Pre-Reception, Three Weeks In

Auggie the Stud Muffin has been completely enjoying school. No begging to stay home, no pretending to be sick, no schenanigans of any kind. He wakes up each morning ready to go to school, excited about what each day will bring.

Some of his new friends names are Lyle and Jamie. He talks about them a lot, along with Kerani--and most importantly, Nora--and he wants his friend Jude from Sunday school to come over to see his new "C-130" airplane. 

We've been keeping up with Dan riding with Auggie to school each morning. I think it's the perfect amount of exercise each morning, and I'm sure it helps prepare Auggie mentally for school. I've been picking him up via walking or car. Picking him up with the bike and trailer is definitely my preferred mode of transport, but it just doesn't work for getting his bike home and the parked cars around Stellenbosch are nearly impossible to get around. It's extremely frustrating, because there's literally no safe, easy way to get back and forth during the day with the bike and trailer. Ah well.

Here are some pictures of Auggie all suited up to go on his bike. Today when I picked him up his bike was still in the bike stand, but his helmet was missing! We only locked his bike the first day, but since then have just strapped the helmet around his bike to keep it secure. I'm guessing that some curious kids had themselves a ride. ;) Anyway, time to get vigilant about the lock. 

Swimming Day!
This Tuesday was Auggie's second swimming day at school. He requested that Eland and I not swim, but I explained that I still need to see him in the pool before I'm willing to let him swim alone. Not to mention the fact that Eland loves swimming day, too.

Despite good intentions, we haven't had a chance to send Auggie to swim classes. I think it's essential, but we have been moving, carless, what-have-you, and simply haven't been able to pull it off. Auggie is not a strong swimmer, and even though the pool isn't deep, it's just deep enough to be dangerous for him. Last Tuesday Eland and I spent the whole morning scouring the malls trying to find a decent swim apparatus. We ended up spending a decent chunk of money (not so excited about that part--but they were the cheapest I could find) on two floaty-swim-things. Basically, the floaty thing is two square buoyant pads attached to each other with elastic straps over the shoulders and under the arms, with a strap and clip that goes under the crotch. I like it because it's not arm floaties and it at least theoretically helps Auggie learn how to swim.

Thankfully, the floaty thing works brilliantly for Auggie. He just doggie-paddles around and is totally at ease. I'd even consider not going or watching from the sidelines if it weren't for the fact that Eland comes everywhere I do, and you can't take a 2.5 y/o to the pool and tell him that only his brother gets to  swim. The floaty thing works less well for Eland, but I think he's on the low end of the weight requirements.

Auggie's teacher has the kids sit and put their legs in the water

Next, they kick, get their arms wet, wet their faces, then kick some more

Then they can carefully get in the water

And have fun!

Eland, waiting for Mama to put her phone away so that he can get in already!!!

Auggie's Artwork

At the parent information night at school, I snapped this photo of Auggie's painting. I literally laughed out loud when I saw it. His is the mono-color, mono-shaped painting. It's a birds nest, actually. And yet, it fits him completely. He knows what it is, it's his favorite color, and he's very pleased with his painting and himself. Compared to the other kids drawings, it's on the simple side, but knowing Auggie, it makes complete sense to me. 

I just think it's an interesting observation: My kid may be painting a simple blue blob as birds nest, but he can also sit down and build an incredibly complex airplane and tell you each part of the plane along with their purpose. To each their own, eh?

(Just in case you're wondering, I'm not planning on doing weekly Pre-Reception updates.)