Over Christmas break, we somewhat successfully migrated Carson to underwear. He’s willing to pee on the potty, but he still prefers to poop in diapers (or unfortunately, his underwear). The good news is that because he’s “potty-trained,” we were able to move him into the toddler class at preschool (the same class that Braden was in).

Drop-off has been getting progressively easier. Brian and Carson look for the snail in the fish tank every morning, then hug each other goodbye. Carson is one of the youngest in his class; some of his classmates were Braden’s classmates.

***

Carson is talking so much more now–his sentences are so cute. However, it’s a struggle sometimes to hear him, because he has begun whispering for some reason. And usually he responds to yes/no questions by nodding or shaking his head.

***

Now that Carson’s using the day bed, he often comes into our room in the middle of the night to sleep in our bed. Occasionally he’ll go into Braden’s room and bug his older brother. Carson still sleeps like a baby: on his stomach, with his legs tucked in, sometimes sucking his thumb.

***

We submitted Carson’s photo to Ch. 3 for the “Look Who’s 3” segment. He did like seeing himself on TV.

Journal birthday, preschool, talking

A few nights each week, Braden has homework assignments. He complains about having to do them, even though each assignment only takes 10 min. (Poor guy, he doesn’t realize he’s got 17 more years’ of homework coming!)

Some of his homework is paper-based, and others are conducted online. Braden seems to be doing a good job learning Mandarin. He can identify and pronounce the characters for older sister, younger sister, older brother, younger brother, mother, father, paternal grandmother and paternal grandfather. Sometimes we catch Braden singing some sort of counting song in Mandarin.

In addition, we have to record the books we read with Braden. So all in all, there’s a lot of parental involvement, too.

***

Braden is getting more used to school. Brian wakes him up each Tuesday-Friday morning at 6:15 a.m. (funny, Braden used to wake up well before that time on his own, but now that he has school, he can’t get up!).

He’s less shy around the other four kids at his bus stop, and he has even acted a little goofy around them (a sure sign that he’s warming up to them).

Fortunately, the breakfast and lunch items served at school are peanut-free and within his tastebud boundaries, meaning items like chicken tenders and hot dogs. Braden has even enjoyed the tacos.

Braden seems to have fun at his after-school program when we pick him up, although he’s excited to leave when we arrive. The first thing he does is chug a lot of water at the drinking fountain, as if he hasn’t drank all day. He then eats his after-school snack in the car, rather that at school, which was the whole point of packing an after-school snack.

***

Carson is having a difficult time with drop-offs. Just like before, he holds Brian’s leg until a teacher pulls him off. Carson then proceeds to kick off his shoes for some reason. Luckily, he gets over his tantrum fairly soon after Brian leaves.

Carson apparently is getting along really well with a girl in his class. According to the teachers’ notes, they spend a lot of time playing together and sometimes cuddling.

Journal kindergarten, preschool

Carson and Braden have always had completely opposite levels of thirst. At meals, for example, Braden may have a sip of his beverage while Carson will have two glasses.

The other day, Carson chugged two cups of milk in front of Kristin, who remarked, “wow,  you must be really thirsty.”

Carson replied, “I am thirsty.” That was stunning, as his ability to make sentences and use pronouns is more advanced than Braden’s ability at the same age.

***

Carson has regressed in terms of drop-offs at preschool. Since early March, he often clings to Brian’s leg, and the teachers have to pull him off and hold him so that Brian can leave. Carson will make a face like he’s about to cry, and a few times he has. Fortunately, he gets over it quickly.

***

Braden was excited for his Easter egg hunt. We hid eggs in the living room and in parts of the backyard for him. Carson’s eggs were much easier to spot; we hid them in the dining room and the deck.

***

It’s been a few months now, but Carson is permanently out of high chairs, much earlier than when Braden stopped using them. It can be difficult at restaurants, as sometimes Carson will get up to walk around, plus he’s a little short to eat over the table.

***

The boys often fight over the same toys. Any particular toy isn’t popular until the other is playing with it. Braden is getting better at sharing, but Carson is not.

Journal holidays, preschool, talking

On Monday, Feb. 3, Carson started preschool at the same Montessori school that Braden is attending. Kristin previously took Carson on two “trial” days, but this week, he was on his own. First, it was an odd feeling (like traveling back in time) to bring a lunch for him–required for the toddlers–but something we haven’t done for Braden for two years.

Carson did cry the first three days when Brian tried to leave. However, Thursday and Friday he walked right up to the teacher and didn’t make a fuss at all. So, hopefully that means he’s adapting (we’ll see come Monday).

The two brothers will only be at the same school for one semester (plus the summer), as Braden will start kindergarten in the fall.

***

That same Monday, Braden turned five. We went to his class at 11 a.m. to do the annual celebration; we brought zucchini muffins for his classmates. Several of them thought it was amusing to see us two days in a row, as we hosted a birthday party for Braden at Madtown Twisters on Sunday and invited his classmates, about 10 of whom came.

It was super cute to watch all the boys crowd around Braden as he opened his presents. Many comments were about how much they wanted the same toys. And of course, the kids had a blast going through all the gymnastics equipment and bouncy fort.

***

We gave Braden Braden a Nintendo Wii game, and he picked it up super quickly. It’s fun to watch him play and see his level of hand-eye coordination.

Journal birthday, preschool

We enrolled Braden at a Montessori preschool, and his first day was today. What helped ease his transition was that he attended class twice in December to get somewhat acclimated.

We like the location on the west side. It’s just off the Beltline, and not too far from Brian’s office and Brian’s mom’s house.

It’s cute to see Braden has his own locker. We have to bring his own snacks, since sometimes his teachers serve cheese, which he can’t eat.

We elected to the do the morning program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Depending on the weather, the children usually end their morning on the playground. It was not easy to get Braden to leave!

Journal preschool