Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Milestones

It has been a big couple weeks at our house. Will turned 4-months old, and had his first few spoonfuls of both Rice Cereal and Gerber Green Beans. He seemed to enjoy both very much. He is now weighing in at 16 lbs, 5 ozs. Both his height and weight are in the mid-90% for boys his age. He really does look more like a 6-month old then a 4-month old.

This guy is still all smiles, and his temperment is so easy-going. He is just simply a super little kid. And we really thought Charlie was easy.

Speaking of Charlie...

My baby girl has just turned two. She is cuter and sweeter than ever now and what makes things even more fun is that she continues to develop the best little sense of humor. She loves to play jokes, and rough-house with her Daddy. She is my little princess, and that's why the last couple of days have been some of the most difficult I've had since becoming a Daddy two short years ago.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that Beck and I decided to enroll Charlie in a pre-school 2-days a week. Well, that started today. I haven't slept well for the last few days just thinking about it, and today was about as tough as I thought it would be.

It is the most heartwrenching feeling in the world to leave your baby girl alone in a school where she doesn't know anyone. Don't get me wrong here. We didn't just drive up, meet the teacher for 5 minutes and leave Charlie. We've been to the school several times with Charlie, and both Beck and I have sat through hours of "routine" at the school with Charlie over the last few weeks just to try to ease the transition for her. But it certainly didn't make it easy this morning.

Charlie clutched at both of us when we tried to leave. Beck and I both broke down in tears when we closed the door to her classroom behind us, and I actually had to go directly to the van with Will because I couldn't stay composed enough to speak with the Director of the school before we left.

Now, as I write this post, I am swimming in guilt, feeling as if we should never have considered enrolling her in the school. Thinking, "how in the world is my 2-year old peanut going to make it all by herself." Everyone says it gets easier, and that Charlie will be fine after a few days of school. I do believe that, but right now, I just can't imagine it.

For all of those who keep telling us to "enjoy it". We're trying. :)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Transitions

Life just keeps on changing...

We have decided that Charlie would benefit from spending a couple days a week around other kids. It's taken us a lot of time, and heartache to come to this decision. We've been very fortunate to have Charlie and Will at home with us; alternating days with them so both Beck and I can get our work done. It's been great. We've had fantastic experiences and feel as though Charlie has developed into a perfectly happy, well rounded, almost two-year old. The rub here is just that she has shown a little hesitancy around other kids that she doesn't know.

This has resulted in us worrying about her "social" development. Not to mention that we've discovered the competition level for entrance into preschool around here is cut-throat, and we found an opportunity to enroll her in a very good school.

So we found a new little place near us that seems like a great spot for Charlie to go and play with other kids, and mybe learn a little something too.

Maybe it's just that with Will around the house, it's harder to focus with Charlie, keeping her advancing with her skills. I don't really know... but I do know that I am having a difficult time dealing with the prospect of sending Charlie to school in a few weeks.

I'm not ready for her to grow up. Although she is only two (almost), it seems like the time is just slipping away from us. The other thing is, I worry about her being on her own at school, without Mommy or Daddy around to help her up when she falls down, or hug her when she's tired. I'm worried that the staff at the school won't know what her gestures mean, or her words. She's working really hard on talking, but some of her words only Mommy and Daddy understand.

It all keeps coming back to this thought: At some point, Charlie is going to go to school. We may as well break her in slow, or break ourselves in slow (probably more accurate). I don't know what makes this easier other than just doing it!

Keep your fingers crossed for Mommy and me. I'm sure Charlie will be fine!