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This past Thursday was Peanut’s first day at her new school.

We prepped her as much as we could; telling her that she was going to big girl school now where she was going to meet and make new friends, and so forth.

She was excited, until we walked into the building and into her classroom.

The crying started along with “I don’t want to stay here.” Luckily, we didn’t get into full tantrum mode. (Yes, she was the ONLY CHILD CRYING!) After a few minutes, she calmed down and we wished her a good day and that we would see her later.

To This

Granted, the picture was taken in the afternoon when we picked her up, so she was pretty happy. She showed us around her new classroom, what she did, where her cubby was, and so on.

That night, she kept asking if she was going back. “Yes,” I replied. Then she tells me that she likes her teacher. This made The Husband and I hopeful for the next day.

Riiight.

Today’s drop-off went worse than yesterday. First, she started to flip out because I wasn’t going to drop her off. Thankfully, she was able to calm down before she left the house. But, as it was told to me, she flipped out again when she got to school, crying, saying she didn’t want to stay there. She managed to calm down again, only to start up when The Husband left to go work, leaving her there, crying.

I sure as hell hope this doesn’t last very long.

The Queen Bee No More

Sigh.

Friday the 13th (September) was Peanut’s last day at her preschool. Granted, she still has one more year of preschool, she’s been at her current school/day care since she was 8 1/2 months old! She’s the last of the “original crew”.

(I know that we’re not completely saying good-bye, Ringo will still be there, it’s still very sad. This mama has to come to terms that her baby girl is growing up.)

Knowing that this day was coming, I had plenty of time to think of a departing gift. I thought about making some sort of picture collage or something that involved her hand print. I was gearing toward the pictures because I could work in some sort of pictorial time line – photos of her from 8 1/2 months to today. After perusing the internets, I decided that a garden stepping stone would be a grand idea!

That was a couple months ago. I didn’t get around to buying the kit a few weeks ago and we didn’t break open the kit until earlier this week. Skimming the directions, I was worried that the stone wasn’t going to set as the weather hasn’t been providing ideal stone setting conditions lately.

After printing out photos of Peanut over the years, we broke out the cement mix. I told her that we were going to make a surprise for her teachers and that she shouldn’t say anything to them. To my surprise, she actually listened and understood when I told her not to say anything. So we mixed, we decorated, and we let it dry. The stone released from the mold perfectly and we let it sit outside overnight (was a bit smelly).

That morning as we were getting ready, discussing logistics with Peanut – as of late, she needs to go over who is dropping her off and who is picking her up – I told her we’d bring the surprise when we pick her up. Apparently, that was not acceptable. She was so excited and proud about her “surprise” she wanted to bring it to school – NOW!

Peanut 1, Mom + Pops 0

At drop-off, Peanut was quick to show off her gift. She even called over the little girl she usually ignores to come take a look her “surprise”.

The Final Product

That afternoon, The Husband and I, brought cupcakes to celebrate Peanut’s last day.

We arrived early in the afternoon to play with the other kids, take pictures, eat cupcakes, etc.

I was doing just fine…until we had to leave and say good-bye.

(note: the first day of school is tomorrow!)

So, every now and then, when the compact digital camera is out (she knows better not to handle the DSLR), she starts snapping away, whether her subjects are ready (and willing) or not.

The Husband + Mini-Me

Not a bad pic of Ringo

Self-Portrait

A lesson in composition

Peanut + Pops

Gettin' all arsty, now

Some pics come out great, others not so much. Of course, I’ve edited and picked some of the better ones.

I know that I wasn’t an early adopter. (The Husband chides me about this every once in a while.) Truth was, I detested your very existence. But, yes, over time, I have come to appreciate you oh so much.

While I was jet-lagged, I had episodes of The Tudors or Friends to watch. Killing time in waiting rooms playing bejeweled. Yup, you have been a life saver.

When I need to distract Peanut for a few minutes, she deftly flips to the Angelina Ballerina app, or watches one of her favorite movies, or even plays her memory game…in Cantonese.

Even Ringo can somewhat appreciate you. Well, actually he appreciates the cover you are wrapped in. He is teething now and the silicone Paul Frank cover is one of his favorite things to play with, rather, gnaw on. That is, if grandma’s Neverfull is not available.

nothing beats LV leather handles

But lately, probably after the upgrade to iOS4, you have been one disappointment after another.

First and foremost, you are a phone. Would it hurt you to make a call? Would it hurt to make a successful call when the AT&T bars are completely full?

I would also appreciate it if the Maps app would not crash when I am trying to locate a birthday party venue; especially when the venue is in India Basin, which really is Bayview-HP. Luckily, the phone was working enough in the ‘hood that I could call for directions (the old-fashioned way) and assure my daughter that, “no, we are not lost”.

Sadly, my patience wears thin lately. More screw-ups like this and I will be kicking you to the curb sooner than later.

Consider this fair warning.

Best,
Kellybean

*iPhone is of the 3G variety

That's one heck of a tea party!

If you are ever so privileged to be invited to one of Peanut’s tea parties, above is what you may encounter.

She is mindful to ALWAYS set out a tablecloth. In this case, the tablecloth is one of Ringo’s PBK stroller blankets. In the lower right corner, she has set out the fake “flowers” for her party, too.

There is plenty of reading material: the latest edition of Princess magazine (yes, there is a Princess magazine), Curious George Opposites, Dr. Seuss, Pat the Bunny.

The lone maraca in the big teapot for one’s musical musings.

I have yet to give her water or juice for tea, but she does come into the kitchen asking for crackers for her tea party.

And 9 times out of 10, my mind wanders to Lucie.

Even though I have 2 kids running amok – well, one is dancing and prancing around like a prima ballerina or showing off her impressive yoga skills and the other is crawling, bear walking, and pulling himself up to standing like no tomorrow, while dealing with 4 teeth coming in – the house still feels empty. Something, someone is missing.

It’s amazing how the absence of one family member leaves this huge void.

When the doorbell rings, I still anticipate the barking that accompanied it.

When Peanut is blowing bubbles outside, I wait for Lucie to come up running, trying to eat as many bubbles as she could.

When I’m chopping up chicken, shredding pork, or braising beef, and a piece drops to the floor, there’s no one there to clean up after me.

I miss walking the neighborhood (though I don’t really need a dog for that) and guaranteed walks in the parks on the weekends.

To date, Peanut is taking it all very well. Every now and then she’ll tell me that she misses Lucie. And I can finally respond back to her without crying.

Peanut, the other day, found a Lucie hair weaved into her car seat. She showed it to me and, instead of flicking it away as she usually would, she tucked it away safely into the cup holder of her seat.

Let the tears commence.

That was but months ago. And now…

Getting Peanut into anything other than a dress these days is a battle. You know summer in SF is pretty cold and all she wants to wear are her summer sundresses. So, 7 days a week, she’ll leave the house wearing her sundress, a tee shirt of some sort under the dress, either tights or pants, a cardigan, and a jacket. It’s as coordinated as I can get it, but there are some mornings where she’s just one hot mess.

She’s also very smart, too. For example, the other morning she wore one of her most favorite sundresses. The issue I had with the dress was that it was the same dress she wore the day before. I asked her politely to change the dress. “But mommy, it’s not dirty.” Oy. Back and forth we go. I give her two other options, no, not good enough. The whining ensues and tears are rolling down her cheeks. Then, surprisingly, I just had to look at her, no emotion, no reaction, she takes off the dress, chooses option number 1 and says, “Mommy, you can wash this now and then later I can wear it.” Finally, eventually…I WIN! Sometimes, I just wish that she would understand that it would be SO MUCH EASIER if she just did what I ask her to do.

The upside to all this:my mom finally has the girly girl she’s always wanted.

a mind like an elephant

(Apparently, elephants have amazing memories.)

I think this a generalized statement for all kids. The Husband and I are slowly realizing that we can’t get much by Peanut. She remembers a lot!

A while ago, we made a trip up to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. While in the habitot area, Peanut made “friends” with another girl her age, Mackenzie. They played and played in the indoor area. Peanut was so attached to her, that where Mackenzie went, as did we. So attached, that Peanut started bawling when we left Mackenzie for another exhibit.

Ever since then, Peanut tells me that she wants to go to Mackenzie’s house to play. I have to explain to her that we don’t have her phone number, so we can’t call her (to arrange something). Peanut, then, smartly suggests, that we go back the museum and maybe Mackenzie will be there.

It doesn’t stop there, though. Peanut knows her birthday is coming up, so she asks me if I’ve invited Mackenzie. Again, I reply that we don’t have her phone number, blah, blah.

I just hope that she doesn’t become one of those stalker-types.

(image borrowed from the Oregon Zoo)

WW, for me, implied that a heavier weight isn’t a good thing and far be it from me to promote an unhealthy body image. So I’ve changed it to Fitness Friday. Better fitness, I think is something that everyone can get on board with.

Anyhow, the running program has been on hold since last week. I wasn’t feeling all that, so I took a break, recovered from a workout that left me with a major neck strain (or I just slept wrong 3 nights in a row), dealt with a minor sinus infection and got healthy for a Thursday workout that has my laterals sore.

Chill song of the week:

Since no real run was to be had, here’s an old (already?!) favorite “chill” song of mine.

To get her a bit acclimated to the school, we enrolled her in a summer camp for PreK students at her new school.

Her first day, she was SO excited! Excited for her new lunch box, excited to bring her yoga mat and even more excited that the school had a playground! We entered the building and The Husband and I were surprised to see her climb the stairs and walk the halls like she owned the place. Once we got her settled in the classroom, it time for us to wish her a bonne journée and head out. I was expecting tears & tantrums – from her, naturally – and got none of that. The Peanut saw us to the door of the classroom and gave us besitos.

Phew, maybe the transition won’t be so bad after all?

The week came and went and it was time to prep for “big girl school” (as Peanut likes to call it). She’s still excited – I think getting her involved in helping me with her lunch box contents, helps – as does putting snazzy new labels (pink princess ones, of course) on her stuff. Last night, I was cutting up oranges for her lunch and I ask her if she likes it at her new school.

Peanut: “Yes, mommy. But there are no friends for me there.”

Me: “What do you mean there are no friends for you? There are lots of kids for you to play with.”

P: “No kids wanted to dance with me last morning.” (Last morning = last time or yesterday or last night, etc.)

Me: “Well, if the girls don’t want to dance with you, you can dance with the boys, too.” (I’m sure The Husband will LOVE that bit of advice.)

P: (thinks about that for a bit) “Maybe.”

I remind her to not be so shy next time and to have fun. Now, while I am excited for her to be in a bigger classroom with more children her age and to experience all new things, the mom in me is starting to worry. How does your heart not break into a jillion pieces when your preschooler tells you that “there are no friends for (her)”? At that point, I wanted to keep her at day care forever. But, seeing since I can’t do that – I had to reassure her that she’ll find friends like the ones she has had at her old school.

Sigh…