April 2008
Update
Spring has finally sprung here in the Northeast. Last week we
actually experienced record highs in the eighties! We have been
weeding the garden, riding bikes, going for walks, and playing
in the park for several weeks now. Zoe even hopped in the
sprinkler to cool off on one of our hotter days. The sunshine
has been glorious!!!
Zoe is now independent when riding on her bike with training
wheels. She’s become quite the speed demon and is an expert at
rounding corners and using her breaks. When she rides, she likes
to make three trips around the block at a time, so her muscles
are building up and she’s becoming stronger and stronger. Her
neighbor and best “boy” buddy, Josh, taught her about the joys
of mud. Can you say ICK!?!
Zoe now has a few jobs. They include putting the pillows on her
bed, watering the roses, and emptying the silverware when the
dishwasher is full of clean dishes. She really likes watering
the roses, but it’s been like puling teeth to get her to
complete her other two chores. Oh well! If I pick this battle
now, hopefully she’ll be more responsible with completing chores
as she grows and matures. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see …
Speaking of battles, Zoe seems to have discovered how fun and
interesting it is to be disobedient. Hmmm … guess I’ll have to
work on that one. Yesterday, by the time Rob arrived home, he
could see that I was really frustrated with Z. Once we dropped
her off at ballet, we had a heart to heart. I shared with him
that Zoe had said “no” or refused to comply with Every! Single!
Request! I made of her yesterday. Imagine …
Me: Zoe, please put your green beans on the counter.
Z: No. (followed by smiles and giggles)
Me: Zoe, I want you to put your green beans on the counter now.
Z: No. (giggles louder)
Me: That’s one. (Z runs and hides) That’s two.
Z: Okay, I’ll put them on the counter. (then proceeds to take
three minutes to get the green beans on the counter)
Five minutes later …
Me: Zoe, let’s put away your books.
Z: No. (followed by more giggles and smiles as she runs away)
You get the picture. It was crazy! So Daddy was the heavy last
night and laid down the law. That really hurt her feelings, but
it had to be done (for everyone’s sake). Whoever said twos were
terrible, and threes were trying, had obviously never met a four
year old whose only goal in life is to become independent and
exert her own will!
Today I am trying something new. If she makes it through the day
being obedient and respectful, she’ll get to play on the
computer for thirty minutes. Unfortunately, she started off the
day in time-out after refusing to turn off the faucet when
finished brushing her teeth. She begged for a second chance at
the computer, and I told her I would have a heart and allow her
ONE more opportunity to play on the computer. So she needs to
get through the entire rest of the day without a time-out.
Wonder how that’s gonna go?
In terms of the Lexmeister’s adoption, there are now only 39
days of LIDs ahead of us. We could get a referral as early as
July, but I think that is highly unlikely. It will probably
happen closer to late fall or early winter. Only time will tell
… |
Zoe & Josh checking out the mushy gushy mud.
They got to play in the sprinkler one hot day.
Crossing the monkey bars with a little help from Daddy.
Look out Zoe!
(she keeps forgetting to look straight ahead
while
riding her bike) |
