Anna Claire is all about cruising and "reading" her books right now. I love watching the evolution from crawling, to pulling up, to "Look Mom, no hands!" I especially enjoy watching her with her books. She is quite the proficient page-turner. She turns the book the right way (most of the time) and gets that books are read from left to right. I think that's pretty good! Here are a couple of video montages of her in action:
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Getting ready for Daycare
Red Barn, here we come. I have to say, I give all of the staff there props for allowing Anna Claire and me to hang out and visit as we please the past few weeks. I can't imagine doing it any other way, and feel so blessed to have the summer off, allowing us the time to pull it off.
Anna Claire's teachers are absolutely wonderful. They have been so supportive, kind, and full of suggestions of how to make the transition easier for her. I shared my concerns about their outdoor play being on pavement, as Anna Claire is still crawling. Thanks to their guidance, I purchased her first pair of shoes, which she now wears everyday. I now have ironed on patches to the knees of all of my soon-to-be-walking-toddler's pants.
We have also taken their advice and weened her off her morning nap (naps were 9:30-10:30 and 1-2, now we're doing 11:30-1 and going to bed a half hour earlier - 7:30). Along with the change in napping, we give her an earlier lunch (was previously 12. Now she's eating at 10:30). This mimics the schedule she'll be following at "school".
We also now have a chair which she enjoys sitting in regularly.
I have gathered and turned in the requisite supplies: wipes, paste, sunscreen, comfort toy, change of clothes, bib, sippy cup, etc. Still needing a backpack for her fitted sheet and blanket. Not finding one that I like just yet. I'm also struggling with what I should do about her blanket. She LOVES her Little Giraffe blanket that she received from her "Aunt Kelly". Not sure if I should take it back and forth between school and home, get a second Little Giraffe blanket, OR see how she does with a second blanket that we already have. Still pondering...
I'll tell you what made my day. I was of the understanding that Anna Claire's teachers did not arrive until 7:30 am. I need to be at work by 7, so I have been worrying about leaving her for the first time with someone I do not know and that neither of us have ever met. Today I found out Miss Ashley (one of her two main teachers) will be there at 6:45 when I drop her off. When she told me, I just lost it. I started bawling. What a weight lifted. How much easier will this be knowing and TRUSTING who I am leaving her with. Thank you God!
Anna Claire's teachers are absolutely wonderful. They have been so supportive, kind, and full of suggestions of how to make the transition easier for her. I shared my concerns about their outdoor play being on pavement, as Anna Claire is still crawling. Thanks to their guidance, I purchased her first pair of shoes, which she now wears everyday. I now have ironed on patches to the knees of all of my soon-to-be-walking-toddler's pants.
We have also taken their advice and weened her off her morning nap (naps were 9:30-10:30 and 1-2, now we're doing 11:30-1 and going to bed a half hour earlier - 7:30). Along with the change in napping, we give her an earlier lunch (was previously 12. Now she's eating at 10:30). This mimics the schedule she'll be following at "school".
We also now have a chair which she enjoys sitting in regularly.
I have gathered and turned in the requisite supplies: wipes, paste, sunscreen, comfort toy, change of clothes, bib, sippy cup, etc. Still needing a backpack for her fitted sheet and blanket. Not finding one that I like just yet. I'm also struggling with what I should do about her blanket. She LOVES her Little Giraffe blanket that she received from her "Aunt Kelly". Not sure if I should take it back and forth between school and home, get a second Little Giraffe blanket, OR see how she does with a second blanket that we already have. Still pondering...
I'll tell you what made my day. I was of the understanding that Anna Claire's teachers did not arrive until 7:30 am. I need to be at work by 7, so I have been worrying about leaving her for the first time with someone I do not know and that neither of us have ever met. Today I found out Miss Ashley (one of her two main teachers) will be there at 6:45 when I drop her off. When she told me, I just lost it. I started bawling. What a weight lifted. How much easier will this be knowing and TRUSTING who I am leaving her with. Thank you God!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
A Week in the Life...
This week Anna Claire has hit several milestones: feeding herself with a spoon, standing using one hand only for support, brushing Mommy's hair, feeding Mommy, touching her head when asked, putting blocks in containers, taking one nap (it is 1 hr 15, but she's sleeping 30 min. longer at night since we are bedding her down 30 min earlier), saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah", and singing, "I did it, I did it, I did it" during Dora's "We did it" song. She also likes making the "V" sound and the "F" sound. Larry thinks she will start talking before she learns to walk.
This week I have also encountered some challenges. She is TOO ticklish - making it very hard to clip her toenails, asleep or awake. She's wearing socks and shoes most of the time now, but I know it needs to get done. I am open to suggestions!
This week we had jello fun. I made a large container of strawberry jello just for Anna Claire. Larry and I put her in the yard and let her have at it. I'm posting a video below for your enjoyment. Not sure which is funnier - her with the jello or me escaping my predator. ;)
We have also been visiting the Red Barn once a week to get Anna Claire comfortable with the other babies, her teachers, and her classroom. This is helping a lot! She looks forward to our time there.
Yesterday she and I drove to Todd Co. to Schlabach's Amish bakery. We picked up some homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and honey. Before leaving to return home. We sat on their front porch and shared a tasty pastry while we watched the butterflies, bluebirds and beautiful flowers. Anna Claire said it best, "Mmmmm, Mama!"
This morning Larry and I took her to pick blackberries and blueberries at the Tin Barn. I think she had just as many berries as we put in our bucket. One for the bucket. One for the baby. One for the bucket. One for the baby. She had a precious purple stained face when it was all said and done, and a big smile. Our harvest was so pitiful, the nice owners gave them to us free of charge. We felt obliged to buy one of their pre-picked pints, so we do have some for later!
The second video I'm including in this post is just short snippets of one evening outside.
This week I have also encountered some challenges. She is TOO ticklish - making it very hard to clip her toenails, asleep or awake. She's wearing socks and shoes most of the time now, but I know it needs to get done. I am open to suggestions!
This week we had jello fun. I made a large container of strawberry jello just for Anna Claire. Larry and I put her in the yard and let her have at it. I'm posting a video below for your enjoyment. Not sure which is funnier - her with the jello or me escaping my predator. ;)
We have also been visiting the Red Barn once a week to get Anna Claire comfortable with the other babies, her teachers, and her classroom. This is helping a lot! She looks forward to our time there.
Yesterday she and I drove to Todd Co. to Schlabach's Amish bakery. We picked up some homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and honey. Before leaving to return home. We sat on their front porch and shared a tasty pastry while we watched the butterflies, bluebirds and beautiful flowers. Anna Claire said it best, "Mmmmm, Mama!"
This morning Larry and I took her to pick blackberries and blueberries at the Tin Barn. I think she had just as many berries as we put in our bucket. One for the bucket. One for the baby. One for the bucket. One for the baby. She had a precious purple stained face when it was all said and done, and a big smile. Our harvest was so pitiful, the nice owners gave them to us free of charge. We felt obliged to buy one of their pre-picked pints, so we do have some for later!
The second video I'm including in this post is just short snippets of one evening outside.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
First Swimming Lesson
Swimming lessons are a hit. Anna Claire loves being in the water and being with other babies, so I shouldn't be too surprised!
On the way to the Y, I told her we were going to "splash in the water with babies" and that we were "going to have fun". She "whoooo"ed, and clapped enthusiastically.
When we got there I worried how she would do b/c we were 10 minutes early. I sought out the instructor to see if there was anything we needed to do, and considered getting in the water early. She informed me that it was a class I needed to register for. I stressed that I had dropped the ball and worried that we would have to go back home with no swimming after I had gotten Anna Claire so pumped up. So we went back to the front desk, and I explained. Everyone was super-kind and let us register with no problem.
I was surprised that the class began by having the moms dunk the babies underwater. It was fine, the instructors said, as long as we followed the dunking with a big smile and a "yay!" This worked beautifully. The babies loved going in and out of the water! We then sat the babies on the edge and they "jumped" into the water.
Next, we did a series of songs in a circle, like "Wheels on the Bus", and "Ring around the Roses".
Finally we had the babies "dive" for toys on the entrance ramp. Anna Claire did not quite get this. She would rather watch the other babies and splash.
I was so proud of her throughout the entire class. She was by far the most enthusiastic student and it was apparent she enjoyed herself.
The only detail I am leaving out, was not a big deal to me, but it was to the instructors. Our lessons were on one side of the heated pool, and a seniors class on the other. One of the seniors made her way to our side and started talking to Anna Claire. She seemed sweet enough. She was probably in her 70s, a little Asian lady. She held her arms out, and Anna Claire reached out to her. The lady picked her up, and I allowed it. The instructors shook the heads "NO" at me. They were visibly upset. I walked over to them and they explained this was a problem they encountered every week. I moved to the other side of our section of the pool which prevented any further encounters.
On the way to the Y, I told her we were going to "splash in the water with babies" and that we were "going to have fun". She "whoooo"ed, and clapped enthusiastically.
When we got there I worried how she would do b/c we were 10 minutes early. I sought out the instructor to see if there was anything we needed to do, and considered getting in the water early. She informed me that it was a class I needed to register for. I stressed that I had dropped the ball and worried that we would have to go back home with no swimming after I had gotten Anna Claire so pumped up. So we went back to the front desk, and I explained. Everyone was super-kind and let us register with no problem.
I was surprised that the class began by having the moms dunk the babies underwater. It was fine, the instructors said, as long as we followed the dunking with a big smile and a "yay!" This worked beautifully. The babies loved going in and out of the water! We then sat the babies on the edge and they "jumped" into the water.
Next, we did a series of songs in a circle, like "Wheels on the Bus", and "Ring around the Roses".
Finally we had the babies "dive" for toys on the entrance ramp. Anna Claire did not quite get this. She would rather watch the other babies and splash.
I was so proud of her throughout the entire class. She was by far the most enthusiastic student and it was apparent she enjoyed herself.
The only detail I am leaving out, was not a big deal to me, but it was to the instructors. Our lessons were on one side of the heated pool, and a seniors class on the other. One of the seniors made her way to our side and started talking to Anna Claire. She seemed sweet enough. She was probably in her 70s, a little Asian lady. She held her arms out, and Anna Claire reached out to her. The lady picked her up, and I allowed it. The instructors shook the heads "NO" at me. They were visibly upset. I walked over to them and they explained this was a problem they encountered every week. I moved to the other side of our section of the pool which prevented any further encounters.
Monday, July 5, 2010
My Favorite Time of Day
I really do think bath time with Anna Claire is my favorite time of day. Probably because it's hers. Nothing makes me happier than seeing her happy.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
All in a week. Whoa.
I haven't posted a blog in several days, partly due to exhaustion, and partly because I was not sure where to even begin. Anna Claire has progressed so much in the past week. Tonight as I was sitting on the porch watching neighbors shoot fireworks, I thought, if I don't post soon, I will have forgotten all of these little milestones.
JUST THIS WEEK: Anna Claire received her first shoes and will wear them, and received her first chair and will sit in it. She can wave opening and closing her hand, can put objects in a container, and is trying to stack blocks. She is standing using only one hand for support and can stay in the church nursery without melting down. She is in the process of going from two naps to one, has made the transition from rear-facing to front-facing car seat,and is making strides in giving up her paci and nursing. She does great in public, becoming more and more receptive to people approaching her. Thank the Lord she does not cry anymore when someone walks up and says, "What a cute baby!"
Larry and I are both so proud of her!
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