IHF- On Your Feet!

I love my baby's feet!

 

 http://www.iheartfaces.com/

School/Awana

(yes, we started Labor Day)

Well, I am happy to report that we survived the first week of Preschool and Tot School.  The months of planning definitely make things easier on my part.  Eden also started Awana Cubbies so she can have interaction with kids her own age.  This is taking some adjustment but we're getting there. 

So I've decided to blog about how our week went and share different ideas.  Let me begin by saying that most of the ideas are from blogs/websites that I've browsed.  You'll find a list of those sites on the right of my blog page under Educational.

We start the day with Calender Time.  We sing the Days of the Week song and indicate which days are Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.  Then, we sing the Months of the Year song.  I have the kids turn the wheel to find the right season and weather.  The maps of Belize and US are to familiarize them with where they live and where I grew up.  We then go over the Character Trait for the month.  This month, we did Orderly.  The verse they learned is 1 Cor 14:40 (with actions).  I then showed and instructed them on how to be orderly by making their beds.  *NOTE* Click on images to zoom in.

Here are sample forms I use for planning the week:  Several ideas I also got from Department of Education of Lousiana criteria for PreK. I actually found their detailed curriculum and grade level expectations:

 Preschool

I put all of Eden's printable worksheet in protective plastic so she could use dry erase markers and we can reuse the worksheets.  We did graphing, writing, power point on shapes, and other things related to the theme.  I tried to make sure that we covered Language, Math, Science, Music, Computer, Bible, Writing, Art, Fine Motor skills, and Gross Motor skills. 

Tot School 

Lincoln loves school.  He even tags along when I'm helping Eden.  I will try to cover the following every week:

Sensory	Puzzles	Fine Motor
Art	Blocks	Life Skills
Alphabet	Manipulatives	Shapes
Numbers	Writing/Drawing	Name ID/Spelling
Colors	Social	Tot Books
Music	Bible

 

 

I also made lunch fun.  Since we learned about the Body this week, I used a hand and foot cookie cutter to make shaped quesadillas.  Wilton has a cookie cutter set that I am so glad I bought from Walmart.  It makes lunch time so much more fun.

 

 Here's my Cubbie.  She started Awana 3 weeks ago and still cries when I drop her off but when I pick her up, she's always so excited to tell me about her night.  The leaders say that after I leave, she snaps out of it and has a blast.  She got her first patch last night:) I'm so glad we are making her do this.  She needs time away from me and time with other adults and kids her own age.  Thankfully, we don't have to drive very far.

So there, that's a condensed version of our week.  Our schedule is still flexible because I have an almost 2 month old (what? when did that happen?) I also need to attend to.  We're making the best of it all and I'm so glad I have God to call upon every morning and throughout the day for guidance in raising and teaching these precious gifts.

Homemaker/Preschool/Tot School

Some people may consider me to be a 'tight' one and that may be so; but I prefer to call it 'frugality'.  Even though we have a little extra every month, I still find ways to save so that we have more to give.  (I'm so grateful that Ben has the gift of Giving).  Mind you, we splurge on ourselves once in a while but I think we've done well with reigning ourselves in if one of us feels hesitant.  Here are some ways I'm saving:

A friend gave me the ingredients for 1 batch of homemade laundry detergent and I finally made it.  Here's the recipe:

5 gallon bucket or container with lid

4  Cups - hot tap water
 

1  Fels-Naptha soap bar (ivory soap can also be used)
 

1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
 

 

½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. It will gel.

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

And here's mine

*NOTE*  I do not use this for my baby.  I might try making a batch with Ivory soap for her clothes.

So, call me crazy but I've decided to do preschool and tot school at home this year.  I am so excited and nervous at the same time, but mostly excited that I get to have a more structured plan in teaching my children.  Some of my friends are going to laugh at me because I've said for a while that I wasn't going to homeschool because I didn't consider myself a teacher and I don't have the patience for it.  I still find those two things to be true but I'm going with it anyway.  It's like a test to see if it's for our family or not.  I will probably put Eden in regular school next year for the same reason.  I want us to experience both options.  Ben and I are on the same page (just so you know).  I've incorporated several ideas from the internet into a curriculum for E and L.  L's curriculum is more play than school but the activities will prepare him for preschool.  E's curriculum has some play activities but she has more worksheets.  What's neat is that I'm also going to include Biblical Character Traits in the curriculum.  Thanks to the Motherhood Bible Study I was a part of in the Spring, I have all the information I need on that. 






During the summer, I 'tested out the waters' on a couple themes.  We had school on July 4th and the day after we saw the Winnie the Pooh movie in theaters.  They went well.  We also did a fun art project about Creation.

School begins the first Monday in Sept. since I need the rest of this month to finish planning.  My goal is to glorify God through this and not end up pulling all my hair out:)  He's the only one that can help me not lose my cool.  We'll see if this is what he has planned for us.  I hope to update my blog on some of the school days and unit studies that we've done.


P.S.  Ben was homeschooled and I went to public school so we know the ins and outs of both.  I know some parents can get overly 'passionate' about this subject so please refrain from being judgmental about one or the other. 

Welcome to the world, Nyla Marie

Suprise!!!!  We had a baby girl on Friday.  Exactly 10 days before her due date, I went into labor.  Here is the story of my 13 hour labor and the delivery of our sweet Nyla Marie.

First off, we decided early on in the pregnancy that we didn't want to know the sex of the baby.  Since we have a girl and a boy already (and I saved everything), we thought it would be neat to know what it feels like to be surprised.  We found out with both E and L so that we knew how to plan and prepare for their arrival.  This time around, the only planning needed was to stock up on diapers and wipes:)

The ultrasound technician suggested that she put the picture with the revealed sex, in an envelope, attached to my chart.  Apparently, it wasn't smart to even let my doctor know.  He might accidentally 'spill the beans.'  If she had given it to us, we might have been tempted to open it.

It was exciting not knowing.  I didn't mind people giving me their opinion because normally their reasons aren't factual.  I couldn't help but wonder if they were right, though.  Everyone was saying that it was going to be a boy based on how I was carrying the baby.  Then, I showed one of my brother's an ultrasound picture I had and he said he could tell what it was and that it was a boy.  I looked at the picture and noticed that he could be right.  I still wasn't sure, though.  I was a little disappointed that I was given a picture that probably revealed the sex.  To further the disappointment, I saw the nurse for one of my appointments and she blurted out, after listening to the heartbeat, "it sounds like a boy."  I replied, "we wanted to be surprised."  She didn't apologize and I left the appointment very frustrated.  Don't get me wrong, we would be happy whether it was a boy or girl, but we just wanted to be surprised.

So, we started to concentrate on boy names for the duration of the pregnancy.  We had a list of about 5 names, narrowed it down to two, then finally one.  This was only a few days before I went into labor.  Still no middle name, though.  We had a girl name on our list that we both liked but likewise, didn't look for any middle names.

The Wednesday before having Nyla, I was 2 cm dilated and maybe 25% effaced.  My doctor offered if I wanted to induce on Sunday, I could (a week and a day before the due date).  This was tempting only because I know my dr would be on vacation the following week and I was concerned with just any dr delivery the baby.  Anyway, I decided to just wait and let things progress naturally.  It's amazing how God has a sense of humor.  I was stressing out all along that maybe I should have scheduled the induction and God knew all along that I was going to start labor by the end of the week.

On Thursday, I felt slight contractions but just thought they were Braxton Hicks.  I went to sleep fine that night and then woke up suddenly at 3:30 AM with what I thought were just gas pains.  I couldn't go back to sleep especially after feeling the same pain consistently, every 10 minutes.  I got up, packed my suitcase and prepared myself for possibly going to the hospital that day (Fri).  Ben had a full day at work planned and so when I woke him up around 5:00 AM to tell him that I had started labor, poor guy had to figure out who he needed to call and make sure things were going to be taken care of.  Around 6:30 I decided to call Ben's cousin and his wife to see if they could take care of the kids that day and they immediately came over to pick them up.  Let me just say that with my other pregnancies, I was only in labor for 7 hours so that is why I had to plan my day with the thought that I could have the baby that same day.

Ben and I drove to the hospital around 7:30 and I was monitored for about an hour and a half to see if I was progressing enough for them to admit me.  Unfortunately, I hadn't during that time and they were going to schedule an induction the following night.  I broke down because the contractions were now 6 minutes about and already very painful.  I couldn't imagine going back home.  Ben requested that they check me one more time just to make sure.  What to you know within that short time I was now 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  YES!!!!!!!!  They had to admit me, then.  I was so excited.  I was put in an actual LDR and requested an epidural.  Well, of course they took a long time.  There were so many women in labor that day that everything took twice as long.  I finally was able to relax after the epidural and Ben and I rested and made sure we had the boy name down pact.  My water broke early that afternoon and I knew things  would progress quickly.

After 13 hours in labor,  I felt the urge to push.  The nurse immediately called the doctor and after checking me, they were both running around the room like chickens with their heads cut off getting everything together.  The other nurse came in to get the baby stuff ready, too.  I pushed twice and my sweet baby was out.  They had Ben check to see the sex so he would be the first to tell me.  He stared with a puzzled looked on his face and I thought to myself, this shouldn't be difficult, Ben.  I mean, really.   Why are you taking so long.  He finally spoke up and said, "It's...it's a, girl."  I broke down crying because I had longed for that element of surprise, and I got it.  We had a GIRL!!!!  The nurse asked her name and well, we weren't sure:)  We told her the first name but we'd have to get back to her for the middle.

I held my baby for a long time before they took her to the nursery to clean up.  Like I said, the delivery ward was swamped with patients.  I was grateful for that time we had with her.  I then mentioned to Ben that we could just use my middle name.  He quickly agreed.  Yes!  She had a name, Nyla Marie.

We are so grateful for our sweet baby.  She is such a blessing to our family and we praise God for allowing us the privilege of being her parents.

Shabby Apple Giveaway

http://thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/shabby-apple-giveaway.html

Too cute dresses

Summer 2011

Well, I am VERY pregnant and with five more weeks to go, I'm counting down the days.  Third time around, it's taking a toll on this small frame - painful spider veins, back and hip ache, and not enough room in this tummy for baby to stretch without causing me some serious discomfort.  I must say, I am REALLY looking forward to holding this precious one in my arms.  I'm very grateful that I feel the baby moving a lot even if it hurts:)

I'm at home a lot more now due to Bible Study and ESL being over; and, trying to be creative so that my Eden and Lincoln are occupied with fun things to do. I've also been in nesting mode so here's what we've been up to lately:

Playing Grocery Store

Cooking and eating yummy homemade food; organizing

Just being goofy

I have a week to myself and my husband while the kids are with grandparents.  I'm resting and reading and being just plain lazy during the day.  Tomorrow, Ben and I are going to a painting class and Friday night is my baby shower that some sweet friends decided to have for me.  Can't wait!!!

Win an ipad2

Check out this giveaway.

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2011/06/13/ipad2-giveaway/comment-page-45/#comment-81636

Check out HUGGIES Share and Save

Check out HUGGIES Share and Save

Carpenter Baby #3

This free collage created with Smilebox

New Happenings

Wow, it's been a while, huh?  A lot has happened since December and it's amazing how 2011 is just flying by.  We've been busy (in the good sense of the term) and grateful to God for growing our family in number and growing us spiritually.

Ben has really been involved in our church.  I am so grateful that God is using him and that he's being obedient.  It's so neat to have him be the spiritual leader in our home.  We've had such great conversations about our spiritual lives recently and as a result, we are becoming much more closer.


I have the pleasure of being a part of a motherhood Bible Study.  I approach each day in prayer asking God to guide me in helping my children build godly character.  My photography is going well.  I had several sessions last year and looking forward to my upcoming one in March.  I'm learning so much and I really enjoy capturing moments.  I've set certain goals for myself for this year and I'm grateful that I have a great husband to encourage me to meet those goals.  Hopefully, I can start studio sessions soon.  Just waiting on more jobs to pay for a portrait lens. 

This little girl isn't so little anymore.  We are blessed with this child everyday.  She is so smart and is eager to learn new things.  I love that about her.  She's learning Bible verses, learning  how to read and write (she can write her own name), and enjoys learning math.  I look forward to this summer where we could do more science related things.  She loves to pretend play and I do everything I can to encourage her creativity.  A few weeks ago, I told her that she was outgrowing her casual shoes and I needed to get her a new pair.  She insisted on blue shoes.  I later realized she wanted tennis shoes like mine (blue and white).  After searching for days, I finally found a pair.  She's so excited and grateful.

This little man brings such joy to our lives.  He is really showing his personality and I'm so glad I can finally understand what he's saying.  He always loved talking but it was always jibber jabber.  Now, he's forming works and speaks very coherently.  He pays close attention to his sister and learns a lot from her.  I love the fact that he still loves to snuggle and bedtime is never a problem.  He's not one to sit for long and pay attention like his sister has always been, but he's always learning.  He loves the fact that he can now walk really well and even run.  He walks like a little man and it's so funny.  He has this thing for shoes.  As soon as he gets up in the morning he locates a pair of shoes and asks for help putting them on - even while still in his pjs.  He is very mannerly and never forgets to say 'please' and 'thank you'.

Meet the newest member of our family: baby #3.  We don't know if we're having a boy or girl.  In fact, we want it to be a surprise this time.  Since we have everything for both sexes, we figured this is a great opportunity to go this route.  We are such planners so it's a little difficult to not know; but, I know how special it will be to have Ben be the first to tell me in the hospital if it's a boy or girl.

 

I praise God for his blessings.  Hopefully, I'll be better at updating my blog.