I'm officially a soccer mom

So this week the kids both started soccer practices. Grant's are Tuesday's at 5:30pm and Reagan's are Thursday's at 6:30pm. Grant was so excited about playing soccer that he's been talking about it for a month. He's still a little young, and definitely the youngest on the team, but he's so good that you can't tell. All through practice he was running around with a huge smile on his face. Since he doesn't follow directions that great Scott is probably going to have to help, but it's cute none the less. Here are some pics.

Reagan's team this year has all girls. We thought she wouldn't like it as well because boys are her favorite, but as soon as she got there she was off running with them. She loves that Scott is her coach and calls him Coach Daddy. She only poses for pictures...

Their games are going to be on Saturday's. So it looks like I will be living at the soccer field through October. Wish me luck!

First full week of school

Reagan had 2 half days of school over the last two weeks and this was her first full week and full days too. She has been so excited about being a kindergartner. Here are pictures from the first day.

Lily is not in her class, but they met outside before the first day for a picture. They have recess and lunch together and we carpool so they get to spend some time together each day.

She has been so tired because even though they may lay down for 30 minutes for a rest she is not taking a nap. By Friday I made her nap after school because she was a mess. She has been having a good time though. She says her teacher is really nice and she has made a lot of new friends, most of which are surprisingly girls! Here a few of the pictures she made this week.

She was good all week so she got to pick from the treasure chest on Friday. She says she is gonna be good every week so she pick other things out of there. I'm glad she likes it. It does make me sad that she's growing up and I did have a few tears on the first day, but I'm so happy she enjoys it. By the way I am going to be her room parent. We will see how that works out...

Vanderbilt behavioral therapists and my 2nd annual trip to Ikea

I'm a little behind because of all the activities that go along with Reagan starting kindergarten. Grant did have his appointment at Vandy with the developmental medicine department. I met with a developmental pediatrician and a behavioral therapist/educational consultant for an hour and a half. They had read over his file and evaluation so I didn't have to explain much. They came in there with all this knowledge and ready to put a plan together. After working with him for a little bit and talking to me they told me that they agree that he is dealing with anxiety. (Again no diagnosis as to why, but you gotta take what you can get). They also think that he is more of a visual learner, which I agree with, since he seems to not hear you once he is in a full blown fit and since his speech skills are not as high as his cognitive.

Two of the biggest problems we have with him are getting dressed and leaving/running errands. They suggested and are making him a visual schedule that will show him the order in which we are doing things. This takes his ability to argue with me about it. Essentially if it is on the schedule we have to do it. The visual schedule with have items that are interchangeable that way I can put down only the things that apply to that day. For example for running errands there will be cards that show pictures of Publix, Shell, Walmart, and Reagan's school. I can also make more if I need them because I have a laminate machine. After you get done with each place he gets to pull it off and move it to inside the file. This should lessen his anxiety of the unknown. The same idea applies in the grocery store so I will make him his own list. Even though he can't read the words he can cross of the next item as I put it in the cart. After a while we will start trying to lessen the use of these as he becomes more comfortable.

They also recommend that I go to a free workshop they are having next month on addressing challenging behaviors to maybe learn new ways to address some things he does that cause me a lot of frustration. They also put us on the waiting list for PCIT therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy. This would be to work on our back and forth sills, because right now there is very little back and forth conversation and to decrease unwanted behaviors. I'm really hopeful and they told me that they can get me back in anytime we need to tweak anything or if I want a session with the therapy area to show me how to do something.

Now onto my trip to Atlanta with Diana. This is our 2nd annual trip, mostly to go to Ikea which we both love. I got this for the playroom because it's such a mess.

While we were there we went clothes shopping and to dinner. Then we went to see The Help (movie) which was amazing. After getting back to the hotel we slept in as late as we could then we had breakfast in bed before coming home. It was very relaxing, but Scott didn't think so. He had a birthday party to take the kids to, but that wasn't the problem. This year was a little tougher on Grant and he was clingy and cried and kept saying "I want mama" quite often. Tonight even though I'm home he didn't want to go to sleep he wanted to sleep with mama. I think he was afraid that I would leave while he was sleeping. Maybe next year will be better because I really need that small getaway every year...

Losing another tooth and first day of kindergarten

Reagan lost another tooth, this time on top. She is rocking that cute toothless smile.

She also started kindergarten this week. Well she actually only has half a day because of the phase in days they have here. One day this Monday, one day next Monday and she starts full time on the third Monday. She has been so excited even though mommy has been having a bit of a hard time with it. Here we are getting ready for registration. Grant got in on the action too.

 At registration Reagan got to meet her teacher and mommy got to pay all her fees. Which for a "public" school cost quite a bit. I dropped $135 before I left the building and that was with me buying all her supplies somewhere else.

So Monday came and it was the big day. Mommy had a stomach full of butterflies and felt like I was gonna puke. Reagan on the other hand was bouncing off the walls and was ready to go as soon as she got up. Here she is posing for her first day of school photo.

It cracks me up. Who taught her to pose like that? It's like it's her big girl look. :-) Grant had to get in on that action also.

Reagan's teacher, Ms. Harris, was super nice and sweet and told us to take our time to leave her there. Of course Reagan was ready for us to go, but I did get one picture in.

Grant and I ran errands all morning till it was time to get her, since this was only a 3 hour day. She was so tired and ready for a nap. I have no idea how she is gonna do it without a nap.