Not Going To Like The 3’s

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

Noah is quickly approaching the age of three and all I can say is “settle the hell down.”  In the last 6 weeks or so my sweet loving child has morphed into a–dare I say–child prone to possession by some other force.  He screams this blood curdling scream at any hint that the “no” I answered with is my final answer.  It is tough to deal with all day long.  To top it off we are attempting to get rid of the binky again.  This will be the third time. 

But on a postive note–he didn’t pee in a diaper all day today.  That’s something.  I know that this is just a phase and by the time he actually turns 3 he wil be a little more in control of himself and feel less frustrated and out of control.  I know that in my mind–but knowing it and dealing with it with a nugget of grace and composure is tough.  Research shows that kids tend to act out more around their half birthdays because of their mental/physical growth and development and they start to feel out of control, etc.  But it is still hard. 

Tomorrow we are going to our first choice in schools for Noah next year.  They are having a winter festival for potential students.  It should be fun.  I started filling out financial aid info–crazy to be filling that out for my not even 3-year-old.  Applications are almost done and one more school to check out.  We are only applying to two schools and we’ll have to see what happens.  I’ll be happy if he is accpeted to either one and I don’t know that I have a preference.  They both certainly have their own pros and cons.  One is less diverse but goes through 8th grade the other only goes through grade 6 but is very very diverse.  Both are amazing and my children would be lucky to go to either–we’ll see who has the best financial aid deal.

A New Perspective

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 5 Comments

I have been struggling with my eating for a long time and this as well as my struggle over staying home or working.  I guess I have arrived at a crossroads personally and have finally picked a path.  I a living my life as though I have already reached my goals.  Asking myself at every turn–what will I do when I am at my goal weight?  what will I do when I am perfectly organized?  It takes a lot of pressure off and erases many of the questions that I might face in a day. 

I also have accepted that I can love being a SAHM and love working at the same time and that it’s okay to be torn.  I want to go back to work because I miss teaching, etc.  Not because I don’t want to be with my kids and that has taken some getting use to.  I love hanging out and raising my kids.  I also love teaching.  I can love both.  I have also begun to change my internal dialogue from “I want to be a great mom” to “I am a great mom.”  From “I want to be healthy and fit” to “I am healthy and fit.”  This allows me to live in the now for the person I am going to be in the future.  What a glorious revelation and break through. 

Today is Day 7 on my 365 days of exercise.  Yes, I have vowed to exercise every day in 2009.  So far so good and I have to admit that I feel awesome.

13-And 14-Months Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

Dear Zoë,

As I told your brother in his latest letter, you will come to learn that your mother often believes she is capable of doing it all and..well sadly I am only human and I often run out of time.  So, here I sit 3 days after you have turned 14-months-old trying to cram two months of your amazingness into one letter at nearly midnight. 

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You have grown and changed so much over the last two monts.  Shortly after your first birthday you began walking.  It took about 10 days for walking to become your preferred method of transportation–since then you haven’t stopped going.  It has been amazing seeing you grow and change. 

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You follow your brother around like a little puppy and try to do everything he does.  He jumps off the couch–you are pretty sure that you can jump off of the couch too.  You are fearless and nothing stops you.  It is fun to watch and a little scary.  You are growing more independent–you decided that you no longer care to be fed.  You must use the fork or spoon yourself–it is quite messy and ineffective as your motor skills are not quite what they need to be to feed yourself.  There are times when you don’t object to being fed and I enjoy being allowed to feed you. 

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Your first Thanksgiving–okay well not your first thanksgiving–but your first Thanksgiving with us and the first one you got to participate in–as Ethiopia obviously doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving.  You ate and had a good time.  It was certainly one more thing your father and I are thankful for. 

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Your personality continues to emerge and I have to say that you are a pretty funny little girl.  You are also a little needier than Noah was.  Not that I am complaining–you like to be held more and you are a bit more of a snuggler.  It’s really nice.  You are beginning to talk and have words for banana (manna) which is currently your favorite food.  Every time I walk you past the fruit bowl you reach out for one.  You can also sign “more” when asked and you are attempting to say more (mar).  You are good with the “m” sound but have yet to say daddy or any thing relatively close. 

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You are a ray of sunshine–and an awesome sleeper–who smiles that wonderful scrunchy face smile and makes me giggle.  I look so forward to what will come next with you.  Keep growing.  Keep changing and keep smiling. 

Love you baby girl,

Mommy

32-Months-Old–Now 33-Months-Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

Dear Noah,

Today–yes today Over a week ago you turned 32-months-old.  Let me just say that I had every intention of writing this letter last month and then again last week.  But you will learn something about your mom–I am constantly taking on more than I can do and I have a hard time finding time to fit it all in.  I try but somethings fall by the wayside and I sorry that your newsletter found it’s way there.  I am going to try to do better and that really is al that I can promise. 

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You have been part of our family for what seems like forever but in reality is 28 months–which is a very long time.  I never noticed how much you changed and how quickly before I started writing your monthly letters.  While it has only been four months since I started writing to you monthly, I find myself paying much more attention to what you are doing. 

This past month has been a big one for us.  You are now sleeping in your “big boy” bed.  This is the second time we have attempted to transition you.  I did some things better this time around–I disassembled the crib and moved it out of your room and I think that has helped the transition.  You still have not yet made it all night in your room but you are getting better and you don’t cry when we put you in it.  I am certain by the time that I am writing your next letter you will be sleeping all night in your “big boy” bed.

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I have tried to start and attempt to potty train you.  You are making progress and hope that by your 3rd birthday I can say that you are potty-trained.  We can hope. 

As you get more and more verbal you amaze me with your words and the things that you say.  You are trying out “Knock Knock” jokes, but don’t quite get the whole concept and it’s pretty funny.  You say the whole “knock knock whose there” and then laugh as though it was the funniest thing ever.  Often you walk up to me and ask me–“feel my muscles.”  You get that from your Grandpa Mike, who you lovingly call “Mike”–your just too busy to add Grandpa to it.  You spend a great deal of time at your Grandpa Mike and Grandma Lori’s house and you love it there–it really is your home away from home and I am happy that you have another place you feel loved and safe. 

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You’re Grannie Sue came to visit at Thanksgiving and you had a blast spending a week running her ragged and we went to Champaign and spent some time with your cousins and you had blast having tea parties and playing trains. 

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Your 33rd month was so full of fun and excitement.  We decorated for Christmas and you got to pick out your first Christmas tree.  You talked about Santa for the entire month.  You are changing so fast and it makes me sad to see some of your toddlerhood fall away as you begin to become a full fledged pre-schooler.  I can’t believe that you are growing so fast. 

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This month has seen you become fully fascinated with Kung-fu Panda.  You want to play it all the time.  You karate chop with the best of them and it is hilarious to watch.  You are a total crack up.  You are also totally into your trains and ask your dad to play with you at least 20 times a day. 

You have become such an awesome big brother to your little sister.  You play so well with her and you are slightly less annoyed when she plays with your toys and you are starting to help her and attempt to teach her how to “play.”

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You continue to bring laughter into my world everyday.  The things you say and the reasoning you use to come to decisions…or the way you cradle your chin with your hand like Rodin’s Thinker and say “maybe, I ….”  It is adorable. 

This past month has been a blur, but this was the first Christmas where you actually gasped that Santa Claus was a person and he brought you gifts. It was awesome.  We have be prepping you for your next birthday which will come too fast for me.  You know you’ll be three.  On New Year’s Eve, I was explaining to you that it was the last day of the year and that the next day would mark the start of a whole new year and you asked “my birthday is next year.”  I said yes and told you that you will have a birthday every year.  Your eyes nearly exploded out of your head and you said “EVERY YEAR?”  as though I had just promised you the world and stars.  Keep being amazed little man–it does only get better. 

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Love you lots,

Mommy