September Notes

I've been keeping little notes about things I wanted to include in our blog.  They are random, but so sweet.  Enjoy!

• Thomas really loves the Disney movie "Cars".  He now has MANY of the toy cars and we watch the movie pretty often.  A month or so ago, I was in the kitchen and I heard Thomas playing with his cars in the living room.  He whispered, "Come on Doc, Drive!" while acting out the scene in the movie with Lightning McQueen and Doc Hudson. Didn't know he was paying that much attention.....He is.
• Thomas has been saying the blessing before all of our meals.  It goes a little something like this: "Dear Dod, thank you food, aaaaaaamen!"
• When Thomas hears me or Shawn ask each other "you ok?", he immediately responds "I'm o-tay, Mama" or "I'm o-tay, Daddy"  Well we weren't asking you, son, but we're glad to hear it!
• We've been watching a lot of football lately.  Haven't made it to an actual game yet, but hopefully sometime this season we will.  Thomas loves to "ta-tle" Daddy.  We're working on discerning who, where and when to tackle.  i.e. - not at school, please. :)
• Big news! Thomas is now in a toddler bed.  For those of you unfamiliar with this, it is essentially his crib, just with the front rail taken off and replaced by a short half-rail so that he is able to get in (& out) by himself.  One Sunday night at 6:00pm (1.5 hours before bedtime), Shawn said "let's go ahead and change over his bed" and, as freaked out as I was, I said "okie dokie".  We're all about just ripping the band aid off instead of taking it slow. :)
• Lately, if I suggest something to Thomas he responds with "that be fine, mama."  Like, ok, that'll work Ma.  Just sounds so grown up coming out of that little mouth.
• If you ask what Thomas wants for lunch, you will usually hear "peanut butter and jellybeans, please."  If that's not the cutest thing in the world, I don't know what is....

Things are well in the Williams' household.  Lots of new things going on.  Shawn has started with a men's group at church that meets 6-7:30 on Wednesday MORNINGS!  Thomas is doing really well in preschool.  No more tears for the most part.  In fact, he actually had quite the tantrum the other day because he didn't want to leave!  Wow, what a change.  I've joined a women's bible study at church once a week while Thomas is in preschool.  What a blessing that has been so far! ...and it's only been a few weeks!!!  It is definitely where God wants me to be right now.  I'm sure of that.

I almost wrote a post the other day titled "I love my son, but I don't like him right now."  That is what the last week or so have been like around here.  We are in the throws of the terrible two's (I hope) and I am frantically trying to figure out what in the world I'm supposed to do in those really uncomfortable but really important teaching moments.  I'm also trying to lower my volume.  I've learned, since becoming a mom, that I'm a yeller.  I don't like that about myself, but I'm working on it.  Any other yellers out there have advice for me??  Whew.... nobody said this would be easy. :)

Here's a cute pic of Thomas coloring before supper the other night.

As an aside, my cousin Keyes became an officer in the Navy this morning.  He graduated from Navy OCS today!!  Way to go Keyes!!  We couldn't be more proud of you. :)

First Day of Preschool

That was my big boy this morning on his first day of preschool.

He is attending two days a week at a church down the road from our house.  We had an open house last week where all three of us were able to meet the teachers, other children and some of the other parents as well.  That went well as soon as Thomas realized that we were staying to play with him.

I cleaned out his book bag, which has served as our diaper bag for many months now, last night and left in there only the things that he needed for school - a change of clothes in a Ziploc bag with his name on it, extra diapers and his sippy cup, well labeled, of course.  I decided to try to do this without E or Blankie.  Seemed mighty empty to me, but he's a big boy and doesn't need a ton of stuff anymore, especially when he's going somewhere that has toys and people to play with!

We talked about school some last night and a lot this morning and he was looking forward to it, but peppered the conversation with "mommy leaving" in the most pitiful pouty voice you've ever heard.  Here is a short video - "Preschool Day 1 - Before":

After our experience at VBS a few months ago, I was a little nervous but confident that both of us could handle this.  So, we left right on time and arrived at school right on time.  We walked to his classroom and the tears started.  It was a quick drop-off, which seems to work best for everyone involved, but I stood in the hallway to take care of some paperwork at the front desk.  I heard him cry a little but not NEAR as bad as VBS.  He seemed to be okay, so off I went.

When I returned, he was doing fine and waiting at the door with all the other children.  When he saw me he cried a little, but that's the usual, even at church.  Mrs. Amanda said that he did great, especially considering it was the first day.  I'm so proud of my big boy and I can't believe he's big enough to be doing this already.  I feel like real school will be here in the blink of an eye.

Here is another video "Preschool Day 1 - After":