Emmett at School

A week or two ago, we received these pictures from Emmett's great teachers at the VCU Child Development Center where he spends his time when Andrew and I are both working in the office. They treat it like school -- PTA meetings, Open Houses, field trips, lesson plans, etc. It was difficult to leave our old daycare where we knew that they loved him so much, but we are thrilled that he seems to be loving the new place. He has turned into a total sponge, and I think a major benefit is being in the same classroom with children up to 2 1/2 years old or so. The older kids know the routine, have great verbal skills, know how to sit down, line up, follow instructions, eat with a fork and spoon, drink out of a "big boy" cup, etc.

The teachers are always saying that he's one of the mellowest kids they've ever had. He HAS been having tantrums at home, but it appears he SAVES it for at home :) He doesn't really cry or fuss, he doesn't mind if other kids push in front of him to get their turn at something, but he is coming out of his shell more - not just sitting on the sidelines and observing. They're thrilled with his fascination with books and with storytime. During open play he pretty much plays with toy cars and trucks, or goes and finds a book (pictured below.)

They have "cooking" lessons - here, he's tasting a lemonade-yogurt smoothie. They said he was the only child who made an appropriate face at the sour taste of the lemonade. Sniffle.