Monday: Lilly's in school! Well, sort of. From 8:30-10, she's in the "Terrific Twos" class offered by the public schools' Early Family Childhood Education (ECFE) program. From 9:15-9:50, it's separation time when the kids have a snack and then their play of choice while the parents meet in another room for group discussion. I was dreading this part in particular, but so far so good.
Lilly in the parking lot outside of "school"
Lilly in her classroom
Several of Lilly's friends and their moms, my friends, are in this class; we've been going out for coffee after to debrief, which has been really nice.
Tuesday: My friend Daisy pays me to have her daughter Bella from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. She's 19 months and with a lot of energy, so there's a lot going on in the house those days, especially since she's going through potty training (four accidents within two hours last time) and has a huge appetite. She and Lilly play well together, despite the age difference, so that's a good thing.
Wednesday: Toddler Rhyme time at the library 10-11. The first half is dedicated to reading books and singing song, the other half to play. We missed it this week, because we toured the Montessori preschool in town that we'd like Lilly to be in as of next fall. She, and I, loved it there! A great space, both inside and out, wonderful staffing, and I really like the child focused approach to learning.
Thursday: Mary and I child swap for yoga. Her daughter is Lilly's best friend Anna, they're in ECFE together on Mondays and Lilly's with Anna and her mom on Fridays, so it's been working really well. Except that right now sharing is a real challenge for them. Like yesterday; Lilly has two chairs, a white and a blue. Both wanted the blue one and there was nothing I could do to have Lilly give it up for Anna to have a turn to sit in it, causing a wailing Anna.
Friday: Lilly's with Anna at Anna's mom from 8-12 so I get some time to write (on my sleep question book, and now this).
We thought for a while that Lilly's been done napping, but this summer when she was with me all day and had that consistency, she'd nap, and she still does. So after lunch it's about books and quiet time, then she naps, and then it's time for snack before I make dinner. She has an art class at the YMCA in the late afternoon on Mondays. Leighton goes to yoga Monday and Thursday evening, I go for a walk with my neighbor in the evening on Tuesdays and then yoga Wednesday evening. We still have fresh fish from the Co-op for dinner every Friday and I go to yoga Saturday morning and for a walk Sunday morning with a friend of mine.
We're creatures of habit, and it's a good thing. Summer was fun to be free to be spontaneous and leisurely about things. Now it feels good to be back to a routine. We're at a good place. I'm really enjoying my time with Lilly. I love how it's not all about care taking now, but also teaching (words, numbers, tasks, songs, etc.) and fun play (she's displaying a real sense of humor, tickling us or making fun of herself and then saying, "Lilly silly" or "Lilly tuller"). Her language's exploding, both in Norwegian and English. She loves to turn on the music and dance, play her instruments, and sing (her favorites right now: "Happy Birthday," "5 Little Ducks," "Twinkle, twinkle," "Mockingbird," and "Fader Jacob"). She likes to read books, draw and color, and make little things out of pieces that fit together, blocks and lego.
It's a good thing she also likes to pretend cook and feed her baby Millie, because we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, seeing that I'm in charge of all meals and snacks (except Leighton's lunch and snacks; he packs his own food). She's taking to sitting on the kitchen counter where she has a better view and easier access to food to snack on and me to talk to.
