{ajm}

Our newest game is helping you learn to play by yourself. Mommy sets the goofy timer (right now for 25 minutes) while she works in the studio and you play. It's slowly beginning to work. The sweetest sounds are you talking to your toys and playing alone. Bliss!

Mallory LOVES her "Mr. Potato Head."  Just recently, she's been flying the potato around on Dumbo. It's so fun watching her spin around trying to say, "up up and away."

Her other favorite accessory for the potato (other than the Mickey balloon and pretzel) is the glasses. She tends to call them, "eyes." Seems right to me.

We started preschool yesterday. We attempted last year and it was too soon. We are trying again. Despite similarities to last year's first day (no lunch eaten or nap taken) she did MUCH better. I however was a mess. I could not stop thinking about her all day. 

successfully working the zipper on her school bag

This morning she woke up happy and seemed excited to see her teachers again (we have been talking about them constantly for weeks.) We talked about craft & story time and going out to the playground. We talked about how her teachers would help with lunch and that she would be napping/resting at school. We prayed & praised all the way to school listening and singing to her favorite praise music. When we arrived and she saw the building, the tears began. I am so thankful for Ms Julie who for the second day in a row held and distracted her while I left.

I was almost half an hour early to pick her up. Mostly because I ran out of things I could think of to do. This is in spite of having three to-do lists going. No, as a matter of fact I didn't get much of anything done.

Here is hoping and praying Thursday is much easier on both Mallory and Mommy!

If you need a good laugh, I recommend spending some quality time with 6 two-three year-olds in leotards and pink tights. Oh the cuteness!! Seriously darling. They learned how to "dance" like penguins, and bumble bees, gallop (sort of) like ponies, and "dance" to a song about the tortoise and the hare.

When I went into Mallory's room yesterday morning she greeted me saying, "dance class" over and over while pointing to herself. I had no idea that talking about it for two weeks would net such results. She was thrilled to go and then cried as soon as we arrived. But soon enough she was playing and RUNNING around the room. Running so hard she fell and bonked her head pretty hard.

The teacher did each of the activities twice and about the end of the second time, Mallory would catch on wanting, "more." I am certain that with a little at home practice we will be ready for next week's class.

We love you Ben, thank you for all the hard work you do for us. You ROCK!