Fall is in full swing! We went to the circus this weekend. It was so much fun. Above is Alex in his hat that he got at the circus. He said that his favorite part was the elephants. There were a lot of cool acrobats, people hanging from the ceiling, dancing, motorcycles, and a lot of other stuff! Maya said "DOG!" when the big elephant came out. We had a great time!
Here is what Miss Maya has been up to at 16 months old. Saying a lot of words - mommy, daddy, hi, bye, night-night... sometimes combining, "Hi, daddy!".... please, more, baby, no.. today she said "emmy" when aunt emmy came to visit. She is really starting to talk a lot, it seems like more and more each day!
She loves to sit on the potty, although she hasn't actually DONE anything in there yet!
She also loves books and reading. And, most of all, she LOVES to climb up onto adult-sized chairs.
Maya is also really into coloring right now. And she only eats the crayons SOMETIMES! :)
Halloween was a lot of fun this year having two kiddos to dress up! Alex was a werewolf, and a really cute one at that, and Maya was a ladybug. She even went trick or treating for the first time, and got the hang of it pretty quickly!
We are getting ready for a big storm here. Hurricane Sandy! We will most likely have power outages, down wires and trees, etc. Alex was a little nervous, as he got pretty upset when we lost power for 3 days last year. But we are READY this year! We have flashlights, a lot of candles, and Alex helped with the "getting ready" process by putting all the batteries in himself. He's armed and ready!
And, here are a few videos:
This is Alex, he made a video for Grandpa, telling him about the circus:
Here is Maya saying "night-night":
Here is Maya singing Itsy Bitsy Spider:
And... this is a LONG video - but it pretty much captures Maya's entire personality.
Well, fall has been zipping by. Maya is doing great at her daycare - she waves bye to me as walks right in. Alex is doing well in school, and I am loving working at seven gen. Overall, the fall school year has been off to a great start!
Today, for the second year in a row, we visited Grimm's Greenhouse for their Fall Festival. Last year we attempted the corn maze, but didn't realize they sold a map of the maze and couldn't find our way out! Luckily, they have "helpers" up on scaffolds with birds eye views whom you can ask for help. Last year we needed him to guide us out! This year we got these of the Ariel view and it helped a lot! ER also had fun going on a hay ride and picking pumpkins.
Next weekend we are going to the circus!!! We are all very excited.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Yup - I can do this - I can go back to work!
I got a job at the charter school Alex attends.
So this week will be one of many firsts -
Alex's first day of first grade.
Maya's first day in childcare.
And my first day back to work in almost 2 years.
It's been a wild ride for the past 2 years, but I wouldn't change any of it. I really feel like God laid the path out for everything to fall into place, and I mean that seriously. I mean, look at what's happened in the past 2 years...
-I was able to collect unemployment, which enabled me to attend grad school full time and finish in 2 years (I'll be done this December).
-Our family grew by one and I was able to STAY HOME WITH HER!! -and get paid to do it via unemployment
-I was able to be a strong presence in Little A's kindergarten experience - as a volunteer, as an active parent, and by being home for him before and after school. I believe whole-heartedly, 100%, that he would have struggled seriously had this not been the case.
There are no words to describe how I feel about these past 2 years. They went by like lightning - I feel like my pregnancy, Maya's arrival, and her first 15 months went by in the blink of an eye.
Yet, I can't imagine anything before she completed our family.
Tomorrow, I'll embark on a new journey as a working parent.
As I posted about before, we made a bucket list for this summer - and I really, REALLY made it my goal to get every single thing done. However, with my 6-week intensive summer class, a few rocks did get left un-turned - but I am very VERY happy to report that they were "small" things and that all of our "big" goals TRULY got accomplished!!! Here are some of my favorite moments..
Aquarium:
Maya's first ice cream cone, at Daddy's work's Company Picnic:
Lehigh Valley Zoo:
Museum in Pittsfield, MA:
Making a sun catcher:
Completed summer reading program:
Faith's baptism - RIP Papi, Anibal Guzman, who went to Heaven on 8/28/12!
Bowling! Yes - that's me, in dead last...
One more from Lehigh Valley Zoo - Maya is one of the "big kids" now!
And lastly, I'll leave off with this poem, which I'm hesitant to even read again because I know I'll burst into tears!!! This has been a VERY eventful year and I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2012-2013.
Here are the words maya knows as of today:
1. Mama
2. Dada / daddy
3. Bubba (her name for Alex)
4. Hi
5. Yay
6. Baby
7. Book
8. More
9. Milk
10. Dog
11. Here (hands you something)
12. EIEI (old McDonald had a farm)
13. Roarrrrrrrr
Before I forget, it's important to note that Alex and I found a seahorse in this group of clouds,... In the middle cloud of the three in a row... Loved that moment :)
We have been having a very eventful and very busy summer. I had a class for my masters program for six weeks, monday through Thursday from 8-12. This brought about yet another routine change - the kids had a great babysitter named michele, and Alex got to do lots of fun camps! He did a week of swim camp (he went from level one to level two in a week!), a week of soccer camp through an organization called push the rock, and a week of peace camp through a company called The Center For Humanistic Change. He said peace camp was his favorite, but I have a funny feeling that was only because it had been the most recent... Haha! We were also blessed enough to spend two days in long beach island. Next on the agenda: visiting Massachusetts to see meemom and peepop in their blue house. Little has has a paper chain to count down to that important event!! There are a few loose ends on our summer bucket list - for example, camping out in the backyard - but we borrowed a tent from someone so hopefully we will have that one fulfilled this weekend! (by "we", I obviously mean daddy and little Alex. I mean - someone has to make the sacrifice and stay in the house with maya.... Ha!).
I have also been working on school stuff with Alex which has been rewarding. I stupidly assumed that since I preferred language arts over math that I might pass that on, but ex is a whiz at basic math problems (addition and subtraction) and enjoys it!
Maya is walking all over and loving it! She is a handful, and understands language! Today I said "where is your milk cup?" and she walked to the fridge and started tugging on the door!
Loving this summer with the kiddos!
There are an array of pictures here. Alexs art show, a few from Maya's party, and other summer things. Sorry, I'm updating from my phone so I can label each one.
Summer has brought change and growth for everyone!
Alex is in swim camp this week, and he loves it. They have an hour lesson, 45 minutes of free play in the pool, and then they do a craft or activity. I was expecting coloring pages, or connect the dots - I mean, it's a swim place (and quite a good one at that) - art is probably not their strong suit, I thought. I couldn't be more wrong. The first day he painted a good picture c the second day he made a clay pot, and today they made homemade ice cream!
I am taking an intensive summer clinical as one of the last legs of the graduate program. I will take my last and final class next semester. This has meant entrusting the care of my kiddos to a babysitter from 8-12:30 every day for six weeks. What a change for me after being home (minus the occasional night class of course). Luckily, an old co-worker of mine stepped up and is doing it, So it's someone I know ns trust.
Maya is taking steps, but not using walking as her primary mode of transportation just yet. She went I'm the baby pool today - what fun! She got a great water table from great mama and great daddy - but it had a crack in it, so we have to take that up with amazon. I can't wait - she is going to have a blast with it!!
Alex lost his fourth tooth today. He has a big old gap there now.
We had fun on fathers day going to rascals (a restaurant/arcade). Alex is able to play some of the bigger video games now!
And, a picture is worth a thousand words, maya has learned to give kisses!
As Alex's school year draws to a close, I'm reflective on how it went. What might have been different if we had sent him to a public school vs the
charter school?
We decided to see if Alex would get into the charter school over a year ago when kindergarten was looming on the horizon. It was random lottery, so we knew that it was a toss-up - he'd either get in, and we'd decide whether or not to send him there, or he wouldn't.
East Penn school district is a GOOD school district. It's the REASON we stayed within the Alburtis/Macungie/Emmaus area when we moved. It's why we stayed here. It's a good district. But Seven Gen is different.
What's different about Seven Gen?
1.) It's a charter school. No, charter schools don't "take money away from public school." Charter schools are largely funded by the "per student" rate that public schools also receive, except this per student rate gets transferred to the charter school instead of the district. It is the same as attending a cyber school. Charter schools are usually "innovative" in their approach to teaching and learning and are still accountable to local, state and federal governments. Charters must get approved by the district in which it resides (in this case, East Penn) and must function within guidelines of the Charter School Law (state of PA).
2.) It has a different approach to learning - Seven Gen uses an approach known as "EIC" - "using the Environment as an Integrated Context for learning." Seven Gen kids are often found outside and are focused on a hands-on learning environment.
3.) Seven Gen integrates a variety activities into the kids everyday learning; they are very much focused on the arts, and music, they go on hikes, practice organic gardening, fine arts, drama, and they start Spanish in kindergarten (with a goal for the kids to be "fluent" by seventh grade). Alex participated in the Lego Club after school this year.
Those are the three major differences between Seven Gen and public school. They also have the luxury of having smaller class sizes (Alex's kindergarten class only had 15 kids). They are hands on and they teach from a constructivist approach.
Those are the "mechanical" reasons why Seven Gen is different than public school.
Below are the reasons why I LOVE SEVEN GEN and the reasons why I am glad I sent my son there.
Please, don't mistake any of the reasons as having the endings of "...and this wouldn't happen at public school." That's certainly not the case. As I mentioned, East Penn is a great district and I have no doubt that many of these things can, or have, or do, happen within their walls. To be honest, I wouldn't really know, because I am not there. These are just things that have happened at Seven Gen, that have confirmed our choice to send Alex there, and that are endlessly affirming.
1.) They have "all-school morning meeting" every Wednesday and they walk in and sing an African greeting song (video below)
2.) They truly celebrate diversity
3.) I saw a mom bring a chicken (a live one) for Show and Share - but not only did she bring a chicken, but she rode her bike to school WITH the chicken - so it was her bike, a trailer (for her kid to ride home in) attached to the bike, and a chicken in a carrier attached to the back of that - love it!
4.) They have an "observation garden" for outdoor observations and learning
5.) They take hikes
6.) They bring rain and snow gear and they play in the snow and the rain
7.) They aren't afraid to get dirty
8.) They grow organic gardens
9.) They ENCOURAGE and truly desire and want parent volunteers
10.) They had "pet show and share day"
11.) They encourage healthy snacks and fruit and veggies for birthdays
12.) Alex's teacher has TRULY created an empathetic community of learners who truly care about each other
13.) Activities are meaningful, hands-on, and authentic
14.) Students run fundraisers (of their own mind and creation), including "Kisses for Koalas", run by a fourth grader to raise money for koala bears
15.) They integrate community experiences and take meaningful field trips
16.) Parents and students are encouraged to use their own unique talents to the school - if you can do it, they'll use it!
17.) There's a sense of community that permeates the walls - you can truly feel it as soon as you walk in.
Today, Seven Gen had a "Volunteer Appreciation Assembly" during their normal weekly All-School Meeting.
I would like to share some videos.
Here is a snippet of the African greeting song sang every week:
A snippet of the kids singing "Lean on Me":
Here is a unique one - a bunch of kids did a small skit or sang songs for the "Volunteer Appreciation Assembly" but these kids did an awesome dance - they were very talented - AND, they showcased the diversity of the school:
Yup - as I sit back and reflect on this year, I am happy and grateful. I'm happy that Alex got in this year - I am happy that this was his kindergarten experience - I am thankful that we have such a great resource in our little community - and I am thankful for the passion and dedication that all the teachers give to the mission and vision of Seven Gen.
Friday, May 25, 2012
*I know that my readers are few, but faithful! Usually this blog serves to be more informative - telling what we've been up to, sharing pictures, sharing videos. And I love it for that. But tonight, I needed and outlet and I've sort of bared my soul here - it might happen from time to time - I hope you're okay with it :)
Wow! I'm really having quite the emotional night over here. On one hand, I'm so excited that Maya is turning one. I can't wait to celebrate with friends and family tomorrow. I'm up late waiting for the cake pops to firm up in the freezer before I dip them, one last thing before I go to bed, and I got caught up looking at all of Maya's newborn and baby pictures, and of course now I am walking down memory lane and I can't seem to stop!
I find myself looking through the pictures of Maya and thinking, "I didn't enjoy that enough" or "I didn't treasure that enough when it happened" - everything I was seeing I was thinking that I didn't hang onto the moment as well as I could have or should have.
But it's not actually true.
In hindsight, at first, it seems like a fleeting moment - something that went by that I barely caught. But then looking at it and thinking about it - REALLY thinking about it - since it actually is so fresh, I still can reach back and remember that I DID appreciate it. I can still dig back deep and get back in that moment.
I remember making the conscious choice to let her sleep on my chest and on me in those first few weeks - knowing there was a sink full of dishes, but knowing that she didn't want to be anywhere else, and neither did I.
I remember attempting the co-sleeper that attached to the bed, but then resigning myself to the living room and spending a few nights in the recliner - because she slept better on me - and I, well, sort of slept.
I remember when we first transitioned her to her crib it was sad, because I was used to having her in the room with us - but I knew, deep down, that it was best for her, and for us.
I am so glad that I discovered baby-wearing this time around and was able to wear Maya in the sling - and I wore her OFTEN. Having her close to me created a connection between her and I that is absolutely amazing - and, despite some people saying that it would create a child who wouldn't "want to leave mommy", I will tell you that it has quite the opposite effect - because she is secure in her knowledge that I am near, she is brave. She is adventurous. She is the most independent baby that I have ever seen - and between foster care and working in childcare, I have seen a LOT of babies!
I started out the walk down memory lane focusing on the negative - that it went too fast, that the moments and memories flew by so quickly that I couldn't grasp them - that I didn't document it properly, took too many mom-breaks and wasn't 100% present all the time, missed things.
It's not the time for regret or focusing on the bitter part of bittersweet - no, it's the time to count my blessings. It was truly in God's time that this all happened - how many people can say that they got to spend their baby's first year, at home with them, while getting PAID to stay at home (via unemployment?).
It was perfect. I got to be home with Maya and spend days with her, while her big brother started kindergarten - he had his time with me, and because he was starting school, his sister got time with me too. The timing could not have been more perfect - and, I got to BE HERE.
It was everything I could have wanted for the first year of her life - in fact, it was much, much more.
Yes - she's one - she's fiesty, and her personality is dynamic and she's going to be off and running soon - and I'll have her "terrible two's" and her toddler years to contend with.
But for now, I just have to be present - because the present is good. Her first year was good.
A few videos to share... here is Alex pushing Maya on Bucky. (In case anyone doesn't know, Bucky is extremely special because he was "mine" at my Grandmama's house when I was little, and the Grandparents and Uncle Peter restored him. He is a CLASSIC 80's toy!).
And, our church musical this year was called "Arkeology" - No, it's not about Archaeologists, it's an apt play on words and it was based on the story of Noah's Ark. In this clip, Little A is singing the main song from the play, "Arkeology", to an enchanted Maya, watching him in the tub. oh, and it stars a scuba diver..
It amazes me - or, more like completely astounds me - how much Maya learns from watching and playing with her big brother. Yesterday she started to put on the (pretend) tool belt - right around her waist, where it goes - and, just now, right in Alex's absence, she inserted batman right into the driver's seat of the batmobile. She puts hats from the dress up bin right on her head, too! It's just amazing to me and I smile every time I see something she has learned from her big brother.
Also a funny anecdote I wanted to mention that happened a couple days ago. Alex has started taking nose spray for his allergies, and we do it at night so he is laying down afterwards. Well, he got up to ask me something but he knew he was supposed to lay down, so he walked out with his head tilted all the way back (looking at the ceiling). So funny! He said "am I allowed to put my head down..?"
Today he has hike-a-thon at school to raise money for the school. He's so excited. They are also doing a fundraiser for koalas, and with meemoms help he was able to make a nice contribution :) he loves being involved at school and helping out!!
And maya is really teething. Last night a cold teether was all that would soothe her...
Maya and Alex are both growing by leaps and bounds. We just had Alex's Parent-Teacher Conference and his teacher is so proud of how Alex is doing! He has been growing so much in his reading and writing. I can't wait to get his papers from writer's workshop home at the end of the year and post some of them on here. He is sounding out great words and writing so well. He is doing great with his reading, too. Here is one writing sample that I snapped a picture of last time I volunteered in his classroom. Clearly, it says, "The easter bunny."
Alex loves doing stuff with DADDY! It's special time. They like to do "cool stuff" together. The other day Alex said that he wanted to do the "mentos experiment." Mentos are a candy, which, when dropped into a bottle of soda, create a big explosion. So they went to the store and got Mentos and soda, and...
Maya isn't walking yet, but she's close. She stands unassisted and is so adventurous. She loves climbing stairs, and can go up the whole flight as long as I'm behind her (and she probably would if I wasn't, too...).
So, I figured that we should go to the park, where she's "allowed" to climb. And she had a blast!
And of course, as mischievous as she is, if I leave her for a moment, I might find her in a box:
That's pretty typical.
And, there are a few important videos that need to be posted:
This is Alex playing peek-a-boo with Maya - he is closing her door and opening it and peeking around really quick. Her laughs are the best!
Maya LOVES riding Bucky!!:
Alex made up a game where he is "bowling" - letting a ball roll out of the back of the joker's car (his batman toy) - this video just makes me smile!
And, last but not least, Maya "helping" me with the laundry yesterday:
