Year 2

This has been a very productive Year 2 for C-bao in preschool. While her school's approach is definitely play-based, we've noticed our little one making significant progress both socially as well as in specific cognitive and academic areas (such as sums and subtraction through 20, which C-Pop regularly tests her on).

She has also started to find her voice, and now has a steady group of friends who she hangs out with (though, troublingly, still mostly boys!).

One activity she has hugely enjoyed is hands on cooking. Here she makes a grubby little pizza with three friends.

She also has progressed a ton in terms of physical strength and agility. Her climbing and particularly her monkey bars -- an area her sister has always excelled at which in turn has inspired C-bao's determination -- have been highlights.

Boys

Over the last couple of months, C-bao has begun mentioning the names of some of her best friends at preschool. What struck C-Pop right away was that the list was comprised of ALL BOYS. This observation did not fill C-Pop with any warm fuzzies.

"Let me show you how to use that, my lady"

Now, some of the little tots in C-bao's class have always been quite friendly to our little girl, and in the beginning of the school year, when C-bao was first getting adjusted to a new environment and needing new friends, all of that was fine and good. Perhaps even welcome. Indeed, one or two little tykes even insisted on calling her "cutie" and giving her a hug when she left school each day.

"Surely a quick tap-dance isn't too much to ask?"

Things are different now. C-bao has settled in nicely. She seems to enjoy the learning environment and is comfortable with her surroundings. These days, C-Pop has begun to look askance at the various chummy overtures and overly affectionate gestures of those little chicos.

"And swing your partner 'round and 'round!"

 Just what exactly are they up to? What are their intentions? C-Pop found himself asking.

"My intentions? Um, a game of high five"

All this, of course, was accentuated by the parent-teacher conference today, during which C-Pop and C-Mum were shown various "cute" pictures of our little girl "having fun" at school (some of which are posted herein) - virtually always in the close companionship of some little pipsqueak or another.

Wait...WHAT???

And to think, all of this is just beginning. We've got twenty five or so more years to go, maybe more! C-Pop can feel his blood pressure rising just thinking about it.