I was somewhat anxious about the meeting, but yesterday morning — with Leah in tow — I sat down with VP for about 40 minutes to figure out what could be done to help Leah be successful in kindergarten. My anxiety was completely unwarranted: we had a great meeting and I came away feeling confident that school is going to be okay.

The VP is going to investigate the possibility of having a Special Needs Assistant in the classroom to help Leah — but even if that doesn’t happen, the school is willing to make all the necessary accommodations that Leah will require (from having someone hold her hand climbing up or down stairs to modifying speech-focussed activities — like Show and Tell — to potentially shortening Leah’s school day).

All in all, I’m really pleased with how things are going on the school front. Leah is mostly excited about getting a new backpack.

In the meantime, I’m continuing to work on language skills with Leah (we have our rescheduled appointment with the speech pathologist this afternoon), which is a slow and steady process. Unfortunately, what I really struggle with is providing Leah with opportunities to work on her social skills with people outside of our family. Since it’s just the two of us together during the day (and I’m trying to work in between activities), there aren’t a lot of chances for Leah to interact with other children.

So to ease Leah into the whole school thing, Todd and I are putting her into daycare one day a week so she gets used to being with other children, following routines and taking directions from somebody else. Part-time spots are hard to come by but we really lucked out and have placed Leah in a home daycare run by a friend of ours, who has a daughter just a month older than Leah.

Leah’s first day was last Thursday and I’m encouraged that it went well — once Leah got over the initial upset at being left, I’m told she fit in with the other children and participated in the activities provided. I, however, spent the whole day feeling out of sorts without Leah around and kept my phone close by in case of an emergency text message or call. As it turned out, it was completely unnecessary — go figure.

And I’m (sort of) looking forward to Leah’s next daycare day so that I can use the time to work without Seventeen Million Distractions. Hopefully this will mean I have more time in the evenings or on weekends for Family Stuff. I could definitely use more of that.

Here we are at SWS office in Seoul, receiving Adam from his foster mother, Mrs. Kwon.

And now, six years later, it’s nearly impossible to get a photo of all of us together, but I did get Adam to sit (mostly) still for 30 seconds so I could get a few pictures of Adam to mark the occasion.

We’re celebrating today with a sushi lunch (Adam’s choice), cookies for our afternoon snack and a family movie night — at last check, Adam had picked Ice Age 2: The Meltdown but his selection is allowed to change right up till showtime.

Happy Adam Day to my Quick-Witted, Funny, Empathetic Boy — you enrich my life in countless, incredible ways.

This whole 5 Cowls in 50 Days knitalong is intense but I’ve managed to finish A Very Good Cowl Indeed on time. (My secret to finishing on time is to knit straight through on the current cowl until it’s done and then I allow myself to work on other projects.)

Leah was again happy to model (what am I going to do when she decides it’s silly to pose for my finished object photos?): she was excited that it was “soft” and “purple.”

I used a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy yarn (in Pansy Golightly) which is a wonderfully soft fingering weight yarn — it makes for lovely hats and scarves but I’ve found it’s not nearly sturdy enough for socks. So I’m using all of my stashed skeins for fun accessories.

This is going to be awesome for cold days when you really need something warm around your neck — or if necessary, you could pull it up over your head like a hood. Given our lack of seasonally-appropriate temperatures, I’m not sure my mother-in-law is going to get much use out of this in the near future, but there’s always next winter!

Today, however, was different. This week is Junior Kindergarten Registration and I was determined that the school administration’s first impression of Leah would not be of a baby, but of a preschooler. As it was, I had a woman outside the school impressed that Leah could walk so well, thinking that she was not yet two years old, and I had to confirm with the secretary that I did, indeed, want to register Leah for This September and Not Next Year. Sigh.

I had already downloaded all three forms to be completed so registration was a fairly quick process. I’ve requested that Leah be in the morning class (hopefully with Adam’s former teacher, who I adored) but there are no guarantees. No matter which class Leah ends up in, I’ve asked for a meeting with the teacher to discuss possible accommodations for her.

When asked by the vice principal, Leah did not express any excitement about starting school, but once we got outside, she was all smiles.

Eeek! I can’t believe Leah will be starting school this year — I don’t quite feel ready to have an empty house during the day… but perhaps after a full house all summer I’ll feel differently.

And since Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a Romantic Cash Grab Holiday, I find it even more ridiculous to shower the kids with hearts and chocolate and whatever else goes along with the day. Perhaps picking up on my disinterest, Adam is far more excited that today marks his half-birthday and he would like the entire world to know that he is now Six-and-a-Half Years Old and that he will Happily Accept Cupcakes and Good Wishes.

Despite my lack of interest in paper hearts and glitter, I was content to go along with helping Adam make Valentines for his classmates. I found a brilliant idea on Pinterest (really, where else?) and set to work. Adam and I then spent an hour on Sunday afternoon assembling and addressing his cards.

Initially Adam was rather apprehensive about having his face plastered on the cards but they were a hit with his friends who loved the moustache.

So, Happy Valentine’s Day to all who are celebrating and for those who aren’t (like me!), just enjoy the cuteness that is moustachioed Adam!