Tuesday, April 29, 2008

t-ball




OK I forgot the pictures last time so here they are!!  The first thing she said when I wanted to take the picture was "pose?  OK...BAM!" and she flung her hip out with her hand on her head.  (That is the official t-ball pose you know!) 
GiGi got the game ball at the last game!!  She totally rocks!  She was the grand slam hitter and had to run all the bases!  It was awesome.  I really wanted a pink helmet but now she thinks she is cool wearing her brothers black one.  (and it actually matches better.  Wouldn't red be cute too?  It would totally match her socks!  Isn't that what t-ball is all about??)  

McHenry Playhouse opens!!




How cool is that!!    Check out GiGi with the donut in her hand during the ribbon cutting!! (how unusual!!)  The other little girl in the picture is Riley and that is her Aunt Susan who spearheaded the opening of the McHenry location!!  The energy and excitement reminded me of the Hoffman opening with about 1/16 the stress!! (that was all on them this time!) 
I can't tell you how incredible it was.   But I will later.  I have to get ready for the Gallery opening tonight at LUMA!!  Down town BABY!!!  I am afraid of drunken blogging tonight so I thought I better at least get the pictures from the opening out before I get all emotional again tonight with the gallery!!    

McHenry Playhouse opens!!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Hangin' with Grandpa at the Senior center!



Of course that is Grandpa in the red GiGi's Playhouse shirt!!   Grandpa and his friend Murad (in the bottom picture) are some of GiGi's biggest fans!  If she was born when they were her life would have been much different than it is today!    

literacy

I just have to share what I saw at the Playhouse today!  This little guy was a reading machine during his literacy session!  I remember when he started in the GGP program in January and he wasn't even talking that much!  He is only 3 1/2 and it is obvious his mother takes his tutoring very seriously and practices at home because this kid is doing incredible!  Plus our amazing tutor, Beth (a volunteer I might add) really knows what she is doing!   I have seen her work her magic and I am constantly in awe of her.  
After seeing that I know I need to sit my butt down with GiGi and do more reading!  She loves it, but the time.... I just have to make it.  It is so important and she is always so proud when we are doing it.  We have not been in the literacy program for almost a year and it shows!  She really misses it.  She is signed up for the next session and I can not wait!   She is learning phonics in school but the stuff she learned in the literacy program is the stuff that has stuck with her the most!  She still refers to it in school all the time.  Each time she does I feel that guilt for not getting her back in the program sooner but you can only do so much and we are back on track now!  I often wonder if I would have been better off just having her in only one preschool and then used the other time for literacy.   I really believed that the socialization was so important for her and I thought I would squeeze the literacy in but it just didn't happen.  (Can you tell I need to let it go??) 

t-ball

OK... I do not have pictures because I am the coach of the team and it is a little busy!  Last weekend was baseballs opening day and between all the kids we had 8 games over the weekend!   
Anyway, there are 160 kids in this t-ball league (luckily only 12 are on my team!)  and GiGi is doing awesome!  As with most 5 year olds we draw in the dirt, sing Hannah Montana etc... but we also play some serious ball!!  I remember she was singing away and next thing I knew she was running for the ball!  When she throws the ball you can still hear her recite "point, step THROW"!  Every time I see her up at the plate (tee) to hit I hear the other coach saying "I know you can do it by yourself I am just getting the ball ready..."   She cracks me up!   I could not have been  more proud than I was at her first game!   We only have 6 games this weekend so I promise I will take a picture!
  

Bike riding



Ok ...seriously!  I always say she won't surprise me and there she goes!   About a month ago GiGi's Playhouse had an awesome class facilitated by a PT named Robin and it was called "trikes".  It was all about riding a tricycle.  She had an obstacle course and even a ramp for the little guys!  Anyways, it was an awesome class and  I was really happy with GiGi's tricycling riding skills.  
The other day we were at a sports store getting her new shoes for t-ball (another story!)  When she sees this pink 2 wheeler that she loves!!  (except for the fact it didn't have a bell!  She was a little surprised by that!)  Next thing I know she hops on and is riding it down the aisle!  A two wheeler with training wheels!   Of course I had to buy the bike right that minute and while I was at it I bought the big attachment that goes on the back of my bike so another person could ride along with you. (like a tandem bike)  (Poor GiGi she makes one small step and I want the world!)  We got the bikes home and hooked that big thing on to my bike and she wanted nothing to do with it!  It was a little shaky and she was scared.  So Paul rode the bike and I ran next to her (for what I thought would just be a ride down the drive way but ended up being an extended run to the park!)  By the time we got to the park she was a pro!!  I loved the way she looked on the back of that bike!  So proud and happy!!!  Now it is hard to get her on the new pink bike because she always wants to ride this one!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

MY POINT?


OK, this blog isn't about bragging rights but about having the life I never thought I would have.   I remember when GiGi was born... I remember being petrified but thought we were going to be OK but then everyone in the hospital started to treat me different.  They said they were sorry, they kept sending in the clergy, they couldn't even look at me.  Don't get me wrong, they took good care of me but to them life as I knew if was over.  I actually remember thinking we would never even go to McDonald's again!  As you can see we do everything and more than we did before GiGi was born.  Is life busier?  Uh yeah!!  But wouldn't it be as your family grows?  Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know the point of this blog  is not to brag (though I do a lot of that) but to let you see the incredible life I thought I would never have.
OK one more thing...on that subject.  Potty training.  That was another thing I was told will come later.   The people who tell you what your child will and won't do things (or when) don't know me or my child!  I wanted her trained when she turned 3 and she was!  Was it easy?  Hell no, but potty training never  is!!    OK I am starting to get off on a soap box so I better stop!!   
 I am just so sick of limitations.  All of the kids who decided to train at that age are doing great!  I think it gave them self confidence and independence at an earlier age.   OK I'll stop but it will not be the last we hear about limitations and where everyone can put them!!

Monday, April 7, 2008

lost at the beach


Here is GiGi at the restaurant with the ipod on.   Anyway, that day we were at the beach and it was PACKED!  All the kids and Paul were in the water and GiGi and I were with friends on the beach burying each others feet.  Next thing I know I look up and she is gone!  Talk about heart attack!  I knew she would not go into the ocean but there was so many people there I didn't know how I was going to find her.  I yelled to Paul to scan the beach and he pointed right next to us.  She was just two chairs away asking 3 teenager girls where her mom was.  All I heard was "Where is my Mommy?"  I was so proud of her.  She only lost us for a minute and was already looking for us.  My other kids would have roamed around forever before realizing they were lost!  

Florida or bust!


OK...You know how every couple of years you need to take a road trip just to remember why you don't take road trips??  Well this was our year!
We drove to Florida for spring break.  It was such an awesome trip!  I was shocked how well the kids did.  Especially GiGi.  I remember I kept on looking into the back seat completely amazed by her.  I never put limitations on her but I never expected so much from a five year old!  She had her sub sandwich in one hand her chocolate milk in another and she was watching the "Bee Movie" and having a great time.  I thought we would have to make frequent potty stops but of course she proved me wrong!  (it seems she has turned into a little camel these last couple of years!)  I truly was blown away (once again) by her.      
Then when she got to the pool I saw she has also become a little fish!  She was jumping in, doing the back stroke, and giving me a heart attack but I had to let her do it and she was awesome!
I am so glad that we have taught her to face her fears and helped her through sensory issues with patience and strength.  I remember the first time we went on the wave runner and she covered her ears and was very afraid.  We went slow, sang songs and by the end of the trip she was having a great time.   I think some times what appears to be sensory is more about fear.  When I make her feel safe and secure there is nothing she won't do!