Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Babies


I love watching young children. They amaze me, especially the babies. There are so many skills that they acquire in the their first year. They go from little bundles that cry, eat, sleep, and make LOTS of dirty diapers to crawling, walking, running, babbling, finger-feeeding bundles of energy. I am convinced I could never learn that much in a year!

In as little as the first three months, you may notice that your baby already recognizes your voice and quiets or smiles when they see or hear you. By 4-6 months, your baby is likely noticing sounds and visually tracking the direction of the sound. He will have a variety of sounds that he can make, including some consonant sounds like p, b, or m.

Somewhere around their first birthday you will see that they have progressed to playing peek-a-boo, responding to simple requests such as "come here" or "hand me the cup", and will even begin speaking their first words.

In order to help with this amazing progression, try some of these suggestions:

*Play finger plays and other games with your child, such as itsy bitsy spider and patty cake
*Talk, talk, talk to your child
*Reinforce your babies attempts at communication by mimicking their sounds and maintaining eye contact
*Play around with animal sounds

Thanks, Aimee for ideas

Monday, July 28, 2008

I am so ready for Oregon

I am leaving with my children for Oregon in 15 days to see my mom, en-laws and husband's siblings....I am so excited. Oregon is where I grew up (Junction City in the Willamette Valley). I am an Oregonian in my heart, never really having truly accepted being a "Texan". It has been 13 years since we left, a very bitter depature for me back then, but one I can look back on now and see all the "reasons". It is good. Still, I do feel a little pain when we visit and leave again.

Before we go, my sister comes to visit Wednesday from Kansas. She'll be staying a week with us and is bringing her little 2 year old son with her.

Summer camps were so fun! I enjoyed them VERY much this year. You are all precious and your children are growing fast.

What are you doing this month? I miss you and am looking forward to fall classes!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Beethoven Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13 - Second Movement

I have been learning the first movement of this piece over the last few months and I hope to perform it someday. It is very 'out of character' for me and has been an amazing growth experience for me as a pianist.

Today, I started working with this second movement and I have always loved it. I think it will feel right at home in my music heart. I feel it is one of the most beautiful melodies in the world.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Day at the Museum

I want to take my kids to this art museum in Fort Worth and was on their website checking the hours, and found they have a wonderful thing called "New Parent's Tour" where you can pack up the baby stroller and come for a free tour and they even provide refreshments! Might be worth checking into!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

i hear music

I made this playlist that you hear....when you are visiting, is it annoying or pleasant?

You can always press pause.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

test for the noodle

This is interesting !!!

See if your brain is as old as your body
~ or ~(perish the thought) ~ OLDER !!

Read the following instructions since the game is in Japanese:

Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game:

1. Touch 'start'

2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.

3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the SMALLEST number to the BIGGEST number.

4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you the age of your brain. The lower the number, the better. It has to do with the brain's responses to sight and sound. As we age, they get slower....

Tell me your score! My brain is 10 years younger than I am :-) (isn't that a clever way of not revealing my age??)

CLICK HERE

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

5 minute skirt

I think I can make this...are any of you seamstresses out there? I don't profess to be one, but I'm a definite wannabe. Check out this blog. I always enjoy her posts and always giggle a little at her humor.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Thursday, July 10, 2008


I found a great article: What to do so your kids won't stress you out. I think we can all relate from time to time! :-)


Monday, July 7, 2008

Ahoy There, Mates!



Click on this picture to find out why fish come in so many colors!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th of July!

What are you doing today to celebrate? We're having an all-American BBQ and watching fireworks in Denton tonight. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Good stuff

I really like The Parent's Journal website. So many good links. There is a blog that I like to read a few times per week here. Amanda Soule has written a book called The Creative Family. Her podcast with the Parent's Journal about children's creativity and how to foster it is really good. Please take a listen! All you have to do is click here. Well worth the listen!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Long summer days

I found a great website for preschool summer activities! Check here.