Tot School – September 2011

Amelie Tot School - Sept 2011
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So the big question about school I get lately is some variation of, “What do you do with Amelie? How does Amelie do while you do school with Nadia?”

The first real issue I ran into is that Amelie does not know how to play alone. Not even for a few minutes and in fact she reacts like it’s a punishment to play alone while Nadia is doing school at the table. Even if she is playing with toys at my feet she still gets upset. I attribute that to her various issues that come from being in an orphanage for the first 20 months of her life. She would have been constantly surrounded by other children and ultimately she loves to be the center of attention at all times. Which just isn’t possible or good for her.

When it’s feasible I have her on my lap and she will listen, but for a lot of Nadia’s more advanced stuff I need to have my hands free. So we have purchased and been given a variety of toys for her to use with her hands that will also help her learn. I found early on that she is a lot more cooperative in her chair and I am sure that is because she is on the same level as us. So here is a little peek at what Amelie has been up to.

Amelie tot school - 01

These links are hard for her to get apart since her hands are still pretty weak, but she does like to dump the container out and refill it. She also likes if Nadia or I will hook them together like one big necklace.

Amelie tot school - 01

Playdough is always fun.

Amelie tot school - 01

Animal magnets on a dry erase board. She can identify 18 of the 20 animals now.

Fun Family Day

August 20, 2011
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My friend Michelle told us about the Marvel Comics event at Williams Sonoma last month so we packed up and headed over there. For a $5 donation your child could decorate 2 marvel comic themed sugar cookies and they would get a special edition comic book. Nadia chose Spider Man and Iron Man.

August 20, 2011

August 20, 2011

August 20, 2011

We also picked up the Star Wars pancake molds that we used for Star Wars school. Later in the day we headed out to pick up some clothes and diapers during the Texas tax free weekend. PS. The cookies were yummy!

Amelie hand update

So I have received several requests to do a “before” and “now” post showing Amelie’s hands. She was barely home 6 weeks before her surgery so it’s hard to remember what her left hand looked like before.

Hand Update 9.8.2011
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Here is how it looked from birth. All 4 fingers on her left hand fused together sort of like a mitten. Little crevices for food to get stuck in and so on. From the day we met her we were amazed at the great use she had of it.

Hand Update 9.8.2011

Here she is playing with stickers a few days ago.

Hand Update 9.8.2011

Hand Update 9.8.2011

Look at the detail work here – the pinkie on her right hand is astoundingly strong.

Hand Update 9.8.2011

“See! See! See!”

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I took this last month. She has the pieces of a nesting sock monkey on her fingers. (thanks Tricia!) I think this is one of the best shots of her left hand and how far she can separate her fingers now. Her hands get stronger every day and she continues to amaze us. In truth when we are going about our daily life I hardly ever think of her hands. It takes seeing her drop something due to her fingers being short/not strong enough OR some stranger staring/commenting about her to make me think about it.

Pirates!

August 1, 2011
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We started of August with Elliot’s Pirate Birthday party and we had so much fun! My friend Tricia did an awesome job setting up this party for Elliott’s 4th birthday. Nadia also wanted to go in costume which I thought was cute.

August 1, 2011 August 1, 2011

August 1, 2011

Here are some of the decorations and food. Look at the cake Tricia’s mom made! It’s amazing! Nadia talked about this cake for days.

August 1, 2011

Nadia walking the plank and Amelie saying, “wa wa! wa wa! wa wa!” I had to keep on eye on her because I think she would have jumped right in if given the chance.

August 1, 2011

Nadia with a treasure map.

August 1, 2011

Nadia with Elliott while he opens the present from her.

August 1, 2011

Elliott before blowing out the candles.

August 1, 2011

And my favorite photo of the day (taken by Tricia). AAARRRRRRRRRR!!!!