At long last (and just in the nick of time-- 2009 is just about over!) I've managed to update this blog, with 17 (that's right, SEVENTEEN) new posts, not including this one. I'll have to strive to do better at keeping this up, alongside my regular blog.
In between all the activities I've written about, Todd's made steady progress with his reading (where not just the reading but even (and more importantly so) the comprehension is at an advanced level) and we visit the library nearly every week to pick up a stack of books to tide him over for a week.
His karate got off to a bit of a slow start in the fall. Although he practiced his moves well over the summer, he didn't practice his kata, so it took some time for him to get back into it. He's learned the 2nd kata as well, and is starting to master it.
His intensive swim lessons over the summer have vastly improved his skills. Oma had him in a variety of group and private lessons at various facilities, and the constant practice helped a lot.
When he returned to SB, I enrolled him in private lessons twice a week, where he was able to refine his strokes and improve his endurance. In January I'm going to try to put him in group lessons once more, at the YMCA, to see if being around more advanced kids will help propel his motivation to improve himself, esp since he seems to be stagnating a little with the private lessons.
Well, I think that about concludes the updates for now. Whew! Sorry about the long delay. Don't forget to scroll down... FAR down, for all the updates since my last post on June 15! :-)
No library card
Todd spied a sign in one of the LA libraries, saying that kids under 5 could get a special card, with parental permission, of course. So Oma took him there the next day to sign up. Alas, since she is his grandparent and not his parent, they wouldn't let her sign up for a card for him. They were quite firm on this, and Todd went home sad and dejected.
After pitching his usual crying fit, he settled down and wrote a note:
Dear Oma and Opa,
I am sad. I don't feel like doing anything today.
Well, that's a step up from noisy tantrums, isn't it? Pouting on paper... ;-)
After pitching his usual crying fit, he settled down and wrote a note:
Dear Oma and Opa,
I am sad. I don't feel like doing anything today.
Well, that's a step up from noisy tantrums, isn't it? Pouting on paper... ;-)
Merry Christmas 2009
Yay, we got to go to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Ron's house! Todd was excited. Everytime we go there, he makes improvements in his sociability, and his timidness decreases. He now has no problem going outside into the backyard by himself, even if neither Allan nor I are there to accompany him.
He had TONS of fun playing with Uncle Ron! I think he had more fun with Uncle Ron than with Daddy, and Uncle Ron was always his first choice for playing with his new toys together. He'd eagerly seek him out and call out, loudly: "Uncle Ron! Let's build something else" (ref: his new erector set).
Todd even enjoyed teasing Uncle Ron, much to Aunt Debbie's delight ;-) And of course, once egged on, Todd ramped it up even more!
What fun to see Todd eagerly interact with Allan's family, unafraid. Christmases just keep getting better :-)
He had TONS of fun playing with Uncle Ron! I think he had more fun with Uncle Ron than with Daddy, and Uncle Ron was always his first choice for playing with his new toys together. He'd eagerly seek him out and call out, loudly: "Uncle Ron! Let's build something else" (ref: his new erector set).
Todd even enjoyed teasing Uncle Ron, much to Aunt Debbie's delight ;-) And of course, once egged on, Todd ramped it up even more!
What fun to see Todd eagerly interact with Allan's family, unafraid. Christmases just keep getting better :-)
More on reading
Todd is continuing to read while in LA. Oma's also working on his handwriting, as it's pretty messy, still.
He's gotten into the habit now of reading quietly to himself in bed while Oma showered. The book? A children's Bible. But not the preschool Bible that he used to read. This one is a book with much smaller print encompassing larger pages, and with fewer pictures between each chapter. It's a book meant for kids around 8 years old or so.
And when Oma told me this, pointing out it wasn't something you normally give 5-year-olds, Todd piped up with a reason why it was okay to give it to him:
"I'm five and a half!"
In this photo, Todd reads to a bevy of stuffed animals in bed:
He's gotten into the habit now of reading quietly to himself in bed while Oma showered. The book? A children's Bible. But not the preschool Bible that he used to read. This one is a book with much smaller print encompassing larger pages, and with fewer pictures between each chapter. It's a book meant for kids around 8 years old or so.
And when Oma told me this, pointing out it wasn't something you normally give 5-year-olds, Todd piped up with a reason why it was okay to give it to him:
"I'm five and a half!"
In this photo, Todd reads to a bevy of stuffed animals in bed:
Promotions and Christmas Concert
Last week Todd tested for his yellow belt. He had to learn not only his moves, but answer questions as well. The test went well, and today he got promoted to yellow belt!
That same evening was his school's Christmas concert, where he and his classmates plunked out two or three notes on the keyboards, and sang various Christmas tunes, including "Santa Claus is Coming To Town"... in Latin! Now there's a neat twist!
That same evening was his school's Christmas concert, where he and his classmates plunked out two or three notes on the keyboards, and sang various Christmas tunes, including "Santa Claus is Coming To Town"... in Latin! Now there's a neat twist!
Leaving notes
Now that Todd can read, we've found that it's convenient to leave notes for him to read in the morning, when he gets up and we might still be asleep. One time, I left a note on Daddy's door instructing Todd not to wake him (Daddy had gone to bed late the night before). He read it, and waited patiently for Daddy to get up :-)
The next night, Todd wanted to sleep in that room, and wrote a note for Daddy saying, "please don't wake me up. But you can come in quietly"
Another time, I set out cereal and water on the table for him to help himself when he got up. To make sure he saw it, I left a note on our door reminding him of what was on the table, the one he would have to go through to go into the living room. I also added bright colors on it to attract attention. Sure enough, when I got up, he had eaten his breakfast, taken his vitamins, and drunk his water.
Yet another time, I packed a corn dog into his lunch bag. Knowing he'd eat it more easily with ketchup, I included a small tupperware dish of ketchup. However, I was afraid that he wouldn't close the lid tight enough after lunch, thereby making the leftover ketchup spill into his bag, so I left a note on the lid of the dish, asking him to make sure he closed it tight when he was done. And sure enough, he did!
It's so handy being able to leave notes for the little man!
The next night, Todd wanted to sleep in that room, and wrote a note for Daddy saying, "please don't wake me up. But you can come in quietly"
Another time, I set out cereal and water on the table for him to help himself when he got up. To make sure he saw it, I left a note on our door reminding him of what was on the table, the one he would have to go through to go into the living room. I also added bright colors on it to attract attention. Sure enough, when I got up, he had eaten his breakfast, taken his vitamins, and drunk his water.
Yet another time, I packed a corn dog into his lunch bag. Knowing he'd eat it more easily with ketchup, I included a small tupperware dish of ketchup. However, I was afraid that he wouldn't close the lid tight enough after lunch, thereby making the leftover ketchup spill into his bag, so I left a note on the lid of the dish, asking him to make sure he closed it tight when he was done. And sure enough, he did!
It's so handy being able to leave notes for the little man!
Holiday parade
The annual holiday parade! All the kids in Todd's karate class dressed up in white uniforms and Santa hats and paraded down State Street. This was the first time I'd ever been to the parade. I made sure Todd was dressed warmly in thermals, long-sleeve shirt, vest, 2 pairs of socks and gloves all under his uniform. I dressed in a South Coast Karate sweatshirt and Santa hat and helped man the lines. As luck would have it, Todd wound up in the very first line, right behind our banner. And he was at the very far end of the line, too, enabling me to hold his hand and keep him company and guide him (mostly fixing his hat along the route!) as we made our way down the street.
We kept nice and warm with all the walking, and the kids wowed the crowd whenever we stopped and performed synchronized karate moves (katas) for the audiences :-)
Can't wait for next year!
We kept nice and warm with all the walking, and the kids wowed the crowd whenever we stopped and performed synchronized karate moves (katas) for the audiences :-)
Can't wait for next year!
