Little Saints Christmas Program

All Saints Little Saints Christmas Program 2012 and Sofia dressed as an Angel! She was excited to participate in a program where she has only sat in the steps like Raquel this year and sing with the rest of the children.

With her classmates!

I was surprised Raquel kept her headband in place!

After the show, all the parents got up close to the stage and clicked away!

Andrew, my nephew, was the Cow moons ago! 

My beautiful Angel!

 

All Saints Little Saints School 2011

We had visitation day yesterday for the children to get acquainted with their classmates and teachers. Sofia loved it and we literally had to dragged her out of the classroom and church and back to the car because she screamed "I don't want to go home! I want to stay in school!" I said, "Good! I hope when you are 15 that's still the case!" Raquel, didn't want to be in school and she cried my name over and over until John came over and told her everything was going to be ok.

I told her the same thing but whatever, daddy's have their thing. I know Raquel will cry tomorrow (Thursday) first day of Mother's Day Out school but we have to get her out of the house sooner or later...

I'm happy to see different ethnicity's in Sofia's class this year! The girl sitting beside Sofia is from Nigeria! I'll post more pictures of their first day of Mother's Day Out School.

Little Saints Christmas Program

Sofia's school's Christmas program was today! Sofia and her class sat at the steps and sang songs! Sofia, unfortunately, was not in the greatest mood today.

This video is long but Sofia is sitting bottom step, center right. She's the one wearing the pink shirt! I want a real video camera for Christmas!! I can't zoom with this picture camera!

Peach Class 2010

Sofia starts her second year at Little Saints, Mother's Day Out Program. This year, she's with the 2 year old Peach Class, with Ms. Amy and Ms. Victoria.

Again, my heart ached leaving her behind, unfortunately, she didn't share the same heartache that I was experiencing, she was way too happy to be in school.

Here's Sofia with Ms. Amy. This is the day we visited the classroom for an hour. Ms. Victoria speaks Spanish and will be teaching Spanish to the Peach class! Ms. Victoria loves that Sofia is already Bilingual in Spanish!

See that smile!

Here's little James. James was in Sofia's Red Class from last year.

Sofia kept smiling all day long because she got to go to school.

Raquel: "So not fair Mommy! I get to be stuck at home every day besides going to Mass. Not fair!"

The day when she got to spend half a day at school. She's got the keys ready!

Here's little James again!

Sofia doesn't even say bye to me. Ms. Amy told me when I picked her up that she was the happiest little girl in that room and she got everyone to laugh with her and talk to her. My social butterfly!

Red Class 2010

Sofia's last day at All Saints Little Saints school was this past Thursday. I was sad. I had already gotten used to all the fun activities and all the English Sofia was learning. She'll pick up English all over again, God willing, in September. But from now on, I have to push Spanish on Sofia. She knows how to count from one to ten in Spanish. This summer, I will start working on Sofia to start recognizing letters and numbers in both languages. It's never too late, never too young!

This picture was taken when she first started. She only gained three pounds by May and grew 2 1/2 inches.



Here's Sofia with her buddy James. He really liked her. John and I are keeping our eyes on him, you never know.

Every January is Western month. My favorite!

The Red Class picture of 2010. Sofia has a habit of not looking straight at the camera.

This was taken last week. Again, she's not looking at the camera but at the floor. But at least she's there.

Little Saints Ornament

When I opened Sofia's school envelope today, I found a bag filled with Christmas stuff for her! Among the things, her teachers gave to her, I found this picture ornament. We love it! I love her teachers, they are so caring and loving. This is something, I will save for Sofia when she grows up so that she may hang on her own Christmas tree one day. BTW: The spot on her cheek is not dirt is glitter that got stuck inside the picture.

Sofia's School

Sofia's first week of school was interesting. I didn't cry anymore. Looking at her so excited when she enters her classroom puts me at ease. However, this past Tuesday she was crying not because I was leaving her but because I wasn't letting her go in her room. Her classroom door opens until 9:30am, we got there 15 minutes early and that was just too much time to wait for her. Once we entered, she was so thrilled that I had to chase her to give her my goodbye kiss and hug.

What's up with that!? I have noticed about three kids having a lot of detachment issues. Poor kids. The moms are like, "I hope this gets better." I guess, I'm glad Sofia likes her classroom or else I'll be devastated right now but at the same time, I wish she would at least miss me just a little tad. But John and I are happy that she's gotten very comfortable with the school surroundings. In fact, she loves it.

When I picked her up on Tuesday, her first full day at school, her teacher told me she was the only kid that did not cry during nap time. I thought, how could she! She was busy sucking on her thumb! Yesterday, at pick up time, I noticed half of the kids were crying at the door trying to get to their moms, where was Sofia? Still napping! She was the only one! I asked Mrs. Carol, "where's Sofia?" she pointed out to the back of the room and with a laugh she said, still sleeping! Mrs. Carol, stated Sofia has no problems sleeping along crying kids around her and she's about the only one who still has not cried and actually sleeps!

Mrs. Carol had to go and get her up. I noticed Sofia was upset about been woken up. But after her first full week at school my feeling about her attending Little Saints is happy.

Tears and more Tears

Today was a very tough day. Emotional tough day. Today was Sofia's half day at Little Saints and also the day my Auntie went back home to El Salvador.

First, Sofia's half day at school. I got up early. We ate breakfast. I dressed her up with her new sneakers and headed to her school. I was still a little uncomfortable until her Teacher Mrs. Carol open the door to the room and as I walked in, I lost it. I started crying, I couldn't stop my tears. At this point, I didn't care who was looking at me. I cleaned Sofia's hands. I put her down, she started playing, kissed her goodbye and I left. There was this Boohoo/Yahoo Party at the Fellowship Hall but all I wanted was to be alone. I cried and cried in my car and as I left the school, I felt a sense of abandonment, like I had abandoned my child. It was horrible.

This is the only picture of Sofia that I could take this morning.
Second, my Auntie has been watching Sofia for about three months since my mom left to take a break and today was the day of her departure. So, I came back home and I cried so more when I told her about leaving Sofia at school. Then John came to get her to take care to the airport. I cried again when we said our goodbyes. So, I practically cried all morning.

We took these pictures yesterday evening out in the yard. Below are Sofia's bodyguards...oops! I mean cousins, Andrew and Sammy.
Andrew and Sofia.
When I went back to get Sofia, I was feeling somewhat better. I asked Mrs. Carol how Sofia did and she said, "Sofia didn't even blink when you left." I said, "is that right?" I noticed kids crying when they saw their mommies at the door. Sofia had to literally be taken away from the toy section to where I was waiting for her. She looked upset for being taken away from the toys, but when she saw me, she was like, "oh, hey mom, there you are!"

I noticed her hands were blue, so I'm thinking markers and her blouse had been colored blue as well. Thankfully, I was able to take away the stain of the marker in her blouse. Her clothes are not expensive but they sure cost money.

Here's Sofia's first abstract artwork. So, I told John how it went for me and how it went for Sofia and he laughed. Not at me but at the way Sofia handled herself in the classroom. John said, "yep, she's like me, independent!" John said he didn't missed his mom on his first day of school. I don't remember at all.

At any rate, I just pray that this gets easier. -Sandra.

A Visit to Little Saints School

So, today was Sofia's day to visit her school for an entire hour and get to know her room and classmates. I dressed her up pretty cute. This dress was from Judy! Thanks Judy! Everyone loved the dress.

Valentina is one of Sofia's classmates and they clicked pretty fast. As you see here, Sofia is extending a friendly hand with a toy as a sign of friendship. Or so I think.


Valentina and Sofia played together pretty well. Valentina is trilingual, in Italian, Spanish and English. Sofia is Bilingual in Spanish and English. They are about two weeks apart, they were both born in February of '08.


As the hour progressed, both girls enjoyed playing with each other. But as the hour progressed my anxiety came back and I was not sure anymore about leaving her on Thursday for half a day. All the kids were very well behaved but one. He threw tantrums when a kid took away a toy he was playing with and when the mom had enough, she said "I just don't know what to do about his tantrums." Why are some parents afraid of discipline?

But anyways, Thursday will be a tough day. More on this later.

Here's a video of Sofia on the phone. Yes, she found a toy phone and that was pretty much the end of her visit, she was hooked!

Meet the Teacher Night at Little Saints

John and I were both excited about attending our very first meet the teacher night at Little Saints School. John is extremely excited about all the things Sofia will do two days out of the week. I was excited up until the teacher said their nap time will be at 1pm. I’m like, “but her nap isn’t until 3:30pm!”

I am excited that she will go outside and play because right now she doesn’t, unless we cover her up in mosquito repellent. But I do feel very anxious. Some days, I feel that she’s not ready to go. Other days, I feel glad she will be able to do things she hasn’t had an opportunity to do just yet like being around kids her own age (all her cousins are so much older than her). Last night, I felt overwhelmed by mixed emotions and John couldn't have felt better about the program. What that heck is going on with me!? I’m sure this is normal. I’m sure this is what every first time mom goes through.

I woke up at 3am this morning questioning myself about this decision and couldn’t get back to sleep. I’m already crying at the thought of leaving her there with strangers! UGH!!! John is very supportive but at the same time he understands that mommies just feel different about these situations. He says “I’ll get over it” and that’s exactly what he told me the day I got back to work and left Sofia behind at home with my mom. I still feel pain leaving her every morning. This process sucks. Who knew becoming a mommy hurt so much and to think this is only the beginning. –Sandra.

Little Saints Welcome New Families Playdate!

This weekend, we went to Sofia's school welcome playdate for the new families. I have to say that I was hesitant but open about it. It is so strange that many moons ago, I used to go to my nephews events at this same school. Never in a hundred years did I ever think I was going to be there with my daughter. God is great!

Here's Sofia with Auntie Vanessa!

Vanessa found this little corner where there was still some shade where Sofia could play with the sand.


The lady in red is Sofia's teacher. Her name is Teresa and she's from Poland. John liked her alot. I'm going to reserve my opinion until I see more of her throughout the year.


Group Picture! We need more of these! And yes, right behind Sofia sits my very big belly!

After the Little Saints event, we went to L&L's for some good Hawaiin food. Hence the word Mahalo in the back.