Book Review: Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo

My oldest daughter's name is Audrey.  We chose her name because we liked it and liked the meaning (noble strength), not because of any celebrity association.  However, after learning more about Audrey Hepburn I am pleased for my daughter to share her name and was so happy to come across this lovely book.

Just Being Audrey is beautifully illustrated and tells the story of Audrey Hepburn's life from difficult childhood to iconic legacy.  It celebrates uniqueness and kindness as more desirable than outward beauty.  It deals with the difficult subjects of war and human suffering in a way that children can grasp while keeping an optimistic tone.  Accepting one's self, working hard and being kind are the primary themes that make this book an excellent quick read.  My three year old has it memorized and I know she will enjoy it for years to come.  It is available through Amazon here.

Home Education for Preschoolers

Little ones are like sponges!  I am constantly amazed at what my two year old daughter retains, often after only hearing or seeing something once!  She is eager to learn and I want to take full advantage of this time and not miss a precious opportunity to teach her about God, about creation and about life. 

I was inspired by reading about what other moms are doing with their preschoolers but didn't want to pay for a curriculum just yet.  I also wanted to have the flexibility to come up with my own plan and not feel like I needed to adhere to someone else's lesson plan.  I wanted the teaching to center around God and give Him credit for all He has made.  I came up with five categories that I wanted to teach Audrey more about:

• God Made Animals
• God Made Plants
• God Made Our Bodies
• God Made Our Earth
• God Made Our Day

Some categories will take longer to cover while others will be only a week or two.  Under each category I came up with subcategories and we will cover one each week.  For each subcategory I make a list of crafts to do together, books we own to read, themes to discuss, field trip ideas and also music or videos to listen to or watch.  We also go to the library each week and pick up quite a few books that correspond with the topics we are learning about.  I try to find a few titles that are educational and a few that are just fun or fiction.  I want this to create a love of reading and learning and not feel like work at all.  I am also giving myself lots of grace- if one week is too hectic to take on a new category we will just put it off a week and maybe continue to review last week's theme.

The Internet has been such a help in coming up with ideas!  I search Google Images for line drawings that can be traced for coloring pages.  There are so many websites offering preschool craft ideas.  When I am feeling not so creative these have been really helpful!  I look for videos on Youtube that would be educational (always preview first!).  There are all kinds of sites like the National Wildlife Federation that offer tools for teaching children.  Whenever I come across something useful I save it to a special folder in my favorites so I know right where it is when I need to refer back to it.

I find that the hands on learning experiences are the most fun and memorable.  Making a craft together, going to a farm or even a trip to the pet store will make such an impression on a little one!  It really doesn't take much to engage your child and make learning so fun.

So far our home education has been such a treat for both of us!  Now every day Audrey asks when we are going to do our craft.  I know I will look back and be so glad I was intentional about teaching her things and spending quality time with her!

Teaching Our Children to Look to God

What is your child's first response when something isn't right?  When an illness causes discomfort, when a fear comes up, when something is out of our control?  And more importantly, what is your first response in these situations?  I wish I could say that mine is always to turn to God in prayer.  It often is, but not every time.  I have tried to teach Audrey to think this way, to look to God when she is in need, and it seems to have worked. 

A few weeks ago we were on our way home from church and I casually mentioned having a headache.  Immediately the response from the back seat was, "Mommy!  I want to pray for you!"  After chewing up her snack, Audrey held my hand and prayed a sweet and simple prayer for my head to "not feel bad."  I was so blessed by her quick and correct response to my need.  We have taught her that Jesus heals and I love seeing her child like faith in action.  I am so thankful that the good things we have sown into her are taking root and bearing good fruit.  I feel like I fall so short so often and it is times like these that I feel such encouragement to press on. 

I have seen God's faithfulness all throughout my life.  I know that God still heals based on His Word, but also because of personal experience.  My little sister was born blind.  Her optic nerves had not developed and she was completely unable to see.  My mom took her to three different doctors and they all gave the same diagnosis.  They all said there was nothing that could be done, no hope of her receiving her sight.  My mom refused to accept that her child would never see so my parents took her to be anointed and prayed for at our church (based on James 5: 14 and 15).  The following evening they observed for the first time, Lauren following a moving object with her eyes.  She was completely healed and now doesn't even wear glasses.  This testimony has been such a powerful force in my life.  Even in times when I strayed from God, I always knew that He is real and that He cares about me.  I want my children to grow up with that same sense of God's love and power.

Children are never too young to learn about God and to hear about His love and faithfulness.  They are little sponges, thirsty to suck up anything we put before them.  We must be so diligent to seek out good things that nurture faith and godly character in our little ones!  Spending time reading Christian children's books together, listening to worship music or scripture put to song, and patiently explaining who God is to our children really pays dividends.  Our favorite books to read together right now are two that I had as a child and remember enjoying the rich detail in the illustrations.  They are Big Thoughts for Little People and Giant Steps for Little People.  Both are available through Amazon and teach biblical truths and godly character.  We are also enjoying listening to God's Word from A to Z by Abe and Liza Philip and also the Seeds Family Worship music.  Both are available through the Itunes Store and make scripture memory so easy.

Children's Book Review: Counting In the Garden by Kim Parker

Lately Audrey's favorite book has been Counting In The Garden

by Kim Parker.  It is such a cheerful, fun book that helps children learn their numbers.  Kim is an amazing artist and her work is so beautiful!  Each page is rich with creative, colorful flowers and lovely animals and insects to count. 

Whenever we read it (which is like 5 times a day) Audrey points her finger and wants me to trace each number with it.  This book really makes learning fun and it is so beautiful!  I was thinking of buying a second one to frame some of the pages for our kid's rooms.  It seems the book may not be in print anymore but is still available through Amazon.

 
I also found that many of the pages from the book are available as prints to be framed.  For more of Kim's beautiful work check out her gallery.

"I really need to nurse, Mama!"

Marguerite Gerard, The Breastfeeding Mother

While rocking my daughter this afternoon before her nap she hit me with, "I really need to nurse, Mama!"  It struck me as funny considering most people don't even consider nursing into toddlerhood, when a child can express themselves so clearly!  Yes, I am still nursing my 2 year old.  Nursing a two year old is so different from nursing a baby! She no longer nestles comfortably in my arms but rather lays across my lap or beside me in bed. She is not still for long but it is nice that I can now tell her how to adjust her latch when it gets uncomfortable.

Nursing while pregnant has created some changes to our nursing relationship, mostly the tenderness I have been experiencing and also the decrease in milk production.  But I am so glad to still have those special moments of closeness with her.  She is so very independent now and our occasional nursing times together are special.  Some days she is distracted and forgets to nurse all day and others she "needs" to nurse quite a few times.  I am thankful to be able to comfort her in this way and knowing that my milk is still a source of excellent nutrition is a plus. 

When I first found out I was pregnant with baby number two, I made a list of things to do to get Audrey ready for this next phase of life.  At the top of the list was weaning and potty training.  I have since put that list aside.  I no longer have the desire to wean.  Who knows what her nursing will look like 4 months from now, that is if she is even still interested in nursing.  Children change so quickly!  I just want to go with the flow and offer her what she needs from me at each stage of life. I don't want to miss out on something special just because it isn't a cultural norm.

I don't know any other moms who have nursed their children well into the third year of life (I am certain they are out there!).  I know extended breastfeeding is not for everyone, but I wish our culture would embrace breastfeeding as an important part of childhood.  I think the nursing relationship between mother and child should not be limited to a given period of time but rather allowed to persist as long as mother and baby are benefiting.  Not everyone has success with breastfeeding and not everyone's lifestyle would allow for extended breastfeeding, but for those who are able it can be such a blessing!  It saddens me to see how convenience oriented our society has become.  Aren't our children worth going the extra mile and giving them access to such a perfect food for as long as they would like it?

Preparing for Childbirth

With baby #2 on the way I have been thinking a lot lately about gearing up for my next birth.  What a blessing children are and I am overwhelmed with God's goodness to us as I look at my precious daughter and picture this next baby coming into our lives!  Being pregnant is not always easy and certainly labor and delivery is challenging, but children are so very worth it! 

I had a (mostly) wonderful birth experience with my daughter just over two years ago.  My husband and I took Bradley classes and were so glad we did.  I felt so prepared and excited about what her birth would be like.  I was not afraid but rather confident in my body's God designed ability to produce, grow and birth new life.  I would have loved a home birth, but the need to be on blood thinning medication (Lovenox) made the hospital my only option.  The Bradley classes gave me the knowledge I needed to come up with a birth plan for the hospital setting. 

I started contracting three weeks before Audrey was born.  Sometimes they were strong contractions but mostly mild ones.  I was around 4 cm when I went into "active" labor and Audrey arrived five hours later!  With the threat of induction hanging over me, I took a long walk, ate almost an entire pineapple and then double pumped for 45 minutes!  I think I overdid it a little as labor came on fast and strong.  (I would not recommend the 45 minutes of pumping!)  I stayed home for the first 3 hours and labored mostly in the bath.  The warm water was so comforting and I enjoyed being alone while my husband packed the bag.  At the hospital I was coached and comforted by my husband, sister (who is a midwife) and my mom.  Other than wanting to induce me, my doctor was supportive of my choice of a natural birth.  Each contraction was so painful but I knew that they had a purpose.  I was not suffering but rather working hard to bring my baby into the seen world.  I knew that with each passing contraction, that was one less separating me from my baby.  I took them one at a time and relaxed as much a possible.  It was amazing! 

Everything went so well until Audrey was almost out and they realized she had aspirated meconium.  They feared that this could lead to pneumonia and she was taken to the NICU after only moments in my arms.  I kept waiting for the nurses to bring her back.  I had no idea that she would be in intensive care for 4 and 1/2 long days.  During that time my birth plan was completely ignored.  They administered eye ointment, gave her formula and a paci dipped in sugar water.  They didn't allow me to nurse her for 2 days.  This was all a very difficult end to an empowering birth.  My heart goes out to parents whose precious children stay in the NICU for much longer than our daughter did.  In retrospect we were so blessed but at the time it was grueling.  Our prayers were answered and she did not have pneumonia.  We were able to take her home on the 5th day.  What a joyful time that was!  She was finally ours!

Birth is unpredictable and no one is exactly alike.  It certainly helps to be prepared though.  I highly recommend the Bradley Method of Husband-Coached Childbirth!  After 12 weeks of class once a week you are armed with the knowledge and skills you need to welcome your baby into the world the safest way possible.  You learn how to have the healthiest pregnancy possible through proper nutrition and exercise.  When you remain low risk you have options during labor and birth.  My Bradley teacher also prepared us for breastfeeding by explaining what to expect and teaching proper latching.  She was available to answer questions both during pregnancy and after birth.  She was amazing!  Click here to find Bradley childbirth teachers in your area.

Instilling God's Truth in Little Hearts

A dear friend of mine gave us the best children's Bible book I have seen!  It is called The Jesus Storybook Bible. We have at least four "Bible books" for little ones and to be honest I refuse to read her most of them.  I get kind of mad when we read them because they are really missing the point in almost every story.  The angels are chubby little children with wings and the animals on Noah's ark are all smiley with bows in their hair.  Obnoxious.  I want to raise my children to understand God's love, His power, His holiness.  I do not simply want them to have memorized sugar coated Bible stories or Bible characters.  I want them to get the point and believe the truth of God's word.  So anyway, The Jesus Storybook Bible is not like the other ones!  The illustrations are stylized but are not silly.  They convey emotion that is appropriate, not smiley.  And the best part is that every story, Old and New Testament, points to Jesus.  There is an anticipation in the Old Testament stories of the Deliverer who is coming to save God's people.  I love reading the stories to my daughter every night.  I feel like I have had time in the Word!  I highly recommend this book!

The Big Picture

I came across this quote from Kittie Franz recently.  After a few days home alone with a teething, fussy toddler this is a good reminder for me!

"Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being." 

How true that is!  When you step back and look at the big picture, all the stresses and frustrations are nothing compared to how amazing it is to be able to pour love into that little person.  What a high calling mothering is.  Isn't it amazing that God trusts us with such precious gifts!

Wonderful Books!

As a first time parent I am loving reading lots of books to my daughter! She is 21 months now and loves her books. I have enjoyed getting books out of my parents' attic that were mine as a child. These include some of the wonderfully illustrated books by Gyo Fujikawa like Milly's Secret, Babies, Let's Grow a Garden and Baby Animals. I just lover her style of illustrating and the stories are well written as well. If you are not familiar with her books check them out! You can find used copies of the titles that are no longer in print from Alibris for reasonable prices. Also try Amazon for new and used copies, as some of her books are still in print. I love exposing my daughter to books that are not so mainstream and of higher quality than much of what is produced today.

I appreciate that these books often portray children of different races playing together. I think it is important to lay a foundation of perception for our children that all people are created by God and are equal. I am from the south and despise the deep seated ideas that some races are not as good/ valuable/ smart as others. I reject that old fashioned mentality and want to teach my children to do the same. It really makes me mad (Irate actually) to hear comments from my elders that are so ungodly. I think something as simple as seeing children from all nationalities playing together is a way to lay a healthy foundation for our children that all people are valuable!