Pre-K 2012-2013

Little Isabella, your journey into Kinder preparedness has come full circle this pre-school year! Like your big sister before you, you have Ms. Jo for pre-K. Your big sissy loved her and we love Ms. Jo.  We thought you would as well. Your first few weeks in that class were a bit rough. And they were tough for us too. You would not tell us why you didn't want to go to school which was a first at NOVA where you have gone since you were a baby. We figured out that since Ms. Jo's style varies from all your previous teachers there; who absolutely spoiled you with affection while you learned, Ms. Jo teaches more independence and tough love. After a month, you and Ms. Jo realized that you both needed to meet each other half way. You let her into your shy self and opened yourself up a little at a time and she welcomed you with open arms every time you made progress. Now, as I write this I can't believe how you both are two peas in a pod and how much more affectionate Ms. Jo has become as a teacher. You are teaching her something and she is teaching you! You shine in that classroom and look forward to telling Ms. Jo about everything and anything, Sweetie!                    

Spanish Immersion

Teacher: Senora Delia

Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Saturdays)
Free for Arlington County Residents

While your big sister is in her Pre-K Spanish class, the county has a free class for toddlers your age! It is a parent and toddler class so you get Mommy or Daddy all to yourself as well. Your favorite part of the class is the Spanish singing and the arts and craft time, Sweetie.  

• Morning welcome with Spanish songs
• Story time
• Music class
• Arts and crafts
• Snack

Preschool 2010

Little Bella, you are starting a new semester of preschool. Your teachers are Ms. Carla and Ms. Tameka. You appeared to be very excited to be in your new class this morning and to see your friends from Summer Camp again. You walked in and your big sister helped you find your seat. You were so happy to find your picture on your seat and on your table setting. Your seat-mate is also one of you close little fiends, Grant! It made us very happy to see you smiling this morning when we dropped you off. You will be learning your ABC's, numbers 1-20, about the weather and some nursery rhymes in English and in Spanish. You will also participate in the school shows and have music and art classes too. Also, your potty training will continue as it has at home. You have been wearing 'big girl' pull ups for one month now so you are pretty excited about the transition. We hope that you enjoy your days at school. Have a wonderful time with your little friends and learn all you can, little baby!

Preschool Daily Schedule

9AM Morning Snack (Daddy drops you off)

9:30 Educational Circle Time

10 AM Group Activity (Music/Art)

10:30 Outside Play Time

11 AM Lunch

11:45 Story Time

12 - 2 Nap Time

2 PM Snack and Special Events (shows)

3 PM Outside Play Time

3:45 Spanish Circle Time

4:15 Theme Day Events (bubbles, Parachute, Relay Races, Instruments, Tunnels)

4:30 Mommy picks you up!

Happy 2nd Birthday

Birthday wishes for your continued good health my love! This year we had a small party for you with your school friends at one of your favorite places, My Gym. We all had a wonderful time celebrating you, sweetie! Happy Birthday!! All our love, Daddy, Mommy and Kenzie

Pool time

Little Bella, this summer you and your big sis are really enjoying the pool. You love to jump right in and we encourage you to practice your kicking and floating skills that your Daddy has been teaching you.

ABC's & 123's

Little Isabella, you've learned the ABC song and you sing it all by yourself. You can also count to 10 in english and in spanish, we are so very proud of you. I think it helps that your big sister counts with you! ;-) Keep up the good work, little baby.

Sprintime Special Moments

March 4, 2010 - every morning we get you and your big sister going for school and of course Mommy gives you goodbye loving and I say, "I love you, te quiero mucho!" Today, for the first time, you responded back " I la you..." Oh, little Bella it melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes to hear you say those words for the first time!

Current Food Favorites:

• feta and olive oil with pita
• yogurt and yogurt smoothies
• tofu
• oranges or tangerines
• tostadas
• shrimp veggie gyoza
• chips & salsa ( you really like spicy foods)
• miso soup
• seaweed salad
• kalamata olives
• scrambled eggs & bacon
• edamame
• all sorts of dips for carrots or cucumbers
• Daddy's grilled salmon
• spaghetti
• meatballs

Favorite springtime pass times:

• singing nursery rhymes
• listening to music and dancing
• running around after your big sis
• water play
• swings
• painting
• looking at books
• hide-n-seek
• the pool
• riding your little scooter

April 2010 - You love to get a rise out of your big sis. Sometimes when she is building with blocks or playing with her tea set you go over and start hand-batting at it and she screams for you to stop. You keep going but if you see her start to tear up you realize it isn't very nice and you put your head on her chest as a sorry gesture.

You are interacting with your sister more and more and this Spring you have both noticed how much fun it can be to play and entertain each other.

You love to dance and listen to music. Your current favorite songs are bringing home a baby bumble bee, if you're happy and you know it, the wheels on the bus, and row-row-row your boat!

Currently your favorite cuddle bugs are Elmo and your Dogie Violet that says your name and sings your favorite songs!

When Daddy gets home from work and it's time for him to have his dinner, you love to sit on his lap and eat from his plate. Sometimes you like to feed him and it is so sweet to watch. It is a common ritual every evening!

April 2010 - Before bed time you love to nuzzle Mommy and I give you milk until you go to sleep. Most times I sing a Spanish goodnight song "Buenas Noches Luna" that I made up. One night out of the blue, as I sang, you started to sing it with me. It was the sweetest little singing voice, and in Spanish! I kept singing with you with a big smile on my face and tears of happiness in my eyes... you smiled back and shyly kept singing along. You little cutie!

May 2010 - Your first spring fair where you could go on the rides! You also rode your first mini-roller coaster ride, big girl! Your favorite though was the carousel. You are trying to go to the potty all by yourself! You are having some accidents but overall, you like to sit side-by-side with your big sister on your portable potty chair and do your little thing. We are very proud of you. Come September you will be going to preschool and you will have a head start on the potty training- hooray! Ms. Carla will be very pleased to have one less toddler to potty train! :-)

You love to climb on everything, little one. My Gym, a padded children's play gym, is a great outlet for you to do just that. Daddy calls you his little monkey!

End of May 2010 - You really find you singing voice! You begin to really belt out nursery rhymes and songs all by yourself! One night you and Mommy were singing Buenas Noches Luna together before bed time and then you said, "No Mommy, Bella sing!" and you briefly placed your fingers over her mouth and began to sing aloud by yourself.

Your big sister loves to give you hugs and kisses but sometimes you aren't too receptive of her affections. Lately you have been showing her love with kind gestures of sharing. Also, when she isn't paying attention to you, you tend to tackle her from behind with bear hugs or try to sit on her and give her a kiss. Your big sis yells with excitement that you gave her some loving - "Mommy, Bella gave me kisses!"

Christmas 2009

Your second Christmas! You were really able to appreciate the holiday season this year little one. With your Sister's excitement being so contagious, everyone was filled with holiday spirit. Together, you enjoyed spending your non-school days singing and dancing to Christmas carols (Mommy & Daddy too!), baking with Mommy and looking through Christmas books. Sometimes we would catch you trying to open or peek at the presents under the tree, too (as above)! We are very blessed to have you and your Sister in our lives. Feliz Navidad, Corazon!

School Favorites

Arts and Crafts - You love to paint!

Music and Dancing - Dancing is your favorite. You do a little shift from side to side with your head and body and move one arm up and down. It is so sweet to watch you.

Singing - you try to sing and you usually raise your voice for the last word of the song like in row-row-row-your boat, you yell out DREAM! Wheels on the bus: TOWN!

Story time - You love books! During story time you like to sit on your teachers lap or you sit on the classroom rocking chair by yourself and place the book on your lap and turn the pages. Although sometimes the book may be upside down, you are intrigued by the pictures, sweetie!

Outside time - this is a whole new adventure for you now that you are mobile and in a bigger classroom. So far you are enjoying the slide and the swing!

Preschool Time

Little one, it is now time for you to move to the younger two's room...
Since you begun to walk and communicate early on, a decision was reached that you are ready to develop and learn in a new curriculum based environment. This is a big milestone for you, and for Mommy and Daddy as well.

The new classroom with Ms Joyce is bigger and that means more space for exploring! There will be more emphasis on the subjects that you love as well; coloring, painting, story time, music, singing and dancing. A bonus is that you will be able to have outside time on the swings, cars and slide and stretch those little legs of yours that keep going, going and going! For a few weeks you are transitioning for an hour a day until the permanent move on November 23rd. So far, your time in the new room has been tear free (thankfully!). You are led to your new room at the top of your designated hour and you wave to your favorite caretakers, Dania, Gaby, Romana and Gisella, and blow them kisses with your hand. From what we understand, it has been harder on them than on you. We hope that the designated day of your permanent move continues as smoothly, Sweetie!

1 Year - And first words

Little Bella, at one year your communication skills consist of cooing, babbling, facial expressions, pointing, signing and words. Regardless, of the combination you choose at the moment, we try our best to make sure and acknowledge your efforts. Interestingly enough, you and your sister seem to have a form of communication all your own. You can look at each other or speak some words and run along together, or just start giggling. It is sweet to watch you two interact. The below signs and words are one's you can communicate so far.
Words:

• oh-oh!?
• doggie
• Nana (banana)
• Mama
• Dada
• Agua
• Hi
• Done
• Dania
• go-go-go!
• tan you (thank you)

Signs

• More
• please
• thank you
• water/juice
• milk
• boo-boo
• thank you/gracias
• All done

1st Birthday Wishes!

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl! We can't believe how fast the year has gone... You have accomplished some milestones and have many more ahead. How quickly our little baby has grown.

For your special day Mommy took time off from work and you both spent quality weekday time together. You went to the playground to ride the swings, read some books, had lunch, cuddled and took a two hour nap before your big sister came home from Summer Camp. When Daddy got home from work, he took his girls out for a dinner celebration.

On the weekend we had a birthday party just for you. When the party started you had just woken up from a 3 hour nap and there were many people so it took you a bit to warm up. Once you got going you really enjoyed the attention and playtime with your cousins and big sister. You ate very well too! You had some cheese enchiladas, chicken cilantro pasta, strawberries and then you had some of your Birthday (ice cream) cake. We didn't open your presents that evening since you were pretty tired, except you did open one special gift... Your big sister wanted to get you your very own "ballerina shoes" as that's what she calls soft pink Mary Jane shoes. When you were dressed, she gave you her present and put them on you for your special day!

We wish for you many, many, many more years of happiness, good health and love, Darling. We love you so very much. Happy Birthday!

Walking By Yourself!

We are so proud of you Sweetie!

Daddy's Day

Daddy, thank you for the cuddles, hugs and tickles you give me. You make me feel safe and very loved.

Practicing First Steps

Here is Daddy helping you with your steps, little one!

School

Bella, we are very happy that you look forward to seeing your caretakers every morning when Daddy drops you off. You reach out to Dania and excitedly kick your little feet when you arrive. You have smiles for everyone! Your sister kisses you goodbye and Daddy then takes her to her classroom. Luckily you get to see Kenzie through out the day as Dania takes you over to pay her a visit. You have a daily routine each day but the teachers also focus on teaching you and your little friends different skills. Below are just a few you are learning or have learned:

• Using utensils
• Social interaction
  
• Sign language
• moving to music
• Enjoying books
  
• improving motor skills
• First steps
  
• Stacking objects
• Sharing with friends
• Spanish
• Grasping
• Spatial relationships
  

We are very blessed to have found a wonderful nurturing environment where you and your sister learn the skills and receive the love and support to hopefully grow into beautiful little people.

Crawling

Little Bella, at one point you were just sitting there and then before I knew it, you were at my feet while I was cooking. It had started with an arm and stomach lifting a few days prior and then a rocking back and forth with your knees. Now, you can't hide the excitement of getting from one place to the next on your own without the walker. Especially when the task involves finding your sister or getting a toy! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, Darling.

Playtime with My Sister

Bella, you really enjoy time with your sister, especially when it comes to discovering what may be in the toy bins for the day. Daddy and Mommy swap out the toys often so old ones found become like new again. It's just wonderful for us to watch you both interact together. You are learning so much from your big sister as well; the joy of chase, books, cars, teddy bears, playing with water and how to get Daddy's attention!

Easter

Your first Easter, little one. A special day that was filled with Easter celebrations: morning services, egg hunts, your first bunny, and visits with family and friends!

Enjoying Food

Bella, when it's not on you, you really enjoy your applesauce! Some of your other favorites include:

• Tofu
• Peas
• Yogurt
• Brocolli
• Barley Crackers

My First Word

You can say Da-Da!

Bella, when you see your Daddy, you start bouncing up and down from excitement and say it over and over. It brings a big smile to your Daddy's face and you just light up when he responds to your calls, sweetie.

6 Months

You are growing so quickly little, Bella, and you are doing so many new things...

• rolling over
• lifting yourself up
• sitting up on your own
• speeding through the house on your walker
• eating solids- favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes
• bringing your hands to your mouth with food
• clasping and grabbing with your fingers
• bouncing to music
• pointing with your finger
• enjoying peek-a-boo

We are very much enjoying you and all your milestones, little one. We love you so!

Introducing Solids

Bella, you had your first solid meal on this day, sweetie. You had cereal with mixed pears and you did quite well. Your sister was even excited to help you out!

Mobile

Loving my walker from my grandparents so much. It helps me keep up with my sister, Kenzie, wherever she goes on our main floor. Sometimes, I have a hard time stopping myself and I accidentally roll into my sister's trains when she is playing with them or bonk her on the head when she is trying to help me out by picking up a toy that I dropped. I am glad she is pretty patient with me. On a side note: Lately I really like to drop things on the floor to hear how they sound. It is pretty neat to hear all the noise that I can make on my very own! Another plus of being in my walker is that I can find Mommy and Daddy all by myself when they go from room to room. I just listen for their voice. This video shows my very first try in the walker.

Bathtime

Bella, you are almost 5 months, Sweetie, and you have outgrown your little tub and will be able to enjoy bath time with your big sister. Since you can now sit-up on your own (minus a little swaying) you can get into the big tub to have your bath with the assistance of a bath chair. Unlike your sister when she was a baby, you don't mind having your hair washed or having water poured over your head, so with all the splashing your sister likes to do it will ease the transition. We are sure you both will be splashing about in there in no time!

My First Christmas

Little Bella, this was your first Christmas. Although, you may not remember the Christmas tree, your gifts, the busy travels to and from family and friends, or meeting Santa Claus, we hope that we can capture some of the special memories for you here...

Before we headed out to Iowa to visit Great Grandma and the family, we had a Christmas celebration of our own and started some new Christmas traditions. We especially had a nice time just watching you and your big sister interact together through out this special time. It is really sweet to watch how you reach out and touch your sister's face when she gets close to you, or when you begin cooing like you want to tell her something. When Kenzie starts talking to you, you break out into little giggles and get so excited. Bella, someday soon, you will be running about with your sister and playing with trains, and laughing as you get dizzy playing ring-around-the-rosy, Sweetie.

The day we traveled to Iowa, we unfortunately had some trouble with our outbound flight which caused our connection to get missed. We pretty much ended up on three total flights just to get to Des Moines. Once we got to our destination, our luggage ended up in Nebraska! We will never forget how through out the whole ordeal your Daddy and I were just so exhausted and wanted to pull our hair out, and we would look down at you in my arms (you spent a lot of time in the Baby Bjorn, sweetie), and you would just look up at us and give us a BIG smile... You didn't know what was going on, you were just so happy to be with us, my love. You and your big sister were such good girls through out the whole ordeal. Your beautiful angel spirits really kept us together through out a very difficult day! Once we got to Great Grandma's it was so nice to catch up and visit with family and friends and remember why it's so special to go back to Iowa for Christmas.

The memories we remember of our holiday season are those in which we witnessed the gifts of the season: the spirit of love, giving, kindness and generosity. Mommy and Daddy have much to be grateful for, little one.

Merry Christmas, My Darling.

Hi Daddy!

Little Bella, you light up when your Daddy is in the room. In these pictures you are cooing away, trying to have a little conversation with him.

Being Grateful

Bella, your first Thanksgiving. A day to be thankful for our blessings, Sweetie. You and your sister are our little blessings.

The Gift of Life