Maryam singing the alphabet song to the Jeopardy theme music.

Watch "Maryam singing "Alphardy"" on YouTube

More singing from Maryam's kindergarten promotion

Watch "Maryam singing "Count to 100 by 1's"" on YouTube

Maryam does the Tooty Ta at her Kindergarten Promotion

Watch "Maryam does the "Tooty Ta"" on YouTube

Kindergarten Graduation

4 years to the day from when Maryam graduated CHOC feeding clinic, she graduated kindergarten!!!! Hooray! We are very proud of all of her accomplishments. We know that most parents are proud of all of their children's milestones, we also know that not all children get to meet their milestones. We will always be grateful when Maryam meets a milestone and accomplishes something great. 

Maryam thrived in school. She met and exceeded all of the academic standards for kindergarten. I know all parents worry about their child struggling in school, but when you're told from the beginning that everything is going to be a struggle, you worry a little more. 

Here are some pictures from her "Kindergarten Celebration".  Brett will post video to the blog later today or later in the week. Enjoy!

Maryam & Charlie our Kindergarten graduates

Our little family

Maryam & her teacher Mrs. Vanatta

Maryam twirling her way back to her seat after collecting her diploma

Maryam, Mommy, & Jax

Maryam & Mommy

Jax & Addison

Maryam & Jax, he's so proud of his big sissy!

Love, simple love

Mother's Day Lunch with my Kindergartner

Punkin and I 

Maryam reading me a story. She chose One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Enjoying a cupcake

Kissy face!

Kindergarten update

Maryam started out the school year in a Kinder-1st grade combo class. After the 10 day count and a week to hire a new teacher, Maryam was placed in an all Kinder class. Her new teacher is Armenian! Her name is Miss Margosian. She's very nice. Maryam likes her but also really liked her last teacher too.
Maryam did really well in her kindergarten assessment. She was selected for a Kindergarten Enrichment program. Two days a week she stays late and gets to participate in fun kindergarten activities. There are only 12 students in the program, there are over 100 kindergartners in her school. Because the class size for Enrichment is so small, she gets to spend time in the computer lab and play fun games like BINGO! She really likes her long days. She always has a lot to say at the end of those days.
Maryam is still struggling with lunch. She picks what she wants to take for lunch everyday. Most days she brings the majority of her lunch home with her. I have her sit down and finish her lunch before she runs off to play.
As far as homework goes, I limit her to about 15 minutes a night. The crazy thing is, she can finish almost her whole week of homework in one night! So I've changed her homework plan. Instead of limiting her time, I count out the pages of homework and have her do a few pages a night. She loves reading! She reads 15 minutes every night. She would rather read to me than have me read to her. That's pretty cool.
Maryam has received 2 awards since she started school! She got a Star Student Award and a TRRFCC Award for being responsible and showing respect. I'm so proud of The Punkin.

First day of Kindergarten

Sigh, I sighed all Sunday night while I helped Maryam pick out which dress she wanted to wear for her first day of school. I sighed as I helped her decide what to put in her lunchbox. I sighed as I brushed her teeth and got her good night snack ready. I sighed as I hung up her backpack next to my keys and purse. Sigh, sigh, sigh
I sighed after I tucked her in and we went through our "I Love You's" routine.
Me- I love you
M- I love you too
Me- I love you more
M- I love you most
I sighed after I gave her a cup of water and one last good night kiss. I sighed as I walked down the hall and sat on the couch. Then I sighed one last time right before I started to cry.
I think milestones are one of those things that are very difficult for mothers. I think part of us doesn't want our little babies to grow up. But I think the control freak in us is actually afraid. Afraid that we won't be their protector all day, everyday anymore. Now they're in the hands of their teachers. We aren't there to protect them from bullies or to kiss their knees when they fall down on the playground or open their chip bag at lunch.
To me, Maryam is one of a kind. My little girl. My miracle. The baby that lived when lets face it, no one really thought she would. Now she's one of 32 other children. She's just another face in the crowd. That kills me. I totally get why people homeschool. I'm terrified. I feel like I've spent every waking moment since 5:26 pm on December 9, 2006 keeping her alive.
Needless to say, I'm having a difficult time with Maryam starting school.
In good news, she is not! We've done such a great job installing confidence and independence that she had no problem with going to school! She was excited about meeting her teacher, finding her seat with her name on it, and meeting new friends. She didn't understand why some of the other children were crying. She asked why they were sad and crying. She was content with our response and told us she was going to have fun in kindergarten.
When the teacher told the parents that it was time to go, I sighed again, gave my punkin a hug and a kiss and tried to hold my composure until I got out of the door. I failed. As soon as I turned away from her, the tears began to roll down my cheeks. Thank goodness for sunglasses.
Four hours later I went to pick her up. She came walking out with the line of kids riding the bus. She was disappointed to learn that she wouldn't be riding the bus home. She had a good day. She ate almost all of her lunch! Papa and I took the kids to get ice cream cones to celebrate Maryam's first day of kindergarten.

It ended up a good day.

Eating her pancake

Family photo

Posing for a picture

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Maryam and Merric in their seats

drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast

Boogie and Daddy

Mommy and The Punkin

Mrs. Ritz and Maryam

Sissy and Brother

Heading into class

Dropping off her backpack