Kicking off the Year

2 Michaels
2 Bens
2 Logans
2 Emmas
2 Samanthas
2 Adams
2 Sydneys (in the same class)
2 Erics
2 Colins
2 Adams
2 Makaylas (also in the same class)
2 Brittanys
2 Katies
2 Rebeccas
etc, etc, etc
Not to be out done there are 3 Tylers, 4 Lindseys (Three of the Lindseys are in the same class just for fun!) and one set of twins (A few years ago we experienced a first and had two sets of triplets on the seventh grade team). After nine years of working with middle schoolers it is always fun to come across names you've never had such as Justice, Savannah, Bhavin, Adina, Cheyenne and Raven just to name a few.
Whew!

The first week of school has already come and gone, but I still feel totally exhausted. Just the mental power it takes to connect with students, learn all of their names and start creating a meaningful relationship takes a lot of energy. All of which is important and something I always strive to do my best at.
In spite of being tired, starting a new school year feels really good. It has been nice to get back into the swing of a more concrete schedule. Anthony, as always, loves going to Renae's house and rarely wants to leave her house when I pick him up in the afternoon. We are so lucky to have a great day care provider who is caring, thoughtful and works so well with A.
On Friday night we ended the first week by going to the first home football game of the year. Anthony has become in love with everything football. So much so that he insists on only wearing Vikings/football apparel. (Clearly I need to do some shopping to satisfy this football lover!) He did awesome at the game and was totally into it until we got multiple visits from last year's seventh graders. Then he was busy eating their food (every time I turned around he was eating something different) and entertaining them. It was a great family fun night and something we'll do more of this fall.
The weekend was spent celebrating Mark's 33rd birthday. That, too, has become even more fun now that A is older. He was so excited about everything that he told Mark about all of our secrets before the cake was served or presents were open. Oh well! It was fun to see him so excited for his daddy.
The best news of all? Anthony really has all this potty training business totally down. He does awesome; it's like he just flipped a switch and completely gets it. The only thing we are working on is nap and nighttime. He still wears a diaper and wakes up wet. Any suggestions that might work? Diaper? Pull-up? Just go cold turkey? What worked for your little one?
Until next time...