Letter of the Week Series: "A" is for Alligator!

It's official! We've gotten our first letter completed for our Letter of the Week Series. I'm going to be real honest here.... This is actually my attempt at being a cool Pinterest Mom (which I'm totally not). Seriously though, I always plan to do activities and I always think I will get to it. And then I don't. My intentions are great and my follow-through is awful. I mostly try to follow Harper's lead when it comes to learning and allow it to happen organically, but as an extremely busy single parent I need something to keep me accountable. Creating and committing to a specific path is the best way for me personally to stay the course. With that said, I do not expect my 2.5 year old child to master her ABC's by the end of this. What I do expect is to have a lot of fun, be ready to adapt and adjust, and to be observant of what Harper needs. If she really doesn't want to make a silly animal out of a letter, then we won't. Learning should be fun and some days she just isn't feeling certain activities. That's ok.

I've found many of our activities via Pinterest (you can follow me here) and I create my plans using the Trello app. By planning a few weeks out I can ensure I have everything I need on my shopping lists each week. My goal is to have a variety of activities that are inspired by the featured letter that touch on different aspects of learning; such as art/craft, cooking/life skill/sensory, science/nature, reading and math. Again, my goal is not to "force" the alphabet, but to simply explore it in a variety of ways.

To kick off our week I used our chalkboard to display both upper and lower case "A's" and we went to the library and picked out a few books inspired by the letter "A". This letter was tough, but we managed to find a new favorite. We picked up Animals, Animals by Eric Carle (some of the most beautiful illustrations in children's books), Our Apple Tree by Gorel Kristina Naslund and Kristina Digman, and Amanda & Her Alligator by Mo Willems. Amanda & Her Alligator quickly became Harper's favorite last week as it's a little silly! 

The following day we made an "Alligator A" with construction paper and glue. For Harper's age group I cut all of the pieces out for her, but an older child could use child safe scissors to cut the shapes out themselves. 

This activity is so simple and quick. All you need is 2 plain white pieces of paper (we just used printer paper), 1 sheet of green construction paper, scissors, Elmer's glue, and a black ink pen or fine point marker. Simply draw an "A" on the green construction paper, draw teeth and eyes on one sheet of white paper, and cut it all out. Then, give a little guidance in glueing all of the pieces together. It is really that easy!

Harper's Finished Masterpiece

Apple Stamping was by far Harper's favorite activity! She did this for almost an hour (which in the world of toddlerhood might as well be a decade).  All you need for this one is an apple (we used one that was already going bad), a few sheets of white paper (again we just used printer paper), 2 paper plates, 3 containers of paint (red, green, and brown), and a paintbrush. 

You'll first want to slice your apple in half. Then, pour a small amount of green and red paint on a paper plate and apply the paint to each half of the apple. And start stamping! Once the stamping is complete, create stem with the paintbrush. 

Cutest apple stamper ever!

The finished product!

For our math activity I found this free printable here. This is also great for fine motor skills! All you need is the printable, enough poms in varying sizes (we didn't have any red so I settled for pink and green) to fill the letter and object, and a cookie sheet. The cookie sheet isn't entirely necessary, I just like to keep everything organized and feel it helps her focus. 

I showed her how to fill the dots first by doing a few myself and then cleared the sheet. We counted each pom while we worked and practiced sorting the colors and sizes. At first, this was not something she loved, but as you can see once she got the hang of it she became intent on doing it over and over.

To wrap-up our letter "A" week we also explored ant hills outside, made an Apple Pie Milkshake together, and watched the "A" music video on ABCmouse.com via the app for iPhone. Throughout the week we still sang the alphabet song and noticed other letters. 

Next week we are moving on to Letter "B" where we are building Bumble "B's" and whipping up Blueberry Banana Smoothies!

Dear Sister

I know that I rarely post and my blog is more like an every three month update, BUT something has been on my mind. I simply must write about it. It's a letter to my sister, but I don't mind it being public because she's awesome. 

Dear Sister, 

I got a glimpse of how you'll be as a mother a few weeks ago while we were traveling. No, not wether you'll choose to breastfeed or formula feed. Not if you'll cloth diaper or use disposables. Not if you'll decide to do baby led weaning or spoon-feed out of a jar. These are all certainly decisions that will inevitably have to be made, but that's not what I saw.  I got to see your motherhood spirit, the thing about us that our children will always remember. 

Aunt Kiki and Leighton on her birthday

As we were laying in that hotel bed with Harper snuggled between us she couldn't get over how fabulous it was that we were having a slumber party. You were on your side and no doubt exhausted from our day (I know I was). Harper was insistent that she must play with you and started tickling your neck. I, not wanting her to bother you, whispered, "No, Aunt Kiki wants to go night night now". 

I didn't expect what happened next. You pulled down the covers and said, "BOO!" tickling her as she giggled in baby bliss. She sighed with delight, the kind of sigh that only happens when you surely can't laugh anymore and your soul is so filled up with love you might explode. I'll never forget the look of satisfaction and joy on my daughters face. That moment lasted maybe 5 minutes, but it no doubt meant the world to her.

As I drifted to sleep that night I couldn't help but think about how many times I've been so wrapped up in what I needed to do when she went to bed, that I missed an opportunity like this. How many times did she just want one more cuddle, one more giggle, one more baby babble conversation, or one more kiss? How many times have I allowed the suffocation of tasks that overwhelm all mothers and missed out on the joy of what being a mother is all about?

Aunt Kiki and my nephew Alex

You made me a better mother that night and I'm sure you didn't know it. You weren't trying to make me feel any sort of way. You were just being you. The beautiful person that you are, who can make anyone laugh, even on their saddest day. Now, each night when I'm rocking my sweet girl to sleep and she looks up and starts to smile, I don't say "shh, it's time for sleep". I give her just one more of whatever it is that she needs to fill up her love piggy bank for that day. And you know, it fills mine up too. 

I've often wondered what type of mother you'll be. Sure,  I've seen small glimpses here and there, but that night really struck me. You will be the kind of mom who slides down the slides with your children rather than observing from a far, you'll tell fantastical stories, you'll giggle at their first attempts at knock-knock jokes even when you can't possibly decipher what's so funny, and you'll play peek-a-boo at 10 o' clock at night just one last time if it's needed. When it'd take you 10 minutes to whip up a famous batch of chocolate chip cookies, you'll take the extra 20 to include your little. You're gonna build forts when dishes need to be done. I know you're going to play dress-up, sit for hours having tea parties, and have dance in your pj's in the kitchen just to see them laugh. You my sister are going to be a wonderful mother!

Harper and Leighton watching dance videos in the fort you built them

I often try to do everything, but when my baby started to become a toddler things got a little hairy for a while. Don't lose this about yourself, hold onto it with everything. On the days that you're worried about a million little things, this is the thing that will keep you grounded and make you fall in love with your child all over again.

Thank you for reminding me, even though you weren't trying.

Love,

Your older sister

10 Things

It's been FOREVER since I last posted. Motherhood is not an easy thing to tackle I tell ya. Anyhow, I was just putting my lovely down for a late nap and as I listened to her breathe on my chest I had a thought. I had this impulse to tell her 10 things I love about her, then I decided I'd write it out for her baby book, and then I decided I'd also blog about it. And finally, I thought why not start this as a tradition. Why not for the rest of our time together don't I just stop what I'm doing to tell her just 10 things? So I'm doing it. I held her for a few seconds longer before laying her down and whispered these next 10 things into her soft, little tendrils of hair.

1.) I love how you look at me seconds before you do something that requires bravery and then you take off. It shows you trust me and that you're looking to make sure I don't miss a thing.

2.) I love how even at almost a year old you can detect my emotion. And in the moment that I give in to  how tough it can be sometimes and cry a little that you crawl over and lay your head on my knee. It wills me to pick myself up and keep going, to keep trying.

3.) I love how you play with your hair right before you fall asleep. I did that. I still do.

4.) I love the sound of your giggle. I would choose that sound over any other sound in the entire world. I'm even willing to bump my head on the table and say "OUCH" to hear it. 

5.) I love the way you pat my back when I hug you. 

6.) I love that you love to dance. I see many dance parties in our future.

7.) I love that you'll still let me stroke your face when you're upset and it soothes you.

8.) I love how beautiful and intelligent you are.

9.) I love that you "sing" to the music in the car.

10.) I love that you don't always go with the flow, are a bit difficult, and know what you want. You don't always and won't always get your way, but I always want you to have tenacity. It gives you character.

Harper's Birth Story

Photo provided by SarahCole Photography

I was determined to have as few interventions as possible, so my heart sank when I found out I had Gestational Diabetes. I made it my job to control those numbers and be insanely conscientious about what I put in my body. "I will not have a big baby". "I will not have a big baby". Repeat. This is what I heard in my head for 4 months. Well, I controlled those blood glucose numbers like nobody's business. And even though my doctor "felt" neither of us was in danger my gut told me otherwise. "I will not have an induction". "I will not have induction". Repeat. This is what I heard in my head for several weeks. Guess what?

I had an induction.

I remember most of those two days so vividly. I took my time getting ready, carefully applying make-up and curling my hair. Little did I know then that it would be the last time I'd be primping. Moving on... It was a cool, crisp day. I checked my bag. Then, checked my bag again. Everything was there, everything to have the perfect delivery to bring my perfect baby into this world. 

I brushed off the advice to refrain from eating or drinking anything and gave my Gestational Diabetes a big F you by noshing on Taco Mayo. Everything was just. Perfect. 

My bags were in the room, Mom and sister ready to help, favorite nurse Jessica on duty, and my birthing plan placed firmly in said nurses hand. Everything was just. Perfect.

My induction was started upon arrival with Cervadil. Mom was settled into her hospital recliner and sister long gone when it hit me. I just couldn't get comfortable. Then this little banter between my Mother and I went on for about an hour where she would wake up and say, "you need to get some rest honey because tomorrow is a big day" and then I'd say, "I don't know what's wrong. I can't get comfortable". I decided I needed to pace. So I paced. And paced some more in between wanting to choke my Mother when she'd lift her half-asleep head and say, "It's so cold in here I can't zzzzzzz". Who falls asleep mid-sentence? She does. All the while I'm thinking...YOU can't sleep? I start to realize that perhaps something is going on here and buzz the nurse. Lucky me, I'm one of the small percentage of women that the Cervadil works like magic on and creates intense contractions every 2-3 minutes. Yeah! I'm gonna meet my baby soon right? Wrong. I was a 1. Whomp. Whomp.

The Cervadil is taken out and we move on to the big guns. The big guns being Pitocin. Or as I like to call it, the Devil. I fully intended on using my perfect little birthing ball and do all my perfect breathing. I had that on my birthing plan after all. Well, my plan didn't take into consideration that I'm a big, fat baby and wanted to kick a kitten pretty early on. The contractions continued every 2-3 minutes so I gave the ok to get the epidural. Ah, the epidural. This is where I think to myself, "I'm going to take a nice long nap and wake up to being told to push". I saw that scenario on A Baby Story once. Yeah, no. Not so much. The good news is that I now know what it would feel like if my right leg were filled with sand. 

Harper In Utero

I tried. I tried my little heart out to will my body to just do what it was supposed to. I was one day from my due date after all. I recall the Dr. coming in and telling me I was a 2. A two. A freaking 2. He broke my water. I'd never heard of that so early. The pain-free me would've never agreed to that. From then it was mostly a blur. My sisters and Mom were there. I remember begging for something, anything. The anesthesiologist comes back in to "try" again. No such luck. I tell him we aren't friends. I'm then administered IV pain meds, which might as well have been kool-aid for how much good it did me. There was a moment that I looked into my Mom's eyes and I felt for an instant that she could feel every decibel of pain I was. I saw deeper into her soul than ever in my life. Her eyes read, "I'd take this if I could. I love you. I'm scared for you, but I'm trying to be strong". She redeemed herself from the falling asleep thing. That look propelled me forward. 

I don't recall much of the final hours, but I'm told I decided mid-way that breathing in general wasn't so necessary. All I recall is pain, then pain lessening, voices around me, voices screaming at me to breathe, and then pain again. I was indignant that my Mother kept telling me to breathe. I didn't know, however that I literally was not breathing. Also, I threw up all over my sister. <----That was unfortunate. 

Photo provided by SarahCole Photography

I don't remember being checked, though I'm told I was, until I was a 9. A 9 people! Now that's a number I can get behind. I'm in the home stretch right? Wrong. I was a 9 for an eternity. Ok, it was roughly 2 1/2 hours. FINALLY, I'm told to push. My sisters alternated holding one leg, while my Mom held the other. Everything was going to be perfect now. Nope. I'm told to stop. There's a lip. I'm thinking, "I don't know what the hell a lip means in there, but somebody better find a way to get rid of it!" Guess what? We never got rid of it. So I pushed and pushed. And pushed some more. Ok, you get it. In comes the Dr. in his preppy little RL Polo and designer jeans (why I didn't notice the breathing thing, but I paid attention to his attire I'll never know). He tells me I need "a little help". A little help in the medical world apparently means a baby vacuum. That wasn't in my birth plan. Her shoulders were stuck. Yeah, ouch. I just wanted her OUT, but my energy was waining. There was this moment where I knew a C-section was in my very, near future. I dug in my heels and gave one final push feeling every inch of the rip as her shoulders "popped" thru.

And then it stopped. The pain. It was gone. I reached out and held her to my chest. I didn't even look at her at first. I just felt her breathing her first breaths of life while my sister cut the cord. The world stopped. 

Photo provided by SarahCole Photography

In those first few minutes of holding her I realized that the last 24 hours was just as hard on her as it was on me. And that we were lucky to have each other. On March 25, 2013 at 7:32 PM my sweet, little Harper was brought into the world. All 8 lbs and 1 oz. of her. Remember how I wasn't going to have a big baby, right? 

Wrong.

Looking at her then and now I know that SHE was my plan. That's all that matters. She is here. And she's just magical. I wouldn't change a thing. Everything is perfect right?

Right.