First Day of Homeschool

"The A says 'ah,' the A says 'ah,' every letter makes a sound, the A says 'ah'!

Apologies in advance if you continue to have that song ringing through your ears the rest of the day...I know I did. But you know what? I love it. I have been terrified nervous about this day for months. I have been worrying myself to death over how I would start homeschooling the kids and how they would react. And you know what? they LOVED it. And so did I! I can do this!

I'm not going to get into a debate here about homeschool versus public or private school. I know  awesome homeschooled people and amazing traditionally schooled folks (myself included). And on top of that, I know unbelievable homeschooling mommies and just as many working and stay at home moms who do not homeschool. Everyone is different and isn't that great? I am beginning down the road of Homeschooling because John and I have prayed about it and it is what is best for our family...right now.

So today we started a preK program loosely following the Letter of the Week curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler. With my own stuff mixed in (thank you Pinterest.) A lot will be review for Nicolaus since he went to preschool last year. My goal is to have both he and Carleigh up to speed to begin a Kindergarten curriculum next year. Nicolaus is showing pre-reading interest so I plan on working on that with him also.

Hopefully you will enjoy coming along with us on our Homeschool adventure as the three of us learn together. Below is just the start of what we did today. If you are a homeschooling mom and have any tips or tricks to share, please do! And I appreciate any and all prayers for our family as we head down this road.

WW | PreSchool!

Babies Grow Up

Really, they do. One supporting piece of evidence comes from this weeks big Announcement! Drum Roll Please! Nicolaus is no longer wearing diapers! He has been daytime potty-trained for some time, but usually soaks a diaper at naptime and by the time he wakes up in the morning. But something in his little body has obviously clicked. He has been dry for over a week. He told me yesterday evening after his bath that he doesn't want to wear them at all anymore. Whoohoo for saving about $350/year  my big boy's milestone! 


And here's the kicker! Not only is my little man no longer in diapers, but somehow I have to face the fact that he will start pre-school in September. Several people who know me well have commented about how I better have a box of tissues in the car, and my response has been how he is ready and Mommy is ready too. But today as I was laying in bed with him at naptime rubbing his back and listening to him ask me if I could just stay there and sleep with him...my heart completely melted and for the first time realized my baby is growing up. I mean REALLY growing up. I was able to hold back the tears this afternoon, but come that first day of school, I'm not so sure. On the one hand, I am excited and eager for him to go out on his own to learn, grow and discover. On the other, I just want to preserve the kind, sensitive, happy, loving and outgoing little boy who will always be my baby. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for blessing my family with love, health, and happiness. Be with us as we meet milestones and continue growth individually and together. Give me the strength to "let go" and allow my children to discover their true selves. Help me to foster in them a continued desire to know You and live a life lifted up by Your Grace and faith in what You have promised. I/we can't do it without You. Amen

No More Wuh-Wuh

Carleigh has said good-bye to her Wuh-Wuh (or pacifier), and it happened without planning on anyone's part. Last week when John put her to bed, she fell asleep without it and we haven't offered it since. This makes the sixth day in a row she hasn't had it. She has asked for it only a couple times and I have successfully been able to distract her with a toy or food and she forgets about it. Hooray! I am so happy we will easily be able to capture her beautiful smile in pictures now instead of trying to coax the piece of plastic from her. Don't get me wrong, I am greatful to have used pacifiers with both my kids...they (or maybe I) needed them, but I'm happy when we don't need them anymore...except for the fact that it means my baby girl is growing up!

Carleigh's First Haircut

Yesterday Carleigh hit a big milestone...she got her first haircut! I think its pretty amazing because it seemed to take forever for her hair to grow even a little bit. It was only last Easter that I was able to put a bow in her hair and just recently she has been sporting pigtails (if I can get her to sit still long enough for me to do it). But because of her slow/sporadic hair growth, her hair was all different lengths. So yesterday Tara of Hairspray Salon in Woodstock, VA gave her a haircut! Just enough off the back to bring it all to one length and a bit of a trim in front so she has actual bangs. Our baby looks so much like a big girl now!

Waiting patiently while her brother gets his hair cut

Before 

During

After!

Daily Habits

We all have daily habits, little routines we are accustomed to following. Even my little ones, 3 and 21 months have certain things that must occur every morning or the rest of the day just doesn't seem right or even can suffer because of it. For instance, every day after they hug and kiss their Daddy goodbye, Nicolaus watches out our back door to see when John pulls his truck out of the garage. He shouts, "He's driving!" to Carleigh and we all race to the front door, open it and wave at John as he passes by, honking and waving right back at us. Every once in a while Nicolaus will get preoccupied by a yummy breakfast or pretend play with his trucks and forget to keep his vigil by the door. When he realizes he has messed up his ritual, the little guy just falls apart. Even once he is cheered up, throughout the day he will remind me in the saddest toddler tone "We didn't wave at Daddy this morning."

Prayer is like that for me. When I devote a chunk of time to praise, worship and petition God, the day is just better. I feel lighter, like I can go through my day with purpose and worry free. On the days when I let life just happen and pile up without me giving it all to God, something is just off. So in this 2012 Season of Lent, instead of giving up something like chocolate, soda or pasta, I'm adding something to my life.  For the next 40 days I will seriously commit part of my day to prayer. I am embarassed to admit I already don't have a daily prayer habit, and most days I do say a little prayer here and there, and we always say a prayer at mealtime (Carleigh and Nicolaus don't let us forget that one). But I certainly do not have what one would call a daily prayer habit, or at least not one that will help me to know God and myself the way I need to.

Dear Heavenly Father, as I begin this journey to building a better prayer habit, help me to center my life around You and your purpose for me. Help me make the time every day to slow down and reflect on you, and remind myself that it is all about you, God. Help me to read the Bible with what it will take to truly know and understand You. Thank you for this life, your greatest sacrifice and all that is to come.

Amen

Happy 3rd Birthday Nicolaus! | Then and Now

Three

Nicolaus,

I can hardly believe when you wake up tomorrow morning you will be a three year old! Someday when you are a parent you will understand the bittersweet emotions your child's birthday can bring. I am so excited for what you will discover in the next year of your life, yet a little sad the last year has gone by so quickly. You are my greatest joy and I thank God for blessing your Daddy and me with you. Your excitement and raw zeal for life I hope never goes away. You are sensitive, smart, fun, funny, handsome, outgoing and oh so loving. You love music, learning, and absolutely adore your sister. I just know you will be best buddies forever. I enjoy being silly with you and being a comfort for you. I hope you always know you can be your true self with me. One of my favorite parts of the day is snuggling with you in bed at night, singing you one last song and hearing you say "I love you Mommy," as I close the door. I love you too, Nicolaus!


Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you have created, but most of all thank you for the family you created on the day Nicolaus was born. On this eve of his third birthday, I pray for guidance in being the kind of parent you want me to be and leading both my children with the grace they deserve. Help me to lift up and encourage Nicolaus in all the things which make him unique. Help me to find patience on days when all I feel is frustration. Help me to offer them the tools they need to be morally strong and spiritually motivated. Ultimately help me fill them with the knowledge of your love and compassion. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Look Out World, Here She Comes!

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but our little girl is walking! How is it possible she has reached this milestone already? Honestly it feels like we just brought Nicolaus' little sister home from the hospital last week, not last year. So where will your little legs take you precious Carleigh? Mommy can only imagine...

We Have a One Year Old!

* 19 lbs 13 oz
* 29.25 inches
* Laughing like a little chipmunk
* Eating everything
* Almost walking
* Still taking 2 naps most days
* Pointing at everything
* Starting to play with stacking toys
* Likes to "sing" along with Nicolaus
* Identifies her fingers and toes
* Words: Kitty, Mama, Dada, Pretty, Ball, Nana (for banana)
* Still a Mommy's Girl

It's Potty Time!

That's right! Nicolaus is learning to use the potty. We are on day 5, and I have to say he is doing great so far. From all the information I have read, I knew he was ready. He stays dry for long periods of time; he knows what pee-pee and poo-poo are and calls them by name; he tells us when he has gone and needs a diaper change; and he can pull up and down his pants fairly well. In addition, he communicates excellently for a two-year-old; initiates all sorts of pretend play; and wants to do everything all on his own. The experts say all these things are important. Additionally, the Karen Katz book A Potty For Me that was a gift from Nanny is one of his faveorite books at storytime. So when he went #1 and #2 on the potty on Monday, I asked him if he wants to wear big kid underwear instead of diapers and he was all about it. He picked out his own Yo Gabba Gabba and Toy Story underwear and the training began. The first day he had two accidents and the second day he had four, but since then he has stayed dry except for a teeny dribble here and there. Hooray for Nicolaus! We are still using diapers at night until he gets the daytime routine down. Those same experts say night training takes longer to master anyway. Our little boy is getting so big!

Bye-Bye Sissa!

Yesterday was a big day in our house...I mean HUGE. Nicolaus said goodbye to his pacifier, or his "sissa" as he likes to call it. In the morning I asked him if he wanted to be a big boy and say goodbye to his sissa and he said, "Yes." So I seized the moment, shoved it in my pocket and told him how proud Mommy is of him. He asked for it a few times and I just reminded him that he said goodbye to it and that Mommy is really proud of her big boy. Then came naptime. He didn't ask for it, but he threw a huge fit, basically as if he were refusing to nap. Yelling, screaming, banging on the crib. How his sister slept through forty-five minutes of that I have no idea. I stood firm though, and eventually he fell asleep for about an hour and a half. He did not ask for it again, not even at bedtime when Daddy read him stories and put him down for the night. Plus, he slept through the night until close to 7am.

Today he has asked for it a couple times, but when I remind him how he said bye-bye to his sissa, he comments that his Mommy is so proud with a huge grin on his face. I really love this little guy. He is getting to be such a big boy. (Geeze, am I ready for him to grow up?) So, no longer will we have pictures like those below where I want to capture his beautiful smile, but instead get a mouthful of plastic. No more will I have to chase after it in the grocery when he has thrown it from the cart. Never again will I have to feel around on the floor in the dark when he wakes up in the middle of the night asking for it. Bye-bye Sissa!

9 Months!

Baby Girl you are swiftly approaching one year and you show no signs of slowing down, ever. This has been one heck of a busy month! You are doing so many new things Mommy and Daddy cannot keep up.

* 17.75 lbs
* 2 teeth (though a 3rd seems to be just about here)
* Waved and Clapped for the first time
* Said "Ma-Ma" (can I just note that I am thrilled here)
* Pulling yourself up to standing
* Like to put the balls in the Drop and Giggle
* You want to be wherever your brother is
* Can play "So Big!"
* You got the flu!
* You love pulling hair--your own as well as others

A Day to Remember

What a day to remember. Nicolaus asked to sit in his potty and actually went pee pee. AND, Carleigh finally ate three meals of solids. What a great day with my two sweeties! Now Mommy needs to get on the ball and figure out what should be next in this whole potty training experience and decide how the heck I will coordinate feeding Little Miss while the rest of us are also trying to eat...or throw our food (but I'll let you figure out who is doing that).

8 Months Old!

Our Sweet little girl is already 8 months old! What a busy month it has been! You celebrated your first Christmas, started crawling, sitting up on your own, and even caught your first cold. You now enjoy playing with toys and don't scream or cry when mommy is out of your sight. You are so beautiful and looking alot like your brother did at the same age. We love watching you learn and grow!

* 17 lbs
* 2 teeth
* Stage 2 foods - has no real interest in eating
* Sleeping better though still getting up 2 times a night
* Crawling
* sitting up on her own
* making LOTS more noise
* Loves to "play farm" with her brother

Our Six Month Old Girl!

* 16 lbs and 25.5 inches
* Terrible sleeper both day and night
* Sits up briefly on her own
* Eating more of a variety of foods
* Delighted at the sound of her own voice
* Loves Roxy
* Knows how to get what she wants already

It really amazes me how close in age yet TOTALLY different my two kids can be!

You Are 5 Months Baby Girl!

You are 5 months old today my sweet Carleigh. You:

* Weigh 15 lbs
* Still have no teeth (though sometimes it feels like it)
* Have the sweetest smile
* Laugh with silly giggles
* Adore your big brother
* Are starting to enjoy playing with toys
* Roll from back to tummy to back to tummy again
* Don't let Mommy sleep
* Eat cereal two times a day
* Are happiest when Mommy holds you

23 Months!

* 27 lbs
* 16 teeth
* Having fun with pretend play
* Loves to play peekaboo with his sister and giving her hugs and kisses
* Still loves all things truck and likes to build with blocks
* Recognizes when something is a letter or a number
* Likes singing songs with Mommy and playing tackle with Daddy
* His language skills have increased exponentially in the last few weeks
* Continues to be VERY outgoing, saying hi and bye to everyone he sees
* Enjoys going to church and Bible study

(Note: Nicolaus has had a haircut since this picture was taken)

4 Fast Months!

Carleigh is 4 months old...and look who is ready for Fall!

* 13.9 lbs and 24.25 inches
* Naps really well but doesn't sleep so well at night
* Holds her head up on her own
* Starting to show interest in toys, really loves watching her brother
* Has had her first taste of cereal
* Smiles ALL the time
* Loves to laugh at everything her brother does

22 Months

* 29 lbs
* 14 teeth
* Down to one nap a day
* Putting together phrases we can actually understand! Some of his favorites:
Trash truck comes today
A new diaper
Sissy sleeping, ssh
* Enjoys telling us who things belong to (Daddy's shoes, Kitty's food, etc.)
* Sometimes he will lay down to play with his toys
* Says "tickle, tickle" and will try to tickle you
* Goes "Mwah" before giving a big kiss
* Likes to sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider with mommy and can almost do the hand gestures
* Starting to learn the ABC song...well, he at least has the melody right