Into the groove

We're getting into a groove here. Both Jen and Meredith have a few weeks under their belts at the new job and the new school respectively; and I am getting into a pattern with Elaine. It's been a big change for Jen, having to be away from her family and having to do her hair every day. But she enjoys where she is working and looks forward to finally getting her bar exam results in another couple of weeks.

In the last two weeks Elaine and I have gone to an ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) class held by the Minneapolis School District. We spend a couple hours weekly with 11 other 5-12 month olds and let the kids play and talk about infant and parenting stuff. It is amazing to seek babies near Elaine's age and a bit older and how different they all are. When Elaine is the only baby I'm around for a while, I think of everything she does as a typical baby. But these kids all have their own personalities, strengths, and interests. I'm one of the few parents in the room on their second child, so I find myself repressing my feelings of being an expert since I've gone through this before. This is good, as I am finding I am learning new things and there are unique issues to tackle when you are a stay-at-home parent.

Currently, Elaine likes sitting up and playing with a variety of toys. She really doesn't have much interest in rolling or any other type of movement. Once this week she rolled from her stomach to her back--the first time she's done that roll--but has shown no interest in repeating it. She did the roll with such easy and nonchalant, that I didn't realize that she hadn't done that before. It was to reach a toy. Despite using the toy as a motivator, it hasn't occurred to Elaine that she can do that again to get what she wants.

Meredith loves pre-K. Twice when I've picked her up we have spotted cute green tree frogs on the planter at the entrance of her school. She loves to talk about the songs they sing in Spanish class, as well as her other favorite moments of the day. Friday is her favorite day of the week because they have swimming class AND get to have chocolate milk at lunch!

Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Dave visited this week and had good quality time with the girls. There was hope for some help with some outside projects, but the rain literally dampened those prospects. Elaine, who has resisted proximity to non-parent adults in the last few weeks, quickly became comfortable with both grandparents. Indeed, she was left alone with them on a couple occasions and fared quite well. Each time grandparents visit, Meredith finishes the time exhausted from the fun. This visit is no different. When she's tired, Meredith enters her "manic" stage. The grandparents got to see some evidence of this, including the last hour and a half before they left.