Big L started her new school on Monday. She came home so excited i was relieved! I was a bit concerned that the switch from Montessori to public school would be a little bumpy, but so far so good! I mean really good. Her only complaint from yesterday was more of a statement than a complaint. She informed me that she didn't get to pick her work, she had to do what the teacher had everyone doing.
She came home very excited because she made a lot of new friends, saw her girl scout friends and all in all had a good day. She was so excited about the library, it is huge. However, one of her favorite parts was the bus ride home. It takes about 30 minutes for her to get here from school, even though we live a mile away, but she loved it! Why? She said she likes to be jostled about and not wearing a seatbelt. hmph. I loved it too, because;
Reason one: I don't have to load the baby in the car, drive a mile to turn around and drive right back.
Reason two: I don't have to deal with the zoo that is afternoon pick up at her school. There are just a lot of parents trying to pick there kids up all at once, it is CRAZY! Plus, the bus is a much more environmentally friendly method for pick up and drop off. It is not one kid per car, there are quite a few kids on the bus. My car's fuel economy suffers when I drive her to and from school. Seriously, the hills here eat fuel quickly, so I am excited to see how much fuel I actually use (or don't use) with her riding the bus.
Reason three: We get to walk to and from the bus stop together. This may be my favorite part. Monday, she talked non-stop about her day until we got home, this does not happen in the car. I usually get the, "I don't know, I did nothing" today response. While I will have to pick her up from the bus stop on Tuesday in the car, every other day we are walking.
Reason four: After watching big L get on the bus and go in the morning, little l and I can go for our own walk. I admittedly need to lose weight and get active again. My health issues are screaming for exercise. This makes me get out there and do it. No excuses. Granted, I live in a very hilly neighborhood, so we are starting off slow and on the less steep roads, but I hope that in a month or so we will be climbing those hills.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Illness followed by illness
The past month has been a bit slow around here. I have been sick off and on since October. Big L got sick over winter break, shared it with her sister, who graciously shared it with mom and dad. All in all, it has been a tiring month. Add to that all of the holiday cheer and I have barely had time to rest let alone blog.
Thankfully little l is finally feeling better, and able to sleep through the night. She was so congested my husband spent three or so nights sleeping upright with her.
Bronchitis is something we take very seriously in our home (not that you don't), as with two asthmatics it can quickly become a serious problem. So our doctor had everyone except my husband on antibiotics (yes I know bronchitis is a virus, but the secondary infections are generally not). Through all this we discovered little l's first allergy. Penicillin. A sick baby with hives is not a happy baby. However, as I said we have all recovered, and started the new year, healthy (well most of us, hubby is still recovering), and happy with a lot of new exciting things to share.
Thankfully little l is finally feeling better, and able to sleep through the night. She was so congested my husband spent three or so nights sleeping upright with her.
Bronchitis is something we take very seriously in our home (not that you don't), as with two asthmatics it can quickly become a serious problem. So our doctor had everyone except my husband on antibiotics (yes I know bronchitis is a virus, but the secondary infections are generally not). Through all this we discovered little l's first allergy. Penicillin. A sick baby with hives is not a happy baby. However, as I said we have all recovered, and started the new year, healthy (well most of us, hubby is still recovering), and happy with a lot of new exciting things to share.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Montessori
Since big L was three most of her schooling has been Montessori. I like the Montessori method, and am generally pleased with how she is learning and growing. However, this year her teacher is having personal issues. Her school is not communicating with parents regarding what they are doing to find a teacher for her room. To be honest, between this and the person who runs the school and feels it is acceptable to treat parents as if they are children who do not know any better, I have had it.
Her learning has stalled since October because there is no one challenging her in class. She doesn't come home spouting off addition/multiplication problems she is so proud to have completed anymore. Instead she tells me about how she taught this student this lesson and that student that lesson. All of that is fine, it is Montessori, but it should not be the majority of her day, or at least the only memorable part of her day.
After many pained hours of thinking about what would benefit her more, we have decided to move her to the local public school. We don't have bad schools where we live. What I have noticed the most is that my girl scouts who go to the public school are progressing quicker than the girls going to the Montessori school (big L excluded: we "work" a lot at home on reading).
There are many plusses at the public school. They have programs set up to work with children at whatever level they are currently at in learning. They have computer labs, a real art room, a library, and other options we just can't get at a school with 150 children, K-8.
In the end, I think the change will be for the best, but sometimes I worry that she won't adjust to sitting at a desk. She has so many friends at the public school I believe she will do fine. Did I mention they have a nurse? No more stressing about accidental ingestion of a food that could endanger her life.
Starting in January, after winter break, big L is going to be taking the bus to her new school. The bus makes it more fun for her, and much easier on me! I hope the excitement overshadows the friends she is leaving behind. We live in such a small town she will be in school with her new friends all the way through high school.
Her learning has stalled since October because there is no one challenging her in class. She doesn't come home spouting off addition/multiplication problems she is so proud to have completed anymore. Instead she tells me about how she taught this student this lesson and that student that lesson. All of that is fine, it is Montessori, but it should not be the majority of her day, or at least the only memorable part of her day.
After many pained hours of thinking about what would benefit her more, we have decided to move her to the local public school. We don't have bad schools where we live. What I have noticed the most is that my girl scouts who go to the public school are progressing quicker than the girls going to the Montessori school (big L excluded: we "work" a lot at home on reading).
There are many plusses at the public school. They have programs set up to work with children at whatever level they are currently at in learning. They have computer labs, a real art room, a library, and other options we just can't get at a school with 150 children, K-8.
In the end, I think the change will be for the best, but sometimes I worry that she won't adjust to sitting at a desk. She has so many friends at the public school I believe she will do fine. Did I mention they have a nurse? No more stressing about accidental ingestion of a food that could endanger her life.
Starting in January, after winter break, big L is going to be taking the bus to her new school. The bus makes it more fun for her, and much easier on me! I hope the excitement overshadows the friends she is leaving behind. We live in such a small town she will be in school with her new friends all the way through high school.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Remembering the Good
Little l is teething. It was a long night, and it has been a long morning. After 45 minutes of being inconsolable, teething gel, tylenol, and nursing she is finally sleeping.
I don't remember L being like this, though I am sure she was. Teething is painful, and not much fun for the little ones.
I think today instead of remembering how she fussed I am going to choose to remember the funny faces she makes as she gets used to having teeth. She keeps sucking her lip over her teeth, as if there is a foreign object in her mouth. It is adorable. Of course, even when she cries she is adorable.
I don't remember L being like this, though I am sure she was. Teething is painful, and not much fun for the little ones.
I think today instead of remembering how she fussed I am going to choose to remember the funny faces she makes as she gets used to having teeth. She keeps sucking her lip over her teeth, as if there is a foreign object in her mouth. It is adorable. Of course, even when she cries she is adorable.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Mish Mash of Ingredients
Since I am no longer working I am trying to cut down on wasted food, and the need to go to the store more than once a week. So Sunday, I tried to figure out what to do with the odd assortment I had in the fridge.
What I did turned out pretty good. I took two sweet potatoes, two zucchini, sauteed in grapeseed oil. Added a little cumin and child powder. i let this cook until the sweet potatoes were soft, then i took the ricotta cheese from the fridge and threw it in the pan, mixing it with the potatoes and squash. i fried some corn tortillas, then made eggs for my husband and myself. i must say it tasted pretty darn good, and used up items in my fridge that needed to be used.
YUM!
What I did turned out pretty good. I took two sweet potatoes, two zucchini, sauteed in grapeseed oil. Added a little cumin and child powder. i let this cook until the sweet potatoes were soft, then i took the ricotta cheese from the fridge and threw it in the pan, mixing it with the potatoes and squash. i fried some corn tortillas, then made eggs for my husband and myself. i must say it tasted pretty darn good, and used up items in my fridge that needed to be used.
YUM!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Inspiration
Throughout the day I often think, "oh, i should write this for my blog." then i begin writing it in my head, and feel quite happy with the way it begins. Normally this is when I am driving, or otherwise engaged and unable to write it out.
Needless to say, today i sit here trying to figure out what i thought was so important to write about.
it is not coming to me. next time i am inspired i will try to write it down!
Needless to say, today i sit here trying to figure out what i thought was so important to write about.
it is not coming to me. next time i am inspired i will try to write it down!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Gratitude
I am a follower of the blog Soulemama. I enjoy reading and looking at the pictures she provides of her life. In some ways I wish I could follow in her footsteps. Today her post on gratitude got me thinking.
After deciding I will not be working for awhile, I have finally overcome the stress about money, though it does arise every so often. I have decided that it will all work out as it was supposed to. Today though, as I walk through my silent house I am very grateful for the time I have at home with my little l. She is eight months, and during the day we have a nice rhythm. We eat breakfast together when big L and daddy have left. We play a bit, nurse one more time and then nap. Well she naps. She awakens and we repeat the cycle with lunch.
Since I have decided not to work, I felt I should be doing more and I have been trying to cram as much work into her naps as possible. My body has revolted. My discs in my back that are not so good are screaming at me.
I watched a video on Fibromyalgia yesterday. While I knew all of the things it stated, it helped to remind me that I have to take each day as it comes. I can't force my body to be willing to work from dawn to dusk, and I need to have a little more moderation in my life. I can't overdo it or I am in too much pain to do anything. I need to wake up in the morning, assess how I feel and plan my day then, not the night before.
So today I am grateful for a loving husband, who understands when I can only do so much; a wonderful baby who allows me to have a peaceful and quiet home during the day; a six year old who is grateful to have me as a mother; a back that reminds me, often with great force, that it is okay to take it easy and not rush through life.
After deciding I will not be working for awhile, I have finally overcome the stress about money, though it does arise every so often. I have decided that it will all work out as it was supposed to. Today though, as I walk through my silent house I am very grateful for the time I have at home with my little l. She is eight months, and during the day we have a nice rhythm. We eat breakfast together when big L and daddy have left. We play a bit, nurse one more time and then nap. Well she naps. She awakens and we repeat the cycle with lunch.
Since I have decided not to work, I felt I should be doing more and I have been trying to cram as much work into her naps as possible. My body has revolted. My discs in my back that are not so good are screaming at me.
I watched a video on Fibromyalgia yesterday. While I knew all of the things it stated, it helped to remind me that I have to take each day as it comes. I can't force my body to be willing to work from dawn to dusk, and I need to have a little more moderation in my life. I can't overdo it or I am in too much pain to do anything. I need to wake up in the morning, assess how I feel and plan my day then, not the night before.
So today I am grateful for a loving husband, who understands when I can only do so much; a wonderful baby who allows me to have a peaceful and quiet home during the day; a six year old who is grateful to have me as a mother; a back that reminds me, often with great force, that it is okay to take it easy and not rush through life.
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