Now we are beginning to feel that this move is for real. Boxes are coming out of closets and preparations are being made. Some things will just have to remain on the back burner until we get to our new home in East Hampton, NY.
Meanwhile we've had a wonderful Easter with my sister visiting for a couple of nights and lots of time with the family. Viggo seems to have thoroughly enjoyed all the activity. Also, with the warmer weather the neighbor's kids have been in and out of the house more and Viggo makes sure to get included in some of their games. He loves jumping on the trampoline with everyone.
I've even tried a new approach, which is that I don't follow Viggo everywhere. I don't entirely trust him to go off by himself, but when the kids go to the trampoline, I stay in our garden doing some raking or light gardening. This way I can keep an ear out and make sure Viggo isn't getting into trouble. But it gives Viggo a chance to feel more independent.
At the end of Easter a 5-year old boy from next door came over with his mother and asked Viggo to his house. Viggo straightened himself out growing a little taller. He was beaming and he said: "I'm going for a playdate, all by myself. I'm walking to my friends house, all by myself."
Meanwhile we've had a wonderful Easter with my sister visiting for a couple of nights and lots of time with the family. Viggo seems to have thoroughly enjoyed all the activity. Also, with the warmer weather the neighbor's kids have been in and out of the house more and Viggo makes sure to get included in some of their games. He loves jumping on the trampoline with everyone.
I've even tried a new approach, which is that I don't follow Viggo everywhere. I don't entirely trust him to go off by himself, but when the kids go to the trampoline, I stay in our garden doing some raking or light gardening. This way I can keep an ear out and make sure Viggo isn't getting into trouble. But it gives Viggo a chance to feel more independent.
At the end of Easter a 5-year old boy from next door came over with his mother and asked Viggo to his house. Viggo straightened himself out growing a little taller. He was beaming and he said: "I'm going for a playdate, all by myself. I'm walking to my friends house, all by myself."
Our morning walks to pre-school are continuing to be a perfect time to discuss things. We count branches and rocks, ducks and spring flowers as we walk together. Viggo made a leap from being able to count to 10 to suddenly counting to 29!
One morning at pre-school Viggo asked me to sit with him for a while. He brought a box of wooden blocks with letters on them. Then he proceeded to carefully locate M's, A's and P's. He carefully arranged the blocks sounding out the letters:"MAMMA, PAPPA."
Then he wrote his own name and the names of his brothers! I had no idea! A couple of boys his own age came over to the table. They were curious and perhaps a little puzzled. One of them asked: "How can Viggo write?"
"I don't know", I said. "He must have been practicing."
One morning at pre-school Viggo asked me to sit with him for a while. He brought a box of wooden blocks with letters on them. Then he proceeded to carefully locate M's, A's and P's. He carefully arranged the blocks sounding out the letters:"MAMMA, PAPPA."
Then he wrote his own name and the names of his brothers! I had no idea! A couple of boys his own age came over to the table. They were curious and perhaps a little puzzled. One of them asked: "How can Viggo write?"
"I don't know", I said. "He must have been practicing."