4
years old
Feb
15 - July 15
For
the first half of being 4, Claire wrapped up a number of things. She
finished out her school year in the 3's class with Ms. Jan. She
also capped off her first year of ballet with two recital
performances. And she completed her second season of soccer.
School
went well. She seems to be on target with those early academic
skills. She's attempting to write her name, drawing
people, learning letter sounds. She is pretty good with rhyming
and working on phonemic awareness with activities like hearing d-og
and realizing that makes dog. As an early 4 year old, she's hit
or miss with this skill. She might say C-at
= mat. We are working are being consistent with counting above
10. She tends to skip 15. When I said "Oh, poor 15.
You keep skipping him. You're going to hurt his
feelings!" And she tells me, "Mama, 15 is just a
number. It's not real!" Jeff calls her the most
literal 4 year old ever. And that's why.
Her
progress report from school noted that she was impatient with friends
and upset when things don't go her way. I talked to her teacher
about it and she gave an example of Claire being almost unable to
breathe she was crying so hard because there some confusion about a
sandwich with her classmate. We were seeing different things at
home. Being demanding, not using manners, overly dramatic in
response to small disappointment or injuries. But shortly after
the progress report we started seeing heightened emotionality and
frustration at home. She would flip out about the smallest and
most unpredictable things. That piece has gotten better but
overreactions are still common.
Ballet:
Claire
seemed to enjoy her ballet class. Her class ended up performing
in two recitals and Claire did great! Well, great for a 4 year
old. The whole class was all over the place in the most
adorable way! But no nerves from her, no being overwhelmed being on
stage. She did however, get VERY overwhelmed by the group of
family waiting her greet her after the performance. She clung
to me and didn't want to take say hello, take flowers, or let
grandparents take pictures. I think she have needed some food.
We came home for my birthday celebration after her recital and
she perked right up after a quiet ride home and some snacks.
Claire loves soccer. She seems to be shaping up as a casual player,
interested in the fun and social aspects. And the snacks! This
season she did soccer with the Y in the micro league. Which
meant practice and games happened one right after the
other Saturday mornings. It certainly helped me that there was
only one commitment a week when dragging the little two along. But I
don't think it did much for Claire's skill. And the games were
a little chaotic as they split the team in two and have them playing
back and forth between two fields.
Claire
had a busy summer! We had many local outings (Piedmont park,
Acworth Beach, boat ride on Allatoona, Amicalola falls. trips to the
pool). There were also multiple camping trips with Grammi and
Paaps and weekends spent at their house. We took a roadtrip to
Chicago in July. And Claire did multiple week-long summer
camps to keep her busy. She did a princess dance camp at her
ballet studio, science camp and learn to swim camp at the Y, and
an art camp at a local art place. She loved every minute of all
of them!
Funny quips and conversations:
C: You know my favorite team? The
tigers
Me: What do they play?
C; I don't know. Football? Or
soccer or something?
Customizing her toy Violet:
J: Claire what's your favorite animal?
C: Uh, a giraffe! With a tutu!
(her animal from Build a Bear)
I show her a selection of applesauce
pouches:
I want "Breadstick apple"!
(The cinnamon applesauce had an image
of a cinnamon stick)
Harmonica = a honnica
When I grow up, we'll have 3 mommies
and 3 daddies! (She does not want to live in a different house
and thinks she and her siblings will all live here forever)
C: One more night at Grammi's and then
I'll be done.
(the next day): Can I spend the night
at Grammi's?
C: Why don't you take your ring off
daddy?
J: Because it says I'm married to mama
C: (looks closely) I don't see where it
says that.
J: It doesn't say it.
That's what it means.
After seeing football helmet decals in
Johnny's
C: Peregrine falcon is my favorite
team!
(Peregrine falcon, Atlanta Falcons.
Maybe science will be her thing, not sports)
Jeff: Claire are you coloring in the
lines?
C: I just lose my mind sometimes.
Mama, want to help me color ?
I love to but I have to clean . We
need a cleaning robot can you make one?
I don't know how
Maybe when you're older
How about Ellie can be the lady that
cleans and you can help me
Does she know how?
No, when she's bigger
(We are talking about trees)
C: I have special ears so I can hear
what the trees are saying to each other (when they blow in the wind)
Me: ?????
C: On the next Valentines Daniel will
be my valentine because I like him.
Daddy can be yours, me and Daniel can
be Ellie's.
How bout that mama? Three
valentimers and two valentimers?
Followed almost immediately by
"Have you ever heard of a poopoo
and peepee cake ? That's ewwwy!"
C: Why doesn't daddy take it slow when
eating?
Me: He's just used to eating fast
C: That's just how Jesus made him?
(singing) Baby you're a firework! Catch
a fish and now you're herk.
New power wheels jeep at Grammi's =
"gondola"
Daddy! So listen. Actually, what you do
is (yammers on about sticker craft).
Want to be a clown when I grow up. But
I don't know how to juggle
Exclamations:
Oh craters!
It's hot as a toe
She also uses like a lot in her speech!
