What We've Learned This Week

Ah. Our first week of preschool is almost done, and it's been such a joy! I plan on doing a post of our activities we did soon, but I've got a moment to write a bit while LBB goes down for his morning nap.

We are taking an easy morning, but after LBB wakes up, it's time for puzzles, pouring, and a salt-dough activity.

This week has been an absolute thrill...I love being LBB's teacher. There are moments when I get a tad worn out and moments when I wonder if we're doing it right, but then there are even more moments when I realize that we are following our hearts, minds, and listening to God about this, so we can't go wrong. And just in the past 4 days, LBB has learned so much.

And so has Mommy...here are some of the things we learned:

• LBB is a kinesthetic learner, no doubts about it. I kind of had a hunch that he was before we started preschool, but now that I'm working with him daily, I'm really seeing that he learns in a very unique way.
• Sadly, library storytime is not a good match for kinesthetic toddler. More on that in an upcoming post...
• My little tot runs at the sight of a coloring page, but jumps at the chance to color a piece of aluminum foil taped to the cabinet door.
• LBB can now say wreath, leaf, bus, truck (although it sounds strangely similar to bus), mine, why, and siren (but it sounds like me-me...which is Mommy's version of a European police car...I can only blame myself), bye bye, hi, pillow, Mearemy (his version of his bear's name Bearemy) and NiNi (the nickname for his little fox GiGi got him). That's in addition to what he said before, so his language is really seeming to take off!
• He is also beginning to put two words together to make phrases. He has said big boat, my mama, and mama no. (As in "LBB, don't do that" and I hear back "Mama no.")
• He can say "Love YOU!" now! :) He used to say it on command, but now he says it in return on his own. And at night, when he is going to bed, he gives Bearemy and Nick hugs and kisses and says love you to them. So sweet.
• He is a pro at putting puzzles together. Just two weeks ago he had fun, but was challenged, when he worked on his jumbo peg, 3 piece Melissa & Doug puzzle. Now, he breezes through their chunky wooden puzzles with no problem. The other day I picked one up at the consignment shop (Melissa and Doug for $3? Yes, please!), and within 5 minutes in the car he had the puzzle figured out.
• Loves this Melissa and Doug Shape Sequence Sorting Set, and it getting quite good at it.
• And I've learned that a little routine goes a long way. Skip the routine, and I'm thrown off all day. We've made it a habit to have the house vacuumed, swept, mopped, dishes done, beds made, and us dressed by 7 am. And I've also learned that I have to shower before bed the night before...because if I don't get dressed right when I get up and am ready for the day (like today), the rest of the day feels lazy and unmotivated.

This has been such a wonderful week full of learning. I am going to do a post on Saturday and it will become our weekly wrap up, so there will be details in there on what we actually did. :) I just had to share a little bit of life, especially since I was blogging almost everyday. I don't want to get in the habit of pushing it aside again!