I'm pregnant. I'm HUGELY pregnant... and I'm okay with that! I actually love it again.
When I was pregnant the first time, it was so easy. I loved watching my belly grow... and grow... and grow. I loved the attention that drew, and the waddle I aquired.
When I was pregnant the second time, I was busy. I barely recognized I was pregnant, until one day I realized how HUGE my belly was, and the comments began. We moved to Wisconsin 3 weeks before my due date and I could hear my sister in law in the other room on the phone say "She's SO HUGE" and I actually smiled with pride.
When I was pregnant with the third child, I HATED IT! I was so scared the entire pregnancy. I was uncomfortable, and when people made comments about how huge my belly was I was just NOT in the mood.
Now that I am pregnant with our fourth child, I am in that maternal bliss again. I'm not sure if its because its my last child, last pregnancy (or so I feel God and I have an agreement its the last), or if its because I started off being pregnant with my first little boy, and now I am pregnant with my last little boy. I'm not sure if I feel so great because I see my three other kids so excited to see this big ole belly, and to meet their new brother! Or maybe the fact that I feel SO GREAT is the reason I love being pregnant this time! Whatever the reason, I feel so blessed.
He moves constantly. I am not sure if he never sleeps, or if he is just a mover while he sleeps, but he started making his presence known early and constant! And I love every part of it! I will miss entire shows while I watch my belly make waves.
I am down to 2 pair of pants that fit. My belly is bigger than ever. I carry low so I get comments like "WOW, you've dropped, your ready to pop at any moment" And that was at 5mo. I get looks when I waddle across the baseball grandstands to take pictures of Zech's baseball game. Looks of sympathy, looks of "She looks miserable", looks of complete shock when they find out I have 10 more weeks to go. (and technically, I have 12 weeks, but we should be having him 2 weeks early). But I love it. This is what my body does. I have big babies, I have a tilted uterus that pokes out early and large, and I never gain more than 20lbs. I love the total transformation my body goes through. Its a constant reminder of how AMAZING God is.
I have NO energy... but that may not be a pregnancy thing as much as a "mom of an active 18mo old" thing... either way, I get tired, hot, and irritated quickly... but God is showing me how to use the fruits of the spirit in the midst of trying circumstances. So in some ways I love this stage I am going through. I am learning. But its still really hot!
I can not roll over in bed without sitting completely up... or getting on all fours and crawling into a new position. But I smile and laugh at how funny I must look. I am just loving being pregnant. When I can't sleep, I imagine how this baby will look. How will I feel when they put my last baby on my chest to hold for the first time? I invision myself nursing with ease (wishful thinking, perhaps), caressing his hair (again, wishful thinking that he'll have hair!), and keeping him all to myself (or from the harm his siblings could cause) and I cherish this time of having him all to myself safe and protected inside.
I love this pregnancy. I love this baby!
And I love that from this point on, my family will be complete. We will get to raise them and watch them grow into what God has for them. And as much as I love it, I am looking forward to never being pregnant again (remember, God, we had this agreement!).
But for now... for this moment. I am loving this huge huge HUGE belly, however low it gets (I mean, come on I can't even sit with my legs closed anymore!). I am enjoying the kids' enthusiasm, and the alien type movements my belly is experiencing... I love being pregnant... for the last time.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Nathanael Paul
We have always "planned" our kids. And by "planned" I mean, we prayed about starting a family, or adding to it and we stopped preventing pregnancies, figured out fertile times and purposely "did married things" to produce a baby. The first time took a little longer than expected, but after that when we felt it was time to add to our family we asked God, and "tried" and was pregnant fairly easily...Except this last time.
I'm a planner. When we got married we thought we'd have 2-4 kids (I always, ALWAYS thought 4) and we definately knew we'd have a Zechariah, a Lily, and a Nathanael. I thought the last one would be the surprise and we'd come up with her name at some point... but in my heart, I felt a place for these 4 children.
So when Zech came, I had no doubt he was my Zech. I even had a personality that I felt fit him. We were SO thrilled to welcome our first son. In my head, I figured the boys would be first. But as soon as I took the pregnancy test with my 2nd child, I told Dave, THIS ONE IS A GIRL! By the 3rd, we thought we'd be done and that that would mean that baby HAD to be Nate. When we saw that she was a girl, I was thrilled. It never crossed my mind that we didn't have a nate. We had a Ruby and she was perfect. But instantly I had a longing for another child. I told Dave in the hospital, about 12 hours after having Ruby that I wanted one more. He laughed blamed hormones and said we'd talk about it later.
About 6months ago (give or take a few weeks), I heard a sermon and a story within the sermon was about a woman who became pregnant again after she thought she was done. She was thrilled, but considered it an "interruption". She went on to explain how her husband figured it would happen since he always saw himself with 3 boys... The story really had NOTHING to do with the main point of the sermon, but it caused such a reaction in me I had to leave the room. I bowed before God and asked what he was telling me.
I came home that day, went to my loving husband and said "I think God has a Nate for our family. I know it sounds crazy and VERY specific, but Nate belongs in our family, I know I am not done with our family yet." My husband, who was pretty close to being done, no matter what I said, didn't even hesitate and said "yea, okay." Shocked by his quick response, I said to him "What if I am wrong, and we try to have a baby and its a girl. We can't just keep having kids. How do I reconcile what I feel God is saying with the fact that this COULD mean we have one more girl, not a Nate at all?" And my godly man said back to me, "We leave it to God."
We were not going to prevent a pregnancy, but we weren't going to go crazy plotting temperatures, or cycle dates, or any other odd methods we had heard of. And within 6weeks I was pregnant (OF COURSE!)
My godly man of faith would not even consider girl names he was so convinced it was a boy. I really felt like it was, but had to keep in mind that there is a 50% chance of anything I said being wrong! But I knew what I felt God was saying to me.
This morning I prayed... "Help me reconcile the desire, and the longing for this Nate, if this is a girl with still deciding we are done having kids."
We go in today to see what we are having... and wouldn't God's faithfulness be well... faithful... its a boy! Nathanael Paul will join our family!
Not only have I married the man of my dreams, gone into full time minstry as I felt God calling, got to be a stay at home mom, who homeschools because God called me to do so... but he gives me the 4 children I wanted, blesses me with all the children we thought we'd ever had, and now, he gives me my Nate. God has blessed me with my fairy tale life... I'm not the most perfect person in the world... FAR FROM IT! But God blesses me over and over and over and over!
I would have been perfectly fine with a little Eva Rose, but when God speaks, and we leave it to him to do his thing, the blessings abound. I just amazed at how I feel like he continues to bless even when I am less than faithful, more than a sinner, and a weary child of God. I can't explain it... I just have to say GOD IS SO GOOD!
I'm a planner. When we got married we thought we'd have 2-4 kids (I always, ALWAYS thought 4) and we definately knew we'd have a Zechariah, a Lily, and a Nathanael. I thought the last one would be the surprise and we'd come up with her name at some point... but in my heart, I felt a place for these 4 children.
So when Zech came, I had no doubt he was my Zech. I even had a personality that I felt fit him. We were SO thrilled to welcome our first son. In my head, I figured the boys would be first. But as soon as I took the pregnancy test with my 2nd child, I told Dave, THIS ONE IS A GIRL! By the 3rd, we thought we'd be done and that that would mean that baby HAD to be Nate. When we saw that she was a girl, I was thrilled. It never crossed my mind that we didn't have a nate. We had a Ruby and she was perfect. But instantly I had a longing for another child. I told Dave in the hospital, about 12 hours after having Ruby that I wanted one more. He laughed blamed hormones and said we'd talk about it later.
About 6months ago (give or take a few weeks), I heard a sermon and a story within the sermon was about a woman who became pregnant again after she thought she was done. She was thrilled, but considered it an "interruption". She went on to explain how her husband figured it would happen since he always saw himself with 3 boys... The story really had NOTHING to do with the main point of the sermon, but it caused such a reaction in me I had to leave the room. I bowed before God and asked what he was telling me.
I came home that day, went to my loving husband and said "I think God has a Nate for our family. I know it sounds crazy and VERY specific, but Nate belongs in our family, I know I am not done with our family yet." My husband, who was pretty close to being done, no matter what I said, didn't even hesitate and said "yea, okay." Shocked by his quick response, I said to him "What if I am wrong, and we try to have a baby and its a girl. We can't just keep having kids. How do I reconcile what I feel God is saying with the fact that this COULD mean we have one more girl, not a Nate at all?" And my godly man said back to me, "We leave it to God."
We were not going to prevent a pregnancy, but we weren't going to go crazy plotting temperatures, or cycle dates, or any other odd methods we had heard of. And within 6weeks I was pregnant (OF COURSE!)
My godly man of faith would not even consider girl names he was so convinced it was a boy. I really felt like it was, but had to keep in mind that there is a 50% chance of anything I said being wrong! But I knew what I felt God was saying to me.
This morning I prayed... "Help me reconcile the desire, and the longing for this Nate, if this is a girl with still deciding we are done having kids."
We go in today to see what we are having... and wouldn't God's faithfulness be well... faithful... its a boy! Nathanael Paul will join our family!
Not only have I married the man of my dreams, gone into full time minstry as I felt God calling, got to be a stay at home mom, who homeschools because God called me to do so... but he gives me the 4 children I wanted, blesses me with all the children we thought we'd ever had, and now, he gives me my Nate. God has blessed me with my fairy tale life... I'm not the most perfect person in the world... FAR FROM IT! But God blesses me over and over and over and over!
I would have been perfectly fine with a little Eva Rose, but when God speaks, and we leave it to him to do his thing, the blessings abound. I just amazed at how I feel like he continues to bless even when I am less than faithful, more than a sinner, and a weary child of God. I can't explain it... I just have to say GOD IS SO GOOD!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Myths of Motherhood
I've read the last "What I wish I knew before I had kids" article. I think some are funny, and they use exageration in a very funny way... but why so negative?
Yes, moms talk a lot about poop. Yes, we get snot blown on us by the occasional sneeze, yes, we are sleep deprived, and sometimes loopy because of it. But anyone can focus on the negatives only of any one blessing and make it sound horrible.
So, maybe I can be the one blogger that clears up some of the "Myths" of motherhood...
Myth #1: All we ever talk about is Poop! No, we talk about what CAUSES the poop, too. As a mom, we're concerned with EVERY aspect of these bundles of joy. We make sure all the food groups are presented, then we realize what foods cause what "stuff" to come out... and alter accordingly. We do it because we've been given this huge honor to raise these little babies, and food... and poo is part of that.
Myth #2: You will loathe your children... yes, this was in more than one of those "mommy blogs". I was shocked to think that some moms loathe their children... but I think this is said more as a way to be humourous... I hope. So, here's the deal. You will get SUPER frustrated. When you mop the floor and within seconds turn around to see cake smeared across the floor, you get frustrated. When your potty training and the child just keeps pooping in their undies (oops, am I talking about poo again?), you are ready to sit in the snow to cool off... or when you've been up for the 18th time in one night, you just might yell "SHUT UP!" to your 6mo old from the kitchen... but you love them. You love them more than you can ever imagine. You'd do anything for them. You may grit your teeth as you mop, wipe up, and cuddle that never ending crying baby, but you love them with something so deep within you that you could never in a million years express. This doesn't mean you want to be around them AT. ALL. TIMES. But you miss them every minute your away. Its just what comes along with motherhood... and its AWESOME!
Myth #3: Going out will never be the same... oh wait! That one isn't a myth. You will never go out to eat the same again. Either you've hauled your kids out, or you've worked for weeks to line up a baby sitter, written a list, just to go out alone with your husband for ONE hour! And when your out, even if you try, the kids and whether they are being good for the sitter is always in the back of your mind... No, this one is NOT a myth!... however, never before has it been so fun to stay home on a saturday night! They are just THAT worth it. (
Myth #4: Nothing You do will ever be good enough... Sure people give you advice, and sure you question your parenting skills on a regular basis... but that tiny baby, that 2 year old shadow, or that 5 year old kindergartener thinks you are the best! They love you when you've let them fall off the couch at 2 months old. They love you when you fail to give them PBJ for the 18th day in a row... and they REALLY love you if you do! They love you when you go to pick them up from school, and even when you drop them off. You can do no wrong... now, I don't have kids over the age of 5, so I'm not sure if this is true when they are 10, 12, 16... but deep down, they know you love them, right?
Myth #5: Your kids will own you! This does not HAVE to be true! Sure, you can let them parent, and set the rules, and manipulate you, and I do agree your priorities change, your lifestyle changes... but they dont' OWN you! they are YOUR children, raise them accordingly. This part is up to you. Children want leadership, they want parents. Its our job to be that parent.
I love my kids. I love motherhood, heck, I've made a career out of it! And I can't really say that its all glamourous, but I can say I enjoy my life and Motherhood has changed me for the better! (That being said as my 1 year old BITES my toe!) And I would hope that all moms to be would be filled with hope as they begin this journey, not fearful of all the horror stories... Motherhood is a blessing! Its not easy, its not always kind to our bodies, or our faces, or our fashion... but it does far more to our inner selves, far more than I have words to describe. Its pure joy! I just can't say much more! Its pure Joy!!!
Yes, moms talk a lot about poop. Yes, we get snot blown on us by the occasional sneeze, yes, we are sleep deprived, and sometimes loopy because of it. But anyone can focus on the negatives only of any one blessing and make it sound horrible.
So, maybe I can be the one blogger that clears up some of the "Myths" of motherhood...
Myth #1: All we ever talk about is Poop! No, we talk about what CAUSES the poop, too. As a mom, we're concerned with EVERY aspect of these bundles of joy. We make sure all the food groups are presented, then we realize what foods cause what "stuff" to come out... and alter accordingly. We do it because we've been given this huge honor to raise these little babies, and food... and poo is part of that.
Myth #2: You will loathe your children... yes, this was in more than one of those "mommy blogs". I was shocked to think that some moms loathe their children... but I think this is said more as a way to be humourous... I hope. So, here's the deal. You will get SUPER frustrated. When you mop the floor and within seconds turn around to see cake smeared across the floor, you get frustrated. When your potty training and the child just keeps pooping in their undies (oops, am I talking about poo again?), you are ready to sit in the snow to cool off... or when you've been up for the 18th time in one night, you just might yell "SHUT UP!" to your 6mo old from the kitchen... but you love them. You love them more than you can ever imagine. You'd do anything for them. You may grit your teeth as you mop, wipe up, and cuddle that never ending crying baby, but you love them with something so deep within you that you could never in a million years express. This doesn't mean you want to be around them AT. ALL. TIMES. But you miss them every minute your away. Its just what comes along with motherhood... and its AWESOME!
Myth #3: Going out will never be the same... oh wait! That one isn't a myth. You will never go out to eat the same again. Either you've hauled your kids out, or you've worked for weeks to line up a baby sitter, written a list, just to go out alone with your husband for ONE hour! And when your out, even if you try, the kids and whether they are being good for the sitter is always in the back of your mind... No, this one is NOT a myth!... however, never before has it been so fun to stay home on a saturday night! They are just THAT worth it. (
Myth #4: Nothing You do will ever be good enough... Sure people give you advice, and sure you question your parenting skills on a regular basis... but that tiny baby, that 2 year old shadow, or that 5 year old kindergartener thinks you are the best! They love you when you've let them fall off the couch at 2 months old. They love you when you fail to give them PBJ for the 18th day in a row... and they REALLY love you if you do! They love you when you go to pick them up from school, and even when you drop them off. You can do no wrong... now, I don't have kids over the age of 5, so I'm not sure if this is true when they are 10, 12, 16... but deep down, they know you love them, right?
Myth #5: Your kids will own you! This does not HAVE to be true! Sure, you can let them parent, and set the rules, and manipulate you, and I do agree your priorities change, your lifestyle changes... but they dont' OWN you! they are YOUR children, raise them accordingly. This part is up to you. Children want leadership, they want parents. Its our job to be that parent.
I love my kids. I love motherhood, heck, I've made a career out of it! And I can't really say that its all glamourous, but I can say I enjoy my life and Motherhood has changed me for the better! (That being said as my 1 year old BITES my toe!) And I would hope that all moms to be would be filled with hope as they begin this journey, not fearful of all the horror stories... Motherhood is a blessing! Its not easy, its not always kind to our bodies, or our faces, or our fashion... but it does far more to our inner selves, far more than I have words to describe. Its pure joy! I just can't say much more! Its pure Joy!!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
And the Line is THERE!!!!
About 6 weeks ago, I had this odd inner feeling. I didn't even know how to explain it to Dave, but I just decided to go check under the bathroom sink to see if there was a left over pregnancy test. I've never been one that feels I HAVE to take multiple tests to confirm what the first test says, so I figured since last time we bought a package with a "FREE TEST" in it, I'd have one. I got up early, took the test... stared at the test... nothing... then wait, what was that, is that a tiny pink line? No, I'm just seeing things, maybe the energy saver light bulb hasn't gotten to its brightest spot yet... Oh, no, its there, its turing pink... And there ya had it, staring me back in the face was the number 4! (well, not really, it was just a little faint pink line, but it was screaming FOUR!!! FOUR KIDS!!! FOURTH BABY! at me).
I went and got Dave up, had him squint his eyes and tell me if I was seeing things or not... he saw it right away and said "Ok, then God, no problem" then looked at me with stern eyes and said "WE ARE DONE!" (well, not really STERN, more of a half smirk, and laugh). He knows I'm super fertile, so I think he wasn't surprised at all. Probably more excited about this being a definately LAST and that he would forever shut me up about the conversation of having more. "Should we, Dave?"
I am SUPERDY DUPERDY excited! I am a tad bit shocked at how much love one person can have in their heart. I mean, I love this bean, I'm pretty attached, and he (or if God is THAT funny) she has had so many prayers already prayed over him (uh huh, or her) that IT is definately attached to this family! I am pleased that I was equally excited about each pregnancy. I really thought the wonder of it all would wear off by the time you've had this many... but I am still in total awe of what God is doing, and how sometimes I feel like he does it all just for me!
A few months back I began praying. Before I even mentioned it to Dave. I felt this strong draw that our family wasn't complete. That there was still this one particular kid that belonged in this family. When I mentioned it to Dave, he nodded his head and said "Well, lets pray about that." And within months (no more than 2) here we are. So I have no doubt in my mind that God has mighty plans for this Nathanael Paul, or Nora Rose (this may change, IF it really is a girl... I've said these words before... and got the girl, I am very aware of that!). This baby is a Ciske through and through, and God heard my prayers and surprised me with a huge blessing!
So, if you'd continue to pray for a happy healthy next 6 months, I would appreciate it!
I went and got Dave up, had him squint his eyes and tell me if I was seeing things or not... he saw it right away and said "Ok, then God, no problem" then looked at me with stern eyes and said "WE ARE DONE!" (well, not really STERN, more of a half smirk, and laugh). He knows I'm super fertile, so I think he wasn't surprised at all. Probably more excited about this being a definately LAST and that he would forever shut me up about the conversation of having more. "Should we, Dave?"
I am SUPERDY DUPERDY excited! I am a tad bit shocked at how much love one person can have in their heart. I mean, I love this bean, I'm pretty attached, and he (or if God is THAT funny) she has had so many prayers already prayed over him (uh huh, or her) that IT is definately attached to this family! I am pleased that I was equally excited about each pregnancy. I really thought the wonder of it all would wear off by the time you've had this many... but I am still in total awe of what God is doing, and how sometimes I feel like he does it all just for me!
A few months back I began praying. Before I even mentioned it to Dave. I felt this strong draw that our family wasn't complete. That there was still this one particular kid that belonged in this family. When I mentioned it to Dave, he nodded his head and said "Well, lets pray about that." And within months (no more than 2) here we are. So I have no doubt in my mind that God has mighty plans for this Nathanael Paul, or Nora Rose (this may change, IF it really is a girl... I've said these words before... and got the girl, I am very aware of that!). This baby is a Ciske through and through, and God heard my prayers and surprised me with a huge blessing!
So, if you'd continue to pray for a happy healthy next 6 months, I would appreciate it!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Farts and School
We aren't ones to discuss flatulent acts here at the Ciske home. We don't promote it, encourage it, or talk about it... but it happens. FARTS happen!
Recently for a reading lesson we played a varied version of "Scrabble Slam". I would make easy 3 letter words for Lily to read quickly, then change the easy word to a "harder" word that Zech could sound out. Then with the final cards in my hand I noticed I could spell the word "FART" So I laid it down and told Lily it was a "Challenge word" (she's 4 remember?) So she begins to sound it out. FFFFFAAARRRRTTTT! She begins laughing hysterically and Zech yells FART! We all laughed we even sang a rhyming song for the word "Art, Smart, Cart, wonderific its terrific, Part, Mart, Dart, Wonderific its terrific FART!" The kids were rolling on the floor, I was laughing, it was a GREAT reading/rhyming lesson!
For the rest of the week, I could contain the "toot" talk, and we went on with our lives. Today though the kids wanted something special for breakfast. I searched the cabinet and offered them a granola bar. Then realized it was a Fiber One granola bar. So I warned them that it may make them toot more, or have to go potty a lot. (which is what we need for one of them... don't you know moms think about their children's regularity). When school started today was just about the time the fiber one bars began their work in Lily.
She in one room, Zech in another as I TRIED to teach him lessons on subtraction. She passes gas, he giggles. I ignored. But it got too much for him to handle. I told him he needed to get control or he'd be sent to him room prolonging the end of school. He ended up in his room. Only to return to crack up laughing when he opened his mouth.
Again to his room. Came back in opened his mouth to answer a problem only to find that laughter spilled out. Who knew toots were so so hilarious. Eventually I gave up, sent him to his desk to finish a stack of worksheets (some of which we usually do as part of the lesson). He diligently works, comes back for a quick check of his papers. When I send him back to make some corrections, he begins to complain. So I tell him "Just imagine your sister FARTING"... he finished his work as he laughed.
School has to be fun, right?
Recently for a reading lesson we played a varied version of "Scrabble Slam". I would make easy 3 letter words for Lily to read quickly, then change the easy word to a "harder" word that Zech could sound out. Then with the final cards in my hand I noticed I could spell the word "FART" So I laid it down and told Lily it was a "Challenge word" (she's 4 remember?) So she begins to sound it out. FFFFFAAARRRRTTTT! She begins laughing hysterically and Zech yells FART! We all laughed we even sang a rhyming song for the word "Art, Smart, Cart, wonderific its terrific, Part, Mart, Dart, Wonderific its terrific FART!" The kids were rolling on the floor, I was laughing, it was a GREAT reading/rhyming lesson!
For the rest of the week, I could contain the "toot" talk, and we went on with our lives. Today though the kids wanted something special for breakfast. I searched the cabinet and offered them a granola bar. Then realized it was a Fiber One granola bar. So I warned them that it may make them toot more, or have to go potty a lot. (which is what we need for one of them... don't you know moms think about their children's regularity). When school started today was just about the time the fiber one bars began their work in Lily.
She in one room, Zech in another as I TRIED to teach him lessons on subtraction. She passes gas, he giggles. I ignored. But it got too much for him to handle. I told him he needed to get control or he'd be sent to him room prolonging the end of school. He ended up in his room. Only to return to crack up laughing when he opened his mouth.
Again to his room. Came back in opened his mouth to answer a problem only to find that laughter spilled out. Who knew toots were so so hilarious. Eventually I gave up, sent him to his desk to finish a stack of worksheets (some of which we usually do as part of the lesson). He diligently works, comes back for a quick check of his papers. When I send him back to make some corrections, he begins to complain. So I tell him "Just imagine your sister FARTING"... he finished his work as he laughed.
School has to be fun, right?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Homeschooling's perfect example!
When we started homeschooling, I had the routine down! I would start the day out with all three kiddos. The, then, 9mo old would sit and listen to the opening book, watch her brother and sister say the pledge, do the weather, count the days, add to the calendar. All was well. She'd lay down for a good 2 hour nap, and school was quiet and calm... Then she turned ONE! and that morning nap isn't 2 hours anymore. So as hard as I have tried to work around her and continue our schedule, she has proven to me that she'll make it harder on me than I could ever expect... and just when I get the routine down, she'll change it.
Today was the perfect example of how chaotic homeschooling can be, and just how wonderfully pleasing it can be as well.
We start late because the 1 year old has decided to dump all the paints (lids on) and all the pattern blocks. I want the kids to learn in clean areas, its only fair, right! One mess after another. I sit down with Lily and start her writing lessons as Zech does online reading lessons. I walk in to check in on Zech to notice the basket of laundry I had folded was now strewn all about the living room... the CLEAN living room! I gather the clothes, tell her a stern no (as she grins, and struts her 1 year old stuff!) I scoop her up and try for a morning nap.
I return to Lily who has now mastered the writing of the # 2 and is as proud as a 4 year old can be! My 5 year old is standing on a chair waving his arms around as he completes his level of reading with a fabulous score and is ushered into the next level of reading. Oh the joys of seeing them learn... and be happy about it!
We officially begin our day in school with our morning routine (book, calendar, days of the week, weather, pledge, memory verse, prayer...) all while little miss 1 year old screams in her crib. Violet no longer sings the good night songs, Ruby is fully awake. I let her up thinking she can handle just one nap.
This is how it went.
Me: reading with Lily
Lily: Reading (READING! A BOOK... really well!)
Zech: Doing seat work (he LOVES seatwork, and is learning to sit quietly and diligently do his work)
Ruby: DESTROYING!
Me: "hold on Lily, keep your finger at your place, I need to keep Ruby from knocking over the Wii" or "Oop, Lily, hold it there, let me get your sister before she eats the pattern blocks" or "Keep reading, Lily, I can hear you! Let me just grab Ruby before she climbs up the bookshelf!"
But the joy in it all, is how quickly Lily picked up the words she didn't know. How easily she learned to follow the words with her finger as she read. How her confidence rose with each passing page. As she sounded out words right and left creating a complete story all on her own. She can now read to herself all those books she's been stacking since she was 2 years old! What a joy, what an honor, what a blessing to know that I TAUGHT THIS TO HER! I was there the moment she got that "AHA" moment and could figure this reading thing out! I love teaching them!
Then, its Zech's turn. He has a new book to read. We are focusing on reading with ease. If he has to sound things out, that's fine, but then he has to go back and reread it smoothly. And with voice inflection. With emotion.
Me: listening to Zech read
Zech: reading with the cutest little tones
Lily: Seat work (she thinks she's SO big!)
Ruby: eating a crayon!
Me: "UhOh! Keep reading, let me grab that crayon!
Me: "Ruby, come listen to Zech's story"
Ruby: Arching her back, slapping the book, screaming to get down
Zech: Reading louder, neck crooked, arms flailing to block the occasional blows from his sister.
Me: Lets Ruby go... tries to focus on the reading wonder boy! He struggled at first. I was so scared when I began teaching him that I would have no clue how to teach the boy to read. Last year at this time he knew the letter sounds, but not really "how to read". But he caught on quickly, claims he doesn't like it, but loves the way he feels when he closes that book knowing he's read it all by himself. He amazes me when he can read with such fluidity words I never knew he knew. When he sees the words "grandma" or "favorite" for the first time, how does he know that's the word? I close my eyes and praise God for the brains my kids must have gotten from their daddy! Just then, KABOOM! All the toys on the "activity" shelf are down!
Ruby: laughing in wicked delight as she has reached from a "taller than her" shelf all the fun toys she couldn't play with before... hence the reason they were kept high up.
UpWords tiles to clean, paints, paintbrushes, flashcards, counting chips, dominoes... now all over the floor.
Zech finishes up his book. The packers won the big game, Zech now has a new favorite book that he tucks away in his bedroom to read later. (oh how this brings me joy!)
The older two get some free time, Ruby and I clean up.
Then I take time for her. I get out a puzzle and we look at all the pictures.
Chicken goes "bahk bahk bahk"... She says "babababa" This makes me happy!
Sheep goes "baaa baaa baaa"... She says "Baaa hahahaha" This makes me laugh!
Duck goes "Quack Quack" She says "ack ack ack"... this makes me so proud I text Dave with her accomplishments!
Here we are, all in one room... a VERY messy room, as happy as could be!
If this day (this little 3 hour homeschool day) isn't the perfect example of the life of a homeschooler, I don't know what is. The stress of doing it right, the chaos of having 3 kids at very different levels of learning, catering to them all in one group, but also separately on their own level added with the pure joy of seeing them learn. Seeing each one grasp what they've been struggling to accomplish, then beam with pride. This is what homeschooling is... the ups and downs, the constant moving to keep up... the moment they learn something, whether its to read with fluidity and comprehension, or the sound a cow makes... they are all so very joyous!
I am SO happy I made this decision...
Today was the perfect example of how chaotic homeschooling can be, and just how wonderfully pleasing it can be as well.
We start late because the 1 year old has decided to dump all the paints (lids on) and all the pattern blocks. I want the kids to learn in clean areas, its only fair, right! One mess after another. I sit down with Lily and start her writing lessons as Zech does online reading lessons. I walk in to check in on Zech to notice the basket of laundry I had folded was now strewn all about the living room... the CLEAN living room! I gather the clothes, tell her a stern no (as she grins, and struts her 1 year old stuff!) I scoop her up and try for a morning nap.
I return to Lily who has now mastered the writing of the # 2 and is as proud as a 4 year old can be! My 5 year old is standing on a chair waving his arms around as he completes his level of reading with a fabulous score and is ushered into the next level of reading. Oh the joys of seeing them learn... and be happy about it!
We officially begin our day in school with our morning routine (book, calendar, days of the week, weather, pledge, memory verse, prayer...) all while little miss 1 year old screams in her crib. Violet no longer sings the good night songs, Ruby is fully awake. I let her up thinking she can handle just one nap.
This is how it went.
Me: reading with Lily
Lily: Reading (READING! A BOOK... really well!)
Zech: Doing seat work (he LOVES seatwork, and is learning to sit quietly and diligently do his work)
Ruby: DESTROYING!
Me: "hold on Lily, keep your finger at your place, I need to keep Ruby from knocking over the Wii" or "Oop, Lily, hold it there, let me get your sister before she eats the pattern blocks" or "Keep reading, Lily, I can hear you! Let me just grab Ruby before she climbs up the bookshelf!"
But the joy in it all, is how quickly Lily picked up the words she didn't know. How easily she learned to follow the words with her finger as she read. How her confidence rose with each passing page. As she sounded out words right and left creating a complete story all on her own. She can now read to herself all those books she's been stacking since she was 2 years old! What a joy, what an honor, what a blessing to know that I TAUGHT THIS TO HER! I was there the moment she got that "AHA" moment and could figure this reading thing out! I love teaching them!
Then, its Zech's turn. He has a new book to read. We are focusing on reading with ease. If he has to sound things out, that's fine, but then he has to go back and reread it smoothly. And with voice inflection. With emotion.
Me: listening to Zech read
Zech: reading with the cutest little tones
Lily: Seat work (she thinks she's SO big!)
Ruby: eating a crayon!
Me: "UhOh! Keep reading, let me grab that crayon!
Me: "Ruby, come listen to Zech's story"
Ruby: Arching her back, slapping the book, screaming to get down
Zech: Reading louder, neck crooked, arms flailing to block the occasional blows from his sister.
Me: Lets Ruby go... tries to focus on the reading wonder boy! He struggled at first. I was so scared when I began teaching him that I would have no clue how to teach the boy to read. Last year at this time he knew the letter sounds, but not really "how to read". But he caught on quickly, claims he doesn't like it, but loves the way he feels when he closes that book knowing he's read it all by himself. He amazes me when he can read with such fluidity words I never knew he knew. When he sees the words "grandma" or "favorite" for the first time, how does he know that's the word? I close my eyes and praise God for the brains my kids must have gotten from their daddy! Just then, KABOOM! All the toys on the "activity" shelf are down!
Ruby: laughing in wicked delight as she has reached from a "taller than her" shelf all the fun toys she couldn't play with before... hence the reason they were kept high up.
UpWords tiles to clean, paints, paintbrushes, flashcards, counting chips, dominoes... now all over the floor.
Zech finishes up his book. The packers won the big game, Zech now has a new favorite book that he tucks away in his bedroom to read later. (oh how this brings me joy!)
The older two get some free time, Ruby and I clean up.
Then I take time for her. I get out a puzzle and we look at all the pictures.
Chicken goes "bahk bahk bahk"... She says "babababa" This makes me happy!
Sheep goes "baaa baaa baaa"... She says "Baaa hahahaha" This makes me laugh!
Duck goes "Quack Quack" She says "ack ack ack"... this makes me so proud I text Dave with her accomplishments!
Here we are, all in one room... a VERY messy room, as happy as could be!
If this day (this little 3 hour homeschool day) isn't the perfect example of the life of a homeschooler, I don't know what is. The stress of doing it right, the chaos of having 3 kids at very different levels of learning, catering to them all in one group, but also separately on their own level added with the pure joy of seeing them learn. Seeing each one grasp what they've been struggling to accomplish, then beam with pride. This is what homeschooling is... the ups and downs, the constant moving to keep up... the moment they learn something, whether its to read with fluidity and comprehension, or the sound a cow makes... they are all so very joyous!
I am SO happy I made this decision...
Ruby's a year old!
I have been working very hard every day to get 1 year portraits done of this ever-growing- ever-moving energetic one year old... but so far, no luck... so when I do, her post will go here. Poor girl has worn the same outfit for at least 30min of every day! She has proven to be the hardest of all three to get pics of! I will leave you of a pic of her 1 year ago...
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