Another milestone

Okay, in the grand scheme of life, it's a very minor milestone. But for a mom who's had to forgo her own ice cream longing for the past how many years, it's huge. Aisling is finally able to (almost) finish her own kiddie scoop of ice cream without any help from a parent. No more wrestling a soon-to-be soggy cone from a protesting child to quickly lick up the drips and dribbles. No more swooping down to wipe sticky melted ice cream from chins and shirts and knees and seatbelts. No more having to finish the soggy, half melted scoop of plain vanilla ice cream (her favorite and only selection she ever makes) once she claimed she was "full". Only to be met with upset cries when she's hungry for ice cweam a few minutes later and it's disappeared into Mommy's belly.
Last night, Aisling nearly finished her first ice cream cone of the summer. There were minimal drips (compared to years past), and only two napkins required, as opposed to the usual fistful. And Mommy was able to enjoy a cone of pralines and cream! I guess I better enjoy this while it lasts. In another year or two, I'll be back to licking up the drips and dribbles of plain vanilla and finishing off the soggy mess after Baby #4 declares himself or herself full.

Here we grow again!

A few months after Aisling entered into our lives, Devlin began to draw pictures of his family. There would be Daddy, Ceilidh, a little creature that was supposed to be Aisling, himself and Mommy with a big tummy and a scribble on the tummy. Whenever he was asked about the big tummy on Mommy, he's explain it was a baby in Mommy's tummy. But the baby's out now, and it's Aisling, we'd all point out. "No, it's the other baby. I want a baby brother!" he'd declare as is it was that easy to order a new sibling.
When it was clear there was no other baby in Mommy's tummy (and I thought I had done a good job at losing the baby weight!), he let go of the baby brother idea for awhile. But every once in awhile, he'd ask about a baby brother and his intentions of naming the baby George. When our former nanny was expecting, he wanted to know if it was a boy. Turned out to be a girl.
Then Auntie Shunaha announced she was pregnant. "A baby boy?" Devlin asked hopefully. No one knew until Mia made her arrival. He was disappointed, but declared Baby Mia was still a cute baby.
Well Devlin, you may have a chance at getting a baby brother after all. In December. Yep - we're expanding our zoo's population by one. We won't know if baby will be a boy or girl until its arrival, but it's safe to say the rest of the gang is hoping for a male gender.
Ceilidh initially requested a sister, but has apparently been convinced to change her vote to a brother. Aisling has declared she would like a baby brother but one that looks like her. There's a good chance of that.
Devlin is of two minds now. Initially, when told of the expected arrival, he announced he wanted a brother so that he wouldn't be lonely. (Daddy seconded that.) Now after some careful consideration upon being told there was no guarantee of a brother, he said that he was okay with a sister, "...because then I'd be the only boy and I'll be special, just like Uncle Billy!" (To which, Auntie Grace and Auntie Shunaha rolled their eyes.)
So come December, we'll be welcoming a new addition to our family! Boy or girl, it won't matter, so long as baby is healthy.

Soccer and First love?

This summer, we decided to enroll all three kids in a new soccer league. We decided to try a different league since the league the kids were in last year was unorganized. So far, we haven't been impressed with our choice. Neither are many other parents who decided to try this league for the very same reason. The only plus is that all three kids have games on the same night, which eliminates having to venture out two or three nights in a row.
Aside from the extreme disorganization of the league, the lack of communication from the league to the parents and coaches, the lack of responses from the league regarding any complaints, what has me really peeved is the league decision to use referees in the games. In games for three year olds. Yep. And the league insistence on practising certain drills, when kids at 3, 4, 5, even 6 just want to kick the ball and chase the ball around the field. the children are too young to grasp any concept of rules or positions on the field. It should be having fun, and getting the kids moving on the field. And at three years of age, let's just get the kids comfortable with following some simple instructions, like "put your foot on the ball", or "run and kick the ball". 
 Mostly, the three year olds are only interested in holding onto or kicking their balls - the ones that have their names on them, and finding out what the week's snack is. There's not too much interest in taking part in the stretching circle or waiting for the ref to blow the whistle. It's a bit frustrating for the parents who are told to stay off the fields when they could running alongside their toddlers shouting encouragements and directions.
(And that's just my complaints on the three year old's games! Never mind what I have to say about the older kids.)
Anyways, it's for the kids. The important thing is that they're taking part in a physical activity that's also an organized sport. They're being introduced to the concept of team sports and working together. Although, the five year olds and six year olds should get more drills on passing to their teammates, if you know what I mean.
Last night, I was on the sidelines, shouting to Aisling to run after the ball. "Chase the ball! Look for the ball! Go get it!" I yelled. Meanwhile, she stood there, her hair in braided pigtails, clad in a too big blue soccer jersey, shorts that went over knees, and black socks that went past her knees and pink running shoes (no cleats small enough for her feet), smiling and waving at me, and advising her teammates that the silly woman yelling on the sidelines was her mommy. All of a sudden, a little blond boy from the other team spied Aisling. There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he strode towards her purposefully. Without a warning, he got up close to Aisling, grabbed her face and dove in for a kiss! Aisling gave him a disgusted look, pushed him away and started to run off. Not towards the ball. The little blond boy took off after her. Whenever they were on the field together, Aisling was busy keeping her distance away from him, and not chasing after the ball.

Is she or isn't she...sick?

Ceilidh woke up this morning smiling. Within a half hour, she declared that she didn't want to go to school. When pressed for a reason, she claimed her tummy was bothering her.
My gut reaction was to ignore her complaints and urge her to get dressed. I followed that instinct. Rather than grudgingly heading up the stairs, Ceilidh slumped her shoulders and whimpered again that her tummy was sore and she was too sick for school.
Felt her forehead  - no fever.
Quickly replayed yesterday's conversations in my head - nothing unusual came to mind about any disagreements with classmates.
I decided she was faking it, and laid down the law. If she was truly sick and couldn't go to school, there would be no tv and no playing since she would be too sick for those activities. And, she'd have to take some medicine. Ceilidh HATES medicine. Even when she's burning up with a 103 degree fever, she refuses to take even a sip of Tylenol. It takes two parents, lots of coaxing and pleading to get a dose of any medication down her throat.
I figured faced with those consequences, Ceilidh would give up the fake illness and get ready for school. Instead, she balked a bit and then gamely opened her mouth for the Tylenol.
Maybe she really is not feeling well. There was a bug going around the kindergarten classes last week, after all. But she was fine all weekend.
It's not like I have the conundrum of scrambling for child care or calling in sick myself to care for a sick kid. We're fortunate that was have a nanny. But I don't want my kids thinking every little tummy ache will buy them a day home from school. So, I again debated whether or not I should force her to get ready for school. It is only junior kindergarten. Missing one day won't affect her overall education. But then again, do I want set a precedent for minor tummy aches or, really a grumpy kid? What to do?
I compromised. I let her stay home for the morning, and instructed the nanny to bring her to school for the afternoon if she really was faking it.

Mommy got an A!

We finally convinced Devlin to "interview" his Auntie Shunaha about her job for his community helper project. He did, asking questions about her training, the tools of her trade, why she does the job. With some prodding by mom, of course.
Then Mommy and Devlin pored over magazines and cut out pictures pregnant women, stethoscopes, scenes from a hospital operating room, newborn babies. These were mounted with lots of scotch tape to a poster, along with texts relating facets of Auntie Shunaha's job as an obstetrician-gynaecologist. We even located an ultrasound image of Aisling and mounted that, carefully encased in plastic.
Then we spent many hours practising his "speech", or presentation.
Sent him off to school, with nervous anticipation. Like it was my own handiwork that was to be judged.
Asked him how it went. "Okay," he said nonchalantly.
Did the classmates have any questions? Not really, according to him, who was more interested in flipping through the newest Chickadee magazine.
This week, his community helper project marks came home. Glowing comments. He attained a level 4 - which is more or less an A. I felt the relief and satisfaction I had experienced when I was in school and aced a test or assignment. As if I had done this assignment myself! Wait - I did, in a way.

Devlin's progression

So, in the middle of the school year, I remember asking Devlin's teacher about what level he should be reading by the end of the school year. There were books categorized into levels from A to G. At the time, he was at level B. The teacher indicated level G. I had my work cut out for me as a parent. I sent notes to the teacher asking for more challenging levels, and she was slow to respond.
Then came the substitute teacher who as taking over as his regular teacher went on maternity leave. The new teacher understood the need to challenge Devlin to keep him from getting bored. Whenever I asked for my challenging books, they were sent home. As of yesterday, he's comfortably reading the level G books. There's the odd word that he balks at, or gets lazy when he's told to sound it out, but he's doing it! I am so proud of of him!

Lady Gaga!

After a visit to the bathroom, Aisling was prancing around naked the other day.
Daddy was chasing her around the house in a vain attempt to wrestle her into clothes.

"Come here Lady Godvia!" he called out. "Let's get you dressed!"

She stopped in her tracks, and then skipped back to her daddy.

Beaming, she asked, "Did you call me Lady Gaga? I'm Lady Gaga!"