Watch Out Kindergarten! Here He Comes!

Today I sent my little boy off to Kindergarten! I can't believe it. How did that happen??? Colby was really excited about school today. He couldn't wait to meet new friends and have some fun. He will be going to a before and afterschool program. I dropped him off and he was ready. He did give me an extra squeeze and kiss for good measure but that was it. "Bye Mom."  He was still all smiles when I picked him up after my first day at a new school too. He seems to have made a new friend, Ryan, and they both go to the before and after school program. He ate all his lunch, played on both playscapes, read a silly book about Pete the Cat Rocking his School Shoes, and drew an amazing little self-portrait. I am so proud of him. I can only hope his enthusiasm for learning and school continues throughout his school life.

Quiet Days

After so many crazy days, it has been nice to have a week or so of "normal" quiet days. We actually had little snow fall here Wednesday into Thursday which gave us an early dismissal from school. But it has been a crazy, snowless winter thus far. Besides the freak snowstorm in October we haven't had much else. When it has snowed, it quickly turned to sleet and rain just making everything dreary. Dull days of winter I guess. Thankfully spring is arriving soon.

Colby is enjoying school and doing well. I will have to post a video soon of him reading his books. Yup, he's Reading! Yeah! He has always loved books and now loves rhyming and even spelling words. Totally amazes me. As for me, I head into the dreaded days of March- state wide testing time. Ugh! Ours are called CT Masters Tests, or CMTs for grades 3-8 and then high school version is CAPTs. Not much fun for my kiddos as school. When Colby is in 3rd, they will be replaced my nationwide standardized tests. Can't wait....not! So, instead of taking my reading groups I get to proctor tests for the next 3 weeks. First grade 6, then grade 4. Double yuck!

But, on the positive side, it is March Madness. Can't wait to watch my UCONN girls play int he Big East Tourney tonight and then hopefully watch them win the NCAA tourney. Might be difficult this year but they will sure try. I'd love to see them play Tenn though.

In other news, looking towards a busy April and May with Easter, Mother's Day, and lots of family birthdays including someone's 5th birthday and registration for Kindergarten! Oh, and someone else's unnumbered birthday on Mother's Day. And still looking at the posibility of moving, adding to our family, or just keeping things how they are. Still not sure. I know what my heart wants but still some things stay out of reach.

Promise pics and videos to come. Just had a few moments before we head out to celebrate Grandpa's birthday.

First Day of School

Well, by now I was hoping to show you pictures of Colby from his first day of school. But, we are still waiting.

Last week, I had 5 full days of teacher in-service. On Friday I actually had to give part of the training on our Reading curriculum. Everyone was all set for school to strat on Monday when we received an email. Due to the pending storm, what was Hurricane Irene, school was being canceled. And it still is. Just received the call for no school tomorrow as well. Ugh! When will we start.

Colby was a little nervous about going to Pre-K this year. I'm not sure why since he was in school last year. Perhaps because it is a new school. So thankfully his teacher is so nice. She met with us on Thursday last week. He was able to see her and his classroom. He played with some of the toys and read some of the books. He is now so excited to go. I only wish we could.

I am also excited about this year. Last year I didn't get my teaching job until October so it will be nice to start the school year with everyone else. Also, I am in a newly refurbished over 100 year old school. They did a great job redoing the school, adding on to it, and putting in the latest and greatest of everything. I am now a part of a 3 person Reading Department and so excited to start. We still have materials to organize and put away, our computers aren't set up yet, and there are odds and ends to finish but the building is amazing. I'll have to get some pics.

So, no pics yet. Promise soon. This could be a really long school year and it hasn't even snowed yet! YIKES!!

End of Summer Chaos

Well, summer is almost over. School starts soon. I have to head back this Monday 8/22 for beginning teacher orientation. Although I worked last year, I started in Oct so I missed this and am now required to go. YUCK! 3 days of torture. Thurs and Fri I have teacher professional development and school starts on Mon 8/29. Colby has his pre-school orientation on the first day so I am a little bumbed that i can't go. I have to rely on Mike to go and get all the information. Good thing there's email and I can talk to Colby's teacher that way. Colby starts on the 30th and will be going full-day. The bus will pick him up at Mike's parents' house and then Mike's mom will watch him in the afternoon until I can get home. Thank goodness for grandparents!

Next week is also the tennis tournament in New Haven. I love volunteering there. I usually work nights as an usher and have been volunteering for about 10 years. This year I'll work 4 nights after my PD days at school.

I also am trying to move from my old school to a brand new school. As 1 of 3 in the Reading Dept. we have to organize all the reading materials and set up our office. We've been ready to go for a couple weeks but we are still waiting for our floor to ceiling book shelves to be bolted in the walls. Hopefully soon.

And in the middle of all this, Mike and I are sprucing up the house. I've been trying to organize my teaching materials in the basement and get rid of some extra stuff. Mike painted Colby's bedroom a great shade of blue. We jsut need to put up the photos. And now my kitchen floor is a disaster. New tile to come but until then what a mess!!!

So lots going on. We are living in chaos! But thought you might like some photos of Colby's big boy room and my messy kitchen. Sorry for the messy Colby room. Will post better photos when the walls are decorated. And I promise to post updated photos of the kitchen when we get done.

Craziness

Craziness. That is what we have been up to lately.

It has been a while since I have had the chance to write on here. Our schedule has truly gone up in smoke. And with a 3 year old who loves schedules, it hasn't been much fun. Today we are home snug and warm while outside it is a big icy mess. We are now on Snow Day #9. (I think. I have lost track.) But here's an update.

1) Colby continues to enjoy school, when he gets to go. He was starting to get used to the schedule of Pre-school in the morning and then daycare in the afternoon but that has only happened maybe 2 times in the past 3 weeks. He loves Mrs. DeCarlo and Miss Stacy at Pre-school and I am very proud of what he is learning. He surprised everyone by naming most of the letters in the alphabet. The school teaches them the letter that starts their name but Colby has learned all the letters for his friends too, including Z for Zachary! He now knows his colors and shapes and he can count to 20, and 10 in Spanish too. Hopefully the snow/ice will stop, spring will come, and we can get back to school.

2) As for school. I am trying to get marking period and mid-year reading assessments done for grade 2 complete but these snow days are killing us. The kids are all out of sorts and when we are in we end up with a late start or early dismissal. But I think I have them set and report cards are done. The grade 2 teacher is out on maternity leave so I have been overseeing much of the assessments and grades in there. Ugh!

3) We have s much snow we don't know where to put it all. Thankfully Colby has not been lost in it yet! He has enjoyed sledding in the back yard, down the small slope and over the short stone wall area. And he loves climbing on the big piles in the front yard, thank you city plow driver. Don't worry we stand right there while he slides down them near the street.



4) We recently had a pretty big Russia boys get together. There are about 7 families in the area from our adoption agency that have boys from Russia. The oldest is now 7 and home for a few years. The youngest is only 20 months and home only since last Nov, about 3 months. The rest are 3 or 4 years old. We went to a huge indoor play area/arcade. There wasn't much for the little guys to do but they did have a climbing area and jump area. The boys got some much needed exercise and run around time and the adults had time to chat. We definitely need to do that more often, preferably somewhere less crowded and noisy. I would love to get our group even bigger and have meetings more often.

Work, School, and a Little Bit of Fun

I guess I haven't been able to write lately. I have been very busy at work. I really am enjoying being back at work, especially in my new role. No longer the classroom teacher, I am able to actually work with more students and even help out my fellow teachers. Being the Reading teacher is something new, and being the Reading teacher within the reading framework where I work has been very interesting and definitely challenging. Everyday brings new challenges but also new hugs and laughs. The kids really are great, despite their little too-mature attitudes. And they crave attention.

We have hit a bump in the road though, Colby does not enjoy his daycare, and often tells me so. He seems to like the kids and his teacher, and I like where he is. However, I think he is having a hard time adjusting to being away for a full day. He attends a preschool program in the AM through the city's school. Mike is able to put Colby on the bus in the morning to preschool and they love that time together. Then after school he takes the bus again to his daycare. He loves the bus but it is a 45 minute ride. He's only at the daycare for about 3 hours but it does make for a long day. He says he can't sleep at daycare so he is certainly cranky afterward. And Colby tells me he cries a little at daycare because he misses us. Top that off with a child who fights tooth and nail not to wear his eye patch. Ugh! Thankfully that is only for about an hour. We have now decided to let him choose. Put it on in the morning before school and watch "Dino Dan" in the afternoon without it or wear it after school during "Dino Dan". The past two days he wore it in the morning. It worked out great! We'll see how things continue. I just hope we are doing the right thing. Me working is a definite plus but I miss being with Colby and I can see the change in him.

Ok. All I was going to write about was last weekend's fun. My Aunt Doone is a leader at her church. They held their annual church holiday fair. She had called and asked if I could help her out. She brings one of her miniature horses to the fair for buggy rides. While she was overseeing the fair, Colby and I did the rides. My cousin Chelsie and her boyfriend Mike also helped and took over for a while. While they were with the horse I went inside to serve popcorn but Colby wanted to still drive so he stayed with them. Later I went outside to ask Colby if he wanted lunch and found the buggy a little banged up and the horse tied up. Chelsie didn't look too happy. Sunny got away from her and took off down the hill toward Main Street. The smarty she is, she grabbed Colby out of the cart as it tipped over and they were both ok. Buggy and Sunny, a little banged up but all things important were ok. But overall, Colby was great all day and he had a blast with "his girl" Chelsie and his buddy Jaden.

Well, I promise some holiday photos soon, but here are a couple from the fair. Colby the buggy driver!

A Little of Everything

Fall has arrived and so has lots of change. Overall, when I can sit back and look at everything as a whole, I am pleased with the change. However, when I start to think and nitpick at everything, I am not so happy. I guess that is how change just is.

I had become accustomed to being home and enjoying lots of time with Colby. I can see how our time together has been so important. In Colby's development in all areas. In our bonding as a family. And in my growing into the new role of Mommy. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The road to my being home was not planned, nor was it all that wanted at first. But it has become the best part of my life. But now, that will all change.

I received a full-time teaching job again. I am now the reading teacher at a small school right where we live. It is a new teaching role for me, previously only being the classroom teacher, so now I have a new role to learn. I have been working now for two weeks and can only now sit back and relax a little. I think I have fallen back into the teaching role very easily, sort of like riding a bike again after a long time. But this role also has me working with other teachers and supporting them. That is a new role I am not as comfortable with yet. However, it is going very well I think, except for an exception or two. We are all learning a new reading program together and it will take some time to implement well. But I am thrilled with my new job and all that it holds.

On the home front, Colby is in pre-school in the mornings, riding the bus, and loving it. Mike has been able to put him on the bus in the mornings. He has also been able to watch him most afternoons or his mom did. Thus changing our roles. I really miss my time with Colby waiting for the bus and eating lunch together. Running errands and just relaxing together. I also REALLY miss nap time! I feel like I am missing a lot of his day. Although happy at work, I find myself wondering what he is doing and how his day is going. This week Colby will start going to a day care after school in the afternoons. Another big change. I hope it goes well. We shall see. Thus far we are doing well, although Colby has been more whiney and a lot more tired lately. Is it growing pains or all the change? I'm not sure but it is definitely something I need to keep an eye on. I have already asked both school and day care to watch for me.

For now, I need to learn to balance Mommy and teacher and not forget about wife and just plain old Melissa. Ugh! How do you all do it?

On the Bus

Well, Colby is now riding on the bus! Yup, my little boy is becoming quite independent. Last week he threw a fit when I picked him up. He saw so many other kids going on the bus and he wanted to as well. So I decided to wait out the week and start the bus this week. I was worried he wouldn't like going by himself but he was so excited. Yesterday he hopped on the bus and barely looked back. I was able to snap just a couple photos and then he was off to school. No hug or kiss. I'm so happy that he loves the bus and being so grown up but I miss my goodbye hugs and kisses. I'll have to snatch them before the bus comes. But here's the big boy!

Preschool

Any suggestions for something to do to keep this Mommy's time occupied while her little man leaves her to go to school?

Yup, that's right! Colby is headed off to preschool in just a week. He'll be gone every morning from 9-11:30. Not much time but enough for me to already be missing him. It will be the first time he's away from me during the day since we came home in Feb 2009. That is, except for the occasional Grandmas and Grandpas days out or when I'd have an interview and Grandma watched him. Now I am sending him off to school! YIKES! Already? He can't be old enough yet!!! But alas, he is, and he is MORE than ready. It is all I have heard about for about 2 months. He is definitely becoming a big boy. But yet, I miss my little baby.

My Big Boy

I am amazed at how big my little man is getting. There are so many things that he can now do that he couldn't do before. Today we went to the park and Colby was off and running. He was jabbering away with two little girls, playing follow the leader, and climbing up the slides. Yes, UP the slides. He was quite proud of that! And to think last year I had to hlep him climb the steps to get to the slide. He is now a little monkey!

Also, a couple months ago we went and registered Colby for the 3 year old preschool program. Wow! To think that in the fall, he will be going off to preschool. He is VERY excited about going to 'chool like Nessa, our neighbor. Anytime we drive by her school he says, "I go there, after later." How will we ever wait until the fall? I'm not so sure that I am looking forward to that day though.

Recently my sister Karin came up from Manhattan and brought us a few things that her boys had. I love getting hand me downs from the boys. The best item, besides the bike which Mike needs to put training wheels on, is a race car back pack. Alex and Max, me nephews, showed Colby how to put his books, pencils, and toys in the backpack and go to school. Now Colby drags it everywhere. He even decided to pack it himself and wear it to Mike's parents' house. With his baseball cap and backpack, he certainly looked like a big boy.... Where did my baby go?

The Beginning of the Wait

Well, it has been over 2 months since we first saw Colby. It is now September and children have returned to school. I have begun my new job as a school photographer. My first "shoot" was on Friday 9/5. It was tiring but fun. I really enjoyed interacting with the kids. I was really worried about how it would feel to be in a school and not be the teacher. But honestly, I didn't really think about it much. I was able to enjoy the kids and not worry about the administration and the requirements of teaching. It is nice to have my nights back and not worry about correcting papers and grades and all of that. I am thinking about doing some tutoring but I am not sure how to get that started. I don't really know anyone with kids except those where I taught before but I don't want to go there. We'll see what comes up. In the mean time, we begin the long wait.

As mentioned previously, Mike and I sent in our court documents on Wed. We received an email from Vica on Friday saying that they looked great, well organized, and she was shipping them off to Russia that night to get translated. Then they will go to the judge in Yekaterinburg. Hopefully not too much will need to be updated. But for now, it is not in my hands. I did my job as quickly as I could. (I hate waiting on people for paperwork.) I wish we had gotten in done quicker but I have been told it takes most people about 2 months to complete it all. That is how long it took us. And now we wait. While we wait, I am glad to be able to read fellow adoptive couples' blogs. I have enjoyed reading about how Nicholas is doing now that he is home and I look forward to many of the joys that are occurring in that household. I have recently stumbled onto another blog and that family is traveling in Yekaterinburg to get their twin girls. I look forward to seeing those photos as well. Hopefully Mike and I will share in their happiness soon. We are still looking at the end of this year but I am not sure. It has taken most families about 8-11 months inbetween the first trip and bringing their child home.If it does take that long, and we do miss Christmas than I hope to have Colby home before his birthday in April. I don't think I could bear him not being with us for a second birthday. Christmas will be hard enough. Please, everyone, keep your fingers crossed for us. Wish us good luck. We certainly deserve something good to happen.