the weekend was spent with best friends, food, swimming, shopping...
I was almost as sad to watch Tiff and Jeff leave as Kenley was. She was asking for them all day. Simply put, they are two of the best people with her. Tiffanie is always SO patient with her.... yet firm but not enough to offend me. She is so energetic with Kenley and having her here felt like a nice break. Tiff is going to make an amaaaazing mother one day. I feel like her and Kenley will always have a special bond since she was there for her birth :)
To be totally candid, Kenley has been a challenge the past couple weeks so I was more than willing to hand her over for a couple hours. She has an unexplained rash that we have been to the doctor a couple times for now that starts in the diaper area and goes up her back and stomach, we took several trips to the dentist after her spill (but her teeth are looking a million times better by the way), she REFUSES her own bed, we are taking the potty training to the next level (night-time and outside the house) and have cut her off from her binky cold-turkey.... and this is all within the past two weeks. Gavin worked full time last week and this week with baseball camps (9am-4pm) and then Monday and Wednesday he goes to class until 9pm. Saturday and Sunday he is still working at the golf course all day.... we have barely seen one another and its been Kenley and I..... 24/7. Days I have worked she has come with me which to be honest is completely exhausting and definitley wouldnt be able to do much longer if we werent moving.... and is something that I have tried to keep in mind regarding the sleep situation. The move is going to totally mess with her sleep anyway until she gets her bearings so I refuse to fight her on it until we are settled.... one thing at a time.
However you won't hear me refer to this time as the "terrible two's"... nor will I agree if you do. It's not terrible and all stresses aside, she has been SO much fun. It is so strange yet amazing to basically have a full on conversation with her! She is saying the funniest things and Im trying to be really good about writing them down. Like I said, she was asking for Jeff and Tiffanie all day. We were laying in bed trying to get her to take a nap this afternoon before work when she said....
"Where's Tiff-fee-fee?"
me: "She's at work, at home in Napa"
Kenley: "Jeff?"
me: "yep, he's at home in Napa too... do you miss them?"
Kenley:"mmmmhmmm.... Papa??... Grammy??... Stevie??"
me: "they are all in Napa too... Grammy and Papa are at work and Stevie is probably playing golf."
Kenley: :::::huge smile::::: "steeeevieeee"
(She LOVES her uncle Stephen)
The best thing she has said so far was her telling Gavin to "Kenley's daddy!....watch the show!" while I was doing my Kettle Bell workout early one morning last week and Gavin was bugging her by acting like he was falling asleep on her shoulder.
my other favorite thing she is doing is she will randomly (especially in the car) call out "pray???.... pray????"..... and then will fold her little hands, close her eyes and wait for me to pray and then yell out a big "AYYY-MEN!" when Im done.
I hope I'm not making it seem like being at home with her is a chore :::yikes::: totally not my intention and there is nowhere else I would rather be. Staying at home with her for these first two years has been the biggest privilege. It has also given me such a genuine appreciation for single parents. In some ways, while Gavin has been a full-time student, working part time and playing a Division 1 sport... its what I have been. I will never apologize for the pride that I feel taking all of this one without my loved ones within 500 miles. I make no mistakes when I say that it has been SO.HARD. but I also dont want that to be heard as "poor me." I feel like there is a big difference... dont you?
With that said.... my days as a stay-at-home mom are numbered... at least with this baby!
Presently, if Im not at work or keeping Kenley from putting playdough in the toilet you will find me glued to my cell phone... waiting for a VERY important phone call. According to my records (and numerous attempts to check on our status) we should be hearing from the Sonoma State Children's school ANY day now to find out whether or not Kenley has been accepted (the only issue being that they may not have room for her)
Their "What's Happening Now" portion of their website reads:
Dear (Name of Representative),
I strongly oppose Governor Brown’s budget proposal for 2012-13 and the severe cuts to early education and care that may destroy high quality early education programs.
I fear the planned cuts in early childhood education will be a severe detriment not only for the youngest and most promising of your constituents, but also for the long term viability of this economy.
Perhaps the worst part of the proposal eliminates higher education as an eligibility factor for student families who are trying to achieve a degree while having their child in an excellent early education setting. This support for families pursuing higher education is especially important to ensure that as families enter the California workforce, they are in careers that will allow them to support their families.
For every dollar invested in early education and care programs, the economy sees a return of four. By giving children the education they deserve and cutting from elsewhere in the budget, you maximize every possibility that this state-and everyone in it-prospers.
Children thrive in early education schools in ways we are still counting. My child currently attends the Children’s School at Sonoma State University. The school, which is nationally accredited by NAEYC, provides high quality care for my child, allowing me to ___________. Without this program, my family would ____. I have seen firsthand the eagerness and love children have for learning. They are the future, and right now I must be their voice. I implore you to remove these planned cuts for the sake of our children.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
Your Address (where you are registered to vote)
...... scary right????
I was given fair warning when we applied what the "state of the state" was. Realistically, programs all over the state just like this one are being completely cut, thus greatly lowering Kenley's chances of getting in.
And sooo many important factors hinge on whether or not she is accepted. (... where we will live, what, where and when Gavin will work, whether or not my mom will need to adjust her work schedule... the list goes on....)
I really feel Kenley is ready to be in an educational setting three days a week for 5 hours. I feel it is the perfect amount of time and know she would thrive so much being around other children her age. The school is ADORABLE, with a little garden, wooden play structure and conviently located right in the heart of campus. I met several of the teachers when we popped in the last time I was on campus getting my classes... they all seem great. (very "granola state" haha)
If she is infact accepted she will be in the "Dandelion" class... 2-3 yr olds, which is the middle age group as far as the spectrum of little "students." She would make the cutest dandelion IVE ever seen :)
As I try and take most of this on myself I have a valued reassurance. Some of this is totally out of my hands, and as far as I know, Ive done all that I can at the end of the day to try and make this happen. In the past three years I have watched myself make plans and have had God turn them into something so much bigger and greater than I could have ever imagined. So I push forward with a vision of my diploma in one hand and my sweet girl in the other and give the rest to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment