Hana Is Finally 2!!

Hana had a packed, fun-filled birthday week. It inadvertently began last weekend, at our friend Andrew's birthday at the Tilden Park merry-go-round. All week, Hana has been saying it was her birthday party. Then, we spent 3 days in Tahoe with Grandma Sharon and Papa Don, and finished off the mini-vacation with a chocolate birthday cupcake. The presents have been coming all week - a tool box from the Coan grandparents, some cool games from the Geckeler grandparents, and a wonderful book from her friend Hudson on the east coast.

Today was her official birthday party (a few pics of the day above). The day began with soccer class, followed by the party with several toddlers and adults and lots of grabbing and shouting of "mine!" Then a much needed nap (she fell asleep in the car while holding her balloon), followed by a swim in the pool. She had such a great day! She even blew out the candles on her cake all by herself.

One of the most exciting things that happened this weekend was that Hana's friend Izzy got a new little sister named Millie, on Hana's birthday!!! So now Hana has a birthday buddy.

Happy fathers' day to Pete and all the dads out there!

Preschool?

We went on our first preschool visit today to a local Montessori. We really liked it! There was music in the classrooms, it was very spacious, most of the kids seemed engaged and enjoying themselves. They have Spanish lessons once a week, and they do phonics and math as soon as the kids seem ready. The classrooms are mixed age from 2-5, and a lot of the learning is peer-based with the older kids teaching the younger kids how to do things. Unfortunately, sending a child to a full time Montessori program in the Bay Area costs about the same as a Harvard education. We have several other schools to look at before we make any decisions, so we'll see.

Hana is also going to soccer class this summer. The first class was last Sunday and she did fabulously! She listened to the coach, followed all the instructions, actively participated in all the games, and pretty much put the other kids to shame. If I can get her on video, I'll post it here.

We are still struggling with various forms of physical assault from time to time - biting, scratching, grabbing, and my favorite - grabbing fistfuls of my hair and refusing to let go. It seems to happen when she is already wound up, and she is usually wound up in the early evening. Time outs don't work anymore. The nanny says she now just gives her a tight hug that physically prevents her from biting and explains "no biting." Tonight I was able to catch her right before she did it and talk her down, and then she calmed down and was very sweet the rest of the evening. Trial and error, trial and error. Fortunately, this is something she mostly does to me, sometimes to Pete, sometimes to other people she knows well, but not to strangers or other kids she doesn't know well. In other words, she's not indiscriminately aggressive. I think there is something about "feeling safe" to act out with people she knows. She somehow instinctively gets that we are not going to leave her.