Leah can read.
Andrew can kick his feet in rhythm.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
A Day in the Life of Andrew
When I sat down to think about it, I realized that Andrew, at 11 weeks old, really is starting to develop a routine to his day-- even if it's not exactly how I'd like it to go, he's developing some predictablity, which I think is the first step toward sleeping through the night and taking more consistent naps. Here is what our days usually look like:
6:00am- First wake-up time; It almost always takes him about 10 minutes to eat (I am so blessed!), 5 more to burp & settle, and then he usually goes back to sleep for another hour or so.
7:30am- Wake up, along with Leah. Playtime for Andrew while we eat breakfast. (Playtime usually means he lays on his playmat and kicks his feet while grinning at the star that hangs from the top.)
8:30am- Eats again, then plays a little longer.
9:00am- Naptime. Right now he usually sleeps in his swing downstairs or in the car seat if we go somewhere. This is when I take my shower and Leah watches her Elmo movie. He doesn't sleep soundly and will usually wake up on and off and look around.
10:00am- If we're going out, this is usually when we do it. I'll feed him before we leave, and then he sleeps well in his car seat when we're out doing things, or if not, he's awake and quiet.
12:30pm- We're usually back home, he eats again while Leah's eating her lunch. I can usually eat my lunch when he's finished and Leah's still not finished eating.
1:00pm- Naptime all around. Usually I can get the two of them to sleep at the same time for at least 30 minutes or an hour. Andrew again doesn't sleep soundly, so he tends to wake up on and off, but he doesn't really need much attention, so I can get housework done.
3:30pm- Leah's up, Andrew's ready to eat again. He would love to eat every 2 hours, but I've been forcing him to make it at least 2 1/2 every feeding, so he eats more each time. We play some more. Andrew will take his late afternoon nap at some point.
5:15pm- Daddy's home from work. Leah loves to play with him on our bed while Brett winds down and then we eat dinner. Andrew watches from his swing.
5:45 or 6pm- Andrew eats again; we spend some time as a family. Andrew's usually awake at this point for the rest of the night.
7:30pm- Leah's bath and bedtime. Daddy hangs out with Andrew, or he watches from his swing again. (Good thing he's not mobile, yet!)
8:15pm- Andrew's bath, last feeding, and bedtime. He loves bathtime, but unfortunately, with his eczema/ dry skin, I can't really bathe him a lot, so it's usually 2 or 3 times a week. Even if he doesn't get a bath, this is the only time of the day when I really get Andrew one-on-one, so I enjoy holding him and talking or singing to him before bedtime. I've started reading to him some, as well, even though he really doesn't look at the book at all, I know it's never too early to start! He's usually asleep by 9.
2:30 or 3am- Lately this is the only night-time feeding he's had, and it's usually quick and efficient-- 20 minutes and I'm back in bed. He doesn't seem at all ready to drop this feeding, but I'm hoping one night he'll just surprise me!
6:00am- First wake-up time; It almost always takes him about 10 minutes to eat (I am so blessed!), 5 more to burp & settle, and then he usually goes back to sleep for another hour or so.
7:30am- Wake up, along with Leah. Playtime for Andrew while we eat breakfast. (Playtime usually means he lays on his playmat and kicks his feet while grinning at the star that hangs from the top.)
8:30am- Eats again, then plays a little longer.
9:00am- Naptime. Right now he usually sleeps in his swing downstairs or in the car seat if we go somewhere. This is when I take my shower and Leah watches her Elmo movie. He doesn't sleep soundly and will usually wake up on and off and look around.
10:00am- If we're going out, this is usually when we do it. I'll feed him before we leave, and then he sleeps well in his car seat when we're out doing things, or if not, he's awake and quiet.
12:30pm- We're usually back home, he eats again while Leah's eating her lunch. I can usually eat my lunch when he's finished and Leah's still not finished eating.
1:00pm- Naptime all around. Usually I can get the two of them to sleep at the same time for at least 30 minutes or an hour. Andrew again doesn't sleep soundly, so he tends to wake up on and off, but he doesn't really need much attention, so I can get housework done.
3:30pm- Leah's up, Andrew's ready to eat again. He would love to eat every 2 hours, but I've been forcing him to make it at least 2 1/2 every feeding, so he eats more each time. We play some more. Andrew will take his late afternoon nap at some point.
5:15pm- Daddy's home from work. Leah loves to play with him on our bed while Brett winds down and then we eat dinner. Andrew watches from his swing.
5:45 or 6pm- Andrew eats again; we spend some time as a family. Andrew's usually awake at this point for the rest of the night.
7:30pm- Leah's bath and bedtime. Daddy hangs out with Andrew, or he watches from his swing again. (Good thing he's not mobile, yet!)
8:15pm- Andrew's bath, last feeding, and bedtime. He loves bathtime, but unfortunately, with his eczema/ dry skin, I can't really bathe him a lot, so it's usually 2 or 3 times a week. Even if he doesn't get a bath, this is the only time of the day when I really get Andrew one-on-one, so I enjoy holding him and talking or singing to him before bedtime. I've started reading to him some, as well, even though he really doesn't look at the book at all, I know it's never too early to start! He's usually asleep by 9.
2:30 or 3am- Lately this is the only night-time feeding he's had, and it's usually quick and efficient-- 20 minutes and I'm back in bed. He doesn't seem at all ready to drop this feeding, but I'm hoping one night he'll just surprise me!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Andrew @ 2 months
Andrew @ 2 months old:
* He still pretty much wants to eat every 2 to 3 hrs, but it only takes 10 minutes or less every time, so I really don't feel like I'm feeding him all day long. He can go longer if we're out and about (he usually sleeps in his car seat anyway). I'd like to start doing more bottles, but it seems like when he has them he gets fussier than usual, or it's not enough for him-- just like a snack to hold him over until the real thing. I still love not having to pump though!
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* He weighs a whopping 13 lbs., 7 oz., which is the 90th %! He is 23 1/4 inches long, the 70th %.
* He wears 3-6 month size pants, although he can still wear some 0-3 months, and is already in size 2 diapers! I can't believe how fast he's growing. I think little fat rolls are really cute on babies!
* He still pretty much wants to eat every 2 to 3 hrs, but it only takes 10 minutes or less every time, so I really don't feel like I'm feeding him all day long. He can go longer if we're out and about (he usually sleeps in his car seat anyway). I'd like to start doing more bottles, but it seems like when he has them he gets fussier than usual, or it's not enough for him-- just like a snack to hold him over until the real thing. I still love not having to pump though!
* He still grunts and squirms a lot, but not quite as much as he used to. We moved him out of the bassinet and into the bouncer seat in the living room to sleep several weeks ago, because I couldn't handle the noises. He does really well at night now, and most nights will sleep from about 9:30 until 2 or 2:30am, and then go right back to sleep until 4:30 or 5 and then again till at least 7. He sleeps very sporadically during the day, and usually not more than 30 minutes at a time. I have a feeling a very active & noisy 2-year-old sister running around doesn't help much.
Here is an example of his grunting (turn it up loud).
* Last night was his first night in his own crib upstairs. I was a little more hesitant to put him up there-- I don't remember having this much anxiety about moving Leah up. I think I just dreaded going up & down the stairs 2 or 3 times every night, and then I was afraid that he'd wake Leah up if he cried, and I was also afraid I wouldn't hear him on the monitor. But he actually did well. He still got up at his usual 1:30 & 5. I heard him just fine on the monitor, but it wasn't really loud. I was concerned about him sleeping flat on his back, too, since he's been in that bouncer so long, but he did just fine and I was glad to have my living room back at night!
* He still seems to be very serious & doesn't really smile a lot, although it is becoming more frequent. He is awake a lot more now, although he doesn't do much when he is awake. He loves to lay on his play mat and stare up at the star-- the same one Leah loved at his age. He also always smiles when I prop him up on my legs where he can see my face.
* He also seems to be starting to enjoy watching Leah run around, and doesn't seem to mind when she puts her books on him or lays on him to kiss him or tries to shove his paci in his mouth.
* He definately loves his bath-- no matter how fussy he's been, as soon as I lay him down & undress him, he gets perfectly calm and quiet, and stays quiet through the entire bath, taking it all in!
* He's generally pretty easygoing, with only 1 or 2 fussy periods a day that can usually be cured by letting him lay out and work out his gas, or else just holding him and giving him a little attention. He's really perfectly content just going with the flow. What a blessing to have this again!
* He has a mild case of eczema & dry skin on his face and neck-- I have to apply this expensive lotion on him regularly and can't even use regular baby soap on him. What a sensitive boy.
I am making it a point to take tons of photos of Andrew so that he will not have the "second child" syndrome and lack pictures. Plus, he's really cute and I can't ever decide which photos I like best because I like them all.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Early Homeschooling
Brett and I have been talking for years now about what type of educ ation we want for our children. Though both of us had good experiences with public school, they are a little different in today's time and that's not really the type of education we want our children to have. We'd love for them to go to a private Christian school, but don't know that we will be able to afford that. So, at this point, we're going to give homeschooling a try-- at least for the first few years until we can re-evaluate and decide from there.
When I had more time on my hands, I spent a lot of time looking at curriculums and books on websites like CBD and Amazon. I haven't actually looked at many in person, but I was able to pick out ones I'd like to try for preschool through first grade. I don't know much about classical education, but when Brett was teaching at a local private school, that was the method they used, and he really liked it. So I checked The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education. It lays out a plan, including books to use, time to spend in each subject & everything you need to know about homeschooling classical education. Of course, I don't plan to follow any book by the letter, because I have to go with what works for my kids, but that book is a good starting place.
I still have several years before I start formal education. I plan to start The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading when Leah turns 4, along with some math workbooks. Right now, even though Leah shows a great excitement for learning and picks things up like a sponge, she doesn't do well with formal worksheets or projects. So I'm going to take a more informal approach at age 2 & 3. We've started doing a letter of the alphabet each week, using coloring sheets & video clips from Sesame Street.org (what a great site for my Elmo-lover!!). She has already learned (without even much work on my part) to sing the entire ABC song, she knows most of her colors, all the body parts, can count to 10 (almost), and can recognize several shapes.
The great thing about "informal" homeschooling at this age, is that anything counts!
We use videos:
Playdoh, blocks, Legos, coloring...
Lots of books!! And all sorts of "field trips"-- to the museum, to the store, to the park (phys. ed.), to the bookstore for story time, to the library... She doesn't even realize she's learning!
And the little one's learning too! He loves the flashing musical star on his play mat.
When I had more time on my hands, I spent a lot of time looking at curriculums and books on websites like CBD and Amazon. I haven't actually looked at many in person, but I was able to pick out ones I'd like to try for preschool through first grade. I don't know much about classical education, but when Brett was teaching at a local private school, that was the method they used, and he really liked it. So I checked The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education. It lays out a plan, including books to use, time to spend in each subject & everything you need to know about homeschooling classical education. Of course, I don't plan to follow any book by the letter, because I have to go with what works for my kids, but that book is a good starting place.
I still have several years before I start formal education. I plan to start The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading when Leah turns 4, along with some math workbooks. Right now, even though Leah shows a great excitement for learning and picks things up like a sponge, she doesn't do well with formal worksheets or projects. So I'm going to take a more informal approach at age 2 & 3. We've started doing a letter of the alphabet each week, using coloring sheets & video clips from Sesame Street.org (what a great site for my Elmo-lover!!). She has already learned (without even much work on my part) to sing the entire ABC song, she knows most of her colors, all the body parts, can count to 10 (almost), and can recognize several shapes.
The great thing about "informal" homeschooling at this age, is that anything counts!
We use videos:
Playdoh, blocks, Legos, coloring...
Lots of books!! And all sorts of "field trips"-- to the museum, to the store, to the park (phys. ed.), to the bookstore for story time, to the library... She doesn't even realize she's learning!
And the little one's learning too! He loves the flashing musical star on his play mat.
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