Preschool Headache

Navigating through the preschool process here in NYC has been quite the experience for me thus far.  I'm looking at no fewer than 6 different schools for this coming year.  Yes, registration for Pre-K and/or enrichment programs and/or preschool alternatives start in March and I'm finding that some started all the way back in September of last year.  It's completely crazy!

We have so many factors to consider when choosing a school that it's overwhelming:  Private vs. public, how many days a week, full day vs. half day, do their hours fit into our schedule, would I be able to pick him up and drop him off and not have it interfere with when I'd have to pick up and drop off Katie, how close is it to us, would I be able to walk, or have to take a bus, how much does it cost, do I LIKE the school, how many openings do they have, etc.

So each of the schools I'm looking at meet different criteria and some have a hefty registration fee and some you have to pay tuition when you register (yikes) and some have a substantial drop fee if we got accepted and had to cancel for whatever reason, some schools have to evaluate your child first, and some even make you wait until June to tell you if they accepted you child; just to name a few. It's all making my head spin.

Oh and of course I forgot to mention that a few of these school require a scheduled group tour or private tour before they even hand out registration papers, so fitting that into our everyday schedule has been challenging.  But alas, I think we'll find something....I just wish I knew what that something was.  I mean this is just preschool!!!

I'm learning as I go through these tours and hear everyone talk about how great and wonderful their school is that there are really only a few basic things on my list of what I actually want out of a school.  I don't care about which students went on to which elite school on a full scholarship, I don't care how selective they and why they think they are the creme de la creme...I just want a school that has a warm environment, loving and dedicated teachers who make my 4 year old feel special and who is his happy self when I pick him up, that's not too much to ask is it?

My Sunday morning,  preschool navigation project.

Daddy's bracelet

Today Scott stayed home from work to watch Katie while I went to a couple school tours.  When I picked up Mikey from school he ran all the way home with a new bead bracelet he had made and gave it right to Daddy to put on.  Apparently he made it just for Daddy.

Daddy wore it that day while working and Mikey even requests Daddy wear it "on the downtown train, to work on computer in building."

Daddy wearing new bracelet and working.

Bracelet is behind id badge and wallet ready to be taken into work.

Katie 18 month checkup

Today we had Katie's 18 month checkup.  She passed with flying colors and was an okay patient.  She still screams when the doctor takes all her vitals but after that and having some bubbles blown in her face she is back to her happy self. 

She is 23 lbs. 6 oz (10%) and 30 inches long (15%).  Our little peanut. 

• She still eats like a horse.
• She is very opinionated.
• She is the definition of precocious.
• She can really amplify and project her voice.  She is so LOUD!
• She still takes 1 nap a day usually from 12-2pm.
• She no longer lifts up my shirt to lay on my belly, which I'm a little sad about.
• She tries to keep up with Mikey and do everything he does.
• She knows her ABC's and can count to 13 (misses #12).
• She likes to sing nursery rhymes at night time and love to play ring around the rosie.
• Her favorite movie is "Nemo."  She will say "Nemo", "Shark", "Bite me!", "Owww" in sequence over and over again until you put it on.
• She is still teething....can't quite get her last molar to pop thru.
• She loves playing with baby dolls and I often find her sitting in the chair in the bedroom flipping through books.  Her favorite is "Blue Shirt, Green Shirt."  She loves saying "Oops" and finds it hilarious when the turkey puts clothing on wrong places.
• She wants to now walk everywhere, especially when she sees Mikey walking in front of her while she is in the stroller.
• She loves to color and brush her teeth.
• She is a breath holder just like Mikey. She fell recently off Mikey's toddler bed, held her breath between cries (or couldn't catch her breath) and passed out! So scary....but she knows she can only do that to us once and never again.  So both kids used up their "Let's scare the bejesus out of Mommy and Daddy" moment.

She is growing up so fast!  She'll be 2 before we know it.  We're also surprised looking back that we were 5 months pregnant with her when Mikey was 18 months old.  Wow how time flies!  We are enjoying every minute of it.

Her cheese face!

Here she is pretending the dog just bit her. I snapped as she was saying "Owie!"

Her typical happy self.

Loving the puppy.

Now trying to suffocate the dog as she sits on it!

Always gets a lollipop at the Doctors and always picks out pink!

Our little, big girl!

Chelsea Pier

Waking up today we decided that we had to do something!!! So our criteria was as follows:
1- get out of the house
2- do something fun for everyone
3- tire out the kids
4- do something that was inside and warm
5- go somewhere we haven't been before
6- not spend a lot of money

So Chelsea Pier was where we ended up!  It fit all our criteria and the kids loved it.

We ended up playing most of the morning in their indoor playspace.  Everyone there was super nice and they gave us a two for one deal!  There was lots of things to check out and lots of sports to watch.

They had basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and people were even hitting the balls in the batting cages.

The kids had lots of fun and when we finally came home, everyone passed out!  Bonus!

Hope to go back when it's nicer out and explore more of the area surrounding Chelsea Pier.

A cute little play house.

She loved the tunnel....

and the slide.

The slide was really fast!

The ball pit was really fun.  Katie was unsure at first.

Meanwhile Mikey jumped right in.  Can you find him?

Lots to climb over and under.

And jump on!

Getting sleepy.

I think Mikey was finally ready for a break.

Their gym area was awesome! 

We watched indoor soccer for a bit.  The kids were really good!

Couldn't want for anything in this gym!

Standard sized basketball courts.

Of course he had to throw some balls!

Sweet, So Sweet

A few really sweet things that Mikey has done this last week that I really wanted to get down before I forget.  Just one of the many reasons I have this blog.

Let me just set the scene here.  At night we have both kids in our bed, we read a book, sing a handful of songs,say our prayers and then I lay Katie down while Mikey gets a few extra minutes of special Mommy and Daddy time.  So when I go to lay Katie down, everyone says goodnite....

Scenario 1:  I am walking out the door of our bedroom to lay Katie down for the nite and Daddy says "Nite Katie."  Mikey says "Nite Katie Baby." Then Katie gets a hug and kiss from Daddy and he says "Nite Nite Sweetheart" and Mikey says "Nite Sweetheart."


Another nite while laying in bed after we put Katie down....

Scenario 2:  Mikey grabs my face on each side, and as he turns my head toward his he says "Mommy, look at me.  Mike love you." Then gives me sweet kisses.

Love him right back.

Playdates

We have been having quite a few playdates lately.  I feel like I haven't seen really any KPMG friends in the new year yet and we were all so busy around the holiday's that it's been a while.  Now that we are back in NY and finally getting back in the groove we have been enjoying playdates! 

Mikey has a few good friends from school so we have had playdates with his friend Evan and his "girlfriend" Emily.  Apparently the first day back to school, Mikey and Emily were attached at the hip and played together and were hugging each other the entire time at school.  The teachers said they were very sweet together and some kids just naturally gravitate toward each other.  Emily lives on 75th street (so a bit of a hike for them to get to school on 91st) and has a 9 month old sister, Katie, so on Monday's when Mikey is at school Emily's mom, Jan and Katie hang out with Katie and I.  It's really cute watching Katie play with "Baby Katie."  (Confused yet?!)  She touches her hair and says "nice" and will let us know when she is crying.  She likes to give her blankets and say "aww," "cute," and "baby."  She is so gentle. 

We also have had a number of other playdates but have had so much fun or the kids have been running so wild that I didn't or forgot to get pics.

But I do have some pics. below of a quick weekend playdate with Jack and Madison and Jen, so the Dad's could get some weekend work done. 

Mikey loves playing with older boys.  It's so fun to watch them play together and Katie just tries to keep up!

They love building a slide when we go to the playroom!

Maddie teaching Katie how to dip the cracker into the cheese.

They loved the fort!  There is Katie again doing downward dog.  She loves that pose!



Katie sliding down and Mikey running up.  He was going to fast.   Running around the whole time and getting really sweaty. He's all boy.

Love their happy, happy faces.

Sitting still for a few moments to have a snack and some hot cocoa.

 After running around for almost 90 minutes nonstop, we came home and not even 5 minutes of being home this was Mikey.  Scott said to me "Psst.  Check out Mikey."  Mikey heard his name and it looked like he took whatever ounce of strength he had to lift his head before it fell right back down on the couch and he was out cold.


 Poor kid didn't stand a chance. 

Symphony of sounds.

Tonight, rather than go to a Broadway show we wanted to try something a little different....so we got dressed up and went to the New York Philharmonic.  We enjoyed dinner at Cafe Ronda, a little cozy Latin joint that had amazing tapas, and authentic paella.  We split some tapas, had drinks and finished with some hot tea for Scott and some spiced hot cocoa for me.  It was delicious and afterwards we walked about 7 blocks to the Lincoln Center where the Philharmonic performs.

It was a first for both of us going to listen to an orchestra live and it was a unique experience.  They have signs posted telling attendees to minimize noises and coughing, emphasizing that every sound counts and the slightest sound could disrupt the music.  The accoustics inside were probably the best anywhere and so it was true, even the slightest cough echoed throughout.  They even offer free cough drops in the restrooms. We enjoyed a cozy box seat for just the two of us and had lots of leg room...definitely the way to go!

The nite we went the Philharmonic played:
Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture after Shakespeare
Lutoslawski - Chain 2: Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5


Tchaikovsky was by far my favorite of the evening.  I was so mesmerized by the music and don't think I moved in my chair at all.  The music definitely told a love story and after hearing this I think I'm hooked.  Can't wait to go again.

Lutoslawski featured a solo violinist named Jennifer Koh.  You can read all about her here.  She has an impressive resume! She performed in a gorgeous flowing red/magenta gown and was the only one other than the conductor to stand the entire performance.  She also was mesmerizing.  I don't think I took my eyes off of her.  Even from our seats near the back you could tell how passionate she was playing the violin.  I for one can bang on some piano keys but that's about it!  Scott and I both agreed that this particular piece of music was something we probably would hear in a murder mystery movie. 

Shostakovich was my least favorite of the evening but still nice to listen too.  I'm not sure if it was the music, my full belly or the late evening creeping up but I almost fell asleep.  It was also 52 minutes long!  Phew.  I wonder how long it took to compose? Hum.

View from our seats.

Our little box seats.

Starting to fill in.

We look so tired here.  Ready to go home.  Finally had an event to wear my sparkly top to and you can't see it!



The seats along the walls, are strategically placed, I'm sure.