Spotty recall

Memories from this week:

*Eden eats her weight in meatballs, potatoes au gratin and watermelon this week, after a spell of picky eating.  Meatballs on 2nd day were thoroughly rejected, however.  They were so thoroughly rejected that after attempting to feed her bites from my hand, she subsequently refused all food dispensed from my hand.  Then, I let her eat tiny bites of a marshmallow out of my hand (the first bite of which I had to force into her pursed lips).  Now, she will eat anything out of my hand.  (Tricksy, I am.)

*Asher visited a preschool program with myself and the siblings--just to observe--before sending him to start 2 mornings per week on Tuesday.  He stated, "I don't want to," repeatedly on the drive over.  When the kids in his future class began filing out of the gym where we waited to join them, he grabbed someone's hand and joined the line.  A teacher asked his name and he yelled, "ASHER!"  then paused, then added, "Elliott Swint is my uh-ver names."  And proceeded to act like he'd been going there for 5 years already.  I think he'll do OK.

*Owen has acquired a girlfriend at school, since about day 2...they sit next to each other at school and on the bus and at recess.  We have weekly playdates with her family, who own a house up the street and have 3 kids about the same ages as ours.  Score!  Owen absolutely loves spending time with her.  I'm not sure of the nature of her attachment.  I think 5 year old girls may be advanced in this day and age, and actually be preparing for marriage before kindergarten.  His kindergarten teacher had told me at conference time that they were joined at the hip, and she would be shuffling tables mid-semester just to make sure everyone made friends with lots of peers.  Sabrina did not approve!  Apparently when Owen was moved she cried for 1.5 hours, and only stopped under threat of having to go to the nurse.  I asked Owen if he was sad (I expected he might be as well since he doesn't love change) and he said, "No, not very much really.  I don't know why she was crying so much."  Apparently 5 year olds hail from Mars and Venus as well.

*Eden is picking up her crawling speed.  She is not so much pulling up...yet.  She is now sleeping all night, but waking up an hour earlier.  I'm not sure if waking up in the middle of the night or waking up an hour early is more taxing...the jury is out for me.  Her little system does not seem to handle waking early quite as well...she's been a crank at every waking lately.  Also separation anxiety has really kicked in and she is giving me what for every time I set her down.  A challenging season...the boys are invaluable at entertaining and distracting, but that only lasts so long til she realizes I am engaged or gone and the wailing begins afresh.

*Asher moved to a twin-sized bed this week (from a toddler bed) and I can hardly believe that he's there.  He was nervous for a couple of nights.  Boy is this a different kid than Owen...really internalizes emotions and doesn't want parental intervention (when he sometimes needs some help!).  He is struggling a bit lately because he just wants to be like Owen, do what Owen does, be as fast, as able, and not be left home at school time.  He gets a bit grumpy about being 3.  So we try to do special things together while Owen's gone--his favorite is baking cookies.  Also working on bike riding, and that's going pretty well.

*Owen LOVED The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but has not taken to Prince Caspian quite as well.  Hellen Keller was a hit.  Owen is a very motivated kid.  He has taught himself to do a perfect cartwheel, and can now gingerly move into a headstand and stay there for almost a minute.  He just keeps at things til he gets it!  He also loves to go outside, unlike Asher, who could do without the outdoors (at least until he gets out and realizes he does indeed have fun there).  It snowed a few inches this week and Owen leaned in the front door:  "Maaaa-aaawm!  I need two pepperonis and a carrot, please!"  Of course, what else does one need pepperoni and carrot for than for snowman eyes and nose!

So many funny anecdotes, so little memory.  I'll try harder.  My parenting technique of the week is that instead of scolding for bullying behavior (Owen toward Asher, almost always), which has gotten me absolutely no improvement in the problem, we are adding in practicing positive behavior in times of non-conflict.  That translates to, when I say the magic word, "Toodlebug!" (we all crafted this word together), the boys have to drop what they are doing, and either say something nice or do something nice to the other person.  If they don't feel like it, they can smile, or shake hands.  This doesn't work in the heat of a conflict, I have found, so I am dropping toodlebugs only when things are going pretty well, in order to build up the reservoir of goodwill between them.  It seems to be going well!  They laugh a lot and have thought of some really nice compliments for each other.  I feel like I should write a book before the novelty wears off next week and my idea doesn't seem as stellar :)  (Then again, it probably wasn't my idea.  I read so many tips, I probably morphed them into something and just thought it was my idea!)

Off to bed.