Last Day of School

Warning to the grandparents: This picture might make you cry!

Today was Wes' last day of preschool in the 2's class. He's officially a 3 (come September when school starts again).

I pulled a very non-Kristina move and actually was organized enough to take a picture on both the first and last day of school. I hope I can continue to be this organized for the rest of his school years (although I'm sure I'll get some resistance sooner rather than later).

Just uploaded these this evening and oh my gosh. How much he has grown. Not just physically, although you can see that. He looks so confident in the second pictures. A little boy more sure of his surroundings than he was back in September. I know that his school played a big part in this. I'm so proud of him.

My New Job...

Today was my last day at Kenan-Flagler...I have a new job. Stay-at-home mom and chief playmate of this little guy:



I definitely had mixed emotions while leaving the building this afternoon. A while ago when I set the date of May 14th it seemed as good as any. And it came pretty fast...too fast for me to process it and get nostalgic, really. I've been at Kenan-Flagler since July of 2006, when Neil hadn't even started law school yet. So much has changed since then, and my co-workers have been through it all with me.

But, it's time. I'm ready to spend my days playing outside in the sandbox, fingerpainting, and taking care of Wes. And in September, his sister will join us and a whole new chapter will start!

Our Big Boy.

Everyone that sees Wes lately remarks, "He's not a little boy anymore!"
He is growing up fast these days. The baby fat is gone from his face. His monthly trips to the barber shop for haircuts mean that his hair is now wavy, not curly.  He's tall and thin and talks in full sentences.
We took these pictures this weekend of our big boy:

Catching up...

Wes' blog has really been neglected lately!  Big things are happening in our world:
During the holidays we decided to rent a bigger house while we're saving up to buy a place.  We checked out a new place on Christmas eve, and by the Monday after Christmas we had been approved with a move-in date of Jan 16th.  So we've been busy.  Packing, moving, setting up everything.  We moved Saturday and we are absolutely loving the place so far.  We have four bedrooms, a playroom, screened in porch, and a Den and living room.  Wes can run circles around the house (and he has been!). Also of note - Neil started his new job today.  Hooray!  He is in Richmond at orientation until Thursday.
I still need to catch up on Christmas posts, but until then, here's a picture of Wes this morning.  I was taking pictures of the place to send to Neil's parents, and he wanted to get in one.  Notice the Crocs and fireman hat - his favorite attire...so glad he's getting opinions about what he wants to wear! :)

~Tina

Aldersgate Preschool

So far all of the Magnusons are LOVING Wes' preschool, Aldersgate. Things are getting better every morning - this morning he didn't cry until they were pulling him out of the car (yes, an improvement).

He has been doing better while he's at school, too...after the few tears in the morning, he's happy to play all day. Last week's weekly email update told us about the kids painting a Carolina blue sky, singing songs, and playing on the playground (Wes is famous for yelling at all the trucks that go by).

He loves his teachers, Ms Julie and Ms Holly, and I do, too. Last week after a particularly bad dropoff morning Julie called and talked to me for about twenty minutes one night - they're so loving and calm with Wes and with me.

After that bad dropoff, Wes had a great day (maybe that was the worst of it and he's over the hump). His teachers took some pictures to show me how much fun he was having...enjoy!

Snacktime!


Playtime ~






The lovely Ms. Julie...

An Update.

Another busy month and of course, the blog gets neglected. Sounds like we need an update!

September came and went in a blur. Wes started preschool two days a week, and so far, after the initial tears when I leave, he is loving it. His language is taking off, too...he speaks in sentences now, and tells us, "I need nuggets. I need ice cream." (I have tried to explain to him the difference in want and need...so far he's not too interested.) He also loves to tell Day what he has just done. "Day, I ate cupcake!" "Day, I finished puzzle!"

We are loving every minute. From the hugs and kisses to the "I love you mommy" moments, we take it all in and enjoy it. We are commanded to "dance on the stars" (the rug in his room) and read Max and Ruby "one more time" at bedtime and we do it every time. If it's possible, Wes has actually gotten sweeter as he has reached his terrible twos. :)

Here are some pictures so we can play catch up!

At Meet the Heels at Kenan Stadium:




On the playground at his preschool:


Playing cornhole with Uncle J and Craig:


First day of school:


Walking to the park:


Having fun with cousin Diem:

"Mommy, reach. Too high."

Wes' language development really took off at the beach. I don't know if it was the fact that he was surrounded by family chatting him up all day, the new experiences, or if it was just time, but something clicked in his head. He's now asking for things in sentences and it's so weird. Yesterday he wanted a cookie for breakfast (of course). He went to the pantry, tried to reach it (they're on the top shelf for this very reason), couldn't, then turned to me and said, "Mommy, reach! Too high." I laughed and said, "No cookies for breakfast, Wes." (We did make a deal for a cookie later in the afternoon in exchange for him eating two good meals.) Anytime you try to reason with him now, he thinks about your offer and then says, "Um.....Deal."

This morning instead of the usual, "momaxruby" when Max and Ruby went off, he said, "Watch. More. Max Ruby." (How can you argue with that?) I'm loving this phase and watching him learn more and more by the day...and being able to reason with him is an added bonus.

A beach post will follow soon...I left the photos on my mom's computer, so I have to wait for this weekend when she returns!

Looking back on a year...

Yesterday was Wes' 2nd birthday. Sometimes I can't believe it's been two years, and sometimes it feels like it has been much longer. Either way, I can't remember what life was like before him. Even when he goes to "Camp" for a few days (my mom and dad's house) and the house is quiet and I can pretend like I have no responsibilities, the house seems so empty without him there. I find myself wondering what to do next and being lonely without him. The truth is, the chaos and cleaning up and teaching and disciplining are part of the wonderful joy of motherhood.

This was a big year. A lot of things change from the time a baby is born until he's one, but it's all predictable growth. You know about the smiles, the rolling over, and the crawling, and you're excited when they happen. But sometime around Wes' first birthday, he really gained a personality. He started to look like a little boy - no longer a baby. He did things to see how I would react. He finally learned to walk. And eventually, now, he gives me hugs and kisses and tells me what he wants for breakfast. Between one and two, he has become not only a boy, but WES.

He finally learned how to walk at about 15 months. We thought the day would never come. The truth is, he knew how to walk all along, but the perfectionist in him (don't know where he gets that) wouldn't allow him to take the chance that he might fall. So he held on to couches and chairs and coffee tables until he could walk perfectly. And when he did, he was a walker. No toddling stage for Wes. He went from holding on to walking perfectly in literally a day.

In January, he had tubes put in his ears. After about eight ear infections and some fluid that wouldn't drain out of his ears, we had to do it. Holding Wes while they put him under was the hardest thing I've ever done. But he was brave, it was quick, and the doctors and nurses were fabulous. Mr. Cow even got to go in the operating room. The day after his surgery, he had already learned five new words. With the fluid being gone, his language started to flourish quickly.

Wes is the most gentle, most loving little boy I've ever seen (I know I'm biased, but I think it's true). He kisses his animals, walks up and hugs us for no reason, and says the sweetest little things. We laugh together all the time. We hide under a blanket (and Wes steals kisses while we're under there) from daddy when he comes upstairs, we chase each other around the room, we dance and play the piano, we go to the park, we pretend, and we're silly all the time. These have been the best two years of my life, and I can't wait to see what's next!

Wes' first birthday, August 2008


On campus with mom, August 2008


First birthday party, with Molly Harrell


Cupcake time!


Ready for the first UNC football game


Little Tar Heel


Sweet smile, September 2008


With Thomas the Tank Engine


Could still dress him in pink at this point...


Loving the balcony at TOPO with Daddy


Bath time!


Messy, messy eater


Carving our first pumpkin


Halloween 2009


Starting to pose for the camera, November 2008


Thanksgiving 2008 and Christmas card photo session


Eyeing the Christmas tree


Christmas morning - Santa came!


Pushing his little cousin Diem around


A new ride, January 2009


Favorite food = Beans!! February 2009


Running up the hill at the park, February 2009


Sweet boy, February 2009


Cuddle time with Dad, February 2009


Wes' first big snow, March 2009


Wearing dad's shoes, March 2009


Easter Egg Hunt, April 2009


Playing at the park, April 2009


Mother's Day/Graduation Brunch


Loving to be outside, playing in the dirt and water, June 2009


Franklin Street fun with mom, July 2009


The Future's So Bright...August 5, 2009