Preschool

Cambria goes to the seminary nursery school three mornings a week. This past Monday Cambria moved up to the preschool class at her school. She loves being in such a "big girl" class, especially since they do a lot of activities with the pre-K class (4 year olds). Her teacher, Karen, is an organized person and sent us several pictures of her. My favorite is the one of her writing. Cambria loves to write. She is constantly making lists -- grocery lists, packing lists, etc. It's very sweet.

Writing -- I bet she's making a list. :-)

Sliding on the playground. 

Learning to cut shapes. 

A future painter? 

Avery is walking!

I'm a terrible mom because Avery has been walking for about 12 days. With Cambria I never would have let the news sit for so many days but, alas, these are the trials of the second child. The weekend of Labor Day we were in Annapolis, MD for Jeff's sister's baby shower. Sunday morning, 5 days before her 10 month bday, Avery took her first "alone" steps. Of course, once we pulled out the video camera she was done walking for us. She also discovered that weekend that she could climb the steep stairs at Aunt Heather & Uncle Will's house. Oh yea, that was a lot of fun! :-)

The crazy thing about Avery's walk date is that Cambria also walked 5 days before her 10 month bday. It must be in the genes. Of course, Grandma Jacks has made sure to let us know that neither girl walked as quickly as their mom -- I walked at 9 months. Oh well, I'm not complaining.

Well, I better get back to chasing Avery...

"I can walk!" Avery can now take up to 12 steps at a time. 

Thoughts of a potty training mom.

I recently sent the following email out to a few friends who have been through my potty training woes. I hope this is helpful to other moms:

"At Cambria's 3 year visit with Dr. Halvorsen in July, I bemoaned the fact that we were backsliding in the potty training department. Dr. H's advice to me was to lay off potty training for 6 weeks. She told me to not say a word to Cambria about anything to do with the potty unless Cambria first initiated it. Well, Dr. H. was right. Shortly after our trip to VA in early August, Cambria decided to start wearing underwear again and going tinkle on the potty. Then, last weekend at Jeff's sister's house, Cambria started pooping on the potty. Lastly, she's been more rational about using public potties, even ones with automatic flushing...however, if she does throw a fit about a public potty, I put a pull-up on her and don't say another word.

So, now armed with my new potty training wisdom (aka Dr. Halvorsen's advice), I will advise new potty training mom's to let their kids potty train in their own time. :-)

I just thought you might appreciate my mommy growing moment."