The Reveal

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My mom really wanted to give us a 3D ultrasound. She is fascinated by the technology so as much as the gift was for us… if was for her 🙂 We invited my Grandma along to who was just as amazed. The 3D stuff was really neat but I was mostly excited to find of the gender.
The verdict is in….
It’s a GIRL!
I was convinced I was having a boy up until a few weeks ago when I started having a few dreams of having a girl. I have a bit of a weird connection with dreams. They, more frequently than can be explained by coincidence, come true or been true with out my knowing. Friends used tell me dreams that were bothering them and I would matter-of-factly know what they meant. As a child I even knew my grandparents had been in a terrible crash before my mom had got the call. Weird stuff. Anyway, dreaming it was a girl totally threw me from being certain I was having a boy! 
Then, the technician checked three times and told us we were having a girl! I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet. I was so convinced we were having a boy. There is still a seed of doubt in my mind that the reading was correct even. I won’t be getting rid of any of my girl clothes though! 
I’m very excited about having another girl! I always said I had just wanted girls. Being raised in a house mostly of girls I didn’t think I would know how to raise a boy. With being convince I was having a boy, I was actually very excited to have a little Mama’s boy 🙂 Plus, I really love our boys name, Cohen Timothy. I guess I’ll have to let go of that.
So, without further ado…
Introducing,
Evelyn Jane (probably)

Evelyn is just because we like the name and it is kind of a traditional older name like Olivia and Sofie.
Jane is for Jon. Jane is sometimes considered a female version of Jon. There isn’t a good female version of Timothy (Jon’s Dad’s name) and we wanted her to have a name some what after his side of the family. Livi’s middle name is the same as mine. Sofie’s middle name is a combination of our two closest grandmother’s and now Evelyn’s middle name is after Jon. It doesn’t hurt that Jane Austen is my favorite author either:) 

Livi has decided that her nick name is Eva (EE-vah). I thought it would be Evie (Eh-V-ee) but I think Eva is sticking. We’ll see how it plays out I guess. I get my house of girls! I hope they have the special sister bond that I get to have and know many other sister’s share. There is nothing like having sisters!

Preschool

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My girls are starting preschool in ten days. I’m so nervous about it. Not really sure why. Livi loved preschool for the five months that she went last year.

I think the wild card here is Sofie. I’m worried for how successful she will be. Originally, I wanted to hold Sofie back a year and start her now in 3 year old preschool… but that can’t happen with the way the funding works for an assistant. CDC covers an assistant up until the child reaches 5 years old. The school system takes over funding an aid at 5 years old. If I was to hold Sofie back and start her in 3 yr old preschool now that she is four, no one would fund an aid for her at 4 year old preschool, when she would be 5. Confusing, right?

Basically, what we decided is to go ahead and put Sofie in with her sister in to 4 year old preschool, 2.5 hours three days a week. Next year they will both go to kindergarten, in separate classes. I’ve already registered them for kindergarten even! I want them in a choice Fine Arts public school so we had to register really early. Sofie will then repeat kindergarten. I need to fight for this because the school board doesn’t want me to hold her back but the principal is on my side so I WILL GET WHAT IS BEST FOR MY GIRLS!

I’m very stuck on Sofie being held back for numerous reasons. She has had little to no early intervention in her life. All the child development books talk about how important early intervention is. I figure, Sofie is going to benefit from developing in the younger grades than the academic senior grades. Plus, special needs kids frequently get to do a grade 13 at the end of their school career. This is because CLBC doesn’t start funding support until they turn 19. I figure, Sofie is going to benefit more from an extra year in the beginning than in the end. Sofie is also, technically, ESL. I think an extra year to learn the language better and understand social cues a bit better will also be crucial at this point.

Another huge factor in this decision is the fact that I don’t want to “twin” my girls. Livi is our first child. She is developmentally older than Sofie as well. I want her to feel like the “big” girl we talk about her being. I want them to each have their own friends. I don’t want Livi to feel extra responsible for her sister. That will probably be a natural outcome with the way our family is, but I want to limit that as much as possible. I also don’t want other kids and teacher to rely on Livi to take care of her sister.

So, both girls are starting in a preschool that is known for having “high expectations” and kind of more “academic” if a preschool can be academic. I think Livi will flourish. She is so ready to start reading. I just haven’t had the energy to start that with her. I think preschool will give us the extra push we need. Sofie is ready to have more expected of her. She needs a change of environment from being just at home with me. There is only so much a mom can do sometimes. I’m excited to see how preschool helps with her vocabulary and social skills… hopefully.

September also means the beginning of gymnastics, which Livi has been talking about for months! Sofie is also going to be doing a Parent and Tot gymnastics class. I actually foresee her having a lot of fun with this. The classes are back to back so I don’t know how well the waiting period is going to be for each other. And, we are so excited to get to go back to the music class that Sofie LOVES! A new teacher but the same program which I am so happy about because it is inclusive of all ages, infants to school aged. I’m also taking a speech therapy class to be able to help Sofie communicate better. I’ve heard good things about it so I’m looking forward too it.

It’s going to be a busy fall! Before I’m ready Christmas will be here and then a new baby! I can’t wait to see how much we all grow as a family in the next few months. It’s going to be good!

Day Trip Weekend!

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We had a last Hoorah! a few weekends ago to say goodbye to the end of the summer. On the Saturday we took the girls and E, a little girl I do some behavior intervention with, to Science World! The older two girls had a blast, Sofie was very over stimulated, and Jon and I were hyper vigilant for fear of losing a child. I think we did okay though 🙂 There is so much to see there!

The prettiest Mona Lisa I’ve ever seen 🙂
Sofie loved the water table, of course.

The Monday of the same weekend we went to the PNE! SO MUCH FUN! It was really an awesome day. Both girls did awesome. Sofie was still a few inches too short for the rides but Livi was VERY excited to go on her first roller coaster. She was convinced she was going to go on the upside down coaster, despite us telling her she was too little. “I’ll ask the worker” she told us. She pointed out every upside down ride there, asking to ride it. I think we will be going to Playland next year and getting her an all day riding pass.

On her first Roller Coaster. She was nearly in tears of happiness getting off it. 
“THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I WAS SO BRAVE!”

There was a fountain area beside one of the stages that the girls got to cool off in. I think this was one of the highlights. Livi kept running up and down the stream screaming “This is the best day ever!” Both girls got soaked but I had a change for each of them.

She was also screaming at one point “It’s fun to get wet and make mistakes!” 

Sofie trying to see the dancers on the stage.
Chowing down on some mini donuts! A PNE must 🙂
We all had a lot of fun. Even with so many people around I don’t think any of us got too over stimulated. We just had a really awesome family day. I love my family. I am so blessed. We had an end of the year BBQ/Open house for family and friends too. We have so many things to celebrate in August we thought we’d just have a big celebration evening and show everyone our new digs. It turned out really well and was nice and laid back, just the way I like it. 
Now we are looking towards September! I can’t believe I just registered my girls for kindergarten next year! It’s early for us because I want them to go to a fine arts public school that fills up really quick. They are going to three half days of preschool a week starting Sept 10. I’m so nervous. Livi is very excited. I should probably make another post for that though 🙂 I’m also meal planning again. I really need to stay on top of this. We save so much money when I do it properly. Sept 1 is the start date!
Enjoy your last few days of summer!