Quickie Post

All the Curran's are sick these days. I brought it home from work, then it moved to Bill and Jackson. Poor Jackson is so snotty and he just can't figure out how to blow his nose! If he doesn't feel better tomorrow Bill is going to take him to the doctor. We had to cancel Speech Therapy today, and tomorrow we are canceling his school as well. Bill has a second job interview on Thursday at 10am, and I have a mandatory appointment out of town at 9am on that day, so hopefully Jackson will feel better and can go to school that day....otherwise we may be in trouble.

We have noticed a HUGE increase in his words since he went to school last week. How on earth can 2 partial days of school increase his vocab by so much?? He is just jibber jabbering ALL the time now. Its awesome. Little things that we have been saying forever, or even things we have only said one time - just come right out of his mouth! Of course, they aren't perfect but it's a great start (and super cute). His favorite word right now is "no". Everything is "no mama" or "no daddy". We are waiting for the "why" word to start - anyone wanna guess?

My boys...

Today was Jackson's second day of school! As you can see, he was excited to go. But when Bill dropped him off, it was a different story. A meltdown would be an understatement, and when Bill called me I could hear his voice crack as he was explaining Jacks little hands reaching out for him. Breaks my heart for both my boys. I called a couple hours later and the Teacher said he was doing very well and was sitting there working on shapes with his peers. It will all work out, just a little tough right now.

Bill started applying for jobs and already had an interview today. He was there from 8:30am - 12:30pm (4 hour interview!). It went well and he has a second round interview at the same company next week. If it worked out, he would start full time the first of March. Jack's school doesn't have a full time opening available right now, but we are 1st on the wait list. I hope it all works out, but if it doesn't, then we will figure out something. During April and May I will be working up anywhere from 12-18 hr days, so if he doesn't get the job it may be a blessing in disguise.

Oh, we asked Jack all about his day and what he worked on. He has computer lab, and when we asked about how computer lab was, he responded "broke" (uh oh!). When we asked about what the Teacher said at lunch, he said "sit down". Also, they had beach themed photos taken, when we asked him how that went, he said "I throw fish". That pretty much sums up my little guy!

First Day Of School

Another big "first" for Jack today as he had his first day of school. He will be going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for awhile until a full time spot opens up for him. As you can see, he enjoyed the day. He had no problems when I dropped him off, though we didn't really expect any. We figure if there is kicking and screaming when we leave him there it will happen on Thursday as today he didn't know what was going on. Thursday he will probably know I am leaving when I drop him off.

Michelle and I both went to pick him up, and we walked in during lunch time. He looked like a good ole little boy sitting there eating his lunch at a table with a couple of other kids. We later asked him what the boys name was that he was eating by and he said "Milk". He then told us that the little girls name was "Duck". Either there are some weird kid names at his school or he threw out a couple of words that were on his mind at the time we asked him.

His teacher said that he did really well for his first day. He got upset at something during "computer time" and the teacher walked him around in the hall to calm him down. He did really well at story time and listened to the stories that were read.

All in all, Jack's teachers, Mommy and Daddy, and most importantly Jack seemed happy with how things went today. We all survived Jack's first day of school!

Papa, Nana and Hockey!

Nana and Papa came down this past weekend to take Jack to a hockey game. Dad and I have been going to hockey games since I was just a little older than Jack is now, so it was fun for the three of us to finally get to a game together. I know Jack, Michelle and I had a great time at the game and we think Nana and Papa probably did too.

Jack is such a busy body that he never stays still and on a certain task for more than a couple minutes at a time. Unless of course, he is at a hockey game. He pays attention to hockey like he has understood the game for years. He likes to yell "Meeeeesed" (translation = "missed") when a player shoots the puck and misses the net. He doesn't like it when the periods end and the players skate off the ice, but he then he turns his attention to the Zamboni and all is well again. Yesterday I dug out an old toy Zamboni that I had a long time ago, and he hasn't let it out of his sight since.

I think we may have the next Alex Ovechkin on our hands, or possibly the next great Zamboni driver. Either way, it's so fun to watch his interest in hockey grow since that was what my Dad and I have bonded over since I was a kid.

Tomorrow school starts. Tears will flow, legs will be held onto for dear life, and lives will be changed forever. And I'm just talking about Michelle and I! We'll update on his first day soon.

School for Androosha

We have been "shopping" and interviewing schools for several months now. We were wanting a structured environment with a low teacher/student ratio that was also academic based. Finally, we choose a private school about 15 minutes away from our house. We paid the waiting fee, but did not expect him to actually get in until June. I officially got 'the call' yesterday that a part time opening came available and we JUMPED on it! WooHoo!!! I can't believe that Jack is going to finally start school!

He has been home from October 2009 to February 2011, so around 15 months. We are both secure that he has bonded to us as his parents and feel comfortable that we are doing the right thing by putting him in school. He will have computers, Spanish, Art, Dance and a few other subjects on a regular basis. I like the Director a lot as well.

The plan is, he goes part time on Tuesday and Thursdays until a full time spot becomes available. If one doesn't become available, then he can start full time in June. However, for the first few days of the part time program, we will just take him from 9am - 1pm so he can get acclimated to his surroundings and also understand that we will be back to get him.

Last week marked an important date for us. He has officially been with us now & been a part of the Curran family as long he was in the Russian Orphanage. That fact makes me smile :)

Admirals Hockey Game

Bill took Jack and I to our first Admirals Hockey game a couple weeks ago. Jack LOVED it! Bill had told him a week before we actually went, and he asked ALL day EVERY day until we finally made it to the game. To say that he had the attention span of a 40 year old is an understatement. He focused the entire time.

We started to prompt him about 30 minutes before we left. When we actually got up to leave the tears started flowing. We learned 3 things....1) Surprise him that we are going the actual day we are going; 2) There is no easy way to break it to a hockey fan that the game is over; 3) Jack may be the biggest 2 year old hockey fan on the earth.

Now if we can just get Papa to come down for a game!!!

Christmas at Nana and Papa's house

We went to Nana and Papas house over New Years. Jack was able to visit with his BFF cousin Emily and they had a blast. As always, the visit was too short.

Jack loves to clean (yes, you heard me)! I can't wait to show him photos of him cleaning as a 2 year old when he is a teenager. Anyway, his favorite gift was the new vacuum and some other cleaning items that he received. He cleaned Nana and Papas house all weekend. Cousin Emily brought him some bowling balls and pins that are super loud (thanks for that Aunt Carolyn) that he loves as well.

We finally took down the Christmas decorations and are happy to be back in the swing of 'normal' life. Jack is still talking about Santa though :)