Skye may not be walking yet, but she sure does sound cute when she talks… In fact, she seems very pleased with her abilities and tries pretty hard to put a label on everything she sees. My heart melts whenever I hear her say “baby”.
Luke, Jennifer, Aidan and Skye
Still no walking…
As an update, Skye remains unable to walk without holding onto something. She’s officially the last kid in her Gymboree class to remain on all fours… Doctor assures me she won’t be crawling into preschool so I’m not going to worry. I’m thinking I’ll have to chase her around soon enough!
Oh, she still won’t allow anyone else near her… even Luke at times! My mom and I are really the only people she seems to let hold her. And, it’s my mom as the first choice with me a close second… 
Fortunately, my mom is coming over every Monday now to hang out with Skye so I can get some work done. I think they are both happy with the situation.
As for talking, she is my kid after all… she seems to pride herself on her vocabulary skills. I think she’ll be a lot like Aidan and start rambling sentences off before we know it. That’s the Phillips in her for sure! Her favorite words include “dog”, “door”, “clock”, “baby”, “Aidan” and “mom”.
Now, if we could only get her to eat so we can keep her on the growth chart… she’s currently in the 10th percentile and not gaining, largely because she doesn’t want to eat anything or drink enough milk. Again, the doctor assures me she won’t starve herself so I just continue to offer different kinds of food hoping she’ll catch on sooner or later.
Hunters Green Elementary – Poor Choice?
It is true that I toured private schools and ultimately ended up crossing my fingers when my School Choice lotto results came in. I was so ecstatic that we had been approved for Hunter’s Green Elementary… it is, in fact, a Blue Ribbon School in a nice area. Everything was going to be perfect!
We start out good… great teacher, classroom and overall bright and cheery environment. But, a few weeks later, we get moved to a new class due to the class size amendment. OK, I had emailed the principal, Ms. Tonelli, and pleaded that we not be moved… but, there you have it.
Granted, we are very happy with our new teacher, Ms. Cosentino, but it seems we have had an unfortunate string of events occur that have been handled poorly by the administration. During the winter, the heater at the school had issues and kids were wearing jackets and mittens just to stay warm… it has been an unusually cold winter here! In this situation, the administration sent home a series of notes that explained the issue was being worked on and that it would get warmer soon. I was close to getting an interview with Channel 8 but got dissed when they were unable to make it on time from the Pasco schools that were having the same problems.
Shortly after the heating issue, the classroom floods… and, I mean floods! Ms. Tonelli is in there with rain boots on surveying the damage when I discover the news that Ms. Cosentino will be “co-teaching” in the classroom next door. Walking into that class the next afternoon with over thirty students trying to complete a Valentine’s art project was quite a sight!
Some time passes and they move us back into the room saying that everything was OK’d and ready to go… but, it turns out that mold still existed so we were moved out again a few days later. Now, we’re in a dank and depressing portable on the outskirts of the property. The first day I dropped Aidan off, water was flowing from the ceiling onto the floor and the doors were opened to flush out the mildew-like smell. It’s still cold, so the kids were all bundled up talking about “table surfing.” The last thing Aidan needs to be exposed to with asthma and eczema is mold or mildew!
I end up having a little run-in with the principal in the cafeteria where she calls me out on “cornering her” and “talking with my emotions.” She kind of talks to you like you’re the five year old, so it’s hard not to get really pissed watching her patronize you. I was told the issue would be a priority after the morning show, which resulted in the leaky hole getting fixed. Wow! Other parents had expressed their concerns as well… so, it’s not just me at this point.
I’ve emailed Ms. Tonelli one more time hoping that an additional plea will get us in a new class where we can stay for the remainder of the year… I’m told there are classrooms available but they are being used for some special kind of FCAT thing. Since the funding for the school depends on the FCAT, it’s not hard to see where loyalties lie.
At the end of the day, Aidan doesn’t seem to mind so much. He even told Luke he liked the portable because it was “so small and everything is right there”. .. Nice!
Tomorrow, we’ll be heading over there for the Spring Carnival where we’ll be expected to dish out lots of money… they are very organized in their “fundraising” efforts! I’ll dish it out with a smile, but I admit I’d be a lot happier if I could get Aidan hooked up with an acceptable and stable environment to learn in.
Get Acquainted… With Me
So, I plugged myself into the Pro QC quarterly newsletter this time since our Managing Director failed to get me the information I had requested for a write-up on him. www.proqc.com/newsletter_subpage.php?id=132
Phillips Reunion – 2010
Every few years, the Phillips clan gathers together to catch up on all that’s new. When my grandmother was alive, it seems she insisted that this event take place much more often, but I guess everyone does the best they can with busy schedules and such.
The Phillips clan, as I refer to them, is essentially my father, his four sisters and their respective children and families. With Luke and I both only children, it sometimes seems as if our families are very small, but the Phillips’ reunions quickly remind me that there’s a lot of love to go around and that extended family isn’t very far away!
My Aunt Janice is responsible for gathering everyone together this year, and we all met up in the sunny panhandle of Florida… right where I was born. Now, being the admitted hotel snob that I am, I did insist that we stay somewhere off site from the actual reunion activities. And, following suit, my parents did the same… I think that’s mostly so they could hang out with the grandkids though. Hats off to the Sandestin Hilton for offering such a great rate, coupled with exceptional accommodations. Aidan even had his own little bunk bed cubby and Skye had a cute little crib tucked away in a quiet spot. We had arrived a couple of days early to make it feel like more of a vacation… totally worth it! The sound of the waves crashing outside is something I really do miss! But, I must say that the progress & development that Destin has experienced since I left 20 years ago is kind of a sad sight to see… the “luckiest fishing village” really has lost most of its charm.
While I’m going to put myself out there and admit that the reunion event was a little disorganized, I am going to add that hanging with the aunts and cousins certainly did make up for it. My “little” cousin Randy has gotten so big over the past decade, and I’m ashamed to say that I hadn’t ever met his wife or daughter. They were exactly how I imagined them and certainly something to be proud of. Aidan was particularly excited to meet Randy because of their shared interests in video games and Star Wars… a conversation that I think they both enjoyed! I wish Randy lived a little closer so we didn’t have to rely on Facebook as our primary source of communication. His parents, Aunt VJ and Uncle Randy, are also pretty spectacular.
I do see my Aunt Wanda and cousins Ryan and Erin often… Luke and I both think they’re pretty cool and would undoubtedly find ourselves hanging with them even if they weren’t related. It’s nice to see Aunt Wanda happy with her man George. And, Ryan and Erin remind me so much of myself that I can’t help but love them.
One regret is certainly that I didn’t get to see Beth. My Aunt Pat said the stroke recovery is taking some time and that she was a little too weak to travel… Having lived with them during some of my undergraduate time in Pensacola, I can say they are two of the coolest people around. It makes me sad to think about Beth having to go through something so difficult, but I can’t think of too many other people who are as strong willed as she is. So, I know it’s only a matter of time before she starts kicking butt again. I wish I could have hung out with Aunt Pat a little longer, but the day just went by so quickly… it just doesn’t seem like we were there long enough! I could have talked for a few more days, at least… good times, good times.
So, the reunion pretty much ended with dinner at Fudpuckers, which turned out to be a lively treat (props to Aunt Janice for hooking that up). I was talking so much that I never even got to eat my dinner… although probably for the best since I ordered fried mushrooms and salad. The three beers did hit the spot though, and by the end of the night Aidan had learned a new word… and, it wasn’t “pucker”.
Personally, I’m very proud of how our little family has turned out. It seems we’ve all faced challenges and have come through them like true champs. For that, I know my grandmother would be so proud of us. None of us are perfect, and that’s what makes us all so frickin’ awesome. I can’t wait until we do it again!
Skye’s 1st Birthday
As soon as the holidays ended, Skye’s birthday rolled around on January 9th. Because of that, as well as the weather conditions, we decided to have a more intimate celebration at home with just family. Hopefully, she won’t hold that against me one day when she realizes that Aidan had a big picnic celebration at Lettuce Lake! But, I did do my best to make it festive. We went all out with the decorations and cake, so it did feel like a big party even though it wasn’t.
My parents, oma, Garry and Greta came to celebrate with us. Luke grilled out in the freezing cold, and we made some of Skye’s favorites that included fruit and french fries. Oh, how she loves the french fries! When we got to the cake, Skye just didn’t want to eat it. Of course, she smashed it all up and made a big mess (good photo ops), but I’m not sure that any actually went into her mouth. Such a pity, because it was a pretty darn good cake. A quick bath, change of clothes and a nap quickly ensued.
Although Christmas had just passed, there was no shortage of birthday presents. She scored a new wardrobe and several new toys, including a little rocking horse that she’s terrified of. She won’t even get near the thing, so we had to put it in the closet for now. It’s actually pretty cute, so maybe she’ll come around at some point.
The first question from everyone I see seems to be… “is she walking yet?”. Well, the answer is no. And, to be perfectly honest, I’m not in such a rush for her to do so. You don’t see many preschoolers crawling around, so I’m certain it will happen at some point. So, for now, I’m enjoying being able to catch her very easily when she starts doing something she’s not supposed to. As soon as she’s walking, I doubt there will be much rest as I’m running around chasing her everywhere. She is walking around holding stuff, so it’s not like progress isn’t being made.
All in all, it was a great day. Celebrating my daughter’s first year of life was both a happy and a sad occasion. Knowing that we won’t have any other babies around makes it sad because I know she won’t be cute and cuddly forever. But, I know from my experience with Aidan that each year brings new and exciting surprises that make it all worthwhile.
Welcome 2010… Happy New Year!
Here’s to the end of 2009… an eventful year that welcomed Skye into the world, started Aidan in kindergarten, gave Luke a new employer and much more! This is one year that I certainly can’t complain about.
To each of our family and friends, here’s to a happy, healthy and auspicious 2010…
Aidan rides “magic bike”
After many, many months of trying to get Aidan to ride a bike without training wheels, he finally did it today! Luke’s friend Tony had loaned us a “magic bike” that did just the trick… once Aidan got up the courage to actually get on it and try. Go Aidan… woo hoo!
Christmas 2009
Well, Christmas came and went very quickly… as it normally does I suppose. Thanks to retail America, we start getting pumped up so early and then it’s over in such a flash!
This year, we spread the love and decided not to have a big celebration at our place. Instead, we spent Christmas Eve with Luke’s mom over at her boyfriend Garry’s house. A few other faces we hadn’t seen in a while were there as well and the evening was quite pleasant. Aidan has a freakish adversity to Garry’s dogs, which presents a certain amount of humor for everyone but him. But, other than that, we enjoyed a delicious meal and time well spent catching up. We were even able to Skype with Luke’s family over in Poland, which was quite a treat!
Later that night, we let Aidan open up the presents we got him. Skye had passed out in the car, so she kind of missed out on that part. But, Aidan… being the spoiled rotten kid that he is, got everything he had asked for and more.
Santa did make it to our house that night and brought even more goodies. I’m told he really enjoyed the gingerbread men Aidan had made and decorated for him, as well as the carrots he left for the reindeer. Aidan now has enough LEGOs to touch the ceiling! He also got the science kit he wanted and a few other things as well. I should hope he got everything he wanted after we waited in line for over an hour at the mall to tell Santa’s “helper” what he couldn’t live without! It turns out I’ve enjoyed LEGO Rock Band more than anyone else, so I guess I scored on that one!
Greta and Garry joined us over at my parent’s house for Christmas dinner. Amid puffs of smoke from the poor little game hens cooking and Oma laying sickly on the couch, we really had a great time. Never a lack of gifts at the Phillips’ house, the kids were again showered with presents that would later result in packaging filling more than two large garbage cans outside our house for pick-up. Such a shameful and gluttonous holiday, I know. But, the look on kids’ faces when they open stuff up is pretty priceless I have to admit. Even Skye was pleased with her loot, although Aidan’s stuff does seem to be more appealing to her.
Luke is off for the remainder of the holiday and doesn’t return back to work until after the New Year. So, we’re making the most of our time and trying to combine relaxation with entertainment. We’re hoping to have a date night this weekend, and Luke is planning some fun stuff for Aidan as well. I think they’ve got laser tag and geocaching on the agenda, as well as many hours spent with LEGOs, of course. Skye’s got Gymboree going on and maybe a trip to the park or two so she can play with her new bubbles. I swear that girl said “bubble” the other day… but, I can’t get her to say it again! At some point, we’ll have to get everything together for her birthday on January 9th. I can’t even believe she’s going to be one! Before you know it, Christmas 2010 will be here!
Season’s Greetings
It really is hard to believe it’s that time of year again! It feels like just yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas and waiting for Skye to make her big entry into the world. Now, here we are again only plus one in the Stepniowski family.
For us, 2009 has been a whirlwind of events… from Aidan entering kindergarten to Skye being born and growing into a little person with her own unique personality. In the next few weeks, I expect she’ll be walking around getting into even more stuff!
As for Luke and I, we’ve spent most of the year somewhat overwhelmed by all of the changes. Luke now works for Bright House after they bought out Time Warner and I’ve cut back to part-time with Pro QC and continue to teach at HCC and am preparing for a USF course in the spring. That, coupled with two of the most spoiled children you’ve ever met, certainly does pose certain challenges when it comes to getting enough sleep or making time for date nights. But, I can’t complain… and, I honestly wouldn’t change one single moment of it if I could.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much of our family this year. We keep promising to visit Poland again, but there’s always some reason to postpone. At the holidays especially, we miss them and wish they lived just a little closer! Of course, my folks are just down the road, which has been a truly invaluable source of me keeping my sanity through the infant phase. I wouldn’t be able to do half of the stuff I do for Aidan’s school if it weren’t for their willingness to babysit… not to mention actually making doctor’s appointments and other stuff.
So, to conclude, it is with an open heart that we extend the warmest of greetings to all of our friends and family as the year comes to an end. We look forward to a productive and happy 2010 and wish the same for everyone else as well! This year, I am determined to stick with one or two of my resolutions… lol!
Luke's Mobile Photos
Jenn's Mobile Photos
Me asking Aidan... "when is st. patrick's day?" response: <shrug> "I'm not Irish."
2 days ago from Tweetie The Pixies... Before Frank Black lost it... Definitely deserve #MusicMonday props... #mm
5 days ago from Tweetie Waiting at Cobb to see Alice... Didn't do 3D this time... Heard this one was better old school style.
6 days ago from Tweetie-
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