cold + teething = misery

Poor Caitlin. She's been feeling awful these past few days. She's had her share of colds since Ben started school, but this latest coincides with the cutting of all her canines (all four at once, but hopefully means she'll get a break before her two year molars come in).

Canines were a challenge for Ben and they are brutal for poor Caitlin. She didn't eat much for a few days, but bounced back a bit yesterday, and she's been sleeping a lot. The poor thing is so cranky and clingy when she's awake -- so not her usual, easy-going, happy self.

It's so hard when your wee ones are feeling lousy and there's nothing much you can do but wait it out.

Caitlin's new skills

Caitlin is beginning to sort shapes, and she's pretty darn good at it too. She has a little dessert plate shape sorter that she loves to play with.

She's also beginning to say some words. She's been saying 'uh-oh' for some time now, mostly mimicking, but recently she's started saying it in context, like when she drops (read: throws) food on the floor. And yesterday we could have sworn she said 'bye-bye' while waving good-by to Granny and Grandad.

Caitlin also responds to simple requests, e.g., where are your toes?, find your milk, etc. Of course, being a girl she will only entertain you when SHE feels like it. :)

Little update on Ben and kindergarten

Let me start by saying how much Ben's learned since starting school. His printing and drawing has come a long way; what were once random scribbles (at the beginning of the year) are now legible letters and images. There's nothing more enjoyable to see in his school folder (which comes home at the end of each school day) than pictures Ben's drawn all on his own.

From a social standpoint I think it's been a bit tough on him being the youngest. He's incredibly social and engaging when he's playing in a small group outside of school, but at school he's not interacting a whole lot with the other kids, even during free-play time. It's a departure from preschool where he made friends and played easily with the other kids. I think part of the problem (for Ben) in kindergarten is that there is a 'three kids to a bin' rule, presumably to cut down on squabbles over toys, and Ben isn't forward enough to get himself into a group early on and ends up either playing alone or spaces out a bit, off in his own imaginary world.

I think next year will be a bit easier for Ben since he'll be in senior-kindergarten and still in a JK/SK blended class, so there will be children younger than him. And he'll have had the experience of JK behind him.