At a week shy of 14 months, I think it's high time to post a bit more about what Isaac's been up to lately!
On April 13, Isaac took his first few steps to his Aunt Amy. He has since repeated this many times, letting go of one support to take a few steps to his momma, dadda, or the other couch. We've caught him standing up from the ground, rather than pulling himself up, on a few occasions. And he can stand by himself with no support, until he realizes that's what he's doing, and lowers himself onto his bum. The advantage is that this little boy has no fear, and is very interested in EVERYTHING, so he will probably be the kid who starts walking without quite realizing it. I have a feeling he'll be doing laps around the house in the next week or two!
Isaac has also recently (last Wednesday) decided to eat finger foods. His favorite is peanut butter and jelly sandwich (open-faced, cut into bite sized pieces). He has also eaten spaghetti, peas, broccoli, chicken nugget, and a few other things I'm forgetting. It's hit or miss, though. How does Isaac decide whether to eat something with his fingers? His decision tree:
1. Touch food. Is it too slippery to pick up?
Yes --> go to question #2 (example: banana)
No --> go to question #2 (example: everything else)
2. Can I smash it?
Yes --> smash with thumb until pulverized. Reject food because it is pulverized. (example: peas, any legume)
No --> attempt to smash with thumb, until it shoots across the tray. (example: melon) If it doesn't fly onto the floor, pick up and throw onto floor. (example: everything else)
3. Does it taste good? (accidentally put food in mouth to discover flavor, or be force-fed by momma)
Yes --> shovel remainder of food into mouth (example: PB&J, chicken nuggets, hot dog, broccoli)
No --> pick up and throw onto floor (example: everything else)
4. Am I full?
Yes --> pick up remaining food and throw onto floor; consider making baby sign for "all done"
No --> keep shoveling
He has been talking more and more, mimicking words and sounds all the time. He says momma, dadda, pop pop (papa), banana, uh oh, and the occasional "amen" or "all done" (or something similar). I think he's also said "ball". He knows and uses baby signs for "please" and "all done". He waves hello and goodbye, blows kisses, and gives the sweetest hugs and kisses you ever saw. He bats his long lashes at all the young ladies, but most especially at his momma. And he is a SNUGGLER. My word. If he is the least bit tired or not feeling well, his left pointer finger goes into his mouth and his head nuzzles down onto your shoulder.
Isaac delights in bath time with his big sister. They laugh and squeal together often, usually because they have gotten into some game of peek a boo or hide the toy. He wears a size 4 shoe and size 12 month or 12-18 month clothing. Socks are a lost cause. Toilet paper rolls and toilet water continue to be coveted items, but he responds well to "no touch". I rarely even have to smack his hand. He LOVES to open and close drawers, and empty and refill their contents. I let him do this unless it happens to be the drawer holding Joel's razor.
He usually takes two naps: one around 10-10:30 in the morning, and another around 3:30. That second nap has been hit or miss for the past month or so, depending on how long his first nap was. Also, I think he's teething right now. He's had six teeth for the longest time but has been super cranky lately. I do wonder, though, if it is just a developmental thing because this was the age Mikayla was when she started with her first tantrums. He is also the same age Mikayla was when Isaac was born. Does that seem crazy to anyone else?
Little brother is waking up so I'll cut this short. I think I hit the highlights!
Why I Don't Fear Homeschooling (Anymore)
We plan to homeschool.
Have I said this publicly before? I'm not sure. Those close to us may know that we have been strongly leaning in that direction for some time.
Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed at the thought. I am intimidated at the prospect of going through 800 curriculum packages not to mention a hodge podge of homeschooling blogs with free printables for flashcards, worksheets, coloring pages, and how will I ever pull together something remotely adequate, or know which curriculum has the greatest educational value for my family? It leaves my head spinning, to be honest.
Part of my feeling overwhelmed, though, is this sense that when we "start to homeschool", it's like I will have to flip a switch and bring a whole new level of structure and busy-ness to our already fairly busy lives. I will suddenly be required to arise while it is still dark and cook a hot breakfast so that my children will be sufficiently nourished to tackle the stacks of handouts and lap books and sensory tubs that I also prepared before the sun came up. My evenings will devolve into hours of grading, lesson planning, and stressing about how to get enough hours of school in when we really need to spend Friday cleaning and running errands.
Don't judge me too harshly, but I kind of like being awakened by my daughter padding into my room at the crack of 7:34 a.m. to announce that "I'm awake! Eat breakfast now?" I love that there is usually no deadline by which we need to be fed and dressed, so if we happen to want to snuggle or take spontaneous photos of someone's amazing bedhead, we can do that. I enjoy responding to my kids' needs throughout the day, feeding them when they're hungry, reading together when the mood strikes, and navigating around my own energy level and to-do list as well. I don't feel altogether prepared to give up this "lazy" (yeah, right) lifestyle in favor of three-ring binders and the pressure to gather around a wall calendar at 8:00 a.m. to describe the weather, name the day of the week, and count down to Christmas. Because most days I doubt that's going to happen until at least 9:07.
But then I read this article:
Part of my feeling overwhelmed, though, is this sense that when we "start to homeschool", it's like I will have to flip a switch and bring a whole new level of structure and busy-ness to our already fairly busy lives. I will suddenly be required to arise while it is still dark and cook a hot breakfast so that my children will be sufficiently nourished to tackle the stacks of handouts and lap books and sensory tubs that I also prepared before the sun came up. My evenings will devolve into hours of grading, lesson planning, and stressing about how to get enough hours of school in when we really need to spend Friday cleaning and running errands.
Don't judge me too harshly, but I kind of like being awakened by my daughter padding into my room at the crack of 7:34 a.m. to announce that "I'm awake! Eat breakfast now?" I love that there is usually no deadline by which we need to be fed and dressed, so if we happen to want to snuggle or take spontaneous photos of someone's amazing bedhead, we can do that. I enjoy responding to my kids' needs throughout the day, feeding them when they're hungry, reading together when the mood strikes, and navigating around my own energy level and to-do list as well. I don't feel altogether prepared to give up this "lazy" (yeah, right) lifestyle in favor of three-ring binders and the pressure to gather around a wall calendar at 8:00 a.m. to describe the weather, name the day of the week, and count down to Christmas. Because most days I doubt that's going to happen until at least 9:07.
But then I read this article:
Wait, what?? Homeschooling doesn't have to be so stressful? Morning snuggles are ok, educating and caring for my family and home can be done in a way that meshes with my biorhythms and personality! Homeschooling works BECAUSE it conforms to your family, rather than causing the family to conform to a bus schedule. Who woulda thunk.
Obviously, this was the most important point the author was trying to make: Lazy moms can homeschool too!
I am in no way condemning families who choose to public or private school their children. What I am saying, though, is that I am suddenly looking forward to homeschool days that start slowly and allow my children and me to be who we are. Joel and I love our kids, and believe in raising them to love learning. I doubt our kids are going to fall through the cracks academically if I don't have all my flashcards laminated before Mikayla turns three.
I feel like I can breathe again. And take my time sorting out the preschool homeschooling agenda. Already we read every day, Mikayla knows her alphabet, shapes, colors, and has a well-rounded vocabulary so far. She can run, hop, dance, and generally get dressed by herself as long as she doesn't have to match. She loves to match, sort, organize, build, and destroy. She enjoys imagining, pretending, singing, and narrating her every move. I'm pretty sure it is simply because 1) God made her to develop these skills, and 2) we include her in our everyday lives, conversations, and the life of the church (I didn't realize that teaching her catechism questions was considered a pre-reading skill!). That's it.
It's ok. I'm ok. A relaxed approach to homeschooling is ok. We will grow into the lesson plans and portfolios as the need arises. For now, I don't yet have my own laminator, labeler, or three-hole-punch, and it. is. ok.
I know there was a whole lot more in the article than what I've commented on, but I loved this relaxed, practical perspective on homeschooling from a mom who happens to be an M.D. Which, by the way, I've seen a few highly-educated women writing on the benefits of homeschooling lately, and it is refreshing to say the least. I like being able to point to this trend of educating at home even among the competitively-employed. Homeschooling: not just for skirt-wearing, flour-milling hippie moms! There are actual benefits to your family besides just protecting your children from the Big Bang theory and depriving them of social skills! Although, since we're being open and honest here, I would wear long skirts and mill my own flour in a heartbeat. I am way more crunchy than I look.
Seriously, though, I never really liked the idea that choosing to manage my children's education might make me appear controlling, religiously paranoid, or anti-social. I mean, I am all about sticking it to the man, but it has always been more about doing what's best for my children than about bucking the system.
At this point, I'm just rambling. Check out the link, reflect on reasons for homeschooling, and join me in celebrating the freedom to educate our children in what way seems best to each of us.
Obviously, this was the most important point the author was trying to make: Lazy moms can homeschool too!
I am in no way condemning families who choose to public or private school their children. What I am saying, though, is that I am suddenly looking forward to homeschool days that start slowly and allow my children and me to be who we are. Joel and I love our kids, and believe in raising them to love learning. I doubt our kids are going to fall through the cracks academically if I don't have all my flashcards laminated before Mikayla turns three.
I feel like I can breathe again. And take my time sorting out the preschool homeschooling agenda. Already we read every day, Mikayla knows her alphabet, shapes, colors, and has a well-rounded vocabulary so far. She can run, hop, dance, and generally get dressed by herself as long as she doesn't have to match. She loves to match, sort, organize, build, and destroy. She enjoys imagining, pretending, singing, and narrating her every move. I'm pretty sure it is simply because 1) God made her to develop these skills, and 2) we include her in our everyday lives, conversations, and the life of the church (I didn't realize that teaching her catechism questions was considered a pre-reading skill!). That's it.
It's ok. I'm ok. A relaxed approach to homeschooling is ok. We will grow into the lesson plans and portfolios as the need arises. For now, I don't yet have my own laminator, labeler, or three-hole-punch, and it. is. ok.
I know there was a whole lot more in the article than what I've commented on, but I loved this relaxed, practical perspective on homeschooling from a mom who happens to be an M.D. Which, by the way, I've seen a few highly-educated women writing on the benefits of homeschooling lately, and it is refreshing to say the least. I like being able to point to this trend of educating at home even among the competitively-employed. Homeschooling: not just for skirt-wearing, flour-milling hippie moms! There are actual benefits to your family besides just protecting your children from the Big Bang theory and depriving them of social skills! Although, since we're being open and honest here, I would wear long skirts and mill my own flour in a heartbeat. I am way more crunchy than I look.
Seriously, though, I never really liked the idea that choosing to manage my children's education might make me appear controlling, religiously paranoid, or anti-social. I mean, I am all about sticking it to the man, but it has always been more about doing what's best for my children than about bucking the system.
At this point, I'm just rambling. Check out the link, reflect on reasons for homeschooling, and join me in celebrating the freedom to educate our children in what way seems best to each of us.
Easter Highlights and Chronicles
Easter highlights:
Worshipping our resurrected Lord and Savior, complete with a choir introit and brass postlude at church. Alleluia!
Driving to New Jersey in our new (to us) Town & Country minivan. It felt like driving a mansion. Joel told me I looked like such a mom, passing out PB&J sandwiches from the back seat.
Watching Mikayla blow through her Easter basket, pausing only briefly to put on her new sunglasses and remark, "Dark in here!" She opened all of her own Easter eggs as well as Isaac's, and discovered a real affinity for jelly beans.
Enjoying a meal fit for royalty, prepared by my lovely and talented mother in law, including ham, potatoes, pineapple casserole, asparagus with feta, and a lovely Prosecco wine. Not to mention the birthday cake for dessert: a carrot cake made with pineapple and coconut and some delicious "diaper cream" frosting (Mikayla is easily confused; she turned down one frosted bite of cake initially because it had diaper cream on it! She also, however, learns quickly, and inhaled the rest.).
Being told by more than one person that I was channeling my inner Brittany. I am 99% sure it was the bangs and leggings. I take this as a high compliment, incidentally.
Come to think of it, the whole family looked super springy and adorable (well, one of us looked manly and handsome, but the rest of us looked cute!). The astute observer will notice that Mikayla is wearing the same pink dress that she wore to Isaac's baptism a year ago. This year, it actually fits. In my defense, last year I had a 14 month old and a newborn and was approximately four weeks postpartum. Anything pink was fair game; I'm not even sure "clean" was a criterion at that point. All that to say, we're moving onward and upward in the wardrobing department.
Want to see us in our Resurrection Day best?
I love that Scott and Becca's family made it into our family photo, in that perfectly framed spot between Joel and me.
And Easter chronicles:
One of my top favorite things about this Easter, though, was looking back over the past three Easters and marveling at the Lord's gracious providence. Three years ago, I was actually miscarrying our first pregnancy on Easter morning after years of trying to conceive. I remember thinking to myself that Easter would never be the same, that it would always bear a reminder to me of loss - and yet how comforting that it was simultaneously the celebration of eternal life! Remarkably, two years ago, we treasured Mikayla's presence at three months old. It was poignant evidence of God's promise to turn our mourning into dancing, and we were astonished that He did this so tangibly for us. Her middle name is Grace, to remind us of what she means to us as a gift of the Lord's generosity.
Then, just one year ago, to heap grace upon grace, God surprised us with Isaac as well. As you might guess from his name, we laughed at the Lord's overflowing bounty in giving us a second child so soon! And this year, the four of us packed into our minivan, something we've been praying and saving for, a gift that makes me wonder what the Lord has in store for next Easter! Plenty of room for another car seat! (I've been saying things like this a lot lately; I think it's because some of my dearest are pregnant or have young babies, and it makes me look forward to the next one, should God grant us another child.)
God is good beyond all our comprehension. I feel humbly grateful that His goodness has been evident in such obvious ways to us. In whatever circumstances, whether His goodness is clearly seen or veiled by suffering, I pray He always turns my heart toward Himself and makes me more like Christ through it all.
"Oh, the depths of the riches, the wisdom of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
'For who has known the mind of God, or who has been His counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?'
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."
[Romans 11:33-36]
Worshipping our resurrected Lord and Savior, complete with a choir introit and brass postlude at church. Alleluia!
Driving to New Jersey in our new (to us) Town & Country minivan. It felt like driving a mansion. Joel told me I looked like such a mom, passing out PB&J sandwiches from the back seat.
Watching Mikayla blow through her Easter basket, pausing only briefly to put on her new sunglasses and remark, "Dark in here!" She opened all of her own Easter eggs as well as Isaac's, and discovered a real affinity for jelly beans.
Enjoying a meal fit for royalty, prepared by my lovely and talented mother in law, including ham, potatoes, pineapple casserole, asparagus with feta, and a lovely Prosecco wine. Not to mention the birthday cake for dessert: a carrot cake made with pineapple and coconut and some delicious "diaper cream" frosting (Mikayla is easily confused; she turned down one frosted bite of cake initially because it had diaper cream on it! She also, however, learns quickly, and inhaled the rest.).
Being told by more than one person that I was channeling my inner Brittany. I am 99% sure it was the bangs and leggings. I take this as a high compliment, incidentally.
Come to think of it, the whole family looked super springy and adorable (well, one of us looked manly and handsome, but the rest of us looked cute!). The astute observer will notice that Mikayla is wearing the same pink dress that she wore to Isaac's baptism a year ago. This year, it actually fits. In my defense, last year I had a 14 month old and a newborn and was approximately four weeks postpartum. Anything pink was fair game; I'm not even sure "clean" was a criterion at that point. All that to say, we're moving onward and upward in the wardrobing department.
Want to see us in our Resurrection Day best?
I love that Scott and Becca's family made it into our family photo, in that perfectly framed spot between Joel and me.
And Easter chronicles:
One of my top favorite things about this Easter, though, was looking back over the past three Easters and marveling at the Lord's gracious providence. Three years ago, I was actually miscarrying our first pregnancy on Easter morning after years of trying to conceive. I remember thinking to myself that Easter would never be the same, that it would always bear a reminder to me of loss - and yet how comforting that it was simultaneously the celebration of eternal life! Remarkably, two years ago, we treasured Mikayla's presence at three months old. It was poignant evidence of God's promise to turn our mourning into dancing, and we were astonished that He did this so tangibly for us. Her middle name is Grace, to remind us of what she means to us as a gift of the Lord's generosity.
Then, just one year ago, to heap grace upon grace, God surprised us with Isaac as well. As you might guess from his name, we laughed at the Lord's overflowing bounty in giving us a second child so soon! And this year, the four of us packed into our minivan, something we've been praying and saving for, a gift that makes me wonder what the Lord has in store for next Easter! Plenty of room for another car seat! (I've been saying things like this a lot lately; I think it's because some of my dearest are pregnant or have young babies, and it makes me look forward to the next one, should God grant us another child.)
God is good beyond all our comprehension. I feel humbly grateful that His goodness has been evident in such obvious ways to us. In whatever circumstances, whether His goodness is clearly seen or veiled by suffering, I pray He always turns my heart toward Himself and makes me more like Christ through it all.
"Oh, the depths of the riches, the wisdom of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
'For who has known the mind of God, or who has been His counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?'
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."
[Romans 11:33-36]
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