8 months and growing...too fast!

Seems like a good time for another update on M., since he's seems to be marathon napping at the moment! He's exhausted from Music Class, which is one of his new things - he seems to like it a lot, although he does get shorted on his AM nap that day.

He is almost completely on table foods, and this boy loves to eat. Of course, since he went from "scooting" around to full-on crawling to pulling up to standing to cruising in about 2 weeks, he also burns a lot off. As Neighbor Nanny said, "He went 0 - 60 when it comes to moving."

He's been battling an annoying diaper rash, but nothing seems to phase this little guy - he's a cheerful flirt, an amazing cuddler, and absolutely skilled at finding whatever he shouldn't be playing with as soon as you turn your back on him.

We've been working on signing for months now, since way before he could really get it, and he's been signing "Milk" for a few weeks. Hopefully "more", "all done", and some others aren't far behind. More on signing in another post later!

I'm personally hoping for some slightly milder weather here soon - the last month of spring was more like August, so we didn't get lots of outside time!

Transitions, "big kid" stuff, and weepy nanny

My older charge is in camp for the very first time this week. In other words, this is the first time EVER I have taken her somewhere and left her there. ALONE!

Well, OK, she was actually with 7 other 3 and 4 year olds, and 2 teachers, and 2 teen helpers, and a bunch of other older kids. But I wasn't there. And I have always been there for her. Since she was less than 1 week old, I have been there to take care of her, comfort her, help her with the evil that is putting on shoes...

So, my little beanie is getting older. She starts school a few days a week this fall. I may not survive. Can nearly 40 year olds have seperation anxiety? Is the weepy stuff just silly when the kid isn't even your own? Is it totally selfish to want to keep her little forever?

Answers: Yes, complete with tears. No, not when you've been with them an awful lot of the time and love them lots. Yes, because as scary as it is to send her off into the world, she is so smart, and so funny, and so ready to take on whatever is out there. You know, on the 3 year old "whatever is out there" level.

I just have to remember that I now get to have some solo time with the little sister, a charming and talented toddler. It'll be terrific to get to know her as a solo act. Buttercup is a hoot and a half.

Also, just FYI? Anyone messes with my Beanie, I will HURT you.