TGIF! Week in Review

Ahh!  Friday! What a week it has been!  Here are some of the highlights:

Elementary School Elections:  It was all about the Silly Banz.  Mark kept asking what that had to do with being treasurer.  McKinley just told him he had a lot to learn about Elementary School Elections.

Everest's choice of outfits:  Notice how prepared he is for his getting ready routine.  He has the brush, hand mirror, toothbrush, and toothpaste all set and ready to go.  For the record... I let him chose which item of clothing he wanted to change: the Darth Vader shirt, plaid shorts, or the long pirate socks!  Thank goodness he chose to change the shorts.

Walking to school:

Walking to school is fun, but it can be exhausting! Look how attentive Hagen is.  He sits upright and notices every little thing!  I love every second!

Eating small LEGOS:  No matter where I move them, he seems to find the little pieces!  Another Future Engineer? 

Eating:  Do you think he got any down the hatch?

We bathe him after every meal!

It's been a great week!

~A

Hello again!

Hello?

Mini Version of Me

McKinley has half of my DNA.
She looks like me.
At times, she acts like me.
She likes some of the things I like, and sometimes we even say the same things at the EXACT same time.
And yet, she is not me.

I'd like her to be more like me.
Or would I? 
What I really think is that I'd like her to be everything I am not. 

I find myself pushing her in the directions I wish I would have gone.  I want her to be smarter than me, to make smarter choices.  I want her to be a singer, a pianist, an artist, a dancer, a golfer, a tennis star. 
I want her to be able to do the splits and back handsprings so she can be a cheerleader. 

I wonder what McKinley thinks of when she thinks of me? 
Does she see that I was once a little girl who grew up trying all the things listed above? 
Or does she see a woman obsessed with keeping the house tidy, the baby fed, and the laundry done?

I'd like her to see that I am just like her. 
I am a nine year old girl whose life may be almost half over, but who feels like it is just beginning. 
I still want to be good at something. 

I want to be a pianist, a dancer, a singer, a golfer, a tennis star.
I want to be her cheerleader! 
I want her to know I love God, her Dad, her, and her brothers, more than I love anything or anyone on this earth. 
I want her to know that although sometimes it doesn't seem true, I also love myself, and I love what I do. 

If she could realize this sooner than later, that would be great.  In the meantime, I am going to accept this little "mini version of me" for what she is: herself.

Book Review: The Flightless Goose

Have you ever seen something happen in nature and think, "that would make a terrific children's story book?"  Well, Eric D. Goodman did just that in his story, Flightless Goose, illustrated by Nataliya A. Goodman. 

Gilbert was just like all of his other geese friends.  He liked to swim, play, and fly.  Until one day something terrible happened and he was no longer able to fly. 

Read the story to see how this made Gilbert feel, and to see how the other geese in his flock treated him because he was different.  In the end, you will see how being different made Gilbert a hero!

This book is a story about friendship, tolerance and self worth.  It is a story about being different and wanting to belong.  It is a story about a hero named Gilbert.



Beautiful watercolor illustrations!



There is an amazing website for kids that goes along with the story.  The website introduces the main character, Gilbert, and treats the viewers to a sneak peek of some of the awesome book illustrations.  Kids visiting the website are encouraged to leave a comment, listen to sounds, and guess "what happens next."  There is an oppurtunity to purchase this wonderful story direct from the website, and you will receive two free gifts! 

Check it out:

http://www.flightlessgoose.com/

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Baby Signs

Today I want to share Hagen's Baby Signs with you.  He finds great satisfaction in pleasing me with this form of communication.  It is extremely hard to capture these little signs on camera (sorry for the blurry pics), but here goes:

"More"

"Eat"

"All Done"

"Nurse" or "Milk" (It's a stretch to see this one.  It's with his left hand)

"Stop making me sign Mommy!"

I have used Baby Signing with all of my babies.  It is a wonderful way of communicating with them, and cuts down on the tantrums and the fussing during those impossible toddler days.  I was lucky enough to take a couple of college level signing classes many years ago (thanks Heather), but anyone can learn basic signs and teach them to their baby. 

I recently discovered several FREE APPS on iTunes that teach sign language with pictures and video.  My older kids love to "play" with those, and it is a great way to get everyone involved.  I also have heard wonderful things about the show, "Baby Signing Time".  Here is their link: http://www.signingtime.com/

Here is a book I've read on the subject:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_L4DnxWOJK4C&dq=baby+signs&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=gy-iTJW9LIeWsgPM-ImyAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Here are my two words of advice for teaching your baby to sign:

Be Persistent-  I probably look foolish signing the same thing over and over again all the while my baby stares back at me and does nothing.  I repeat the sign every single time I use the word I am trying to teach.  Then one day like magic, he makes the sign!  Just like that.  Not only does he make the sign, but he does it with determination and satisfaction written all over his face.  Very rewarding!

Be Consistent-  Go ahead, make up your own signs! As long as you are consistent, and your signs are meaningful to you and your baby, then they will work.  No need to have your nose in a sign book, and no need to be sure you are "doing it right."  Repetition is the key!

Here are the other signs we have mastered or that we are working on:

ball, light, please, hurt, music, hot, water, bird,



Kitty



I will admit sometimes Hagen gets things all messed up and just starts waving his arms all around in the air as if to say, "Come on! don't you understand me?!"  Babies are smart that way...

~A

One Month Down!

Yesterday marked the one month anniversary of my personal blogging challenge*.  Wow, who knew it would be so difficult to find the time each day to type out my thoughts!  I now know that blogging on the weekends is virtually impossible, but oh the material my family gives me to write about! 

Looking back at this past month, here is my brief, five bullet point reflection:

• Hagen likes to make dirty diapers when we least expect it. 
• Everest is trying to find his "self control" at school.
• McKinley's social life keeps us all running.
• Mark says the funniest things without even knowing it.
• I need to face my fear of cooking.

Thank you all for visiting my blog and commenting.  It keeps me motivated to know someone is actually reading it.  Now on to my second month!

~A

* for those of you who may have missed my personal challenge, you can read about it here:
http://ohsevenheaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/voices-in-my-head.html