A long overdue update!

Before my update, here are some pictures of Aidan at a music store, listening to a sweet Norwegian children´s music CD that we ultimately bought after listening to many others. He loves music, and sings all the time.






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I want to write as much as I can remember from the past several months! Sometimes I wish there was a constant video recording him, so I wouldn't miss anything at all! I want to remember everything always, as this age is such a precious one and he is so delightful (well, most of the time :)

Here are some snippets:

"I like lady babies best!" (we were talking about a baby boy who lives upstairs, and he came out with that while we were talking about visiting him).

"Mommy, those earrings are very pretty!"

"New York has lot people, and lot noise!"

"I want to be friends with the mouse" (don't ask, we had a mouse in his room, brought in by our cat and curiously enough, not killed. The mouse put on a show for us, and was not very afraid of us at all! Mousie got humanely trapped in a Cheerios box and taken to the forest.)

"I love Ricky, he's so cute." (Aidan loves our kitty :)

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There are lots more of course, but I can't think of more cute quotes right now. They just keep coming all day, and I love it! Aidan's a great kid, sweet and sensitive, and very interesting to be around. He is readjusting to his kindergarten, after spending 3 weeks in NYC with mommy and daddy and having a great time. We've figured out that between some language difficulties (we speak English at home and he speaks some Norwegian, but not as fluently as the other kids), and feeling intimidated by being around so many kids all day when there are no others at home, that it is overwhelming for him and will take some time for him to feel very comfortable there. He has a little friend who he adores, her name is Emma, and he sings her name all the time at home. It is so cute! He's building confidence, and it seems like a positive experience. Today the kindergarten is on a field trip to a local farm, and he has his veggie franks along for their hot dog grilling picnic there. I like their activities, relaxed yet fun, and I feel positive about the kindergarten. It is so much better than the rigid Montessori place we had him in before!

Pics!

An update on Aidan

We took Aidan out of kindergarten because we were unhappy with the place, and so was Aidan. It was too rigid, and there was not enough play time. Kids were expected to speak extra softly and never run indoors, and many toys were off-limits even though they were within reach of the kids (they need to be "trained" in how to use them first). So after 2 miserable months, we took Aidan out. It feels right!

Today's conversation:
Me: "Mommy loves you soo much (makes wide circle movement with hands) and even more."

Aidan: "Like this?" (makes same motion).

Me: "Yes! and even more!"

Aidan: "Where can we see the more? Can't see it, too big!"


Soooo cute!!

The journey

I thought I knew myself so well before I became a parent, but Aidan has uncovered a part of me I didn't know existed. I wanted to be perfect, or at least a really great mom, but I can't hide the flaws that cause feelings of mommy-inferiority because Aidan sees them. I'm not perfect, and I make mistakes I wish I didn't make even though they are within the sphere of "normal" (like not being consistent enough, and getting angry too fast), and it is hard to see them so often, and so clearly, in the eyes of the little boy I want to be a hero to.
The nice thing is that even though he sees the flaws, he wants to be with me, all the time, and that is sooo sweet!
So it's not all bad. I get a chance to grow as a person, he's okay with who I am, and I hope I'm good enough in the meantime--while I work at being perfect :)
It is truly humbling, and an amazing gift, to be a parent!

Mikkel Rev dreams

Early this morning, 5am to be exact, Aidan loudly sleep-said, in a sing-song voice, "Africa..." It was to the tune of a Norwegian song called "Mikkel Rev," and Aidan is completely besotted with the song. he sings or hums it several times a day, and even sings it with made-up words, just for fun.
It was so loud and clear, and it cracked John and I, who were sleeping right beside him, up!

Barnehage pics-with his fave teacher, and more

Barnehage (kindergarten)

There is a shortage of barnehages here in Norway, and especially in Oslo. We put Aidan on a waiting list for a Montessori one back in 2007, and were thrilled when we got a space--as we were looking for a place to buy and had kind of settled on one area way across town from the barnehage we got a space in. We then decided to buy a place in Tonsenhagen, near the Montessori school, to be close to it and because we liked the area.
Well, as much as we like the place, Aidan hates going. Yep, cries broken-heartedly every morning. It's been almost two months now, and he still can't get used to the idea of going there every day, even though he seems to like certain things, or at least, he tolerates them. He's very mommy fixated these days, especially with our recent move, and it seems that it's the separation that is the hardest part, as the teachers report that he does well once we leave. He cries about circle time, how he doesn't like it, even before we leave the house. Basically, the whole thing overwhelms him while he's growing from it at the same time, socially, with the other kids at least. We keep his days short. While many other kids are there from 7:55-4:15, we drop him off at 9:30 and pick him up at 1.30. We also keep him out one day a week, so that we can bond, especially because I work many weekends and eves. so don't get enough time with him.
I'm not sure how it will play out, and if Aidan will grow to like the place. It seems really neat, and is totally Montessori. There is lots of structure, yet lots of room for learning at their own paces. I wonder sometimes though about so much structure and routine for someone so young. Aidan's a bit of a free spirit, so it's perhaps both good and difficult for him.
This morning, Saturday, he asked several times "no barnehage today??" delighting at our "no."
I comfort myself with the fact that we keep his time there limited, although to him it probably feels an eternity as he waits for us--and he does wait, kind of go through it, waiting to be picked up again.
But there is some lightness here. His teacher reported on Thursday that he and a little girl have been holding hands, that both of them have initiated this with one another. So maybe love will save the (barnehage) day!