Last day of school

The school year officially came to a close today.  It's hard to believe how fast it flew by.....

1st Day of Preschool
August 2013

Last day of the School Year!
June 2014

Most of Sara's class is moving onto Kindergarten...just 3, including Sara, will be staying for another year.  We are so proud of Sara and her progress.  She grew not just in inches or hair, but her skills really blossomed as well.  She is much more verbal, more confident, and just a joy!

We had lunch!

We celebrated Brody and David's Birthdays!  Love Sara's blue lips from the frosting!

Circle time!

Sara and Ms. Mairi...

She kept checking to make sure that I was there!

You is kind, you is smart, you is important

One of the books I read on maternity leave after Sara was born was The Help.  I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more.   It since became a movie and I loved the movie even more.  I loved Aibileen and how she instilled self worth in Mae Mobley again and again through the familiar line:
 

"You is kind, you is smart, you is important."

 

 

After I read that line, I said it to my sweet girl everyday, because that is what I want her to believe.

That is what I want her to know.

 

Shortly after Sara was diagnosed with Autism, there was a horrible letter written to the parents of the child with autism that went viral.  In all truthfulness, I haven't made it thru the whole letter. It physically hurts me to know that is what is waiting in the world.  If you want to read it, you can see it here. 

 

 

 

 

 

One day, Sara will be able to look around and notice what sets her apart from others. When she takes notice of this, I want her to see a person who is capable, who is believed in, who is supported, who is loved, who is respected. I want her to see a girl who can dream any dream, wish any wish and work hard to make them come true. I want her to see her abilities, never her disability. Sara will grow up hearing, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important."

Sara's first day of PreSchool

Sara started her new special needs preschool this week.  As much as I fretted and worried, it was all for not.  She is doing fantastic!

 

We L-O-V-E her teacher.  We spent about an hour the night before school started visiting with her while Sara checked out the classroom.  She remembered that Sara loves all things music from our email conversations and had a tub of musical instruments out where Sara could find them.  Sara took to her right away and we were super comfortable with Ms. Mairi, as well.

 

Sara's goals the next couple weeks are just to get comfortable with the classroom and her new teachers.  Ms. Mairi is the teacher and there are 4 aides who assist her.  In all, there are 9 kids in the class...3 girls which is unheard of in an autism classroom.....so nice that Sara isn't the only girl!

 

Since she is doing so well, Ms. Mairi started Sara on her TEACCH method schedule. The TEACCH method is not considered an actual therapy but rather a therapeutic tool to help autistic individuals understand their surroundings.

 

Sara will be introduced to The Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS, starting next week.  PECS allows children with autism who have little or no communication abilities, a means of communicating non-verbally. Children using PECS are taught to approach another person and give them a picture of a desired item in exchange for that item.  Ms. Mairi will start this in the classroom and then do home visits every couple of months to help us learn more about using it as Sara's skills increase. 

 

Sara will start seeing all her therapist on the week of 9/9.  She will have speech twice a week, as well as physical therapy and occupational therapy once a week.  We are excited to watch her progress.  We are so thankful that Sara is getting all the help and support through this awesome program. 

Haircut Time!

Sara got her hair cut today.....1st one!  She's developed a nasty habit of pulling her hair and it's gotten noticeably thinner in some spots.  So, we decided it was time for a trim in an effort to even in out.  I found an adorable place in Lafayette that is super tiny, but perfect for Sara.  It's owned by a lady named Miss Karen.  She is wonderful with kids.  Sara wasn't too sure in the beginning.  But, as soon as Miss Karen turned Elmo on and let her drive the car, she was happy!

Miss Karen even gave Sara a little pigtail and tied a ribbon around it.  Sara was decked on in pink by the time she left....complete with a pink lollipop and balloon!

Haircut Time!

Miss Karen working her magic!

Hmm.....what's she doing?

All done....Elmo sticker, a balloon, and a lollipop!  She's set!

Sara's 2nd Year Video

Here's Sara's 2nd year in 8 minutes of video pictures. So fun to watch her progress and growth. She has learned so much this past year!

Letters to Sara: 2 years old!

Dear Sara,

You are two years old today!  I have had the pleasure of spending the last 730 days with you since your birth.....the day I was given you in a perfect 6 pound 14 ounce package of pure joy...the day that forever changed my life for the better.

From the day you were born, you have been a happy child with an ability to melt everyone’s heart and put a smile on our faces. Your daddy and I have been the proudest parents every day as we have watched you transform from that 6 pound newborn to the toddler we see before us today.  To us, you are perfect and we couldn’t ask for a better child.  Never forgot that, sweet girl!

A year ago, you were still crawling and had your "chunky monkey" baby body.  Today you speed walk everywhere you go, and have turned into a little girl who loves to clap, read books, swim, sing, and laugh.  Somewhere along the way, you decided to start talking and now we get the biggest kick out of learning what is on your mind.  Your latest trend of adding a ‘y’ to your favorite nouns (milky, cuppy) is amusing but we can live without the “No” response you somehow acquired in your vocabulary.  The words we hear come out of your mouth never cease to amaze your daddy and I.  You are a little parrot right now, repeating everything we say.  There is not a day that goes by when your daddy and I don’t look at one another and smile over something we hear you say. We never could have imagined how much fun being your parent would be.  You are one special little girl!

Welcome to your third year of life. We are ushering in the year of "why," potty training, and a big girl bed. I cannot wait to see what the next 365 days bring us.  Never forgot how much you are loved. Nothing will ever change that sweet girl, ever....

xoxo,

Your mommy

A night at the County Fair

We headed to the Alameda County Fair tonight. It was unseasonably cool which made for a perfect late afternoon and evening at the fair. We checked out the animals

 Checking out the goats....

 Posing by the chicken coop

She loved this little goat...she kept coming back to it!

We ate corn dogs. Brian got the monster corn dog...it was the biggest corn dog we'd ever seen!

We watched some cool drummers and Sara got to try her hand at drumming...

We walked the midway and Sara loved taking in the sights

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More Fun in the Sandbox....

After all of our weekend chores were done, we hit up the sandbox for some fun in the sun. Belle loves joining Sara in the sandbox and Sara said "box" for the first time! Her words are exploding right now....She can say "Ball", "box", and "uh oh". She is starting to imitate sounds. She can roar like a lion, baa like a sheep, and moo like a cow!

Watch out Safeway Shopping...Sara's at the wheel!

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Yes....it will always be Marine World to me....We headed to the park on Saturday with Brian's brothers. This was Sara's first big outing with her cousins as a WALKER! So much fun to see her walking. I think it was her favorite part of the day too!

Happy Easter!

Here's some pictures from Easter Weekend....

We went to visit the Easter Bunny at the Martinez Egg Hunt. Sara wasn't too sure what to think. But, she was very brave and didn't cry!

The Egg Hunt was for kids 2 and up. Sara loved watching the kids and clapped for everyone while the hunt was going on. So cute!
A sweet lady gave Sara this egg. Sara was so proud of it....she wouldn't let it go for nothing!
This picture just melts my heart....I love these two! The grass was really long, so Sara wasn't too sure about walking in it. With Daddy's help, she was off and running to hunt eggs after it quieted down a bit....

Brave girl...walking by herself....still holding her egg....

No Bunny....this egg is mine!

So egg-cited about her basket and still holding her egg....

Coloring eggs....

Sara and grammie

Sara loved the paci for her new baby doll....

Soaking up the sun at the park.....

Playing ball in the backyard while mommy and daddy moved rocks....

Time to go inside....she is such a big girl....