September 2006 Archives

We've been trying to get more video of the girls lately. Our digital camera has a video option, which is great for taping short bits of silly things the girls do.

Josie hangs out with me on Thursday mornings. We go to her tumbling class and then usually go to watch the ducks or play in the park. Josie took along her Diego doll on this particular day.

Maddie has only 3 girls on her team and one of them usually doesn't come to games or practice. Maddie has developed a friendship with the other little girl, Sarah. They like to hold hands on the field. It's great because there are times when Maddie just wants to sit with Mommy and Daddy, but she'll see Sarah and want to join her. The same for Sarah with Maddie. The two girls keep each other on the field.

More soccer clips:

Maddie scores a goal.

Go Sharks!

I've posted our most recent pics to Flickr, including some shots of Maddie's second soccer game, our trip to the Yellow Daisy Festival, the Smyrna Spice of Life festival, and an evening ride for ice cream. Oh yeah, exciting stuff.

I also put some videos up on our Youtube Profile. You can find all of our videos here, or, you can go straight to the new ones:
Maddie Scores a Goal
Maddie's Team Cheer
Maddie and Sarah, Teammates
Cloggers at the Yellow Daisy Festival

Maddie was playing with Josie today and Josie couldn't find her doll. Maddie kept saying, "Right there!" over and over, but Josie couldn't see it on the ground behind her.

Finally, Maddie said, "Josie, it's behind your toes!"

We hung out at McDonalds one night when we went to see Bill's volleyball game and it rained. Maddie and Josie played with two other little girls who were there. The video shows three of them planning to surprise the 4th one coming down the slide. Maddie mimics the smallest girl and Josie mimics Maddie.

On Friday night we went out to dinner and didn't finish until pretty late. On the ride back home, Maddie was having a very interesting conversation with Bill. I videotaped it, but I kept the lens cap on so she wouldn't see the light and be interrupted. Warning: The following video will be complete darkness, but listen closely.

Tuesday was the first day that Josie was going to join Maddie at MMO (Mom's Morning Out). Like with Maddie, I was fully prepared for her to be clinging to me. She's very attached to Mommy lately, and scares easily, so my fears were more grounded than with Maddie.

We went to her classroom to meet her teacher. Like I thought, Josie clung to me and didn't want to be put down. She was the first one there, so none of the other kids had arrived yet. I sat down with her in my lap and proceeded to try and get her interested in some toys. Slowly, she started to play with them. After about 5 minutes Miss Anna pulled out a book and Josie became very interested (she and Maddie both LOVE books and being read to). Josie was engrossed in the book so I slowly snuck out the door.

I hung around outside the door for a few minutes to see if she would notice right away. No noise from inside so I left. On my way out, the director said she would call me if Josie got too upset.

I ran a few errands, constantly checking my phone. Was the battery charged? Did I have the ringer on?

11:30 came around and I went in early to see how the girls were doing. Maddie was doing really well as usual. I peeked around the door to Josie's room and saw her playing with some toys on the floor. Miss Anna noticed me and mentioned that Josie had been happy the whole time. I looked down and called out to Josie who hadn't seen me yet.

"Josie!"

{I expect her to get up and run into my arms smiling and giving me a big hug.}

She smiles at me and looks back down at her toys and continues playing. I eventually have to drag her out of the place, screaming because she wants to stay and play. The only person who can convince her to leave is Maddie, though Maddie didn't want to leave at first either.

All these pangs of guilt that I feel! I leave late and come back early to check on them every time. But they're fine and I'm so glad.

Maddie started attending a Mother's Morning Out program last week. It's hosted by a local church where they basically babysit your kid from 9am-12noon so you can do whatever you need to do that you don't ever get to do. We're homeschooling her for preschool, so this is a way for her to get out and play with other kids in a "school" type setting. She was so excited about her first day at "school".

She was so excited, in fact, that she entered the front doors and took off running, no looking back. She ran straight into the first room full of kids, said "Hi!" and went about joining them in whatever game they were playing. No fear. No apprehension. No idea where she was.

I was glad. No, really, I was. She is a fearless kid and I'm happy for it.

But...

Couldn't she have been a little more affected by leaving me? I mean, I lay awake the night before worrying about what I was doing and if it really was the best for her. I played scenarios in my mind where Maddie clung to my leg, crying that she didn't want me to leave her. Or where she was a little intimidated by the "teachers" and all the new kids.

Instead, I turned to give her a kiss as I left and was met with, "See ya, Mommy!"

We'll see how it all goes when Josie attends her first day next week. I had to practically pry her away the other day when we dropped Maddie off. She wanted so badly to go with her big sister and play with the kids. She's a pretty shy kid, though, so we'll see what really happens when Mommy's not there.

Maddie will be going Tuesday and Thursday mornings, while Josie goes only on Tuesdays. On Thursday mornings Josie and I will be taking a Mommy & Me tumbling class. As for Tuesdays when both girls are gone? I honestly have no idea what I'll do with myself but I'm sure I'll figure something out.