Seriously? This child cracks me up with her faces!
They are: “I’m Thea” (top left), “I’m Coach Heather” (top middle), “I’m sad” (top right), “I’m sassy” (bottom left), “I’m Becky” (bottom 2nd from left), “I’m really mad” (bottom 2nd from left, “I’m a listening baby” (bottom right).
She loves everything her way and her biggest challenge right now is learning that she must listen to the teacher, coach, big sister, grandmother, or parent who is doing the teaching!
She absolutely loves gymnastics (she does only Fridays at Gym-N-Learn this season). Supposedly, her coach says she’s doing better at listening. I hope so. The reason it’s Fridays only? So I can bribe her with open gym participation if she listens! (Seriously, our open gym is immediately following Preschool Program – and that seems to work.)
Thea is a very independent three. I think “going on thirty” but then maybe she’s just “chasing Becky and Jillian” in the attitude department – and their determination has started to serve them well in practice and life. Thea wants to do everything herself – always has. That appears to be a huge thing for my children though, they always want to do whatever it is by themselves. It leads to them doing tasks and jobs before I think they are ready. (Taking the PERT or driving a motorized “big wheeler” at two or jumping into CAP leadership or raising animals or cutting potatoes.)
I always have to remind myself that Thea is only mine for a season. She is really Jesus’ daughter and I have the honor and blessing of being her mother. I enjoy each of her various faces and moods. I love to watch them grow. I love to guide them toward the truth.
That’s all what went through my brain while she posed with silly faces telling me what emotion or what person she was being.
One of the advantages to homeschooling is being able to pick curricula. Most of us would agree that our children can recite movie lines – sometimes even if they’ve just seen the movie twice.
We used BBC Nature with David Attenborough for science for as long as we had access to it. It showed nature in its entire splendor. Of course, as with Carl Sagan’s Cosmos Series, we had to reflect on their errors in timeline and regarding the theory of macro-evolution. We would say things like, “look at how amazing God’s creation is!” and as they got older, invite them to ask and investigate the question, “why do these scientists believe in millions of years instead of thousands?”
In depth studies of animal adaptations and human interference in our food (animal and plant husbandry) have led to the understanding that “kinds” of animals adapt by losing a recessive trait rather than by adding a completely new trait. This led to my kids saying “oh yes, I believe evolution happens, do you understand the true meaning of the word evolution?” (Spoiler:it simply means change) But have you ever been able to add anything to a creature or plant? We have bred plants, raised animals (Becky bred chickens to get specific traits or colors), watched and observed the genetic traits pass in Guinea Pigs, chickens, and parakeets.
Imagine their surprise and excitement when we discovered a video series that discussed the same adaptation and genetic issues they had seen in life!
We discovered The Ark Encounter website along with Creation Museum and their affiliated YouTube channel called “Answers In Genesis!” Wow! They are not afraid to take on difficult subjects and ask and investigate so many fascinating things about our biology, animal adaptation, DNA structures, explanations of the how and why behind so many scientific theories. It is a wealth of information.
The first single episode we watched (it was almost an hour long) on dinosaurs in the Bible had my youngest five captivated the entire time. Even Theadora, who interprets every video in terms of “Paw Patrol” at the moment, sat on the couch with her snuggly blanket the entire rainy Sunday afternoon as we watched the long dinosaur episode and three others! The podcast episodes are more for those with longer attention spans. The lectures and Ark Encounter and Ark Exploration videos are fascinating.
Well-done science videos help my younglings to remember the subject matter better than simply reading it in a textbook. Apologia science (our core science) textbooks are amazing because they are bright and have experiments that bring the science to life for the students. Adding videos as supplements to our coursework aids in bringing the words off the page and into “real life;” we are a visual people. We like to touch, taste, see, and feel the world around us. If you can’t physically see the Grand Canyon with your own eyes, it certainly helps to be able to watch a video showing it. The tools available to my children far exceed those I had access to 35 years ago. I still default on books, but I am totally willing to include new tools to help them answer tough questions in any subject.
Check out the Ark Encounter website or look up “Answers in Genesis” on YouTube. You will be amazed at the wealth of scholastic information in their videos. Second best to sitting in the actual lecture hall (actually, Louis thinks it’s better because we can pause it, pull out books, and do our own discussion and additional research as they talk).
I’ll type later about our super history supplements (also free from YouTube!) we’ve discovered.
Thank you for reading and I hope this helps you explore some cool new teaching tools!
Our textbooks are usually a medley of what works best.
This year Christina and Becky have college books only. Christina still digs into our American Government high school textbook this semester because it “makes it easy to understand” as she’s taking a law course.
Kimberly is officially 10th grade. She has A Beka Book (consumer finance) and Teaching Textbooks (geometry) for arithmetic, Apologia Science, Literature Coursework from A Beka Book, a typing and writing class that uses A Beka Book Grammar & Composition as a textbook requiring paragraphs or essays on daily science and history work, and A Beka Book as her main history text. She’s already done geometry previously, but this is a new way of looking at it that helps her understand it better. Our educational philosophy is totally for repeating subject matter that allows for better understanding.
Jaquline is officially 7th grade. Her textbooks include: A Beka Book Arithmetic 6 (yes, this is completing a repeat; she has done both the 5th and 6th grade books twice), A Beka Book Creative Writing, A Beka Book Language C, Apologia Science, Military History of the United States (it’s an children’s encyclopedia set and they write a report after each letter study), A Beka Book History Coursework, and Money Management Skills (a middle-school version of “Personal Finance” that incorporates their personal savings account, teaches them to set goals, observation of household finances, budgeting, etc.). Her textbooks are officially scattered grade levels from 6th to 8th and she reads books voraciously – her reading level is far higher than her scholastic level is supposed to be.
Jillian is officially 5th grade. She is almost done with A Beka Book’s Basic Mathematics (rebranded a couple years ago as “Intermediate Mathematics” but we bought one textbook for each of the girls on our second order so we could use the same tests; Lucas and Thea will have the new book unless I can snag an unused Basic Mathematics edition) and will move into Pre-Algebra with either or both Teaching Textbooks and A Beka Book next month, she just completed A Beka Book’s Investigating God’s World last week and started Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Anatomy and Physiology and Health for the Glory of God (because her goal now is Sports Medicine or Physical Therapy), History is reading and writing reports on biographies of U.S. Presidents along with Bauer’s The Story of the World, A Beka’s Book’s Language C, A Beka Book’s Cursive Writing Skillbook (that one gets repeated until they master cursive writing), Business and Money Management Skills (in addition to our normal course, Jillian has started a business with her friends and that has been incorporated into our regular coursework on finances), and she is studying art mechanics, various mediums, and art history. Jillian’s textbooks range from 3rd grade to 8th grade depending on subject.
Lucas is officially 2nd grade. His textbooks are any book he wants to read at the moment, A Beka Book’s Handbook For Reading, A Beka Book’s Writing With Phonics, A Beka Book’s Arithmetic 1, Practical Money Math, A Beka Book’s Language 1, A Beka Book’s Letters and Sounds 1, Life of Fred Fractions, Life of Fred Decimals, Phonics and Language 2, and his Manuscript Writing Tablet which makes for amazing work-on-the-go. I have him copy stuff wherever he is and try to read it. My Daddy used to have be copy my favorite dinosaur books when I was learning to write. Lucas is still what I consider a “pre-reader” (meaning when he does “read” it is choppy and he gets frustrated with not remembering the first part of the sentence). I tend to not move into more complicated textbooks until my student is a fluid reader. Lucas understands Mathematical concepts very well but gets frustrated very easily with words. He thinks math. Once he sees the patterns in English letters, he’ll be a fluid reader.
Theadora thinks she’s in school. She does WGV Gymnastics Gym-N-Learn on Fridays (it happens Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, but she only listens on Fridays right now) and calls that “my real school.” She is obsessed with writing “T”s lately. She can write T and t in cursive and “like Coach Michelle” (that means very beautiful manuscript like calligraphy because she heard me mention once about how beautiful Coach Michelle’s handwriting is – Thea calls it “coloring letters”). Thea has to have a “school book” because the others do. It’s in her “school box,” because everyone else has a school box. Hers is a writing textbook with three lines and occasional letters along it. Grandma Tina gave her a color-by-number book and a numbers workbook which she calls “her school books” too. I don’t do anything formal with her yet.
Just a tiny peek at what we have this semester. We just move from one book to another as they complete the first (like from Language 1 to Phonics and Language 2) and repeat some books or portions of books occasionally. I want them to understand it is perfectly okay to go back and reread something to better understand a subject. (Have you ever had to go back and look up a grammar rule or algebraic formula?) Learning is our family lifestyle. Textbooks are tools to reach the next step.
September 30, 2022 (timewarp from August 30, 2022)
To say that our home is never dull is a severe understatement; something funny, outrageous, interesting, or unbelievable is happening all day every day and if it appears to be calm, someone will make something happen!
At our gym over the last week, one of the coaches injured her leg. Theadora saw her with her leg all wrapped and she was hobbling. Thea wasn’t wanting to help clean up the next day and threw herself dramatically on the couch with paper wrapped around her leg fastened with a hairtie and wailed, “I broke my leg like Coach Courtney!” (Coach Coutney’s leg wasn’t broken.Looking at Thea’s tongue, you’d think she’s playing dead.)
Then there’s the day we were racing around trying to get ready and Lucas was super happy about a hand-me-down shirt from the girls’ most recent purge. “Look, mom!” He proudly puffs out his chest, “I have a gymnastics meet shirt with a boy on it!” Jillian couldn’t donate that one! Lucas wore it to his Thursday night classes.
Then there are crazy hair days seconds before we leave for church (fortunately, Dad talked him out of wearing this creation to kid’s church). He made “hair” in kid’s church the week before and had saved it. (The beads are threaded on pipe cleaners – I believe they were studying Samson, maybe?)
Then there are those who randomly leave selfies on my phone for everyone’s future entertainment… (yes, they were warned – if it’s on my phone, I can use it!)
Kimberly and TheaJaqulineJaquline
Honestly, the one of Thea and Kimberly I love! – It’s from March when they wandered around and Kimberly took lots of pictures.
In our house, we never do dull. There is always something – or someone – a bit crazy, wild, and fun where our hearts live.
This year it may be a little premature, but I’m super excited about the amazing things. #Thankful #Gratitude #PensacolaChristianCollege #EmbryRiddleAeronauticalUniversity #LifeJourney #Children #GoodNewsChurch #WGVGymnastics #Education #Thankfulness
Thankfulness 2022
September 27, 2022
Each year I try to reflect on what God has done in our lives this past year.
This year it may be a little premature, but I’m super excited about the amazing things. I love to brag on what God has done!
I’ve been working for WGV Gymnastics (dream job I wanted my whole life but didn’t know it). Louis is coming up on two years of working for Heritage Funeral Home. I am super thankful for our Christian work environments and Christian bosses.
Christina is happily pursuing her dream with passion, determination, and enthusiasm. She is still at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University full time, working at WGV Gymnastics part-time, and babysitting, dogsitting, and housesitting on the side. She is an amazing big sister! Her little gymnasts love her! She serves in the nursery at Good News Church at least three times a month and loves “her babies” – yes, they become hers for an hour or so. I am so thankful for Christina!
Becky has thrown some shocking curveballs at us and is away at Pensacola Christian College. Same state, yes, but an hour earlier in time than we are. (Different time zone, as she’s under Alabama on the panhandle – Lucas and Thea point out on the big map on the wall at church every morning when we get their lemon tea “there’s Becky!”) I am so proud of her! She’s exploring and learning and growing – such an amazing young lady I am so blessed to be her mom! Thank you, Jesus, for Becky!
Kimberly can legally drive… (REALLY??? I can’t believe she’s 15!) She’s learning so much in schoolwork academically, in gymnastics physically, and in life with maturity as she grows and takes on so much responsibility! Kimberly’s plans are impressive. Her determination is a trait so many people comment on to me – as a youngling, it was labeled stubbornness, but now that she knows how to focus, it’s determination. Kimberly is a competitive gymnast at WGV Gymnastics, a gymnastics coach part-time at WGV Gymnastics, serves in kid’s ministry at Good News Church at least twice a month, and dogsits occasionally. (She is working toward her claimed goals of saving for a computer for college this spring and a car next fall.) I am so thankful for Kimberly!
Jaquline is Christina’s twin. Sometimes Christina’s gymnasts see Jaquline and give her hugs saying “hi! Coach!” which makes Jaquline smile proudly and Christina jealous. “You’re stealing my hugs!” Christina has been known to say later. Jaquline has grown in her relationship with Jesus so much in the last year. She serves in the church nursery at least twice a month. She occasionally volunteers at WGV – or works cleaning to “get Christina out faster.” Jaquline continues to work toward her goal of team gymnast someday – she loves Beam and said she wished there was a Beam only competition. Thank you, Jesus, for Jaquline!
Jillian is facing the challenges that come with entering double digits. The want of being treated as an adult yet the want of continuing childish foolishness. She’s maneuvering that with the cornerstone of knowing that Jesus can lead her through anything. She loves her kid’s ministry leaders at Good News Church. She loves her coaches at WGV Gymnastics (she’s a competitive gymnast). She loves her friends and I see her making some lifelong friendships, if she can hold them. She is leaping forward in academics! I am so thankful for Jillian!
Lucas is an unstoppable force of limitless energy! He is always running a one-man football game where he is the quarterback, receiver, kicker, lineman, and fullback all at the same time. When he catches his own forward pass, I’ll have seen everything. He begs me for a brother almost every day. He is super thankful for his “gym brothers” and his “best friends.” I am super thankful for these young boys and young men God has set around Lucas to help him enjoy being a little boy and slowly teach him how to be a young man. Lucas gives 110% to everything he touches. His passion and enthusiasm will help fuel his discovery stages as he grows. He loves gymnastics. He loves being strong. He loves mud and football and big trucks and being like dad. Thank you, Jesus, for Lucas!
Theadora is no longer the baby. She is a “big girl” or a “young lady” all the time. Though she loves snuggling (I’m so glad she hasn’t grown out of that yet), she is quick to say “I’ll do it myself!” and proceed to do just that. Theadora has a bold confidence that comes from running the gym at the age of two. She doesn’t care to keep up pretences, what you see is what you get – at times like that I think of her as “Becky junior.” This confidence and determination will carry her far. She “signs her name” as TTT and says, “see, I’m triple T,” they are left all over Coach Heather’s desk as “swips” for Coach Heather along with who-knows-what-it-should be doodles. I am so thankful for Theadora!
I love the stage God has us in! I’m so thankful to be here and alive and enjoying every minute of our time together and apart. I love our family. I’m so grateful to see our younglings grow and become young women (and eventually, a young man)! Thank you, Jesus, for the honor of giving life and raising children! I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude to you, Jesus, for my totally amazing family!
Fun for preschool kiddos on Fridays! (bring big siblings and baby siblings too)
September 25, 2020
Itty Bitty Fun!
Theadora loves gymnastics. Actually, she loves running, jumping, climbing, rolling, flipping, balancing, and being crazy. What little one doesn’t? Who am I kidding? What energetic adult doesn’t want to be out doing crazy stuff with the energy of an 18-month-old who is a half-hour before bedtime loaded up on red dye and sugar?
Thea loves Fridays at WGV Gymnastics because we get to have Preschool Open Gym from noon to 1pm. You only have to be able to toddle around to join in! Many friends from our Gym-N-Learn program come for more gymnastics fun.
This is an hour of supervised fun where young monkeys get to try out all of the cool gymnastics equipment (Thea’s favorites are bars and bouncy floor!), roll around on mats, bounce on tumble track, jump in and climb out of pit, and try their hand at anything that their adult doesn’t think is too scary. Yes, children, an adult like your parent or grandparent is required during this gym visit as they have to supervise. (Actually, Thea can tell you, Preschool Open Gym is a great place to have a grandma date!)
There are coaches on hand to help said adult spot (help out with gym skill), give out solicited advice, talk about gym safety, observe (watch everything like a spy!), and enjoy the fun! You can ask said coaches about learning new things, fun games to try, how to use mats, what drills or skills help lead to what new skill, and other educational things. Coaches can also help spot skills and show fun new tricks!
Come join Thea doing crazy fun stuff every Friday (check the website at www.wgvgymnastics.com/preschool-open-gymor call for more information!) at WGV Gymnastics! An adult has to come with you, wear tight fitting clothes that don’t fall off when you flip around or make big jumps, and make sure you have lots of energy!
Oh, that’s right, big sisters and brothers over 5 can come, (even though they are not in preschool anymore) just call our office as the prices for older kids may not be on the website!
Sometimes you choose a pet. You know, you excitedly go to the shelter or the pet store and the perfect friend snags your heart instantly.
Sometimes you are fostering a litter of puppies and one looks up at you with a connection that will never break.
(Christina and Primrose: Pretty sure this was the day she decided to keep her!)
This was the way with Christina and the little black puppy that became our Primrose (Primmy, Prim, or even Primrose Everdeen Tart – when she has chewed something).
Prim has been in our home for two baby births. Until Lucas was about 2, he was her little pup. She followed him around, protected him, and I used to say if dogs choose their people, Prim chose Christina and Lucas. The second birth she’s been here for is Theadora.
Thea loves Prim. She gets excited when Prim snuggles up next to her and squeals “my doggie!” and will either pet her gently or snuggle her whole little face into Prim’s soft fur. Thea also feeds Prim everything… if it tastes really “yummy!” then a bit of it gets dropped over the highchair after “doggie!” gets yelled. Prim knows that means – come get food.
It’s hard for me to get these as pictures because Thea knows what a phone is. If I try to take a picture while I’m sitting next to her, she drops what she’s doing and grabs said phone!
Lucas has grown away from Prim and animals – he likes things with wheels right now. He gets super excited about small animals like helping with the Guinea Pigs or Minuit, but big ones are pillow to him, that’s it.
Prim is a pillow or sleeping buddy for anyone on the couch – although she isn’t supposed to be there; she just took up Sheba’s lookout position. At night, she snuggles curled up in a little ball on the end of Christina’s, Lucas’ or Jillian’s bed. She loves her people. She’ll snuggle next to Thea’s baby pen if Thea’s sleeping there – nestled under the table but up against the baby pen.
We went to visit a friend & they had a Jack Russel puppy. When Thea got home she grabbed Prim in a hug and stroked her saying softly, “my doggie, my doggie.” My baby is thankful for her special doggie.
I’m looking at the man cross the coffee table as I talk. I knew even though he said it was okay to bring my baby (at this point, I’m 8 months pregnant) to work with me, there would come a time when my baby would be better off with Daddy and her siblings than at my office with three doggies, a kitty, and office phones.
Almost seven months later, I’m
answering Louis’ call while at work and we are discussing Christina and Becky’s
schedule for the night while Thea, hearing Daddy’s voice, is yelling at the top
of her lungs. Louis says “She really doesn’t need to be in the office.”
We’d been discussing it, but I was
very reluctant. See, I can’t stand being
behind a desk… I want to be active, moving, teaching. Other adults don’t help. I hate being still. (Maybe
why I don’t listen to midwives or doctors saying “get bed rest” and instead I’m
riding to gym with my girls and Louis – yes! He drove! – when Thea is hours old
to watch their practice.) I wanted
Thea with me.
Kitty shows up & Thea is in her
play seat. Kitty has stayed away from
her the whole 3 months the kitten has been in the office. Kitty jumps up on the table of the play area
and Thea giggles, excitedly pets Kitty, and rubs her hand over her face and
head. Spots break out – a rash… my baby
is allergic to cats! Now I won’t jeopardize her health so from then on she
stays home.
I’m sure that was God saying, “quit
being stubborn! Listen to your husband.”
Leaving her home is the hardest
thing ever for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m
totally thankful for my job, I’m just sad that I can’t have my little love with
me.
I’m seriously living for the day when I can come into the office at 6am, even 5am, and leave at noon or 1pm. That is my working goal. I don’t care if that means less pay… I want to be home with my children. My loyalty instinct keeps me returning to work. I LOVE teaching. I LOVE coaching – and I get to take all my children! I feel that with the way the company wants to expand, I will be able to move to 5am to noon or 6am to noon one day soon. I’m praying that’s soon. I’ll even work from home on weekends or evenings if needed. I want to be home.
I think that’s an issue a lot of us women feel but are afraid to say. We just want to be home when they are home! We want to be around our teens so we can learn about these amazing young women. We want to counsel our preteens and research their deep questions alongside them. We want to guide and protect our elementary kiddos and watch our preschoolers, toddlers, and infants with wonder and awe as they grow and explore. We want to help mold their little characters as that is the reason God gave them to us. He knew we could mold them the way He wants. He gave them to us so we could be a part of their lives and our heart knows that. We desire to teach our children.
I feel a great empathy with those who can’t stay home or make their schedules work the way they want. I watch my single sister (who has an amazing daughter she pours everything into, by the way) struggle with the “failure” she feels for not being around as much as she wants to be. Girl. That is me too. I can’t stand being away. I wanted a job where I could keep my children with me. (Running a cab company, I was always home! Even gym coach, my kiddos are there with big sister or awesome ladies/young ladies or now, Grandma!)
God is teaching me patience. Also that I can’t be everywhere at once. He is also teaching me to look from all
angles.
Louis has been working 60 to 80+
hours at 2 or more jobs since Christina was born. He’s been so busy or sleeping between jobs
all their lives. Now, he has one job at
evening/night leaving as we are going to sleep.
He gets to cook amazing meals, homeschool them, and watch them
grow. He took Thea home one afternoon
instead of leaving her with my mom and Paige in the afterschool/babysitting
room at gym. He said he loved it. “I can
see why you miss taking her to work.” He said.
He loved “hanging out” with Thea for five hours by himself. She ate two jars of baby food, some rice,
some apple, played all kinds of giggling games with Daddy on the bed, and then
snuggled with him and fell asleep on his tummy.
Louis said he loves this part of being a Daddy.
Daddy and Thea
I was smacked upside the head with
the realization that I was being rather selfish in my desire to always be with
her. Louis wants to be just as involved
in our children as I do. He loves the
baby giggles, snuggles, and laughter just as I do. He feels powerful and insignificant and totally
blessed just like I do when one of our angels falls asleep snuggling. We are of the mindset that each may be the
last – but honestly, there is a feeling of finality with Thea that wasn’t there
for anyone else. (I’m not saying we won’t have another, just being honest about feelings –
I am totally open for whatever God wants)
I need to let Louis have as much baby time as he wants.
So, in this season, it’s the hardest of all for me; I’m away from my children ten hours a day. I’m willing to work for the day when we have four teams, a location I can show up at to make sure the vans are stocked, the teams are off with all their supplies, and I’m joined by someone else in the office who allows me to leave at noon. This is what I hope for. A little more at 8 to 4 and hopefully, I’m early morning and working from home.
My Thea, my little love, is at
home. I rest securely in the knowledge
that her Daddy is relishing his time with her, and her big sisters and brother
will help see that she’s entertained and well fed!
Yesterday was a day of firsts for me to watch. Theadora is just beginning to want to explore. She has this cute portable baby holder (looks like a walker, but baby just stays put in it and plays with some toys you choose to attach), you know, like a camp chair only for babies. She liked that fine for a few months – at home, outside, at work, she was happy standing there, doing squats, and playing with her turtle.
Thea in my office with her portable baby holder
Then a friend gave her a baby
bouncer. This thing is like a walker,
except it’s attached to springs on the frame and stays in one place with built
in activities and a seat that spins 360 degrees! Epic.
Thea loves it. When we get home,
that’s what she wants! Christina
introduced her to the drum set – and Thea loves that too. Banging on stuff with both hands is now a bonafide
activity.
And this is the bouncer Thea loves!
Now the portable baby holder doesn’t
cut it. Thea jumps in it and makes the
whole thing move. The dogs in my office
have differing opinions on that – Faux is cautious, Beau thinks “Yippee, new
toy,” and Lily looked up at me, whined, and vacated the office.
She loves the floor too!
Thea wants the floor or the
bouncer. No in-betweens. On the floor, she’s been pretty static. She has been rolling for about three months,
but carefully, as all the floors in her environments are hard – she seems to
have figured that slow, controlled rolling is how to do that without pain. She’s been doing what I call “Superman Baby”
since about the same time, but swivels round and round in a three-foot
radius. I could put her on her blanket
and she was good – wouldn’t leave it.
Yesterday she discovered two new
things:
She grabbed the baby holder, pulled
it over to her, and pulled herself up to sit!
Mom is not ready for that!
“Spiderman Baby” aka being spread
eagle like an X, pushes up with her arms like a push-up and toes to feet with a
shove and rockets about a foot at a time forward! Mom is really not ready for that!
Mom is not ready for Thea to be mobile! I thought this as my mind replied, “were you ready for Christina to fly? Drive? How about Becky taking college classes? Kimberly flipping around in gym? Jaquline wearing high-heels? Jillian making lunch? Lucas finally tying his own shoes?” Everything in life is a next level. I love baby mode aka infant level, but also enjoy watching them grow and mature. I enjoy being a part of their fantastic lives.
Thea just jumped from infant level to mobile baby level – watch out world! (Or, maybe just watch out house.)
She is fascinated with
everything. If it moves, she giggles at
it and wants to chase it. If it makes a
sound, she wants to chase it. If it is
in the possession of an older sibling, she wants to touch it. If it looks fluffy or new (as in she wasn’t looking at it ten seconds
ago), she wants to chase it.
For her, “chase” means raise her arms and legs like in a superman hold and shove her body forward, sideways, or backward on her tummy. I’ve seen my other six babies, remember several siblings as babies, and have had numerous little nieces and nephews over – she is the first to do this type of scoot. (But then, each one has their own unique movement method!)
Theadora in my office
Maybe she has figured out that on
hard floors (her entire environment)
this type of movement makes the blanket travel with her.
She has learned to roll – has been
doing both of these movements since about 3 months (but she rarely wants to go anywhere, so it’s like “surprise! I want to
move at this second!” she loves to do the unexpected).
Lucas will get on one side of her,
giggle, and roll away. She will giggle
and follow. Monkey see, monkey do! He calls this game “rolling the ball” – I’m
literally making her bassinet when I hear, “Mom! Look!
I’m rolling a ball!” accompanied with a river of giggles from both Lucas
and Thea. He’s rolling in front of Thea
and she’s following him all the way across the bed. He rolls off the end of the bed (a fall of about 9 inches) and I’m about
to jump into protect-baby-from-floor-barrier when he puts both hands on Thea’s
tummy to keep her from rolling the last flip and says, “can’t go that way, I
can fall off but you can’t yet ‘cause your head isn’t done yet.”
Lucas is her protector, her shield from
danger, her loving big brother – and the one who leads her into most new (scary
for us!) adventures, like rolling non-stop or eating something new – “Look,
Mom! She likes ice cream!” (*facepalm
in my brain* but at least it’s Daddy’s homemade vanilla soft serve) next
line is “No, Baby Thea, only big boys can eat cones, you can just taste the ice
cream.” He’s letting her “taste” like we
do, tapping one finger on the food and putting it on her tongue.
That backfired with the sweet
potatoes.
Oh, yes, nice story:
A cute 3-month-old goes with her
family to Grandma’s favorite restaurant for a celebration. She’s the epitome of baby cuteness in her
Sunday best. Everyone is being so
well-behaved. Mom is having sweet potato (all the others have had sweet potato
as a first food) and lets baby taste it.
BABY TURNS INTO VELOCIRAPTOR!
She starts jumping forward, grabbing
at the table, mom’s fork, mom’s hair, anything to get back to the sweet
potato! Mom thinks she’s had enough
after a few tastes, but NO! Sweet little
cuteness erupts into a full blown literal tantrum! She flings herself back in frustration and
screams! Daddy thinks this is funny. (Everyone
else is bug-eyed, is she really throwing a fit?) Daddy says, “watch this”
and gives her a small taste on the end of a spoon. Thea sees the spoon coming, instantly stops
fussing, alligator tears evaporate, and she grabs the spoon with both hands and
shoves it into her mouth. Once she
sucked it dry, she looks up at Daddy with pleading eyes and babbles in what-adults-can’t-understand
to mean “more please?” He fed her a
little more to keep the peace.
Lucas was even spellbound watching Thea, his
sweet, tiny, fragile-looking baby sister toss her baby fit. Mommy took this excellent opportunity to
mention quietly that wasn’t very nice.
He says, “I don’t like that screaming.” To which I answer, “we feel just
like you do now when you drop yourself on the floor and start kicking.” (Doesn’t happen often, but it’s been a thing
since I started working.) “Oh.” I think gears are turning in his brain.
