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Monday, June 18, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The end of the school year...for everyone
By the end of the week, Josh and Isaac will be out of school (no daycare over the summer). They leave for a one-week trip to Pittsburgh on Monday. In 5 weeks, I may be able to join their fun (at home). My defense is July 16th and my talk will be at 11am at Brandeis. Anyone who wants to come is welcome.
It's been a tough couple of months as Josh pushed to complete the final lessons and finish grading while I prepared my manuscript for press and organized old projects into thesis-ready chapters/appendices. Through all this, Isaac has continued to grow, sing and change.
One of the big change-instigators was that we set-up a toddler bed in Isaac's room. Instantly, he fell in love with his "big-boy bed"and wanted to play in his room all the time. Since we set up the bed, we have struggled with more wake-ups than the crib and don't know always how to handle Isaac requesting to get out of his room, "Please, open the door. Pleezze, open the door!" He also now wakes up about an hour earlier (around 5am) with, "I want Mommy! Open the door!" I just bought a new daytime/nighttime clock that uses a bunny light on a timer to teach when morning should start. I'm optimistic, but not holding my breath that it will work.
Isaac has also become much more of a climber (inside and out). When we go to the playground, he used to prefer to passively sit in the swing. Now it's all about finding bars for him to hang from. He's pretty good at holding on, but I admit I have small heart attacks when he climbs this one particular structure at Victory Fields that's meant for a much older child (my imagination flashes images of his head hitting a bar on the way down or falling from the top). He still is kind of clumsy and doesn't always look where he's going or what he could hit/be hit by--body awareness--that can be frustrating to watch. Last night, we were walking by a basketball game and he was watching it instead of the ground and missed a small hole. Needless to say, he fell over and scraped up his knees.
Last story--the other morning, Josh and I were lounging around while Isaac was reading to himself (an absolute favorite pastime) when all of a sudden he starts singing, "A, B, C, D..." and you will not believe it, but he sang the ENTIRE song. Yes, "L, M, N, O, P" sounded like, "elm, no, pee"but Josh and I were startled. When we tried to sing along, he scolded us saying, "no touching!"--his go-to command to stop talking, touching, singing or interacting with him. So, I guess it will just solos for Isaac right now!
So that's my catch-up. As you can see, Isaac is talking a ton and has plenty of opinions. I just bought the Pierre book because it is a childhood favorite and Isaac loves it. It just reminds me, that's never been a problem for my guy: he CARES!
It's been a tough couple of months as Josh pushed to complete the final lessons and finish grading while I prepared my manuscript for press and organized old projects into thesis-ready chapters/appendices. Through all this, Isaac has continued to grow, sing and change.
One of the big change-instigators was that we set-up a toddler bed in Isaac's room. Instantly, he fell in love with his "big-boy bed"and wanted to play in his room all the time. Since we set up the bed, we have struggled with more wake-ups than the crib and don't know always how to handle Isaac requesting to get out of his room, "Please, open the door. Pleezze, open the door!" He also now wakes up about an hour earlier (around 5am) with, "I want Mommy! Open the door!" I just bought a new daytime/nighttime clock that uses a bunny light on a timer to teach when morning should start. I'm optimistic, but not holding my breath that it will work.
Isaac has also become much more of a climber (inside and out). When we go to the playground, he used to prefer to passively sit in the swing. Now it's all about finding bars for him to hang from. He's pretty good at holding on, but I admit I have small heart attacks when he climbs this one particular structure at Victory Fields that's meant for a much older child (my imagination flashes images of his head hitting a bar on the way down or falling from the top). He still is kind of clumsy and doesn't always look where he's going or what he could hit/be hit by--body awareness--that can be frustrating to watch. Last night, we were walking by a basketball game and he was watching it instead of the ground and missed a small hole. Needless to say, he fell over and scraped up his knees.
Last story--the other morning, Josh and I were lounging around while Isaac was reading to himself (an absolute favorite pastime) when all of a sudden he starts singing, "A, B, C, D..." and you will not believe it, but he sang the ENTIRE song. Yes, "L, M, N, O, P" sounded like, "elm, no, pee"but Josh and I were startled. When we tried to sing along, he scolded us saying, "no touching!"--his go-to command to stop talking, touching, singing or interacting with him. So, I guess it will just solos for Isaac right now!
So that's my catch-up. As you can see, Isaac is talking a ton and has plenty of opinions. I just bought the Pierre book because it is a childhood favorite and Isaac loves it. It just reminds me, that's never been a problem for my guy: he CARES!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Isaac loves Steam-Punk!
Happy Mother's Day! Isaac and Josh played at the Watch City Festival yesterday and Isaac loved the carnival-like atmosphere. Here's a super cute cell-phone video of Isaac chasing bubbles. We went back today and Isaac and I spent about a half hour listening to a carousel-organ that was made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee while Josh donated blood (the Red Cross nurses even dressed up!).
BTW: In case you haven't heard, Josh accepted the Lexington offer after playing the two schools' offers off each-other. He's really excited and I am so proud of him.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Things are changing
In my last post, I mentioned briefly that I am wrapping up my PhD studies at Brandeis. Well, I am not the only one mixing things up in our house! Josh made the difficult decision to take a (possibly permanent) academic leave from his PhD and throw himself in the direction of teaching at the secondary level (again). Not two weeks after telling his advisor about his plan, he was teaching a sample lesson as part of an interview for a position at a prestigious private school. That job didn't work out and Josh felt like it wasn't a good fit and a bullet dodged. While doubt sometimes crept into his thoughts, he plowed ahead and completed perhaps a dozen public school applications (or more). Simultaneously, he courageously decided to take on (in addition to his managing editor position at an academic journal and TAship at Boston College) a full-time maternity leave replacement for the rest of the school year at Wellesley High School. That's when Lexington High School showed interest. He went in for two vigorous interviews--teaching sample classes--and then today had a final "interview" with the principal. Good news: he got the job! Lexington High is ranked 5th on Boston.com list of best MA school districts and is pretty close to where we live right now. Importantly, he likes the people there and would feel comfortable working with them. Yet when it rains, it pours: it seems that Wellesley wants him too but they haven't advanced their search as quickly as Lexington. Like in a cheesy romance novel, Josh will have to way the pros and cons and choose the best suitor. Stay tuned for what happens next! Disclaimer: Josh still needs to meet with the HR person to make it "official", but I say, congratulate him anyway!
So if I'm still at Brandeis, Josh is teaching five days a week, and Isaac goes to day care four days a week, what's going on with Isaac? you might ask. Well, first, we made Isaac's non-daycare day Friday and then asked Danielle if she could help. She will! Just today we finalized the details. I'll bring Isaac to Cambridge really early (in pjs and without breakfast) to avoid the horrible Fresh Pond traffic. She plans to take Isaac and Izzi to Fresh Pond to play all morning--there are various things to do there for kids. She has a plan of attack for how to lunch and naps--Izzi first (easy napper) and then Isaac in a different room (chatterbox). Then Josh will pick-up most afternoons. I'm excited that Isaac will have these special Fridays and I think he'll get a lot out of the experience (special time with his aunt and cousin, experiencing new things, possible use of the potty like his younger cousin??)
Anyway, there is a lot going on. We now we've been neglectful friends, email correspondents, etc. so I hope this serves as a lengthy excuse! We promise to be more attentive in just a few months!
So if I'm still at Brandeis, Josh is teaching five days a week, and Isaac goes to day care four days a week, what's going on with Isaac? you might ask. Well, first, we made Isaac's non-daycare day Friday and then asked Danielle if she could help. She will! Just today we finalized the details. I'll bring Isaac to Cambridge really early (in pjs and without breakfast) to avoid the horrible Fresh Pond traffic. She plans to take Isaac and Izzi to Fresh Pond to play all morning--there are various things to do there for kids. She has a plan of attack for how to lunch and naps--Izzi first (easy napper) and then Isaac in a different room (chatterbox). Then Josh will pick-up most afternoons. I'm excited that Isaac will have these special Fridays and I think he'll get a lot out of the experience (special time with his aunt and cousin, experiencing new things, possible use of the potty like his younger cousin??)
Anyway, there is a lot going on. We now we've been neglectful friends, email correspondents, etc. so I hope this serves as a lengthy excuse! We promise to be more attentive in just a few months!
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