Toddler J, the sponge

I have been trying to fill Toddler J's mind with as much as she will take with Tot School ( a phrase coined by Carissa) Let me first clarify that it is not school per say but structured play so that I can expose her to whatever skills she may need in the future. This blog serves as a summary of what Toddler J is proficient or has mastered as of today December 17, 2013.

Math

- counts ( I do mean actual counting not memorization) 1-5. At least that's what we have seen so far

- counts in German 1-10

- knows the basic shapes (circle square triangle and a few more )

-identifies numerals ( so far I have only heard her say a few as she sees them. I am not fully aware of how much she knows)

- sorts by using a common attribute (eg colour)

Motor Skills

Her gross motor skills are off the chart so I will not get into details. She can walk (started at 8months), run, jump, climb etc

Alphabet

-recite alphabet

-knows her uppercase letters

-knows most of the lowercase letters

- knows the phonetic alphabet

- starting to sound out words 

Writing and Talking

- I have noticed that she is attempting to write. She wrote the letter 'e' a few days ago and I actually knew it was an 'e'

- pretty sure her language explosion started earlier than the norm. Her doctor did say she was extremely advanced. Points to note: she uses the appropriate pronouns and refers to herself as I, constructs sentences,asks for help etc. 

Music

- she bangs on whatever she can find and calls it a drum

- loves playing with her wooden xylophone ( a gift from someone at church)

- loves dancing and is picking up songs when she heard them. 

- favourite songs: One Thing Remains ( the version by David Wesley or uncle David to her), Written in the Word ( learnt it at Kidz Klub), I Love Learning Baby Sign, Deep and Wide and that's all I can remember at this moment.

Fine Motor

-zips, snaps, 

-stacks blocks ( highest count that I have seen is 12, pretty sure it will get taller as she grows)

-holds crayon and pens ( unfortunately my favourite pens) correctly

 

Being a Toddler

- succeeds at this stage with flying colours

- loves playing and assigning objects different uses ( who knew a box could be so fun) 

-wears her heart on her sleeve

-love to play( did I mention that already) 

- has a deep love affair with books as well as Caillou ( we let her watch it in German) and Leapfrog.

-loves her baby brother Baby C to pieces 

- funniest word to date: 'louding' the process of increasing the volume on TV. 

The New Normal

Baby C is here and Toddler J couldn't be happier. At first she had that teenaged 'don't care about anything' attitude but the moment he came home she couldn't stop kissing him. She calls him her baby and wants to hug him constantly. So happy that jealousy didn't set in.

Pregnancy weight is all gone and Diastis Recti is here. Oh joy! 

I must admit the first month was a bit rough with Baby C wanting to nurse constantly and me not getting enough sleep. I even cried! To all the moms I secretly made fun of about being weak, I apologize. On the other hand, I am very happy that nursing is going quite well this time around and Baby C is mainly breast fed. I guess our little talk ( when we first locked eyes, I told Baby C that we are both going to be patient and see how it pans out) worked. 

I am learning how to manage 2 children under 2 and still struggling to come to grips with the fact that I am a mom twice over. Doubt I will ever get over that fact as I am still working on the fact that I am married. 

Hubby has taken to being a daddy of two quite well and is waiting for Baby C to get older so he can play with him as much as he does Toddler J. 

Well back to nursing. 

Pregnancy Update

The time has almost come when I must bid adieu to the ebbs and flows of pregnancy symptoms. I have finally received my date for my scheduled c-section from my doctor and the future looks bright indeed. September 30,2013... Two weeks from now I shall be holding the newest (and hopefully last) addition to our family. 

Baby C, this post serves as your eviction notice. These two weeks should provide you with ample time to get your affairs in order: breathing, sucking, blinking and any other activity you deem fit to practice.

As for Mommy, she shall be re-assuring herself that she has ONLY 2 weeks left or 14 days. With every kick you give, Mommy shall be repeat her mantra, "2 weeks left until eviction". With every jab I receive and every nerve you seem to enjoy playing with along with every time you turn your body upside down ( sadly, baby C did not feel the need to be head down and so has been in breech for quite some time), Mommy will repeat her mantra.

As the time draws closer, I have started to think on a few things:

1. We will have 2 kids under 2. YIKES

2. How will toddler J react to baby C?

3. Will toddler J climb into the crib with baby J? ( those of you who know toddler J knows she is a monkey)

4. I have to start all over again... The lack of sleep, transitioning to solids, waiting for that first smile and the per milestones. ( mommy is in no rush for you to beat your sister's record of walking at 8 months...take your time)

5. Travelling with 2 kids and 

6. I WILL BE A MOMMY OF TWO!!!!

PS. Everyone has been commenting on how big I am...there better be only one of you in there!

"Your love is my love, and my love is your love. It would take an eternity to break us..." Whitney Houston

I have been a parent for 18 months so far, not the longest duration but I am still in the game. This new road that hubby and I have chosen to travel has not been short of highlights. Moments that rock your very core, moments that make you go " Isn't she a sweetie" and then there are those moments where you want to rip your hair out due to frustration. Yes, in the past 18 months I have experienced it all.

This blog is dedicated to my reflection on J and how she has forever changed my views of the world.

Let's start with the earth shattering moments:

1. Hearing her cry for the very first time when she was born. To this day I believe that she sounded like a wind up doll.

2. The day she said mommy. 

3. Clinging to me when she is afraid of something or someone ( granted, lately everything is about daddy) 

4. The day she decided that crawling wouldn't get her where she wanted to go fast enough and decided to walk at 8 months!!! 

5. 3 days ago when she called me Dude. Really, dude? 

6. Realizing that she takes in EVERYTHING I do. For example, she says the word 'what' the way I do and enunciates the t. 

Moments that make you go "Isn't she a sweetie?"

1. Singing to herself. Her current favourite : deep and wide

2. Saying the word hi a million times for the day. Pretty sure that was her first deliberate word. Now I have lost count of how many words are in her vocabulary. Last count 120. 

3. The way she will repeat a word for a sentence when you are not even talking to her. Did I mention that she takes in EVERYTHING?

4. When she hugs you, pats your back and says,"oh baby"

Hair ripping moments

1. When she clearly hears what the instruction is, smiles at you and does the complete opposite. ( My mother always warned me I would have a kid as stubborn as I was, guess she was right.)

2. Her attempts to throw a tantrum. If she doesn't get her way she cries and at times falls to the floor and bangs her head. That one we are curtailing as quickly as it came about. Mommy will not be dictated by an 18 month old. 

3. When she has food in her hands from dinner and instead of giving it to you, drops it on the floor, or puts the bowl on her head ( note: there is food in the bowl still).

Experiences I am dreading 

1. Her first heart break. Hoping I will be the support she needs instead of the person who will seek out the kid that hurt her. Sigh

2. Her dating

3. Getting married

4. Let us just sum it up by saying her interaction with boys once she becomes a teenager.

All in all, I would not trade a second of it because she has given me a gift that I thought I would never receive or even want. Thanks J. Mommy loves you so much. 

"ABC, easy as 123..." Jackson 5

Now that I have explained somewhat why I disappeared, perhaps I shall share what I have been up to.

Besides leading the women's Bible Study at church ( a position I was pretty much voluntold to do- the benefits of being a pastor's wife?) , I have also been neck deep in finding as much information as possible on Early childhood education along with Tot School. It is amazing how much is out there.

Hubby and I have decided that we will try homeschooling J and take it from there. With that decision and sharing it with friends and family, I have already been fielded with the ever popular curve ball, "What if she becomes socially awkward?"  To this question, I simply smile and say that she will still have a plethora of opportunities to interact with kids her age and older. Besides, school shouldn't be mainly based on social interaction, it's about learning to learn and maximizing your potential. 

I have started doing Tot School with J as well. I try to be as organized as I can ( in all honesty, being organized is still a new thing for me and I am still learning) and have recently developed a weekly planner to guide me. It includes the following headings : Week of, Age, Art and Craft, Fine and Gross Motor Skills to work on, Literature ( I try to read 4 books a day with her - she is a book lover), Practical Life, Sensory Activity and a Slow and Steady activity. If anyone would like a copy of the template, I can always add it to the blog or email it.

J seems to be enjoying her organized play ( which is essentially what Tot School is) immensely. She is quite apprehensive however, when it comes to the messy play. For example, we decided to do cloud dough one week amd it took her a little while to get used to the idea that she is to get messy and enjoy the mess. However once she understood the concept, she embraced it and went with it. 

J continues to amaze me daily with just how much she is learning about the world around her. Her vocabulary is quite extensive for her age and I have often had people commenting on it. Most assume she is older than her mere 18 months and others are shocked at the fact that she will sign what she wants. (Signing is something I fully agree with especially if your little one is at a pre-talking age, it has helped us immensely). Needless to say, I am very proud of J, (aren't all parents though?) my one time gummy bear and always on the go tot. 

Well that's all for now folks. Back to Bible Study prep. 

"Times have changed and times are strange,here I come but I ain't the same, Mama I'm coming home" Ozzy Osbourne

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls I have returned from my unplanned hiatus.

So much has happened in my life since my last post on January 7th that I will simply do a quick summary.

Firstly, I have stopped my workout regiment ( with good reason). I did not stop out of laziness but out of necessity.

Second, the reason I stopped my intense workouts was due to the fact that hubby and I are expecting our second and last little one. Note I had to emphasize 'second and last' because there will be no "oops babies" around here. 

Third and lastly, I have been sick, yet again with this pregnancy. Still unaware why it's called morning sickness especially when it seems to attack you when you least expect it at any time of the day. Nonetheless, 11 weeks and 0 days to go ( but who's counting). The good news is that I am not as sick as I was with J ( my darling 18 month old who loves life to the fullest) but I am still sick. 

How sick am I you may ask, let's do a quick review:

1. I am still on the maximum dosage of my anti nausea pills and as of last week, Gravol has been added.

2. Instead of throwing up practically everyday, I have graduated to once a week.

3. I am now feeling pains that I did not feel with J. Back aches, hip pains and sore legs. How much more can a 5'2" female handle? Courtesy of my petite frame I FEEL EVERY MOVEMENT C makes and he definitely can throw a punch and a kick. 

4. I am also ridiculously weak and tired. My obgyn had to send me to do some blood tests recently. Checking for iron and thyroid irregularities. Haven't heard anything yet so I am guessing "no news is good news".

 

Well that sums up my quick review. I will try not to disappear for too long next this time. 11 weeks to go but who's counting? 

Week 1 Update

Day 8 has finally arrived!!!!

Measurements:

                               Day 1                    Day 8
Arm                         26cm                      27cm
Thigh                       53 cm                     55cm
Upper Waist            79 cm                     75cm
Belly Button             84cm                      76 cm
Hips                        90 cm                     91 cm
Bust                        89cm                      87cm

Weight                   122 lb                     122lb

The numbers speak for themselves guys. 30 Day shred with Hip Hop Abs seem to be doing it for me. Tonight I went on to Level 2 of the Shred because I needed a greater challenge. Sure, its no Insanity but it was hard. Exercising while holding 5 lb weights is not an easy feat for me but I managed to get through it.

I did not do Hip Hop Abs tonight instead I chose to do P90x Ab Ripper and I felt my obliques for the first time. Side V pull-ups? Scissor Fifes?

Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead at Day 15.

Ciao!

Shocked

I know I said that I would write back in 7 days after I did my weekly measurements but my impatient nature took hold of me. Today I decided out of sheer curiosity to measure my tummy and was in shock.
Starting the program I was 84 cm at my belly button (gross right?) and Upper waist was 79 cm.
What did my results show today?

Wait for it...

Belly Button area: 80cm
Upper Waist:       74 cm

Clearly one thing ran through my mind: my hubby measured incorrectly! So I went about searching other persons results to see if there were any similarities and I found one. In one day, another person had lost 1 inch from her tummy.

I am now completely committed to the Shred and Hip Hop Abs.

Talk to you in 6 days!