Ready, Set, Learn...and he's off!

A few months back James's new school had a fun little morning activity where incoming Kindergarten kids could tour the school and see the Kindergarten classrooms, as well as the music room, gymnasium and library learning commons. Here are a few pictures from that morning. He had so much fun that day with his little preschool friends and it made him (and me) excited for what September is going to bring for James. 

Here they have some really fun activities and stuff that the kids do to prepare for entering Kindergarten and celebrating ending preschool. More pictures coming from the Preschool Carnival and James's Kindergarten assessment in an upcoming post.

He may not talk yet but he is full of personality

I started this blog post a few months ago because I wanted to record all of the ways that Jordan can and does communicate with us even though he isn't talking yet. Since the start of this blog post he has finally started talking a little bit when prompted but is still very much happy to not say a word except for some pretty consistent babbling of mamamam, dadadadada, nananana, papapapa. We have been seeing a speech therapist since January and she is really proud of the progress and so am I as I feared he just might never talk! Can you imagine a child of MINE that didn't talk?!?!

Even though he doesn't actually speak words to us he is very aware of what is going on and understands completely what you are saying and doing around him.

A while back he had a bedtime routine that just cracked me up every night. I would ask him if he wanted me to sing a song for him and he would shake his head yes and then for EVERY single song I would start to sing he would look at me, smile and just wag his finger back and forth at me indicating that in fact no he didn't want THAT song. Then I would look shocked and horrified and then he would burst out into a giggle. Now we've progressed to his saying "ooohhh" when he wants me to sing Oh Canada to him every night and now he'll hum along with me while I sing. I have to get a video of it because it really is so cute how 3 separate times during the song he throws his arms up in the air because he thinks its the end of the song, even though I know that he knows it isn't :)

For months now we've been saying I love you to Jordan by pointing to our eye and saying I, then to our heart and saying Love, and then to him and saying You. Now when we say it to him he will often point to his heart and point back to us and then lean in for a big hug and kiss. I remember one night snuggling with him in my bed when he should have been sleeping but had a rare wakeup and he poked me in the eye and got my attention, then touched his heart and grunted at me (another form of his communication). It was totally unprovoked as I was just laying quietly watching him and it made my heart soar knowing that he was able to communicate, even if he couldn't say any words yet.

This kid is as independent as any child I've ever seen. If he wants something he doesn't want to ask for it, he will just grab a stool and climb up to whatever it is that he wants. He is a great pointer and grunter too and as long as he signed the words Please and Thank You he was able to usually get what he wanted. We have progressed in the past 2 months to some semblance of those two phrases so we've come a long way! Now it's "eessseee" and "ta" which the speech therapist said is great progress.

James's Preschool Year 2 Photos

I opened up the envelope to see this years photos and was both pleasantly surprised at how good they are and at the same time really caught off guard by how old he looks...and how much he looks like my brother Christopher! WOW!

Jordan and Harris...from birth to 2 years old!

Oh my dear sweet Jordie boy...how did you get to be 2 already? It feels like just yesterday that I was in that hospital bed with a 12 hour old you and your Harris bear and yet here we are and you seem so grown up now.

You are a major light in ours lives and your snuggles are cherished by your Mama. Every morning while I drink my tea you climb into my chair with me and either sit down beside me, or if James is anywhere near me you will climb right up onto my lap to show him that you are the boss (or at least you think you are!)

You and James have a great relationship with the perfect amount of love and affection and regular big brother/little brother bickering and pushing and shoving. You like to screech at him when he is in your face and you never hesitate to let people know what you think with just a look on your face.

Daddy and I are so proud of the little man you are growing into, even if you scare us just a little bit with your crazy eyed stare and your little maniac laugh. You are a very special little boy and I love watching you grow and change every single day! I can't wait to see what the future holds for you in the years to come!

Here we are going way back to the beginning and we'll see him grow up right in front of us!

May 23, one of the best days of my life. I fell in love with you the first time I held you in my arms!

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

18 months

 2 years old! 

 

All about Mom...as answered by James, aged 5

This was a super cute survey thing that I saw on FB last week and I really wanted to do it with James to see what his answers would be...and he definitely didn't disappoint! I love this kid so much!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes mom happy?
Me listening

3. What makes mom sad?
Me NOT listening

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
By tickling me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
A good boy, I mean a good girl

6. How old is your mom?
Uuuhh 34

7. How tall is your mom?
As tall as Daddy

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play games

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Stay home

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Game

11. What is your mom really good at?
Tag

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Baseball

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Work. What kind of work? VIU

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Uuuhhh grilled cheese...grilled cheese sandwiches

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
Her loving me? - not sure why he was unsure of that one!

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
An adult

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play together

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Cause we live in the same family

19. How are you and your mom different?
Cause I have glasses and you don't and I'm a boy and you're a girl

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Cause she gives me lots of hugs and kisses

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That he loves you

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The park

23. How old was your Mom when you were born?
Uummm 30

James and me at Willingdon a few weeks ago! I love this picture so much it's my new lock screen photo on my phone!

 

Nine truths & one lie

I saw this on a favorite blog of mine and thought I'd do it and see if anyone can guess or knows which one is the lie :)

1. I am a proud Canadian and my favorite song to sing to my boys is Oh Canada! By the time James was 3 he could sing the whole song alone. It is a constant bed time song for both of them now and Jordan asks me to sing it by saying "OHHHH" while we are snuggling in his chair at night.

This Canadian flag was designed by an old college friend of mine, Curtis Wilson! He sells these flags as well as T-shirts with this design on it too, as well as original native carvings. Check out his
FB page and his website! He is an incredible artist and was one of my closest friends back in the day!

2. In my life time I have had a large amount of siblings between my parents original marriage and their second marriages, including 4 brothers and 3 sisters.

3. My first cousin Kevin Reimer is a world champion long-boarder who goes by the name K-Rimes.
I have never seen him race but would really like to sometime soon as I've seen videos and he really is incredible at what he does. Google this kid, his videos are all over the internet!

4. I now am employed by the only post secondary institution I have ever attended for my education, although back when I first went it was called Malaspina University-College.

5. I hate the open ends of pillow cases being near my face and the spiky kind of field cucumbers! I also used to really not like long stringy noodles like spaghetti and fettucine but I've gotten over that one mostly but if given the choice will pick macaroni or rotini noodles any day.

6. I have had 4 major surgeries in the past 10 years that have had me in the hospital for almost 3 weeks total. Before that time I had never had any major surgery, only minor ear tube surgeries when I was a small child.

7. I wore braces on my teeth for almost 4 whole years from the age of 12-16. I told the orthodontist when he put them on just before my 12th birthday that I didn't care how long I had them as long as they came off before I turned 16. They came off on January 10, just 10 days before my birthday.

8. Bathing my kids is my favorite daily part of motherhood. I love to see them having fun and splashing around and when they get me wet I just laugh and keep on letting them play and enjoy themselves.

9. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease many years ago and have been really lucky that it's been in remission now for a few years and it no longer rules my life like it did for quite awhile.

10. My Grandmother recently passed away at the age of 93. She had 4 remaining siblings still alive, all in their late 80's or early to mid-90's. I hope that I inherit her long-living and healthy genes!

 

SO...can you guess which one is the lie?! Best of luck! :)