Catching up with C

C has been a busy boy of late, with turning 5 and starting kindergarten and all. He actually had 2 birthday parties, one with his Nana and Peepah while we were back in Wisconsin and then one here in Jakarta with his friends. Since he loves all things birthday and loves it when life is all about him, he had a blast at both parties! I don't know if it's the knowing that he is another year older, or if it's just coincidence, but the person he is in my eyes or the phases he goes through do seem to change with each passing year. His 4th year was mostly a very challenging time for me. The talking back seemed to take hold in a serious way, the potty talk was more abundant, and the general struggle with emerging from the toddler stage to the school boy stage was a very rocky transition. Perhaps worst of all was that I didn't expect it, I didn't know the 4th year could be so difficult. However, fortunately for our family he wasn't strangled in the process and sharing life with him is becoming easier and more fun once again. And now he is becoming more independent and ever so slowly moving away from his mother's arms. Thank goodness he is still my cuddlebug, but the move away has begun. I am trying not to dwell on this realization, but instead celebrating the freedom this affords me and the boy who's personality is becoming richer and more complex.

Cutting his Ben Ten cake at his Jakarta bday party

So far he is really enjoying kindergarten. He is attending the Jakarta International School (JIS) and we are impressed with the school. His teacher seems great and he is making friends with the other kids in his class. He has more responsibilities now (and so do I, as well as a much earlier wake-up call!) and is being challenged in new and fun ways. He rides the bus to school and back and we both love that! He has also started playing soccer after school once/week and he really seems to like it. I am very relieved about this as he tends to give up very quickly and isn't very "sporty", but I think it would be good for him to be part of a sports activity and to learn about perseverance.

His first day of school

Coming home on the bus

At soccer practice

The bad news about C of late pertains to his teeth. Ever since he was conceived I have wished for him to inherit his father's teeth and his mother's eyes (J has had like 1 cavity his whole life and I have never had to wear glasses). Unfortunately though it seems that he has inherited my teeth, as at the tender age of 5 he has 1 deep cavity and another tooth needing a root canal. How this happens to a boy who brushes his teeth daily and doesn't eat very much candy or soda is beyond me, but it seems it must be genetic. So we have started brushing more earnestly and have also begun flossing (I mean, it seems cruel and unusual punishment that a 5 year old should have to floss!). In the meantime, however, we have to get his teeth fixed. Fortunately we finally found an excellent dentist in Jakarta, but by then he had already developed some fears (like having water sprayed in his mouth). We have spent numerous visits trying to overcome his fears and were just about ready to make a trip to Singapore so he could go under general anesthesia and get his teeth fixed. Fortunately though we tried one more time here in Jakarta and this time he learned to tolerate the nitrous oxide and it looks like we will be able to complete the work here. Thank goodness, as this will save him from being knocked out, save us a couple thousand dollars, and save 1-2 teeth from being extracted!

So there is C's life from the last 6 weeks in a nutshell!