Meeting Sidney

Emily had her introductory lesson at Swiftsure Ranch, the facility where she will be taking therapeutic horseback riding lessons.

And she was introduced to Sidney, a 12 year old Norwegian Fjord.  I'm pretty sure there was some instant love.

Brienne was the instructor that met us, showed Emily how to brush Sid, and then followed up with letting Emily feed Sid a yummy carrot treat.  We were then showed around the barn, introduced to each of the horses, and informed on how things would work.  There's three rings where kids on horses play games and learn how to ride, and several trails where Emily will be able to go on her journey to independent rider.  While each lesson will focus on her core strength, balance, and coordination, it's also going to be a lot of fun for her.  She'll also learn basic riding skills and groom her horse each time.  

I was worried about Emily's shyness, but Brienne was excellent.  Emily warmed right up to her and responded to all of her questions and directions.  She was also very comfortable around Sidney and can't wait to go back and ride!

In the Big City

 We went and spent a couple days in Boise.  At one point, we took a break from running errands and went to this little park.  The weather was great, yet no one else was there.

Notice the haircut?  On Wednesday, she sat for the first time in the chair by herself and got it cut.  And she's grown so tall that I just ordered a booster seat to replace one of her carseats, considering her head sits above the top of it.  And she also did all the packing herself for the weekend trip.  Growing up fast!

And some recent conversations:

scene: Emily, for the first time since moving to big girl bed, fell out of it. After the tears had stopped, and we were sure there wasn't a broken arm or bruised skin...
Me: "Emily, what happened?"
Emi: "Ah, mom, I don't want to talk about it."

scene: Candyland game on the living room floor, Emily was taking her sweet time taking her turn...
Dad: "C'mon, Emily, go!"
Emi:  "Now, now Daddy.  Calm down!"

Emi: "None-ja.  None-ja" (repeated over and over and over)
Me: "Emi, what are you saying?"
Emi: "I'm speaking Spanish."
(And her counting in Spanish goes like this: "Oh no, dos, tres..."

One of the things that Emily does like to do by herself is "teach her kids", where she collects her most loved (at the time) stuffed creatures and recreates things from her school.  She reads them stories, and even gives them time outs for not listening and following directions.  Emily will also set up centers and make sure they rotate through...

story time

class photo with Minnie, Cory Bear, Baby, Bimini,
Birthday Bear, Pooh, and Valentine Bear

One of the popular songs at preschool right now is Rockin' Robin.  Emily has been singing it a lot lately, and it was going the other afternoon when I picked up.  She almost has the words right - 

This is Emily's version: "All the little birds on Daybird Street love to hear the robin go tweet, tweet, tweet.  I want a muffin, tweet, tweet. "

One afternoon this week an appraiser came to the house (no, we are not moving), and when Emily saw that the appraiser was taking pictures, she asked for her camera.  She followed behind and took pictures with our guest.

At the post office, our normally shy, don't - talk - to - strangers child asked a lady dressed in khaki pants and a red sweater if she worked at Target.  I thought it was funny, not sure the lady agreed.

Our last Mindful Movements class will be this Thursday.  We completed two sessions, but because the classes are meant for kids under 4, we won't be going back in the fall.  Emily really enjoyed it and looked forward to her dance class each week.  It was fun for me to watch Emily listen and follow directions and it also allowed her to practice some of those skills her therapist recommended when it all ended on her third birthday.

However, it's a good time for dance to end.  Next week she goes for an assessment at Swiftsure Ranch, a therapeutic horseback riding facility.  

Mother's Day is Upon Us

The week seemed to be full of appointments and commitments and all sorts of things to keep us busy.  Somehow we are almost to the middle of May, and things will only get crazier until summer vacation gives us a chance to stand still.  

Oh, who am I kidding.  Emily doesn't give us much of a chance to stand still.

Emily doesn't like to be by herself much.  As a kid (at least in my memory) I would lock myself in the playroom and play.  Emi wants you to be involved with all of her activities, and I'm running out of creative ways to get her to play a moment by herself, just so I can get a chance to toss the laundry into the dryer or get dinner ready for the table without my little helper. 

I have to really remind myself that I need to remain present with her, not let myself get sidetracked with my own to do list... because I'm positive there is going to be THAT day where she no longer needs us like she does right now and I'll look back at this exact post and wonder why I ever wished this phase to pass.  Because really, that laundry can wait and dinner doesn't have to be exactly at 6.  

Parenting Emily has meant hospital stays and surgeries.  Visits to specialists and therapists in cities hours away were never convenient.  We've been more tired than we are now when nights didn't stop the medication schedule or a croup like cough meant chilly nights outside bundled up in a chair.  Parenting Emily also meant that every milestone was just that more special because we weren't sure that this little one pound, ten ounce baby would ever meet a milestone on time... if at all.  

still sleeping with that head tilted back!  

Parenting Emily has also meant a lot of joy and laughter.  She's a pretty funny kid who has some pretty funny things to say when you least expect it.  In my opinion, there isn't a laugh that's sweeter, or a hug that's warmer, or a smile that's brighter than hers.  At the end of a work day, I can't wait to go pick her up and see how her day  went.  

I think another blogger said it best when she commented that Motherhood is hoping for the end of a long day while wishing for yesterday back.  Because everything Motherhood is (the good, the bad, the ugly) goes by way. to. fast.