January

Now that the holidays are over (which is a good and bad thing), we can focus on this "new" life. No work, more play and please, please, please - less stress! Things so far are looking good. We have a little "vaca" planned at the end of the month and both kids are getting older (which is a good and bad thing) and we have no major milestones or things-to-be-waiting-for so it is nice just to LIVE!

Clara started preschool yesterday. Things went well. I was in the classroom with her for a little bit at the beginning. It was a bit chaotic because we were a little late (surprise!). Clara was excited though, we had been prepping her for a while. I stayed in the classroom for about half an hour and then I waited for her with other parents in the hallway while it was in session. Ellis stayed at Julie's house and played with Anthony so I could focus on Clara. He did fine there! I am glad because I was sure he was either going to be fine, or a total wreck :).

Clara did well, no crying and went with the flow for the most part. There were a few moms that I recognized from various other things we had done around town and I chit chatted with some of them. That was nice! At the end, Clara said she was just a little bit sad from preschool and from Mommy. I am assuming that means when I left the room because we ended up leaving pretty abruptly. Matt showed up for a few minutes which was nice! She was happy to see him.

Ellis stood by himself for the first time yesterday. He has been able to stand for a while but it was the first time he did it on his own accord and did it over and over again. It usually ended in a fit of laughter.. because you know, standing is SO funny. I do love that laugh though, that high pitched bit that he does. He is still such a squeaky little baby.

Ellis said dinosaur perfectly the other day. And he is signing a ton. Today right before his nap, I was showing him Night Night, and he was doing it with one hand, sticking his fist under his chin and making himself a double chin (which is hard to do when you are that darn skinny). It was adorable. And he learned it so fast. He is all of a sudden into books. He loves those priddy books - the ones with pictures of kids and animals and every day objects. He is learning signs of a few things in those books like flower. He likes the kids and of course the cars and trucks. He said tractor. He is the KING of saying a word perfectly once and never saying it again!