Last weekend at Steve and Eileen's

Steve and Eileen are such gentle, kind people Jack warmed up to them right away. They also have a sweet dog Tessa, and their neighbors have a puppy named Shine and Jack was very preoccupied with knowing where the dogs were at all times.

He liked jumping from the step pictured above, seeing kittens at the farmer's market, discussing the ocean with Mama and wearing his blue dog hooded towel around the yard. It was such a good time that I can still hardly believe it was only overnight.

More pictures from the Academy with Sparrow

Jack adores Sparrow and it makes him cuckoo! The minute he sees her, he starts laughing and bouncing up and down. He loves to chase her and do whatever she is doing.

Fall Session Daycare

Around the house Jack helps read books. He knows most of the animal noises in "Moo Baa La la la" and when we sing the alphabet he yells out "P!". He also knows all the hand gestures for "The Wheels on the Bus" and he tries to sing along.

He loves to play with water in the sink (and the floor). He likes riding on his tricycle too, especially when Mama or Papa pushes him really fast.

Jack talks about "tea" a lot now, and when I'm making my tea in the morning, he always wants me to make him tea too. Sometimes I make him fruit tea and add a little honey and he drinks some of it but always eyes the cup suspiciously after he drinks.

Jack is mad for keys and locks.

The fall session at daycare started this week---

Daily record August 26, 2009

Jack pie was excited to see his friends Solomon and Fiona. :) They played together and made breakfast, serving one another coffee and tea. :)

Wednesday August 27th Jack had a doctor's appointment where he got three shots and had blood drawn for lead and anemia testing. It was pretty traumatic at the time, but afterwards we went to Underdog and ate hotdogs and potatos. Today his teacher Helen reported that Jack was pretty sensitive. He didn't cry, but he wanted to be held a lot.

It's tough being little.

August 28, 2009

Jack was extremely happy when he saw me setting up water play. :) He enjoy the big splashes and getting his friends wet.

daycare update

Jack finished summer session the third week of August. Then he had a week off and we just started in again today. We are very sad that Tyco is in Tuesday-Thursday group now and he and Jack won't be able to share sand together, but I'm hoping to get in touch with his parents for a play date. The top picture above is Jack and Cameron washing babies in the water. The other one \ was taken at the Academy of Sciences one day when we went with Sparrow and Justin.

Daily Intake:

August 12, 2009

Jack was having trouble settling his body for nap and none of the songs I sang helped. I then started to sing "With or Without You" by U2 and he stopped. When I stopped singing he got upset so I kept singing until he fell asleep.

(Do all daycare teachers do that? I sincerely doubt it!)

August 14, 2009

This morning we went on a walk up campus and ran around in the grass. Jack held my hand as we chased our friends.

At the end of a session they give you a little booklet that tells you highlights of the session and what the teachers observed in Jack's development.

Date: June 15, 2009

Event: When the boys noticed that I was watering plants, they became really interested in the watering can I was using. I borrowed small plastic ones from the transition yard and put water in them. Tycco, Jack and Cameron were so excited to get the watering containers! They poured out their water in one spot and watched as it soaked into the grass.

Areas of Development:

• Social/interpersonal skills
• Gross/Fine Motor skills
• Interest in Learning
• Self help skills

Date: June 15, 2009

Event: After playing outside for a while, Tycco became upset and wanted to go back inside. When I placed him in the wagon to cheer him up, he stopped crying. I started to push him around the yard but then Jack showed me that he wanted to push Tycco in the wagon. Jack was so happy to push the wagon and he remembered to be careful and safe when pushing a wagon that has a friend inside.

Areas of Development:

• Communication and Language
• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Gross Motor

Date: June 16, 2009

Event: I joined Jack and Tycco at the tree where the string of bells hang and started to sing while ringing the bells. Jack and Tycco looked up at me and started to pull at hte bells too. When Cameron heard, he walked over to see what we were doing. I brought over a basket full of more bells and we all made music together!

Areas of Development:

• Communication and Language
• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Gross/Fine Motor

Date: June 17, 2009

Event: Exploring Water Color

After using up much of his blue water color, Jack looks to see if he can use some green.

Areas of Development:

• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Fine Motor
• Interest in Learning

Date: June 19, 2009

Event: Waterplay! All the children got excited when they noticed that the water table was being filled with water. All the children were left in their diapers and had sunscreen on from head to toe.

Areas of Development:

• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Gross/Fine Motor

Date: July 15, 2009

Event: Nika, Faith, Olu, Sol, and Jack enjoyed exploring with water color. We used green, pink, blue and yellow to make a beautiful creation of mixed colors. When the paper we used was soaked with water, Nika, Jack and Solomon helped me rip off the paper and throw it away.

Areas of Development:

• Communication
• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Fine Motor
• Interest in Learning
• Self Help Skills

Date: July 24, 2009

Event: Jack explores wet flaxseed at the art table. He feels its texture by squeezing it in his fist. After it dried in his hands, he didn't want it anymore.

Areas of Development:

• Communication
• Social/Interpersonal Skills
• Fine Motor
• Interest in Learning
• Self Help Skills

Summer

Here's Jack on the beach at Tilden Park on my birthday (typical Oakland summer day) and Jack hanging out with Sparrow at Golden Gate Park (typical San Francisco summer day)

Jack's private language

Jack says "bubbles" especially when he wants to blow soap bubbles.

He says "key" when he sees a lock or a doorknob (or even just a hole that he figures a key would fit in)

He says "dog!" which comes out like "dawwwg!"

He says "kitty" with some frequency now

He also says something that sounds like, "I don't know why" while shrugging his shoulders and turning up his hands, but it can also mean "I don't know where". Sean also remarked tonight that Jack sometimes says "I don't know no no no no why"

He'll also say "whose that?" or "what's that?"

He also says "Dah-da" which seems to mean something about being outside, or going outside or else that's what he's calling Linda who lives downstairs.

He's learned that he's not supposed to go in the street because the cars there go "VROOM!"

When he rides his tricycle or on the kid seat on my bike he says "wheeeeeee!"

Jack loves watching John-John on old Sesame Street episodes and seems to be slowly picking up that up is not "down". Thanks John John. Jack doesn't always use "up", but he really enjoys yelling "UP!" and "DOWN!" with Mama.

from Daily Intake August 10, 2009

Jack woke up with a case of the giggles. He was so excited to see that his friends were awake and happy to see him after his nap. He watched and laughed as they screamed and ran around until he finally joined them.

drifting into August

The other day I rode my bike to and from work with Jack in his seat. He was wearing his knit cap with his helmet on top of it. After we got closer to the house and I started walking the bike, I took Jack's helmet off and Jack took off his hat saying "hot!" and pointing to his head. This was the first time he used "hot" to describe himself, normally his use is limited to pointing to things like the oven or a hot cup of coffee.

Intake form from August 5, 2009:

Today while walking in the grass, Jack tumbled backwards and fell into a wet rosemary bush. It was a bit scary for him but cute because for the next few hours Jack smelled like rosemary!

and an incident:

While leaning in his chair, Jack tipped over in teh gazebo. I stayed with him and gave him lots of hugs. 2 Bumps on right side of forehead.

No comments from August 7, but his teacher, Nnenna (in the picture above) sent home a letter to parents that included things she will truly miss:

1. Cameron responding to questions by repeating the last few words you spoke while nodding his head
2. Jack-Jack's private language and need to dump sand only on Tycco's head
3. Tycco only letting Jack-Jack dump sand on his head but also his "down for whatever", "ready for the world" personality
4. Olu's high-pitched voice, good throwing arm and his undeniable need to live life on the edge
5. Nika always wanting to be free of her shoes, socks, jacket and sometimes her pants too!
6. Faith showing empathy towards her friends when they are sad by bringing them toys or trying to make them laugh.
7. Armand laughing while running up the loft stairs with dress-up heels on.
8. Edward walking up to me screaming, "NEMO, NEMO!" while pointing to his favorite shirt
9. Langston's babbles and how happy he makes you feel when he just wants to be near you.
10. Fiona dressed up in the pig costume while chasing Anna to get her to try on the dog costume.
11. Anna's extreme excitement to eat pasta and cheese , along with her lovable big bear hugs.

pictures

The picture of Mama and Jack was taken outside where Jack takes swimming lessons. The other ones were taken about a week ago at Yerba Buena Gardens playground. Jack still loves playing in water and if you check out web.me.com/nancyarmssimon you can see him eat sand!

from Daily intake forms:

July 31, 2009

Jack really enjoyed wearing our dress up heels today :) He used one first, and then tried walking with two!

August 3, 2009

Jack and Tycco played in the toy kitchen together. They mixed around food with their spoons and hit the pots together to make loud noises as they laughed and screamed.

Last weeks

Nowadays Jack likes to personally hand me his Intake Form when I come pick him up. Unfortunately, this means it doesn't always make it directly into my hands. So one day it disappeared somewhere between daycare and the bus stop and last Friday we came home with Olu's instead of Jack's. But ah well...

Jack is very excited by seeing and hearing the ravens outside now and so we spent some great times in the morning at the window. He's also excited by dogs barking and any kind of sirens. With the sirens he really wants to know what is happening. I tell him they are going to an emergency but I think he wants more information.

Jack has started playing with a couple of his stuffed animals, although Grover still seems to get a lot of abuse. Jack really likes pictures of kittens and cats; he tickles their noses and says something like "kitty".

Past daily intakes:

July 24, 2009

Jack likes trying to climb the jungle gym outside while holding the rolly walker. It was very hard but he tried a few times before he decided to choose the roller instead. :)

July 27, 2009

Nika found Jack's beanie on the floor inside and picked it up to give to him. At first he didn't want it but when she put it on he wanted it back. She gave it to him and he wore it until nap time! Later he was really frustrated to find that clothes were on the dolls so I helped (take them off).

July 29, 2009

Jack was very frustrated when the girls didn't want to let him dance with them. I told him that he would have to wait and he made a face. When the song changed, one of the girls sat out and Jack danced with the other ones. He was so happy to be holding hands and dancing with a friend!