Sing, Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong...

That is exactly what he did... Woo Hoo Woo Hoo!!  Nathaniel had his first school program.  A Christmas program called 'It was kind of Quiet'.  They sang ~5 songs.  

1) "I'm ready to take a step" 2) "Mary Gave Her Boy a Name" 3) "It was kind of quiet" 4) "Sparkle and Shine" 5) "Get Excited/Go Tell it on the Mountain" 

He tends to still be a little uncomfortable in large crowds so I was unsure how he'd do with all the parents in the audience, plus all the other kids in the program.  It was his class plus all the other preschool classes.  That is a lot of kids.  

I honestly wasn't sure if he would even get up there.  Or maybe once he was up there if he'd see me and look a little like a deer in headlights.  Or cry.  Or just stand there.  Or the one thing you never want to see a nervous picking of the nose.  I tried to stay a little towards the back so he wouldn't see me directly hoping it would help.  

I was so proud of him.  He actually sang and looked like he was having a good time.  He swayed to the music and looked around at the other kids during the songs.  As soon as he rushed off the stage when it was over to me he was ready to go (not the social butterfly) but I was so happy he pulled it off.  Another big milestone as a parent - the FIRST school program.  I can't wait to see a million more :)  I remember going and watching my sister in programs more than actually being in them myself.  Funny to be on the other side watching your kid up there.  I of course took him for a special treat afterwords to congratulate him on his big singing debut.

Freedom OH NOOO

Huge milestone for everyone in the house.  I'm not even sure we made the right decision, but it was starting to feel like we should just do it.  The minute we did it we immediately regretted it.  Then we didn't regret it.  Then we did again.  Then we didn't.  It hasn't even been a week so we'll see.  So what was this big milestone.

We changed the crib to a toddler bed ...EECK...  He was still fine in his crib, but we were wondering if we needed to make the switch.  One, so that he could start to learn how to go potty himself.  Since he isn't wearing diapers during his nap we thought maybe at night wouldn't be far behind (who knows) Two, he is starting to possibly grow out of his nap so we may transition to quiet time.  I wanted to give him some room to roam his room if we move to quiet time.  

To say the boy doesn't like change is an understatement (mom and dad too).  In preparation for this I showed him pictures of a toddler bed and asked if he wanted his bed to look like the one in the picture.  He said yes and got excited.  I did this over a few days.  Then Kevin got out the parts to do it.  Mini meltdown one night so we didn't push it.  Then he was excited about it again so we made the change.  It hasn't been a week yet so I hope over time it gets better, but bedtime has been a bit rough.  Kevin has dealt with the brunt of the nighttime routine so I have to thank him for that, it can really test your patience.  He likes to put his legs in the slats of the crib so this has changed for him and I think he can't quite find his comfort level. He is mostly just grumpy and whiney and fights to go to sleep.  Plus he is 3 - enough said.

The nap routine hasn't gone much smoother, but really hoping we find a good rhythm (I hope it still includes some naps) I feel so unprepared about how to handle stuff like this.  I don't read nearly the same amount I used to when he was smaller, but there are times I wish I did.  Now that I want to learn how to do it better I'm trying to read some stuff at night.  So much is so dependent on the kid though.  Each kid is so different that the vanilla type advice isn't always helpful, but sometimes there are nuggets of info.  

Anyway, I can't believe I have a kid that is free to roam the house.  I don't have a baby gate on the stairs even which slightly freaks me out.  He goes down stairs great, but in my head I see him walking aimlessly at night and we don't hear him and he falls down.  Also, what are the odds he listens and stays in his room for quiet time or at 2 am in the morning??  We have always kind of taken the philosophy that we will first try to get him to listen to us.  So we talk about staying in your room etc. etc.  But, because I'm a mom I just might put a gate on his door so he is contained haha.  

Well, wish us luck on this new (pretty scary) adventure.  

Opposites

I have noticed something lately that cracks me up.  And no it's not the obsession with Taylor Swifts 'Shake it off'...but boy is he cute singing that...  and it's not the way he has to have everything in a place and a place for everything (I move one Christmas decoration or something while he naps and next thing I know it is right back where it was originally)... tiny bit of OCD perhaps... I'm certainly not to blame for that ... Right? Right? Anyone?  Anyone?  

Ok, what cracks me up is how he will ask me something like..'What marble do you want' and I'll say, " The blue one' and he goes 'how about the orange one'.  He will say what color do you want...I'll pick (fill in the blank) and he always says 'how about (fill in the blank, but never the color I picked).  Whether it is a snack or where to go or what to do it is always a similar choice but not the one I chose.  Cracks me up because he says it so innocently.  He must really like to pick.  It never really affects anything so for right now I just take whatever he gives me.  It is a new thing and like everything else (well some things) it usually just disappears so I just chuckle under my breath and observe.  :)

First School Picture

No Diapers

Ok so the headline is a little misleading.  Nathaniel has been potty trained for awhile, almost a year, but he has continued to wear a diaper when he sleeps (nap and at night).  Well (drum roll please) he isn't wearing them anymore during naps.  His choice.  Kevin and I have been kind of relaxed on this and one day he just decided he didn't want to wear them anymore during his nap.  I was skeptical at first, but he has been doing great.  Honestly, I haven't pushed it because I figured he might sleep better with it on.  I, of course, need to cut back on his liquid intake before he sleeps and make sure he tries to potty before he naps, but I'm impressed.  Mostly because he was the one who decided haha.  Now the less great news is that it seems like he may be growing out of his afternoon nap..... YIKES.  I have no idea what we will do with ourselves.  That is my *me* time.  I usually eat lunch and watch some show Kevin hates or nap myself.  

He is taking a nap as I write this though so lets hope I have a bit longer to enjoy some free time.