Thing One

We often refer to our kids as "Thing One" and "Thing Two". Something like "OK, you get Thing Two in the bath while I get Thing One's dinner ready." It helps us keep it all sorted out who's who. Until I have to remember who was firstborn and that means Thing One or is it who is smaller and closer to age one that's Thing One? And then my head gets all in a mess, all turned around and it's all a blur.

I thought it was about time I gave a general update on how each of the kids are doing in some key areas. And first up is "Thing One"

What did you call me....Thing One?

*Elijah is officially enrolled in a French preschool to start Sept 9th. He will go from 8am-11:30pm every day (we may cut it down to 3 days a week depending on how he does), and he is scheduled to go back from 2:30-4:30pm but we may keep him at home to nap during that time most days. It's a lot for a, (almost) 3 year old to be at school SO MANY hours a day. Did I just say almost 3 year old...where did my baby go? He will be learning French from the teachers and most of the kids will be speaking Arabic with each other.

*Elijah is VERY SHY especially when he's in new situations or with new people. People think that he doesn't talk (quite the opposite, he usually doesn't stop talking at home) and they think that he is very sweet and always obedient (sometimes quite the opposite as well, especially lately). We are hoping that going to preschool and being around a lot of other kids will help open him up. It's also been working for us to MAKE HIM say things to people that we meet when we are out. Especially in this country where greetings are such a huge part of the culture, it is very rude not to greet someone. He's getting much better and will now (very quietly mouse whisper) greetings to people.

Looking concerned at all the people as we wait in line for the ferry

*Elijah likes to read books and we often find him sitting on his bed reading to his animals -- especially before his animals need to go down for their nap. (He's very imaginative). Or sitting in the corner on the frosh (couch) reading quietly.

Sitting quietly with sheepie on the bus

*Speaking of animals, his favorites are "Turtle" and "Sheepie" -- weren't we creative with their names?! They get to go everywhere with him and get special treatment to play all the games and sit at the activity table to do activities. They each even have their own chair at the table! They have their own little personalities and often Turtle is called Daddy and Sheepie is called Mommy when he's acting out certain things - like when they all go in the "boat" (laundry basket) so the water doesn't get them.

Animals in the "boat"

*A favorite game is to get Daddy's tools and "fix" his bike. The bike ALWAYS has to be knocked over on its side to be fixed, though. And ALL the tools need to be used to get it fixed completely. And he must wear his hard hat to be safe. Safety first!

Getting the bike in position to "fix" it

*Elijah is potty trained! It happened all too easily for him, really. Once he peed in the potty one time he knew what to do and it was just reinforcing it regularly. The hardest thing was teaching him HOW to do the poos sitting down because he wanted to stand up to get it out. But after the first time where we had to hold him sitting down when he REALLY had to go, he realized it wasn't so bad and he's never looked back. It's been over a month since he's had an accident and he's in his big boy pants all day even for his naps. Overnight is another story - he almost always has pee in his diaper in the morning, but it too will come.

Big boy underpants near the pool

*Our latest discipline issue is for WHINING! I don't even need to explain to all you that have older kids, but we are coming down full force (Bruce says "no tolerance policy") and we are seeing positive results. Of course it's all dependent on the day and the naps, etc.

Check back tomorrow for an update on Thing Two!