Art Class

We had a brief thunderstorm last night.  Isaac didn't wake up during the thunder.

This morning we attended our first art class.  It was terrific.  The teacher had all the crafts prepared and available at one table with templates of each project.  There were a number of group tables set up with different things.  Some had markers, stamps, glue sticks, crayons, cottonballs, and there were 4 easels set up.  The kids were allowed to pick what they wanted to make and sit at different tables to create their artwork.  Today we glued construction paper and decorated the following projects: an umbrella, robin, sheep, 2 potted flowers, a tree.  Isaac also painted two pictures (he wanted to go and paint on other kids' paintings and easels but I got him to paint only on his paper).  The class was an hour long, and Isaac was "done" (wanted to leave) at the 50min mark - which was very good since it gave us some time to wash up and collect our things.  We had a great time!

After class, Isaac took off and ran to the playground while I dropped the artwork off into car.  I let him play for a little bit and took him to the car.  Then I realized that I left my bag in the classroom and had to go back for it.  I'm glad the class is close by and he didn't fall asleep (though he was clearly spaced out).  We got home at about 11:45am and picked up our mail.  I got some duplo in the mail (some spare bathroom pieces - toilet, tub, sink, chairs; new additions: 2 mirrors, and a duplo vacuum cleaner).  Isaac played with the new duplo and a new truck set (value village) as I heated up some hotdogs.  As he was eating lunch, he started falling asleep.  He finished 1.5 hotdogs, I changed his diaper and put him on the potty, then he went for his nap at 1pm.

Pouring rain out now.  Glad it was dry earlier this morning.  Time for me to take a nap too!

Switching Classes

I cancelled Isaac's gymnastics class and switched him into a class called "Time for fun".   It's a general program with crafts, songs and stories.  I hope he'll like it.  I don't think I'll register for any more gymnastics classes for Isaac.  I would've liked staying in the gymnastics class this term because there are two other moms I know from our previous creative movements classes, but this class just doesn't suit Isaac.

Random Monday Notes

One accident this morning while wearing underwear.  Then a diaper leak after our gymnastics class as I was carrying him to the car.  He definitely needs a bath today.

We went to the community center early and I let Isaac play in the park for a bit.  Maybe that was a bad idea because he was tired during his class.  Gymnastics class was the same as before.  Isaac liked the free time at the start of class, but once the circle time and circuits were going on, he just wanted to leave.  I regret not registering him for the earlier class (9:00-9:45am).  That would've been better in terms of his mood and alertness.  He was rubbing his eyes and whining in class and fell asleep on the way home (at 11:30am).

When we got home, I changed his diapers and pants and put him in his crib.  I checked the mail and our gap/old navy order arrived.  Now we have lots of extra bear underwear, a pair of pajamas, a Gap cap (he outgrew his old one), and a couple pair of socks.

Not sure what to do about lunch today.  (Ham and toast with jam.  I offered left-over noodles and soup, but he didn't want it.)

Since his nap was so early, we had a good chunk of time in the afternoon to go out.  We walked to the a field and wandered around there for a bit, then continued on to the library.  He played in the water fountain (it was empty - they don't turn on the water until summer), then we walked to the playground.  We looked for bunnies but didn't find any today.  Stopped back by the playground, then onward to the library.  I let him run around by himself as I chatted with one of the moms I met from a program we were in last term.  We're going to meet up for a play-date sometime.  Isaac came back a few times, then disappeared.  I couldn't find him in the kids area so I looked around and found him at the front messing with a sign.  I hope he didn't leave the library without me.

After the library, we went to the mall.  I got Isaac a ham and cheese roll and picked up an apple, pear, and some mushrooms.  Then we cut through City Hall and stopped by Value Village on our way home.  We got back home at 5:30pm.

We're ordering some take-out for dinner.

Potty Training - Update

We've been trying to keep in mostly in underwear when he's home and diapers during naps, outings and bedtime.

Today he didn't want to go to the potty when we were out (the hand dryers scared him).  This afternoon, he told me he wanted to go potty, went to the washroom and stood on his stool waiting for me.  I think he really likes the smarties.  He still has some accidents (especially when he's busy playing) but today has been pretty good.

Vancouver Central Library Outing

This morning we met up with a friend at the Children's Library (lower level of the Vancouver Central Library).  Isaac played with some blocks,  puzzles, plastic eggs, and puppets.  We had lunch (ham, cookies, fruit cup, juice, a bite of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich), stopped by a grocery store, then headed home.

Isaac fell asleep on the way to the skytrain (he was sitting in his friend's stroller since she wanted to walk).  I carried him to the skytrain and let him lie on one of the seats on our ride home.  He woke up when we were transferring onto a bus - so his nap was pretty short (less than 1 hour).  I can't get him down for another nap so we'll probably have to put him to bed early tonight.

Having no stroller was a little difficult when he fell asleep, but it was good just being able to sit in the crowded skytrain without the constraint of a stroller.

The weather is nice and bright outside.  Tomorrow is forecasted to be nice too.  We'll probably go to a playground with some friends tomorrow.

Potty Training - Regression and Retraining

After Isaac's bout of sickness, he seems to not tell me any more when he needs to go pee.  He will ask for poop though.  I've put him in underwear when we're at home - so far he keeps peeing in the underwear and pants.  At first he would just say uh oh.  Then he didn't seem to even care when he got wet.  He's down to his last pair of underwear.  I've ordered two more bear underwear sets and picked up a couple extra pairs of pants for him.  Laundry machine is running now.

Time for plan B: SMARTIES.

He loves chocolate.  I'm hoping that he will be more enthusiastic about going to the potty if he knows he'll get a treat when he pees/poops on the potty.  Actually, he doesn't have a problem with going when he's on the potty.  We're trying to get him to tell us that he has to go.

I've given him smarties twice so far when I've taken him to the potty after he peed.  Then before his afternoon nap today, he asked to go (and peed) so he earned one smartie himself.  We'll see if he asks again this evening.

Stroller Woes

It's a cold and rainy day.  I was out walking with Isaac to run some errands.  We stopped by VV and the mall.  I picked up two pairs of pants from Old Navy for him.  I also got some mushrooms, snap peas, and a Cobbs pizza roll.  On our way home, one of the front wheels from the stroller broke off!  I struggled to push the stroller back home on three wheels.

We have a Peg Perego Si stroller.  I didn't expect this to happen.  The warranty was only for 1 year, so it has expired.  I'm not sure if it can be repaired or not.  Daddy will have to contact the company to see what can be done.

I am planning a trip downtown on Wednesday, but it'll be trickier without a stroller.  I guess we'll manage as long as we're not out too long.  I don't want to lug Isaac around when he's napping.

(Update] Peg Perego sent us a replacement part (we paid for the shipping).  Daddy pried off the cap on the broken piece to get the tire out.  He was able to repair our stroller.  It's still a bit rickety but in working condition now... I'm not sure when the wheel part on the other side will break, but I suspect it might not last.