This article is reminiscent of what I have said to many parents of one child
when they ask me the the all-too-popular question of how do you do it?!
To The Mother With Only One Child
I particularly liked this comment: …Whatever God gives you is the best number for you and for your children – remember that next time you look at someone with one, two or sixteen children. God has a plan for every single parent, regardless of your situation…. Each one of us has a purpose – to mother one or many and to be a single child or one with one or multiple siblings… God bless every parent who welcomes the greatest gift of marriage into their family - and continues to welcome, regardless of the number – or who continues to try, regardless of the heartache.
At David’s school, select students are chosen to participate in an inquiry learning project. It is designed to extend students’ learning into more challenging areas through critical thinking, discussion, and the use of technology, art, music and nonfiction sources. David’s group of five children from his Pod, which is made up of four kindergarten classes (over one hundred children total), learned about the Chinese New Year. Then, on Friday, they taught what they had learned to his class. We were invited to join them. I was one proud mama!
First David taught his small group (made up of one third of the class) about Chinese numbers. He used the iBoard to demonstrate how to write the numbers and then he asked for volunteers to try.
Next he taught the group how to make Chinese lanterns. Although, I have to admit that the children didn’t quite get it. I thought David taught it just fine, but they children needed a lot of guidance. He was a great teacher. He went from student to student helping them, and I even caught him praising them for their good work.
Last, he attempted to teach the children how to use chopsticks. The problem there was that he didn’t really know how to do it himself, and the children just made up their own ways of doing it. It was actually pretty funny to watch. There were some good thinkers in that group who figured out ways that worked besides the normal way of holding them. David was really sweet with his sister. He even went to the other side of the room to get her a chair to sit down. He is such a sweet boy.
On top of this, he scored almost all 4s on his report grade (a four is basically an ‘A’).
We are very proud of David!
Recently, Grace decided to invite her “best friend” over for a Tea Party.
They used my demitasse set and enjoyed scones, muffins and cookies with their tea.
Look who is nine months old!
Although, we haven’t gone for his nine month check-up, we know that he is a big guy. He is already wearing 12-18 month clothes and has some lovely chubby cheeks and thighs.
At nine months, he:
- says a bunch of sounds, as well as “mama,” “baba,” “dada,” and “lala”
- gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth
- has really curly hair that stays curly for a long while after he takes a bath
- crawls backwards, but not forward
- gives a high five
- has two teeth on the bottom
- uses a toy hammer to whack things
- sings and rocks back and forth to music
- has a dimple in each chubby cheek
- is still exclusively nursing (why?)
- sleeps most of the night with just a time or two to nurse
- takes one long afternoon nap with a shorter one at another point during the day
- is like a rockstart with those big eyes because everywhere we go people stop us to comment
- likes playing with the dog
- adores his siblings, especially Gregs
- will stop fussying/crying when we put on the Party Day movie by the Laurie Berkner Band (it is on Netflix)
- is still a really fussy/needy guy, but he just loves being around people
- loves to snuggle and cuddle
- is a sweetie!
We love this little guy more than words!
Purple Monster Smoothie
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 2 Tablespoon organic peanut butter
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla Almond milk)
- 4 cups of frozen organic baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups frozen organic berries (I used raspberry and blackberry)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Total Calories per Serving: 310
adapted from the Green Monster Spinach Smoothie
We bought a new bedding set when we went on a date for our anniversary
(over 70% off!). It is beautiful cream silk. I knew right away that
I would use the silk dust ruffle to make curtains.
My husband was away for four days at a conference, so I used the quiet time after the children when to bed to make the curtains and to make the throw pillows in the above photo. David helped me pick out the fabric. He has a great eye for colors. It is satin and compliments the silk very nicely. I think it looks and feels very luxurious.
