Nope- I don't want to do any of your Montessori Activities

I think if my 13-month-old daughter could talk that is what she would say.

Every activity we try, she does something different. We tried water pouring and thankfully we did that on the kitchen floor. She liked to turn over every container on the floor.

We tried to screw on caps and she decided to sit them down. That was interesting enough for her.

I tried to teach her what stickers were but she wanted to learn to sit in her chair instead. She put the sticker in her hair.

She is just not into this right now, but I'm going to stick with the method. Which means that I need to figure you exactly what would interest her and find something on her age level.

And right now she is interested in books, babies and food. I am going to focus on reading lots of books with her, playing with her doll house and cooking lots of plastic food. I'm sure along the way I will figure out ways to incorporate learning into this, but either way we are having fun together and we are going to create lots of great memories.

Can I Say Convicting....

I just read an article about a new warning that is on the television stations in France.

Simply put:

The High Audiovisual Council (gotta love that name) ruling states:

"Television viewing hurts the development of children under 3 years old and poses a certain number of risks, encouraging passivity, slow language acquisition, over-excitedness, troubles with sleep and concentration as well as dependence on screens."

The net effect is that regular French Broadcast channels are banned from airing shows for under threes and cable channels must include a broadcast a warning statement:

"Watching television can slow the development of children under 3, even when it involves channels aimed specifically at them."


Wow! Go here to read the entire article

Taking of the "Good Mommy" Mask

The names in this story have been changed to protect the Good Mommy Mask.

It was a normal nap time at the "Smith" family household. Baby M was waking up from her nap and Mommy came in to change her diaper. This is the routine almost every day after nap time so Mommy did not expect anything to be different. Little did she know that Baby M was about to throw her first real temper tantrum.

Mommy put Baby M on the changing table and she started to scream. She wasn't just crying, she was screaming like someone had taken the cup of milk and didn't share. Mommy tried to give her some toys to distract her but that did not work. Then she tried to gently talk to her but that did not work either. Mommy was really starting to get frustrated. You see, the diaper was already off. Mommy had to get a new diaper on the baby so she did not make a mess everywhere. But Baby M just wasn't having any part of this process.

Then Mommy did something she had not done in the first 13 months of Baby M's life: She yelled right back at her. She even used the whole name trick followed by a stern "Stop it!" That of course, only made the situation even worse. Baby M continued to scream at the top of her lungs and turn herself over again and again.

After an eternity, several minutes Mommy finally got the diaper on Baby M. She sat Baby M back into her crib and walked away. The first temper tantrum had happened. Actually, it was still happening but Mommy had to walk away before she did even more things she might regret. She had already taken off her Good Mommy mask once today and she couldn't let that happen again.

Mommy sat in the bathroom for a few minutes and analyzed the situation. Then the tears began to roll down her cheek. Why did she get so angry? Why did she show the anger to the baby? Isn't Mommy the adult in this situation? Mommy talked to God for a few minutes and told Him that she was very sorry and asked Him to help her control her anger with her family. She pulled herself back together and walked back into Baby M's room.

Baby M was sitting in her bed with tears rolling down her cheek as well. She looked up at Mommy and reached out her hands. It was almost has if she was trying to apologize with her outstretched arms. As Mommy bent down to pick her up a few more tears began to fall out their eyes. For a few moments they just cried together. Mommy explained to Baby M that neither one of them had acted in a way that would have made God happy. Baby M smiled back at her in an understanding way.

They walked out of the room both trying to catch their breathe after a hard cry. After all, it was snack time and Baby M knew she couldn't eat her snacks if she was still crying. Mommy smiled as she sat Baby M in the highchair. She knew her Good Mommy Mask was back on and hopefully it would stay there for a long time.

Why Should We Read God's Love Letter

Yesterday I ran across a index card I kept in my bible. It was from a sermon entitled, "Why should we read God's love letter?" As I went through each of the verses, I was amazed with God's love for us. I also fell in love with the Word all over again. I'd like to share some of the verses with you.

Acts 20:32: 32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

James 1:23-25 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 5:12-14 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

1 Peter 3:15, 16 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

I would also like to say thank you to preacher Dave Adams. He really strived to teach from the Word, rather than his own opinion. This message was full of God's truth and it really stuck with me. (I only listed about half of the verses he gave us that day!)

Great Reminder

I just want to say that the second pregnancy definitely has perks. Every time you get sick or you feel exhausted, there is a precious little person that reminds you that it is all worth it in the end!

First Trip to the Zoo

Michaela got to take her first trip to the zoo this summer. I really didn't think she would like it as much as she did, but she loved the animals! We had a lot of fun. I'm glad we have passes for 1 year.

We got to pet the animals in the petting zoo.

She hated to wear the hat!

She is pointing at the Giraffes.

The day wouldn't have been complete if she wasn't wiped out in the end!

Last but not least, here is a video of her looking at the Gorilla. Daddy was a little jerky with the camera but he got a few good shots.

I'm Back!

Hello! It has been a long time since I have visited the blogging world. Ironically, my last post was about trying to get my computer/TV time under control. I did not mean to let my blog go completely. But somehow it happened.
I think the main reason was the transition from a mom who worked 40+ hours out of the home to working full time IN the home. It was a lot different then I imagined. I really tried to not have my expectations too high, but I really thought it would be easier. I underestimated the time and energy it takes to take care of your family and home ALL the time. That being said, it has been the most rewarding and fulfilling choice we could have made. I love it!
In the middle of my early life change, we were also remodeling the basement and I started taking on-line classes to learn the Montessori Method. Then to top it all off....

We found out that we were Pregnant!!

We are so excited that God would bless us with another little one. I know the next few years will be a little hectic but I also know that this is God's plan for our family.

Now that life has slowed down a little and I have finally adjusted to being at home, I'm ready to get back into blogging. I am sad that I have missed capturing the last 6 weeks so I will probably write a few posts about what has been going on in our life.

I'm very excited to be back!