Since March, Jace's 4th birthday has come and gone (VERY successful Monster Truck party!), Jimmy's birthday has passed, school has ended, my birthday has come and gone, and Weston is jabbering away! I hate that I haven't been documenting all of his new words as they've come. It's so hard to remember everything! Maybe I'll start using post-its and just jot everything down as I'm hearing it.
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Jace started t-ball a couple weeks ago, and his team is the Corpus Christi Hooks. They have their 2nd game tonight, as well as pictures. He enjoys it, but just complains about the heat (ha, so do I!) He has a good time hitting the ball and running the bases. When he plays outfield, he just plays in the dirt :) I keep promising Daddy that he'll outgrow the dirt part! He also started swimming lessons last week. He is EXHAUSTED, but I think he really enjoys going and swimming with all of the kids. Thursday is "show-off" day, so I'm excited to get to go see him in his element and see what all he's learned!
He is also very excited that pre-k is coming. I don't think he has any idea of what's in store, but that is okay. He'll adapt quickly. He is learning letters/sounds and numbers, and is doing it on his own. I haven't pushed at all, because he is a totally "in my own time" kind of child.
On to Weston. Oh Weston. This is the child that is contributing so much to the gray hairs on top of my head. He climbs. Everything. The table, chairs, couches (and does the "one-two-three-JUMP!"), beds, TRIES to climb counters. He hits. Screeeeams. LAUGHS. Says "BOO!" all the time. Frowns. This child is all personality. He is my child. He has also learned so many new words. For over a month now, his favorite words is "che-chup" (ketchup). He calls anything that comes out of a bottle "che-chup". Every time we have to change a diaper, he reaches for the lotion bottle and says "che-chup?" so that I'll squirt some in his hands. I'm trying to teach him that it is "looooo-tion" and he says "looooo-che-chup"! It is precious! He also loves saying "Jaaaaace". He loves balls and trying to play basketball. When he sees Jace's t-ball bag, he thinks we're going and he says "ball, ball, ball!". He gets so excited when we're watching the Rangers on TV. He sings "Let's go Rangers" and smacks his tongue during the clapping part.
He is also trying to teetee in the potty. He usually tells us (after the fact) that he needs to teetee. I know that this is the first step, so I'm thrilled. On the other hand, I'm going to miss having my little cloth fluffy butt when he is out of diapers. I'm in no rush, just letting him do everything on his time. He has been telling us/taking his diaper off when he goes though. He came to me this morning, patted his bottom, and said "poopoo". :) I'm fine with that, as long as he doesn't start taking THOSE off!
I received the news in May that my job will be changing. I will no longer be an inclusion teacher, I will be the new resource teacher at Crockett. I had such conflicting emotions at first! On one hand, I was upset. I feel like I finally was in my "groove" with my job, had just gotten my classroom EXACTLY how I loved it (and I really did love it!), and had a paraprofessional that I worked really well with. On the other hand, I always say that I never know where my job as a special ed teacher will take me. I have taught PPCD for 2 years, and been an inclusion teacher for 4 years. I don't know what I want to do with my career, so I am very open to change in that aspect. I always want to teach, but I don't know if that means God will open doors in other aspects of education (like speech, dyslexia, reading recovery, etc.). I feel like that the new resource job will show me another side of special education. It means that I will be joining the play-based team (we have had one meeting this summer so far, and it was neat to see the kids that we are testing and be a part of those ARD meetings for kids who are just turning 3 and coming into the program). I also will be a part of the CARE committee and will have a little more of a leadership role within our team. I love my good friend, whose job I am basically swapping. She tells me that I will love my new job, and that with me having young kids, it will allow me to have the flexibility to be more involved with their education and activities as well. She knows me well, both as a friend and as an educator, so I know she would be very honest and open with me about my job and my career. I have become more and more excited about it over the summer and as the time has passed. We moved our stuff the last week of school, so it felt so much more real then. I cried for the first time! It was a bittersweet cry though. I'm excited to see what my career holds.
What a long post! Maybe the stretch won't be as long next time, thus a shorter post. Here's to hoping....
