Happy about No Happy

Well, the long awaited day has finally come, Cameron has been broken of his pacifier habit. (he's always called them his "Happy"). We've been weaning him for some time from it and slowly whittling down to him just having the happy when going to bed. One night, he didn't ask for it - we didn't offer it and that was enough of a sign. The next night was definitely like a 'right of passage'. It was reminiscent of the scene from Mr. Mom where Ken gives up his wooby. I explained to Cameron that another little boy needed his pacifiers and that the 'Happy Fairy' came for them. Cameron promptly punched me in the nose. He was sooooooooooo sad. I laid by his side while he went to sleep and I thought about my little boy growing up. Yes, we both cried that night.

Ian & Flu Shots

Just a peek into Ian's psyche, but today after he got home from school his cousins were over. He realized that during the day (while Ian was at school), everyone got a flu shot besides him as the kids were all talking about it. Ian then demanded that he go get his flu shot that instant and was extremely forceful about it. Recognizing the uniqueness of the situation, Erin piled five kids into the car (ours + the 2 cousins) and drove everyone to get Ian's flu shot. He never let up on his goal through the 20 minute wait and even demanded that cousin Mari come in with him to show her he wouldn't cry when he got it.

Which he didn't.

I'm amazed. He might as well have said "boo - yah" when he was done.

New Pics Added (9/8)

New pictures added to the site - can't believe I let this go this long. Some great ones in there!!

Ian starts kindergarten

Exactly one week ago, on August 27th, my baby boy started kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital. Ian seemed to be doing pretty well leading up to the first day of Kindergarten. Afterall, he was returning to the same school, same teacher and half of the same kids(at montessori preschoolers and kindergarteners are together)--so really the only change was that he would be going all day. When asked by well meaning friends and strangers and even the principal if he was excited to start Kindergarten--he would promptly answer "no". He was especially nervous about "specials"(PE, Music and art) as well as lunch b/c those were the unfamiliar things that he did not do as a preschooler.
On the first day of school Ian didn't seem overly nervous. He got up and got dressed in a hurry. Nate and Ian headed out the door and we were optimistic that the transition would go well. Even as Nate and Ian put his things away in the locker--Ian and Nate were joking around. But as they reached the door to his room Ian refused to go in and refused to let go of Nate. It went on long enough that the Principal noticed that they were having a hard time and got down on Ian's level and tried to help. Nate could see that this was failing and finally decided that he just needed to leave. With the Principal holding Ian's shoulders Nate left with Ian crying and shouting down the hallway "daddy!"
Nate soon called me and told me what had happened and I spent most of the morning crying on and off. I just felt so bad for Ian. 3:00pm couldn't come fast enough that day. I made sure that I got there early so that I could be one of the first ones there. As I saw Ian walking down the hall with his class I could tell that he was happy and relaxed. He was happy to see me--but not in a needy way. I asked him how his day went and he said good but I'm still scared of PE because I haven't gone there yet.
The next day Ian got ready and went to school and without any hesitation he walked right into the room. When I went to pick him up the first thing he told me with a proud grin on his face was "I went to PE today mom and I have a surprise--I like it!!" He looked so happy and relieved and so was I.
Ian now has one week under his belt and now it seems to be smooth sailing. Last night before bed when Nate asked him what he is thankful for he said "I'm thankful that I like Kindergarten." That says it all!!


Other Ian updates:
Learned to ride a bike--but still very cautious on it

Spent 4 days at "cousin camp"--and loved every minute of it

Ian and Cam spend 3 days in Minnesota with Grandparents whirlwind tour of every kid worthy attraction in the Twin Cities. Ian rode his first rollercoaster!!!

Ian is enjoying soccer more--he even kicked the ball a few times in the game.

What's new with the kiddos!!

Ian is now reading books!!  It is such an exciting thing to see this new world opening up to him.  It all started when Luke gave him some of his old simple phonics books.  At first Ian wouldn't even pick them up.  He was acting strange(as he always seems to do when he's faced with a new situation or challenge).  He threw the book and said he was never going to read it.  I said that was okay and that I would read it to him.  Once I started reading he gradually took over and read the entire book without struggling.  That gave him the confidence to do the next one.  Now when we go up to bed at night he reads me a book and then I read him one.  The other night he made it to page 52 in Hop on Pop.  I think that I could sit and listen to him read forever.  

Ian also started soccer(somewhat against his will).  He is on a team with his Cousin, Andrew, and 2 good friends--Riley and Clare.  He surprised us by jumping right into practice and having a great time.  Saturday was his first game--and he refused to play.  He told me that the part he didn't like was that the other team is trying to score goals.   I guess we should have explained that to him in advance.

Cam  is becoming a little man.  He just got his first real(non parent) haircut this weekend and it makes him look so old.  Cameron is so sweet most of the time--but when he is mad he starts hitting whoever is nearby.   He continues to be our little puppy dog--so playful and loving.  He tries to keep up with Ian and wants to play soccer.  Cam does have a bit of trouble telling fact from fiction.  ie.  When he asks for his "happy" during the day I tell him he can't have it unless he is in his bed to which he replies adamantly, "I am in bed."  He then gets very angry when I insist that he is in the kitchen not in bed.

Cam also says the funniest things.  The other day I was laying in bed with him during his afternoon nap.  He was laying there quietly for the longest time.  He then rolled over and looked at me with the most forlorned expression and said in his raspy voice--"Mom, I am so sad."  When I asked him why he replied--"I am sad that I can't juggle."  I told him he could close his eyes and pretend he was juggling.  He then closed his eyes and with the biggest smile on his face he began doing the juggling motion.  

Hope is so cute and wonderful that Nate and I want to freeze her in time so that she will never grow up.  She is so happy and playful.  She loves mimicking and playing games of all sorts--Such as "5 little monkeys and Patty-cake"  She is talking like crazy.  I was going to try to write down all of the words she says--but it is impossible--she says too many.  Although many of her works are hard to understand--she is starting to talk in complete sentences.  Some of my favorite things she says are "What happened"  or she may grab my hand and say "Come here."  The boys love getting here to say "poop and pee" to which they laugh so she does over and over.  Hope loves her brothers--even though they can get quite rough with her.  If they are rough housing--she wants to join right in.  She also loves balls--she calls the all basketballs.

Hope is starting to exhibit some temper tantrums---which are a bit scary for us.  She is very strong willed and gets very upset when she doesn't get her way.  She threw herself down in the middle of Target the other day when I wouldn't buy her a ball and then yelled all the way to the front as a carried her and tried to push my cart and get the boys to follow me "I want my ball."  I think that someone forgot to tell Hope that we already have far too many opinions in this house and we don't need one more.

All and all life is good in the Reagen household.  We are looking forward to warm weather and lots of time outdoors.  We feel blessed everyday(well, most days!!!)  to have these wonderful little people in our lives.  They continue to amaze us.

Ian's Starting To Read

Yep, it's really fun. We were at the airport last week (watching planes take off and land) and he was doing a great job reading all the road and parking lot signs. DO NOT ENTER has never been so exciting!

Bye! Da-Da!

This is what Hope said to me on my way out the door today; with a big-ol smile on her face. She makes me feel like a million bucks almost everyday. What a wonderful, growing, little girl! (She also hardly crawls anymore)