3rd Grade

We started the school year pretty early this year, the third week of August. We got a bit behind last year and I wanted to be on top of things this year. I can't believe you are in 3rd grade already. This year started with a great attitude despite some summer time considerations of going to public school in spite of the bullies and everything.

Your reading has improved in spite of not reading as much as Sofia did at this age. Your spelling, however, is atrocious.  That's were the dyslexia really shows up. But you have a good enthusiasm to learn most of the time and you're doing pretty well in all your subjects.

Language Arts:
  Writing -- Writing & Rhetoric Book 1: Fables
  Grammar -- First Language Lessons Level 3
  Spelling --  All About Spelling finishing Level 3
  Manuscript -- Getty Dubay book D
Math:
  Right Start Math Level D
  (Singapore Math Challenging Word Problems 1 finishing)
  (Life of Fred when the mood strikes you)
History:
  Story of the World Vol 1: Ancient History
Science:
  R.E.A.L. Earth & Space Level 1
Tech:
  LEGO WEDO
Fine Arts:
  Ballroom BYU Youth Dancesport Team
Other:
  Song School Latin 1
  Geography
  Logic

I wish we could do more like Spanish, Piano, and Art, but I needed to keep it realistic so we could enjoy the subjects you have instead of stressing about trying to get them all done.

You do History, Science, and SS Latin with Peter which is a bit of a help. It's kind of re-ignited my own enthusiasm to start some of these subjects with you the way I was excited to do them with Sofia.  I spend the most amount of time doing school with you right now, but I'm glad that you're not getting lost in the shuffle. I know, I only have three kids to teach but it's quite the juggling act.  I hope you continue to enjoy learning the way you are now and we have a great year.

Growing up

Helping me learn my new and neglected 85mm lens by posing as my model.

You've definitely hit that not-little-boy-look now. You've gotten a bit taller but there's no baby fat in site, not even toddler, preschooler, or any kind of child fat left on you. You are thin as a wisp. A good visual aid for studying the bones of the skeleton. I guess you get that super metabolism from dad's side. You only seem to get useless things from me, like elbows that bend the wrong way.

You're a second grader now and I've concluded with more certainty that you have dislexia. Thanks to my awesome homeschooling skills, I think I've got everything covered, so we are just continuing on as we've been going with reading and spelling. A lot of improvement has been made, but it's reverse head pops up here and there pretty regularly.

Slowly, you've warmed up to your big brother role and acknowledge Peter as part of your tribe to nicer and less nicer degrees. You're definitely an it's all about me kind of guy though, very driven by your own interests and persistent. The latter, I consider to be a good quality, even if it manifests itself in a slightly annoying way sometimes. I have you pegged as a engineer somehow. It will be funny to read this later and discover how off base I'll probably end up being.

Marcelo turns 7

I'm trying to implement the idea that not all birthdays have to have a big party and theme. Certain people are getting a bit entitled so I have to do my part to counteract that. This year, Marcelo took this in stride. We went out for breakfast, went to his soccer game, had lunch with the Abuelos, and then went bowling, which was his big request. He got clothes for presents, some cash, and one toy.

Marcelo is now in 2nd grade, trying out soccer and ballroom dance. He is very eager to make friends. He loves to tinker and create things, still with paper, cardboard, and tape. He is terrible at cleaning his room and may be related to some kind of gerhbil. He shreds stuff and leaves all kinds of little debris under his bed and behind his night stand.

6th Birthday

I had been preparing Marcelo from the time his 5th birthday party was over through the past year for the fact that I wasn't going to do big birthday parties every year and that #5 was his big party and the next probably wouldn't be until eight.  We were so busy on the day of his actual birthday that I had to move it to Saturday anyway and I relented with his requested Chima Lego party.

He had a ton of fun and really enjoyed helping set everything up; something I usually keep as a surprise.  He even made Chima door hangers for all his guests and made them sit in a circle to past hem out. 

50's dance party

Marcelo attends his dance team mate's birthday party, turning five.

Marcelo_50sParty a video by LolaT on Flickr.

Untitled a video by LolaT on Flickr.

Kindergarten reject

Since Marcelo misses the Kindergarten birthday deadline of age five by Sept. 1st, we are naturally starting Kindergarten at home(school).  He is pretty excited and hasn't mentioned anything about his previous disappointment over not getting to play on the Kindergarten playground at Sofia's former charter school, Quail Run.

He should be well prepared for Kinder, which we plan to start next week. He graduated from the UPSTART preschool program last month with beginning reading skills in phonics and decoding.  My only concern for his teachability factor is that he seems to like writing in reverse, from bottom to top, right to left, and often with the mirror images of letters.  Hopefully this goes away during the year and doesn't point to a more serious issue.

I'm excited for a full year of homeschooling without the distractions and energy-sapping issues of public school we had last year.  I'm a little nervous about how it will go with two students.  Little steps.  But, teaching Marcelo can't be any harder than teaching Sofia, right?  Right???

Love notes

Before Quiet Time, Marcelo asked me to write "I love you" on a piece of paper. After Quiet Time, he gave me this note. (The spelling at the bottom is entirely his own. I don't want to correct it because "Fum" is so much cuter than "From" anyway!)

Ray's jealous comment -"Look, he drew you butt's."

Desk space

Marcelo has a new desk space in his room. I decided to make him a little desk in his closet. I didn't want to spend very much because he will probably outgrow it in a couple of years. This bottom side of the closet was used for toy storage as well as a laundry basket full of odds and ends including an unused crib bumper. I guess it's time I clean that stuff out and figure out what to do with it. I opted for this closet desk because Marcelo's room has such a serene vibe, I didn't want to clutter it all up. Having it in the closet means he can have what ever he's working on in there and then we can shut the doors on it and still have a clean room. Another reason for the closet desk was to give Marcelo more options during Quiet Time. Lately, he's been wanting to color, draw, and build things, and the expensive(to me), wool zebra rug is not a great place to do that.

We only had to buy the desk platform, and got everything else from the house so this project only cost about $10.00! Now he has a workspace, a basket of plain paper for drawing, bins with scissors (those might have to go at the first sign of mischief), coloring pencils, flashlight, story cubes, magnifying glass, Woody, etc. He also has a magnet board where he can display and admire his own art. Right now, it's holding up a treasure map and pirate eye patch. He also has geometric magnet shapes to play with on there. Below, we can still store the less attractive toys in a green bin and the "little pieces" toys in clear stackable bins with lids for easy access and storage.



Before.  Not really because this is after I took out all the toys and miscellaneous itmes off the floor including the stuff in front of the closet door.



Before closer.



Rails, brackets, and desk surface in place.  Easy Peasy.

Above the desk is an array of winter coats and hideous hand-me down jackets and things that were way too big for him anyway. More useless things being stored. I was about to give them to charity or something but then decided that he could use them for dress up. This whole top side of the closet could be the dress-up section. So I put Sofia's old cowboy boots in there too and his newly found batman mask.
I opted to support the desk platform on rails with brackets because he's not going to be at this height forever and eventually, it will need to be moved up or re-purposed as shelves for toys again or clothes. So this was an economical way to do it and it didn't require screwing a ledger board onto the wall. We slapped a little push/sensor light on the bottom of the top shelf which turns off when you close the closet door.  I also managed to find a little surprised when I pulled down the two orange memorabilia boxes, the last little monsters wall decal.  I didn't put this one up because the firey red devlish monster didn't fit in for me in his baby nursery.  Now, after he ripped off all the other monsters with the exception of the one over the closet doors, this one fits in great.  Hopefully it will still be there tomorrow.

He loves his new little space. Of course the first thing he and Sofia decided to do with it was put his Lalaloopsy doll to sleep on the desk.

Happy Birthday #4

This year, your birthday was nice and laid back.  I apologize that I failed to get the "golf tent" table-top game that you so adamantly requested from me and everyone at Walgreens every coupon Sunday shopping day.  Maybe it was some passive aggressiveness on my part.  But I almost had to be medicated from the effects of your "golf tent" obsession.  When I finally succumbed to buying it.  I couldnt' find the catalog picture that you had circled, starred, highlighted and written "M's" all over on representing your name.  I couldn't find it at the local stores. I did find it online but it was too late.  I tried to make up for it by getting you the item of your second obsession, a miniature pool table. (And also a ridiculously expensive inflatable ball you could crawl inside of and roll around in like a gerbil.  Uh, it was the day before.  I thought throwing money at the problem, might help).

Anyway, I have nothing but bad things to say about your last year.  Like a chihuahua puppy after it's first year, you've gone from super-cute, cuddly, easy-going, calm, and sweeter than anything to an aggressive, rude, barking maniac.  You have slammed the door in my face during nap time refusing to have a story read to you on more than one occasion.  Yes, I know, only evil moms do this. Sometimes, I still see the old Marcelo and it keeps me going, but mostly I still mourn for him.  My scientific hypothesis is that you have too much testosterone and not enough meat and height in that little body of yours.  Your motor is running a bit too hot.

Your current loves are GOLFING, wanting to be a PROFESSIONAL GOLFER, and going to a real GOLF COURSE.  I could probably end the post here.  This seems to be all that brings meaning to your life at the moment.  I get the feeling you would run over your own mother to attain these things.  You also love all outdoor sports and games in general.  You can be a bit of a TV and pbs.org freak if allowed.  Not too interested in learning to read anymore as you have quickly discovered that it may require some degree of sustained effort.

You have reverted to sleeping on the floor next to your door much as you did for almost a year until you got quite sick and your frail condition did not allow you to get out of bed after being tucked in.  But something sparked the floor-camping again and there seems to be no remedy in sight. There are times, you play with your little brother or show interest or concern for him but most of the time, you regard him as some vile insect put here to make your life miserable.  You don't want him in your room or touching any of your belongings.  If I didn't fear for his safety (or maybe yours, I'm not sure which) I would remedy this problem by making you both share a room.  Maybe later.  Your favorite playmate is Sofia although you still get in plenty of tiffs with her too.

This fall, you will be participating in a pilot state-funded, online preschool program created by Waterford called UPSTART.  You were very friendly with the staff during our appointment for parent training and your baseline evaluation.  You didn't even let me start explaining where I would be when you just ran off with the tester.  You were excited to start the program at home and so politely told me, what a wonderful surprise I had set up for you when you came down for breakfast, and saw "Rusty & Rosie" all set up on the laptop for you.  This lasted exactly three days.  The fifth day, you flat out refused to do it and I lost.  Not even Sofia, with the head of a Neanderthal, have I lost a battle like this to!

You continued your dance classes through the summer and will continue as long as you have interest.  You're not as much eager to please anymore as you are eager to do whatever you want during class though.  I think you just want to bust out with some dance music and the jazz/ballet moves are just not cutting it anymore.  Patience young Skywalker.

Despite all this, we still love you so much ... especially when you are sleeping.

The power of books

Most days, week days, before Quiet Time (God-willing there is some), I try to read the kids a story. Sometimes, it's a short five-minute fairy tale, sometimes one of the books from Peter's Beatrix Potter book collection, and sometimes if Sofia is willing, she will grace us by reading one of her beginner reading books.

And then, sometimes this might happen.

Post party melt down

Marcelo had such a great time at his much anticipated third birthday. The third birthday must really be when they get that it's all about their special day. I remember Sofia was the same way.

Every time we talked about preparations for his birthday, he thought it was happening that day and was extremely disappointed when I had to tell him "two more weeks", "a few more days", "three more days", etc. It was so cute, when I was making his cake two days before the party, he was so excited, he kept asking me if so-and-so would come and I'd say - "yes, they're coming". And if this other person was coming. "Yes, they're coming". And after a little while, he asked me, "will they be here soon?"

On party day, Marcelo behaved really well. There were no meltdowns or fights over his new toys. He truly had a great time. He went to bed tired but highly satisfied and content.

The next morning, he awoke early to play with his new toys, giving each one the attention they deserved. He played enthusiastically with Sofia and then on his own until lunch time. After lunch, we went to his weekly dance class (the third one) and I was surprised that he was apprehensive about going in. Maybe it was because Sofia didn't come along this time, or simply because he had had such a big day the prior day with no nap for a few days in a row and having just recovered from a cold. Anyway, I hoped it wasn't going to come to a severe refusal to participate like something I might be more accustomed to expect from Sofia. But I wasn't sure if I should nudge him along after he told me, "Mommy, I just want to go home", in a sweet, tired, and quiet voice.

Just then I noticed another child not wanting to go in. She got picked up by the teacher and set in the circle on the floor. I pointed her out to Marcelo - "See, she doesn't feel that great about participating today either. Maybe you can go sit with her". After a couple of seconds, he suddenly turned around and went running in. Funny how someone else's misery can serve to give you a boost of moral, I guess.

He did great in his class. I could see he was trying hard and even loosening up and goofing around in front of the mirror a little bit.

After dance, we went to Target. As we were leaving, Sofia asked if we could go to Trafalga. We were considering the idea and thinking if we should pick up some pizza from Target's Pizza Hut but decided on Costco pizza instead. Suddenly, Marcelo decided he had to have pizza from Target (which he cannot eat anyway due to allergies) and started throwing a mild fit. By the time we got to the parking lot, I had to pick him up and he started pinching/squashing my face in protest. I guess all the activity and partying finally caught up to him. We decided against Trafalga and went home to eat dinner.

At home, I was still giving him a chance to come around and apologize for his behaviour which he usually does quite quickly on his own. Didn't look like it was going to happen this time. I thought to myself, "I guess he really is three", and had some disturbing flashbacks of Sofia's third year. "Surely it won't be as bad as that" - I comforted myself.

Then when Ray failed to fill his sippy cup with milk, Marcelo turned around, pulled his pants down and MOONED HIM!

What?!
Where did this come from?
OK, I acknowledge he may have learned some "adult words" from me and certainly some undesirable behaviors from Sofia and Ray, but mooning. Where did that come from?!
How did he determine that his butt would serve as a great offense to someone? Especially since he doesn't much know the difference between running around butt naked and running around with clothes on.

I don't know what is brewing in Ray's genetic code, (I know it's not me, seeing as my genetic code is extremely weak and I spent my youth in a virtual coma according to all reports and the overwhelming consensus that I was the epitome of the well behaved child), but I tell you there's some kind of craziness that gets set off at age three.

The cutest boy in the world

... even on a bad hair day and when taken off guard.

Goodbye Baby Nursery

A couple of weeks before the NEW baby brother was born, we dismantled the baby nursery in Marcelo's room to ready the new baby nursery in the other little bedroom upstairs. This was Marcelo's room for his first 2 1/2 years.

View from doorway
(1) Wool Zebra Stripe Rug [Bargains.com] (2) Story Time Rocker [modernnusery.com] (3) Dresser [Ikea] (4) Rocking Horse [Christmas Gift 2008 Abuelos] (5) Ouef Crib [modernnursery.com] (6) Ceiling Fan [Lowe's] (7) Aquanauts Poster [meomi] (8) Shelf: Alberto Cerriteno Print; eel [Living Planet Aquarium SLC]; owl [Gymboree]; M [Robert's Craft]; dry cactus in Ikea pot; Orange Suitcases [Land of Nod]; Black & White Blocks [online]; Automoblox Car (9) Ikea Window Treatments

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Also see at Project Nursery Gallery {beta}

1 Year

There's been so much going on the last few weeks that I'm just now getting around to your monumental one year post. For your birthday I made probably the most labor intensive, time consuming cake yet, Noah's Ark. When you saw all the little animal heads drying in a fruit box on the kitchen counter, your eyes lit up and you got all excited. You immediately tried to dive towards them. I let you have a rejected piggy that Daddy had made and you crushed it with your powerful hands into a mushy wad of fondant dough.


In the past month you've made a lot of developmental progress. You are finally starting to understand "No No" and sometimes you even listen. You've started voluntarily handing me little pieces of things you find on the floor when you see me, instead of immediately stuffing it into your mouth like before. You clap for yourself when you feel you've done something good. You are drinking better from a sippy cup instead of using it as a weapon or launching it toward the floor. You started taking one step while holding on to the sofa and going to the ottoman. You still don't say any words though. Not even the "Dada" that we were hearing before. I think you've just shifted focus to walking and other developmental skills for a bit. When you see someone you know, you greet them by pointing at them with a big smile and then quickly retracting your hand and then doing it again. You're still drooling like there's no tomorrow. I know next time I get a good look in your mouth, all of your baby teeth will probably have suddenly appeared.

Right after you turned 11 months, you had a scheduled check-up with your allergist again. You were skin tested for a few more things and now you are the lucky recipient of additional allergies to eggs, peanuts, and mixed nuts. Not good news at all, but what can you do. It is what it is. And although I received the news with a level head and knew that it just simply meant we would need to avoid a greater variety of foods, I think it will get harder as you get older and if/when you are not in my immediate supervision. When we are over for dinner at some one's house I have to give suttle reminders that you cannot be given any "tastes" of things with butter or cheese, or whip cream, etc, etc. And just last week Abuelo seemed bent on giving you plastic bagies with peanuts to chew on at Kiri & Ann's rehearsal dinner. It's hard to get people to understand that it could be more serious than just a skin rash. And it makes me feel a great deal of responsibility knowing that I'm the only one here to protect you even if I have to sever relations with certain people because they just don't get it! (no, just kidding about that last part). Soon we will be taking you for a blood test that will hopefully give us more specific information as to the degree to which you are allergic to all these things including the already known milk as well as soy. The soy test will be important in determining whether we can end the financial hemorrhage that is the Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula and hopefully allow us to switch you to soy milk as well as other soy products. Please don't be allergic to soy.

At your one year check up it was confirmed yet again that you are still a wee little man. You've made progress moving in weight percentile from the 3rd to the 5th percentile since your 9 mo. check up. coming in at 19 lbs. You're at 29 inches for length (25th percentile) and 16.5 cm head circumference (50th percentile). At this age Sofia was a quarter inch shorter than you and she weighed 25 lbs. (90th percentile). Hello, when are you going to start growing. Maybe if you didn't poop so much during the day you could grow a little. The only thing I'm not complaining about is that you still wear #2 diapers. So I guess, we'll wait until you weigh the required 20 lbs to put your car seat forward facing. I had planned to switch you to Sofia's old larger car seat and out of the infant carrier one but since your cousin Autumn has been coming over more often she's been using it so you may have to stay in the infant seat a while longer. You only got one shot this time and you have a healthy, spirited, but short cry over it.

When you wake up in the morning, you either put yourself back to sleep for a little while or entertain yourself in your crib for a while. Sometimes, Sofia and I go get you and you are delighted to see us and ready to start the day. Sometimes, Sofia asks if she can go play with you when she hears you talking to yourself. She climbs in your crib and you guys play for a while. When I go in, I find a bunch of stuffies and toys scattered throughout the floor. You have a very good attitude riding in the car and you almost never complain about being put in your car seat. I have a little toy for you but you usually like to make toys out of your shoes and socks which inevitably must come off. I spend a lot of time putting your socks and shoes back on. One of your favorite times of the day is when Daddy comes home. You see him and immediately start crawling as fast as you can towards him and usually make him hold you for a while.

Everyone comments on what a good little boy you are and I so happy that it's really true. I can't wait to see all the new things you learn in the next year. I know it will be any day now that you will be off and walking.

We have tooth

Marcelo's first tooth appeared last week on the bottom right. His fussiness prompted me to do a quick check with my finger and sure enough I could feel the little points of the ridges poking out of his gums. A more thorough visual inspection was fruitless as I did not have the proper strapping system to hold him down and a powerful enough magnifying glass. But after waiting just a few days, I am now able to see the little beauty with my plain old glasses if I'm lucky and able to get him to laugh. Otherwise, the tip of his tongue is constantly covering it up especially if you try to pull his bottom lip down or manipulate him in any way to see it.

I think some more may be following right behind because the fussiness continues. Either that or someone is just developing a little attitude.

(I tried to get a picture of it to absolutely no avail).

I'm a growing boy... I think

Marcelo did very will at his 6 month Well Baby Checkup. His ear infection seems to be improving despite all the diarrhea the antibiotic is causing. No more fever.

Last week I had a bit of a anti-vaccine freak out for some reason. I think I was running low on sugar and my anxiety over it just went through the roof. But I'm mostly over it now and although I considered post-poning his vaccines until Marcelo's next appointment, his pediatrician made me feel more at ease with doing them now. He got all his vaccinations except the HIB which was unavailable. I was bracing myself for the crying but he actually did really well this time. It took until the second shot for him to notice he was being stabbed with a sharp object and then the 3rd one was done quickly and by the time I picked him up he was done with his brief protest. I think the chubby thighs really helped this time. He had no reactions and didn't even need Tylenol. (Not that I ever gave him Tylenol for his shots before either).

He's falling down the growth chart a bit but somehow I kind of expected him to be this way, "this way" meaning the opposite of Sofia who weighed 18lbs 7oz (95th percentile) at six months. Marcelo weighed 15lbs 1oz which puts him in about the 20th percentile according to his doctor, the 10th percentile according to the nurse, and about the 15th percentile when I look it up. Maybe Dr. Arnold was compensating for him being sick the last week and loosing a bit of weight. Those pesky growth charts. I'd like to find one where you can plug in the measurements and have it chart it and keep track of the whole growth pattern so I can save it. His length was 25 3/4 inches (~25th percentile, maybe 30th). And his head circumference was 43.5cm (50th percentile). At least his head is not suffering.

They also asked me about his developmental milestones. There were a lot of no's, "no, he can't do that yet", but I think they might have either been looking at the wrong list or his puny-body/big-head just isn't allowing him to do triple back flips off a diving board yet. But, did I mention he's very good a scratching himself anywhere on his body and he can fart very loudly. Does that count for something?