Growing Too Fast

We go to the library every week, but recently we went to the library where we attended lapsit story time when Lilly was a baby.  She calls this library "Mrs. Nancy's library" because Mrs. Nancy was the lady who led the story time.  Since we moved to  Kingwood ( 2 years ago), we do not go to this library very often, so during this visit I was really struck by a few thoughts:

* She has her own opinions and thoughts now - not that she didn't have thoughts as an infant, but now she can voice them. 

*  She helps me choose the books, movies, and music at the library now.

*  She can read some words now and remembers almost all of those songs we learned at story time.

* I can't remember when we stopped going to that story time.

*  We don't see those friends from story time anymore, but she remembers them.

* She is growing way too fast.

Happy Birthday to My Leap Day Baby

Here is the story of Lilly's birth, if you want to read about it.

I thought I would just do a picture walk of each birthday she's had:

Feb. 29, 2008

Just born!

One Year Old!

1 year old

2 years

2 years

3 year old clown!

3 year party

To my sweet baby girl,

Today you are 4! It is hard to believe that it has been 4 years, but at the same time I can't really remember life without you.  You amaze me every day at the things you have learned and how creative and intuitive you are. I can't wait to see how God is going to use your gifts and talents for His glory! I love you so much!

Mommy :)

Instruments

I taught a lesson on opposites and instruments to Lilly and 2 of her friends.  We talked about high notes and low notes, fast music and slow music, happy songs and sad songs, etc.  Then, we made instruments.  We made "horns" by poking holes in a paper towel tube and then applying a piece of wax paper to one end with a rubber band.  The kids hummed into the open end and were able to create different sounds depending on which holes they covered.

Also, we made "guitars" by putting rubber bands around shoe boxes.  The children had a great time creating and playing the instruments.  I decided it would be a good idea (and fun) to make a music video.  We did 3 - each child got to pick a song.  Here is the one of "Jesus Loves Me" which Lilly picked.

Bath Tub Learning

We have these foam shapes that my daughter plays with in the tub - there are squares, rectangles, triangles, people shapes, trees, cars, vans, etc.  There are lots of thing that we have done with the shapes:

* We have created towns complete with school, church, and houses for each person.

*  We have figured out that 2 sqaures = 1 rectangle and 2 triangles = 1 diamond and 2 trapezoids = 1 hexagon

* We have made "cookies" with them and served them with "milk"

* We have made towers with them and talked about which was taller and shorter

* Recently, Lilly figured out that she could "write" her name using the shapes

I know it is backwards to you in the picture

*We have figured out that no matter the shape - all the foam pieces float. :)

* We have just used them for decorations in the tub

Foam shapes = fun in the tub = happy bath time for a sweet girl!

In Case of Emergency (Home)

A few months ago, I was really sick and my husband was out of town.  I began to worry about what would happen if I couldn't wake up or if I got so sick that I couldn't take care of my daughter.  Silly me, I brought these thoughts up to my mom and, of course, she began to worry as well and she gave me lots of suggestions.  Needless to say, the very next day I was teaching Lilly how to use the speed dial option on my cell phone to call my mom (who doesn't live close) and nearby friends.  I gave my mom my friends' numbers and my friends my mom's number so each could contact the other in case of an emergency.

I also taught her about 911 and we watched a few videos on youtube where young children called 911 to help out their parents or grandparents.  We practiced dialing the numbers (without the phone on) and answering the questions - complete with our address, her name and age and my name.  I have to say, I am pretty confident in her ability to get help if something should happen to me - as long as she doesn't "freak out".  :)

In case you are wondering, we used this song from the Wee Sing Together video - here are the words:
My name is "Sally Smith"
This is where I live
1234 Wee Sing Lane
Any City, USA

It really helped.

You're Not My Dad!

I got a little disturbed after watching the following video:

So, my husband and I began to teach my daughter what to do if a stranger every tried to take her some where.  We taught her to yell, "you're not my daddy" or "you're not my mommy" or "i don't know you" or "help me." Also, we taught her to kick and fight back as hard as she could to not let the person take her. 

We also let her know that if she ever said these things about us that there would be some serious consequences.

Reading Eggs

I teach Lilly at home.  We do letter sounds, math lessons, reading about animals, etc.  I have "taught" her a lot of things.  Often times, I wonder if she is retaining any of the information that we have talked about.  Over the last couple of weeks I have seen her spark of interest in reading and it has brought me confirmation that she is retaining some things.  For example, she has taken an interest in "sounding words out."  She will take my cell phone and compose a text message full of random letters (sometimes they make real words and sometimes not) and then proceed to sound out the word.  You should see the light in her eyes when she realizes she has made a real word.  It is exciting for me to see the light bulb turn on for her, realizing that letters make words.

The other day on FB, a friend of mine had a posting on this reading site called www.readingeggs.com so I decided to check it out.  It teaches letter sounds, letter recognition, sight word recognition, sounding out words, rhyming words and so much more.  There are two parts to the site, one is for younger children, like my daughter (who is almost 4) and one for older children.  Both parts, allow the child to earn "eggs" by playing the games and spend them on things like items for their "house" or clothing for their "character", etc. I love that it doesn't allow the child to go on to the next game if they have not mastered the skill they are currently working on.  Lilly loves playing it and I enjoy watching her play, amazed at how much she is actually reading. 

A little bragging: At the beginning they quiz the child to see what level to start them on and I was happy to see that she is "reading" on a 4.75 year old level.  Maybe all the homeschooling lessons I have done with her have really been helping.