Jamie: an update

Jamie is 3 years and 8 months old today...3 and two-thirds - wow! We'll soon be thinking about 4th birthday presents and parties. He really seems to be growing up now, beginning to leaving the toddler tantrums behind...although when he does have a strop, it's a big one! He's adapted to moving to a new house and playgroup brilliantly, and seems really happy and settled at the moment. He still likes a routine, and has his little obsessions, but he's becoming a bit more flexible and adaptable now. I'm starting to trust him a lot more when we're out walking - until recently I would have kept him on his backpack "lead", but now I feel able to let him run on ahead. His eating is also a lot better and he's more willing to try new things.

He's very inquisitive and we are firmly in the "why?" stage - for example:

J: What time is it mummy?
M: Quarter past three
J: Why?
M. Ummmm...because that's what time it is.
J Yes, but WHY mummy?

I have been guilty of using the response, "because I said so!" a lot recently!

He is still very into letters and numbers, and has known the letter names and phonic sounds for some time. He's beginning to be able to blend some simple CVC words, e.g. cat, pig, etc. I don't really push it too much though as I don't want to teach it differently to how his school will. I think the most important thing is that he's interested in words, and loves books and learning new things.

He loves his new bike and has got the hang of pedalling it now. Next challenge will be the removal of the stabilisers! He also loves the Leappad computer thing he got for Christmas and it can be hard to tear him away from it sometimes...but I do appreciate the odd 10 minutes of peace while he's engrossed in it. He likes to looks after the chickens, letting them out in the morning, checking for eggs, feeding them corn and putting them to bed in the evening. He's still into Cbeebies, but less so than he used to be.

He absolutely ADORES Daisy, and I just love seeing the pair of them playing and getting into mischief together. I can see more and more how much he has benefited from having a sibling. They snuggle in his bed together for their stories, and then he gives her a kiss and a cuddle before I take her out to her bed.

I still can't quite believe my little baby boy will be starting SCHOOL in a few months' time! His new preschool is right next door to the primary school we hope he'll be going to, and they seem to have a really good programme for gradually introducing them to the school. After half term, they start doing P.E. lessons once a week in the school hall, allowing them to practice dressing and undressing. And then after Easter, they start going to the school once a week for lunch - a few weeks of packed lunches, and then school dinners. So hopefully all these activities will help to prepare Jamie for starting in September. I'm also looking into getting him some swimming lessons, as I think it would be good for him to be water-confident before he starts swimming with school.

He's a lovely little boy, full of energy, funny, and also quite sensitive. I love spending time with him, he's such good company, and although sometimes I wish he'd just STOP for a minute, it's amazing seeing him grow up and become more and more his own person every day. I'm so proud of the way he's adapted to all the changes in his life recently.