Career Options for Addison

Lately, Addison has been experimenting with career options. Her teachers taught a unit on "community helpers" and Addison has wanted to be everything from a police officer to a fire fighter to a doctor. The last two nights, though, she's leaned toward something new: hairstylist.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some samples of her work (with a little help from Daddy):





I'm pretty sure Robert should discontinue his work as an engineer (the environment can wait!) and he should immediately begin studying to become a stylist. Clearly, based on the beautiful work he did on my hair.





I wanted in the worst way to return the favor to Robert by giving him a stunning hairdo, but his short hair made it difficult. This is the best Addison and I could muster. There are two little clips on the left side of his head, and one big clip in the front.

The most exciting part for me about all this hair-play is that Addison now LOVES to wear bows and will even voluntarily brush her hair! My days of fighting over making her hair look presentable are over! Let's hope it's for the long term! Wish me luck!


And now for your further entertainment is a video of Addison reading some words. Enjoy!

busy, busy

Betty & Phill finally closed on their new house on Wednesday! We went over for family dinner. It's been a loooooooooong time coming - almost 3 years since they started looking for a house! We can't wait to get them all moved in to their new place. It will probably take a month, so wish us luck!

Tomorrow is a really big day for us: Addison's first haircut! Miss Natalie at Athena Salon & Spa gets to do the honors. Robert & I love Natalie and we think Addison will too. Adds came to watch me get my hair cut a few weeks back and seems excited about the idea now. She's been bribed with getting TWO lollipops after her haircut is done. She'll also get another, super-secret prize if she's cooperative. (We'll take her back to the pumpkin patch for another pony ride!). Hopefully she'll comply & end up with nicely-trimmed hair.

In other news, Addison is doing great with "Your Baby Can Read". She is consistently reading all but three of the words in the starter DVD and we are very pleased with her progress. She loves watching the DVD and reading the book and playing with the flash cards. Her favorite part is quizzing Robert or me. "OK Mommy, this is a tricky one! It's ELEPHANT!". I love it!

I will end with a funny story. Addison and I got Halloween costumes for Andrew & Evelyn's Halloween Party. Addison was concerened because Robert did not purchase one. Since we returned from the store, Addison has decided that Robert MUST have a costume....and the costume she's chosen for him is a giant banana. I think it's hilarious and adorable at the same time. Robert is not biting, though, and is hoping that ignoring her requests will make it go away...we'll see on Halloween which one of them wins this argument!

sick, new skills, interns

Addison is sick with pneumonia and the flu (type A). After one day on antibiotics, she's significantly improved. No fever to speak of in the last 24 hours, no more drippy nose, minimal coughing. Antibiotics are wonderful! Regardless, she has to stay out of school until next Monday.

I've noticed a few things about Addison lately that I find amusing:
1. She's obsessed with colors. For instance, when watching her "Your Baby Can Read" video or doing her flashcards, she'll read the word and follow up with "But, Mommy, cats aren't green!" (because the word is written on a green background. Similarly, with her game "Cariboo" - there are colored balls that are concealed beneath squares that are labeled with different colors, words, shapes, and numbers - Addison can't stand it when a ball does not match the card that it was hidden under. "No! That's not YELLOW! It's GREEN!" and she proceeds to move the ball to a matching color box.
2. She's obsessed with sequence of events. Everyday she wants to know, "Mommy, what are we going to do first? And then? What's next?" She will repeat the order back to us, and ask again, just to be sure nothing is changing. I think it's great because she's not surprised by events now...she knows what to expect and I think it's soothing to her. She feels a part of the decision-making process.
3. She wants to be everyone's big helper. All the time - "Can I help? I want to help! LET ME HELP!" It's great because she really can help with lots of things. It never hurts to spread around the workload!

In Nicole News, I'm getting an intern in the spring. At first, I was not excited about the prospect, but I am warming to it now. I met the girl today - she spent 1/2 day in class with me - and she seems highly motivated, interested to learn, and aware of students' diverse needs. She was complimentary of several things she saw me do in class. I was impressed she picked up on them so quickly - never saying "no" to a student, but rather stating it in a less judgemental way, "good thought, but let's try that again"; patience; ability to converse with each student personally during class; understanding that each student is not going to spend the entire 50 minutes on task, quiet, at their seats. Based purely on her comments today, I think she has a similar teaching philosophy. I am excited about the opportunity to help her build skills that she will use in her own career. I just hope I'm a good example - I saw lots of non-examples of good teaching as a student teacher and intern. I only hope I have learned from those mistakes and that I can be a better leader for my intern. Wish me luck in January!

Robert is officialy the best daddy ever. He stayed home with our sick little girl today and will stay home with her again on Wednesday. He is so generous and wonderful. Addison is one lucky daughter and I am one lucky wife! We love our Daddy!

I am looking forward to a day off with Addison tomorrow. It's the first sick day we've had together in a long, long time. Hope we can keep each other entertained!