Bucket of Books

I just discovered this post in my draft box from weeks ago...I often have drafts in my head of blogs to write but don't actually get to the computer. This one I started and then promptly forgot. Ironic, especially once you read it. But it's the kind of post that's the reason why I wanted to blog in the first place. To note milestones in Emily's life, especially about reading. So, even though it's old, here it is!

My husband has been keeping a "sentence a day" journal about the things Emily is doing. I got the idea from a blog I read and he decided to do it. Sometimes he writes down things I tell him she did, other times it's things he's noticed. It's a neat record of all those little things and milestones we think we'll remember but know we really won't.

One of the things I meant to blog about during the six-week-blog-drought-of-2011 happened on Oct. 26th. Emily was almost 9 months old. We keep a bucket of board books in the living room. Typically, when we read, she would sit for a couple minutes, maybe for a whole book, maybe not. Usually she grabbed for it, try to put it into her mouth. Sometimes she'd help turn pages back and forth. She had the attention span that you'd expect at her age.

This afternoon, I pulled her onto my lap to read from the bucket of books. This time, she listened to the whole thing. She helped turn the page and sometimes touched it, but didn't try to mouth it. When we were done, she leaned into the bucket and chose another to read. We read that one in the same way and she chose another.

We did this for at least 20 minutes! I could not believe it. Especially since she sat and really looked at the pages and seemed to be listening. She wasn't just picking books up to feel them or move on to the next. We cuddled for 20 minutes and read together. It was such a sweet afternoon to have with her. I knew even then that this would not happen again for a while. It was an unexpected gift.

1st Christmas

Emily's first Christmas was so much fun! She didn't quite get the concept of ripping the wrapping paper, but her eyes would light up when she saw the gifts underneath. She especially loved pulling the tissue paper out of bags.

She also liked to eat them, of course.

Here are some of the gifts she received.  This one was a fun surprise. Check out the fine print! (It says "storytime-mom.blogspot.com 11/30/2011" referring to this post.)

Yep, my mom's a blogger!

She loves bathtime. She and I play with "Henrietta Hen" in the tub, along with her other toys. Now Henrietta has a friend.

Lucy Ladybug

And, some of the books...

Notice the ducky one, it's for the bath! I couldn't resist. She likes it.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

It's been a wonderfully busy two days celebrating Christmas. We went to my sister's on Christmas Eve to spend a couple hours with her family. Then we were off to another family's home, where Santa made a surprise visit.

Hello, Santa!

Christmas Day was another intimate family gathering of oh, about 65 people. For dinner. You think I jest. Not so! Every year we joke that this year someone will be eating outside. Hasn't happened yet, but it was a near thing. And this is not a big house. It takes 10 minutes to go from one end of the house to the other, but only because of the throng of people in the way. It's a constant game of musical chairs. When you stand up, you forfeit that chair. It's happy chaos.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate with just the three of us for Emily's first Christmas. It's the only year that she won't mind, and we'll be able to have a leisurely, quiet day. We'll put a fire in the fireplace and not take off our jammies unless we want to. We'll take our time letting Emily open the presents. After all the happy chaos, I am looking forward to some peace.

Goodnight all.

Christmas Lullabies

Emily and I sit in a overstuffed chair with the houselights dimmed. We watch the lights twinkle on the tree as she has her bedtime bottle. We listen to songs like "Silent Night," "Ave Maria" and "O Holy Night." I stroke her hair and cradle her close. Such peace and blessing and quiet joy...

Storybook Advent Calendar

This will be Emily's first Christmas and we've been having fun putting the decorations up. The trick has been which ones to put out and where so that she doesn't get into more than the spirit of the holiday, if you get my drift. I am looking forward to her eye's lighting up as she sees the tree, lights, and brightly wrapped presents.

I've been thinking a bit about traditions. What traditions to start? This year is a bit of a dress rehearsal, since she won't really remember much in particular and everything will be wonderful and new.

One tradition I definitely want to do next year is something I just heard about from a friend of mine, over at Librarian Pirate. She shared this wonderful idea of a book advent calendar. You can see her post here. She got the idea from another blogger~It's fun how we can all share ideas with the wonderful world of the internet.

Anyway, it's too late in the game for me to do it this year, but I am sooo going to do this next year. Gives me a whole year to plan! (She's making her list of books, and checking them twice...) I am tempted to do it for the 12 Days of Christmas this year, but I know I won't... Instead I'll buy her at least one book to open for Christmas morning.


Do you have any favorite Christmas books to share?

Winter Family Read Aloud

Today Emily and I visited the Naperville Public Library and signed up for their new Family Read Aloud program "Paws to Read" which started today. We have the whole month to do at least 8 things suggested on their list. Then we can get another log for January and for February.  It's a wide range of ideas meant for children through 5th grade and their families. What a cool way to do things together as a family! (And who doesn't like to win fun prizes, too?)

Here are some of the great ideas~
Watch a movie based on a children's book
Read a non-fiction book together about a favorite topic
Read to your pet, neighbor's pet, or stuffed animal

Given Emily's age, for starters, we plan to~
Read together out loud or silently
Attend a library program
Listen to a children's music CD

You can read more about it and get great suggestions for read alouds on their awesome new kid's blog.

This is a free program for Naperville residents, but if you live near, but not in Naperville, you can sign up your whole family for $5. If you are not nearby, check out your local library. They often have reading programs or activities during the winter months. And if you are snowed in this winter, pull out whatever books, games, music, recipes or other activities you have on hand and spend time with your family. You'll be glad you did.

What literacy activities do you like to do with your family?