ( which she has been doing for quite some time), she's learning about science and nature. The most important thing she is learning is social emotional skills. She is on the shy side and I really want her getting some social skills learning in before kindergarten. She gets so excited before each class days, which are Tuesday and Thursday mornings. She goes from 830-1130 and them my sister in law picks her up from class. I have her first parent teacher conference next week, I'm so excited to see how she is doing. She also has her first of many field trips at the end of the month to the grocery store. They have been talking about how food grows and they're finishing up their lesson at the grocery store. I'll be taking her to the field trip. It's nice because her school is very close to my office so I am going to try to attend to as many activities as I can.

Bella's 1st day of school

 

Julian at 2 years old

Julian is 37 pounds (99th percentile) and 35 inches (68th percentile). Yes, he weighs the same at Bella and she is 2 years older! However, he does have the same size shoe as well. I am Guessing he is going to be a very big boy. He has really took off with his speech and language skills. He is putting together full sentences, asks questions, answers questions, and LOVES to talk. He's always the last one to finish a meal because he talks the entire time. Some things he loves and dislikes right now include:

-dressing up, he loves dressing up in anything. Batman, Bella's clothes,daddy's shoes, etc

Eating!! He is much more picky than Bella, though you wouldn't know it. He doesn't love pastas, hamburgers, or even hot dogs. He prefers meats and fruits. He won't eat many vegetables, but absolutely loves fruits. There is not a fruit that he won't eat.

He is VERY busy!! He likes to be on the move at all times.

He likes to learn. He enjoys playing on the iPad and working on his letters of the alphabet. He also knows all of his colors.

He is very outgoing. Though shy at first around people he doesn't know, he eventually warms up and is very outgoing. He likes people and being silly with them.

He loves to throw balls around, and has a pretty good arm.

He thinks Bella is the queen of the universe. As soon as he wakes up, he asks for her. When home together, he wants to be with her at all times.

He has absolutely no interest in tv shows or movies.

He gets car sick.

He is somewhat of a mommy's boy. Ok, he is for sure a Mama's boy.

He is a cowboys fan, just like daddy.

He has done so well with using the toilet. So shocked he was potty trained before the age of 2 and has done so well.

His fine and gross motor skills are a great strength of his.

He has slept through the night since a tiny 8 week old baby

He likes to help cook and do laundry.

He makes us laugh all the time!