We brought our new baby, Alaina home a week ago today. My parents left on Friday morning so we have had 2 whole days to be a family of 4, without any outside help. What a difference a week, 2 weeks make.
2 weeks ago, I was trying to soak up the last couple days with Connor knowing it was the last time he would be an only child, our only child. The last time we would devote 100% attention to whatever he needed. No divided attention. No juggling between the wants and needs of more than one child.
A week ago, I was in heavenly bliss snuggling with my new precious daughter, oblivious to any of the world outside. A week ago, I was doped up on heavy narcotics, drifting lazily in and out of sleep/sedated sleep and peacefully aware of my daughter's coo's and cries.
Now, here we are. 2 worlds meshed into one. The joy of having a new baby at home, the circus act of giving Connor what he wants and Alaina what she needs. We are really lucky because Alaina is the exact opposite of Connor. She sleeps constantly (for now) and her sweet, lamb-like cries are few and far between. She only really "wails" when she is cold. We are doubly-blessed because Connor adores her. We still have a lot to teach him about the word gentle and keeping our voices at an indoor level but otherwise, he wants to hold her, kiss her, hug her and love on her constantly. He wants to give her his toys, bring her clothes or burp clothes, takes her diapers to the garbage...he is really taken to being the big brother.
I am fully aware that there are going to be trying days ahead when both of them give us a run for our money on the same day. We will deal when that day comes, but for now, I loving life as a mommy of 2. I am praising my Lord for continuously blessing my family beyond what my imagination can dream to ask of Him.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Feeling Motivated
I spent a lot of time yesterday creating. I made a calendar for the remainder of the year for Connor's at-home school journey. I figured out "lesson plans," so to speak, through the middle of March. I got all my supplies together so we can work through these things and I am so motivated to get working with him.
Just as reference, our current line-up is as follows:
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (starting on Monday). Activities include:
Just as reference, our current line-up is as follows:
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (starting on Monday). Activities include:
- Counting Butterflies
- A Color Matching Game
- A Caterpillar Shape Game
- A mini book with letters from the food the caterpillar eats through
- On Friday, we will probablydo some kind of craft tying in with the caterpillar/butterfly
2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear
3. Feelings
4. Valentine's Day
5. Numbers
6. Shapes
7. Colors
8. Ocean Animals
9. Big Machines
We are taking a break after this because we will be traveling to Ohio and Michigan.
I am so pumped for all the cool and innovative things I am finding to start working on with Connor. My fear is that all this motivation will fall by the wayside the second Alaina is born...hope I can stay focused on both kids!
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Wild Hair (and a Revelation)
As I was perusing Facebook yesterday morning I stumbled across a feed that I "liked" and it said "free chore chart at blah blah blah website." Hmmm...I have been tinkering with chore charts on and off for almost a year with Connor. I made one on an word document, would print it out and then Connor would get a sticker for each chore (or behavior). The problem ended up being that Connor wanted to wear the stickers instead of placing them in the appropriate square or I would be lazy and forget to print it off...so the chore chart really became more of a hassle for us than teaching Connor good manners and responsibilities around the house.
I decided to click on the link and check out this "free" chore chart. Sure enough, a free chore chart that is AWESOME! On a side note, I have been eyeing the Melissa & Doug Chore Chart for months and don't get end up getting it because it only functions for 1 child. This new chore chart- I can put as many kids on there as I want (including Mommy and Daddy!!) It will take a little bit of work to get it all put together, but I love the idea behind what this particular mom is doing.
Actually, I love the ideas she is doing so much, I started researching home schooling. Now, let me clarify that I have no intention or desire to homeschool my kids. I am not equipped with the knowledge base or patient enough to want to homeschool my kids. However, as the child of an educator, I am passionate about finding "teaching" moments constantly. Always trying to develop in Connor (and eventually Alaina) a deep yearing to learn, to discover and to provide them with a desire to soak up everything they are being taught. Connor is more than half-way through the school year and I am stunned at everything his little sponge of a brain absorbs and retains. The things that come out of his mouth shock me; not because they are bad or off-color but because they sound more like things coming out of grown-up's mouths than a 2-year-olds. I love that he is learning his ABC's. Not just the song, but the actual letters and is capable of telling you the sound each letter (through "o") makes. But it makes me wonder about what I am doing here at home with him. Studies have proven that this is age where kids will learn more than they ever will in their entire lifetime. The brain is able to, like I said, sponge up more information in these few short years than it will the rest of their lives. Can I encourage and reinforce more than what he is learning at school? Wasn't that part of the job description I signed up for when making the choice to be a stay-at-home mom?
So here I am, knees deep, in the abundance of information available to stay-at-home moms/homeschooling moms. I have found a treasure trove of resources to help my children in fun, creative, inventive ways continue to learn and I couldn't be more thrilled. I need to sift through all the stuff I have found, but for the remainder of the school year, we are going to focus on colors, shapes, and numbers. I think the first thing we are going to try is reinforcement of Brown Bear, Brown Bear (one of Connor's favorites) and work from there. I will keep you updated and let you know how it goes!
I decided to click on the link and check out this "free" chore chart. Sure enough, a free chore chart that is AWESOME! On a side note, I have been eyeing the Melissa & Doug Chore Chart for months and don't get end up getting it because it only functions for 1 child. This new chore chart- I can put as many kids on there as I want (including Mommy and Daddy!!) It will take a little bit of work to get it all put together, but I love the idea behind what this particular mom is doing.
Actually, I love the ideas she is doing so much, I started researching home schooling. Now, let me clarify that I have no intention or desire to homeschool my kids. I am not equipped with the knowledge base or patient enough to want to homeschool my kids. However, as the child of an educator, I am passionate about finding "teaching" moments constantly. Always trying to develop in Connor (and eventually Alaina) a deep yearing to learn, to discover and to provide them with a desire to soak up everything they are being taught. Connor is more than half-way through the school year and I am stunned at everything his little sponge of a brain absorbs and retains. The things that come out of his mouth shock me; not because they are bad or off-color but because they sound more like things coming out of grown-up's mouths than a 2-year-olds. I love that he is learning his ABC's. Not just the song, but the actual letters and is capable of telling you the sound each letter (through "o") makes. But it makes me wonder about what I am doing here at home with him. Studies have proven that this is age where kids will learn more than they ever will in their entire lifetime. The brain is able to, like I said, sponge up more information in these few short years than it will the rest of their lives. Can I encourage and reinforce more than what he is learning at school? Wasn't that part of the job description I signed up for when making the choice to be a stay-at-home mom?
So here I am, knees deep, in the abundance of information available to stay-at-home moms/homeschooling moms. I have found a treasure trove of resources to help my children in fun, creative, inventive ways continue to learn and I couldn't be more thrilled. I need to sift through all the stuff I have found, but for the remainder of the school year, we are going to focus on colors, shapes, and numbers. I think the first thing we are going to try is reinforcement of Brown Bear, Brown Bear (one of Connor's favorites) and work from there. I will keep you updated and let you know how it goes!
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