Live Free

Our Bedroom Switcheroo

Since we moved to our current house nearly two years ago, I haven't really messed around with the bedroom layouts. Beatrix had her bedroom with her toys in it. Byron and I used the third bedroom as an office/craft/guest room. But for awhile now, I'd been feeling an itch to rearrange, move stuff around, and make it work for what we truly needed. I am in love with idea of stretching the usefulness of a home. This is the biggest house I've ever lived in and it isn't big by modern (American) standards -- 1400 square feet! We have the space we need to live contently, but there aren't  a lot of extra rooms to play around with. At its current function, our house is pulling its fair share of weight as a school/home.

Yet the two back bedrooms rooms, we felt weren't really used to their greatest potential. And those two rooms totaled a decent amount of square footage. Bea's original bedroom was quite large about 200 square feet while the third bedroom (office/craft room) was a bit smaller. However, Bea's big bedroom was the most underused space in the house. She rarely played in it (except during quiet time). Seriously, what 4 year old wants to be in their bedroom playing alone while their family is elsewhere? She plays where ever we are busy working - and for us that's in the kitchen, living room, or the yard. I enjoyed having an office/craft room, but it was smallish in size, and difficult to use during daytime hours because if I tried to work in it, Bea naturally wanted to do the same, but the room was not layed out in a way that included her. (How unMontessori of me!)and I couldn't visualize adding some of her things to the space and having the room flow nicely. 

So we moved her bedroom to the the office/craft room. It's a smaller and brighter space which makes it very cozy and happy. She loves it! Her only request was that she wanted her new bedroom to inherit the lambskin rug that was already in there. Deal! And we made her former bedroom into our project room. Her new bedroom layout is simple (and a little Goodnight Moon-ish in my opinion). In her bedroom, she has her bed, her chest of drawers, and just a few toys and books that she can enjoy looking at and playing with during quiet time. 

The room isn't quiet done. There are curtain rods without curtains because I'm still undecided if I want to cover her window with panels. Curtain panels seem so much because there are so many windows and I do love the uncluttered, bright look, but I also don't want the room to feel too feel plain. Right now, the windows have solar shades for privacy. 

Also, we are using one of her little chairs as a night stand to hold her books. One day, a proper nightstand will enter our world. And maybe a shelving unit of some sort. Something like this. And as much as I adore her petite trundle bed, I know a day will come that she will outgrow it. At that point, we'd like to invest in bunk beds (the kind that has a full bed on bottom).  That would be useful for when my mom or other visitors stay with us. Bunk beds would help to maximize the amount of sleeping space we have to offer and to make our home more welcoming. Let's face it, no one gets excited over the air mattress option. 

Making this Beatrix's bedroom has also inspired me to spruce up her view! Currently, all of those gorgeous windows overlook to a very sad corner of our yard. By the way, do you know how much I disdain wooden privacy fences? Bleh...Oh, that's a whole other conversation. However, I do hope to build some flower beds along the said disdainful fence over the summer. I'm sure a perrenial garden overflowing with turk's hat, echinacea, black eye susans, lantana, etc. might help to fix my attitude about our perfectly functional (ugly) fence line. On the bright side, she said that she loves having her bed tucked under the windows, because now she can watch the chickens so much easier than before. And chicken watching is obviously very important. 

Our project room now homes the majority of her playthings, my work desk, my sewing maching and chest of fabrics, and her reading nook. Now we can work and play together and still be in the same place. There's plenty of room for both of us in here. As she gets older, I want to continue to tweak this space to make sure it holds creative appeal to her. I envision this space to evolve into our homeschooling room at some point. I'm thinking that I'd like to make a creative writing/art space as well as shelves that hold learning materials that she is currently using. I'm not trying too hard to make those spaces now, because those materials are also available in our living room and on the screen porch classroom and it feels redundant to duplicate what we already have there.  

Rearranging the rooms was so much fun! Both spaces feel fresh and cheerful and are serving our needs more appropriately than before. I'm also finding myself reinspired to photograph these rooms. I love capturing little corners and objects that I'd long overlooked before.

I'm determined to not grow out of this house and to make it work for us for the long haul! When I think back to my childhood or when I consider the size of homes my mom and Byron's parents grew up in with many more people, I'm sure we have just enough space for our family.    

the school room

Slowly, we are getting there. Everyday, another little piece of the environment gets tweaked and completed. Hooks are getting hung (you know me, I love hooks). The art wire thingys from Ikea are in place. The painting is nearly complete. Byron is completely responsible for painting all parts of the space that required a 18 foot ladder. Yes, he did that part, in the blazing hot Texas sun without complaining. "Thank you, dear" doesn't quite seem adequate. 

-------

I'll leave with a couple of quotes from Lori McWilliam Pickert's new book, Project Based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners. 

"Doing things that matter. Working on something real. This isn't just a way to learn - it's a way of life."  

"The best way to increase the odds that your child will live a certain way is to live that way yourself."

 

Good stuff... 

whew!

Today I joked with Byron that one of these weekends we're going to draw the curtains, ignore the chores, lounge on the couch, and watch movies, in the middle of the day. He laughed and agreed that that sounds mighty nice right about now. 

We're so busy these days. Not running around. Just busy at home. Painting, clearing, building, repairing, not to mention the cooking, cleaning, washing. Blah, blah, blah. And it's hot. Red hot. My habit of late is to get going with work outside/inside as soon as we wake. By the end of the morning, Bea and I are so darn hot, sweaty, and sticky, that we jump in the shower before lunch, get cleaned up and hunker down (for the most part) indoors.  I think this routine has been helping Bea redisover napping a bit too. Several times last week, she took a nice long nap after lunch. It is easy to relax after a refreshing shower and a solid meal. 

The "school" is looking so sweet. I can't wait to complete the details, take pictures and share. I'm really pleased with the space. I love my job. I find so much inspiration thinking and reading and planning for it all. I feel really grateful that I can have a program that allows for such freedom and contentment for both the children I work with, and myself. I've ordered three books recently and I can't wait to receive them. I've heard great things about all. I think the content will inspire and affirm my thoughts on education nicely.

Lookie what I stumbled upon on Pinterest! My girl loves cars and bikes. When I showed her the picture she went straight to Byron and asked if they could build this kind of car soon. We even thought it would be fun to get a box car festival/race going in our town. It would be neat if one of the stipulations to enter the race would be that the boxcar would have to be made from reclaimed material.   

That's about all of the news from our homefront. 

Oh, did you see this? Sweet Kylie (co-author Kids in the Kitchen)at How We Montessori said the kindest words about me. I didn't know anything about it until I got a couple of comments on my school blog (which is even quieter than this one) within a short span of time. I thought that was unusual, so I checked my stats and I saw tons of linkbacks from her sight. Goodness. I love How We Montessori. Kylie's blog is fresh and clean. She's a wonderful resource for anyone looking for  information on how to make Montessori work for you and your little ones at home. I admire her work and was totally flattered. It felt good to get such feedback from someone so well respected in the Montessori blogging community. 

Speaking of blogging, I'm going back and forth on how I want to continue the two websites: Live Free and The Natural Child. I'm sort of thinking of consolidating. It seems like a silly act to keep two blogs going when everything - school, home, life is happening under one roof.  I use to feel shy about sharing Live Free with clients and what not, but I think I've become more comfortable with what I share on the internet. I'm mean, honestly, I keep this blog clean cut. There's nothing juicy or controversial here. Just the occassional boo hoos from being a sappy mama. Which I think most of us are anyway at least some of the time.  We'll see.  Regardless, I'd keep The Natural Child domain and website so that local folks could find details about the program, but the blogging aspect of it would link back to Live Free.

Any thoughts? Anyone? Bueller? 

I know. I'm rambling.

Oh wait, I think this post qualifies as a weekending one, so I'll link up with Amanda at The Habit of Being.  

Off I go. 

XO,

Nichole

 

Some nuts and bolts.

Last week after my post on our new learning space, a kind reader offered wonderful feedback and had a few great questions about the logistics of our days in our Montessori inspired learning environment. I thought it would be most beneficial if I responded to her questions not in a private email to her but in a follow-up post just in case others may have had the same questions.  M has a two year old son and plans to homeschool him. She finds herself curious about how to marry the Montessori method with home life. I think it's a worthy conversation. There are certainly many considerations.  I hope this Q & A finds itself useful to some of you!  

Does Bea have access to the materials at all times?

Yes, Bea has access to the Monterssori materials at all times. I don't restrict when she may work, but I have noticed that she will most often choose work when she is well rested. Most often in the morning. It is as if the work calls to her to center herself, like a meditation or inhaling deeply...When she is ready to engage in the world, she'll most often choose to play - or exhale. One of the greatest pleasures of staying home and/or teaching with her alongside me, has been to get to know her rhythms. They are like tiny keyholes that allow me to take small peeks into her soul.  

Are you with Bea the whole time she is using her learning space?

I'm near her but not always solely focused on her. I do give her formal lessons on materials which is a new dynamic between the two of us. Up until recently, she would refuse formal lessons. She learned a great deal by observing her friends or observing me from across the way...She's getting old enough now to know that she needs a lesson (she needs to be prepared in some way) before she is given the OK to work with new activities. 

Oh, but we have had a conversation about when I am available to give lessons. We've concluded that mama can not give lessons during dinner prep. :) 

I  would like to be present with J while he is in the "classroom", and if he has access to the materials at any time of the day I worry there is more chance of my being less attentive.

One of the great reasons we wanted to have the materials integrated into our main living area was so that we (Beatrix, Byron, and I) could share our work space. The kitchen is the heart of the home! I am convinced there is truth in this adage. I have a full view from the kitchen, and I seem to almost always be planted there, so I can easily wash dishes or prepare a meal while keeping my eyes on what she is doing. We do so much living in this one great room, that it makes it quite easy to work alongside her.  I do observe Beatrix working just as I observe her playing or helping me in the kitchen or tend to the garden. But it is almost always in the form of a pause from whatever work I'm engaged in. Of course, there are times that I stop my work, and spend uninterrupted time with her to help her overcome a challenge or to present a new lesson. However, just as I am in the class, I feel comfortable knowing that I will not see everything she does. However, we've always been consistent in our expectations of handling her toys or Montessori materials. I think the consistency has empowered her because she knows what to expect. I jot down most of my notes about her work and lessons I would like to show her on our chalkboard (which is in the kitchen). 

I read a post from another Montessori homeschooling mama who said she felt the materials were better respected by her son, and "protected" from other children who might be in the house for playdates, etc., and who weren't familiar with the proper way to handle them when housed in a separate room.

I feel grateful that Bea is generally very respectful with her toys and the Montessori materials. She's been in a Montessori environment since she was five months old, so she's grown up observing and discovering how to handle the materials. I can trust her and know that I can leave her for moments as I put away laundry, tidy up another room, or make a quick phone call. Children adapt so quickly once they know our expectations. Parents and teachers are lucky in that children's strong sense of order works in our favor at this stage. 

I must admit that I am curious as to how I will approach having visitors in the "classroom."  Perhaps the most precious materials can be removed. I've also seen beautiful silks draped over the shelves so as not to invite little hands from using the materials inappropriately. 

On a related note, I thought I noticed Bea's "toys" (play kitchen, etc.) in another room close to her learning area. Have you found any problems having toys and "work" so close together?

We decided to incorpate natural, open-ended play toys into the Monessori environment at The Natural Child when we opened our doors in 2009.  Though the play area was tucked into it's own cozy nook, the room was not large. We noticed that weeks would go by and hardly a little one would choose to play. Instead they would opt for "real" work. Then, the seasons would change, the energy would shift, and once again the play area would become popular. Ebb and flow has been my experience. The children do a really nice job of recognizing the qualitative differences between the materials and toys. Perhaps the reason is that they are in such a sensitive period for classifying and maintaining order that this task speaks to their growth and development. 

Does Bea just flow between them (toys and work)?

In our home, Bea's  play kitchen is situated very close to the other Montessori shelves and in the kitchen. She rarely tries to mix her toys with the Montessori materials. As mentioned above, she does have moods, which I theorize, influence her choice between work and play, so that the two rarely get intermixed.

Is there a separate area of the house for her books?

She has a reading nook in her bedroom. I'm hopeful that once the screen porch is built, I can carve out a reading nook in the front room of the house or on the porch.  For now, we tote books around the house as needed...

Since Bea attended your school last year, she is probably ahead of J in terms of understanding "ground rules", or do these sorts of ground rules not apply in a homeschool setting? 

I think Bea's years with me in the classroom have definitely helped her to internalize the "ground rules". However, I also believe that if a family and a school share the same values, the child will adapt easily to the expectations of the school environment because it will align with his/her own expectations at home. These ground rules provide the foundation for it all, I believe. In our home, there is a way to play and to work - not because we are rigid, but because we must learn to consider our surroundings and the other people that we share our days with.  As a result, we have respect for each other, respect for the environment, and respect for our materials. Once we understand this concept, learning happens effortlessly and joyfully! Freedom immerges when we discover discipline. 

Where did you purchase materials? 

 I've happily purchased materials from the Montessori Outlet, Kid Advance, Montessori Services,  and Michael Olaf. I'm also no stranger to Craigslist. I can't tell you how many wonderful items I've scored for bargain prices.

 Am I trying too hard to make a Montessori school in my home, instead of homeschooling? It really struck me about what you said about not wanting your space to be "overly consuming" or "overdone".

 My advice is to keep it simple. Don't feel that you need to have everything out on the shelf at all times. Rotate activities and materials as needed. Do not get down on yourself or your little one, if you notice their interest waning away from the work. He will return. Follow your gut. Follow your heart. Follow your child. Look for signs of joy, contentness, and peace. Listen for the hum of the sweet tune of childhood.  When you recognize these precious gifts, you will know that you and your little one are right where you need to be no matter which path you travelled to get there. 

 

so far...

I snapped a few photos so that you could take a peek inside the  latest re-arranging I've done in our little home. 

We'll be schooling Beatrix at home for the upcoming year. We plan to have a few other children join us. The more the merrier, we say!  

We live in an average size house, so it's been a fun challenge making sure that her learning environment isn't overdone, or overly consuming to our living space. I am constantly reminding myself that simplicity always reigns. With that in mind, I like to think that this environment offers a taste of a more traditional Montessori setting. A taste of the world.  Just enough, I think, for a three year old. 

By next month, we hope to have the construction of a screen porch underway. Once it is built, the environment will change again. The screen porch will become the main learning space with room for art projects, science experiments, and lots of practical life activities such as washing and baking preparations. I envision a sweet balance between the comforts of a home and the peace afforded by fresh air and sunlight. I even dream of woodstove on the porch for the (slightly) chillier months. 

This is the view that one sees when they enter our home. To the right of this point is our living area. To the left is our kitchen.

This shelf holds language and practical life materials. The box on the floor to the right of the shelf contains dressing frames. 

And here is where we keep puzzle maps (tucked in the cabinet on the left), math, and sensorial materials. 

This shelf contains art materials and more practical life activities. It's hard to see the details but there's collage work, watercolors, playdough, beeswax crayons, pencils, and a sewing basket.  

 Our nature and science nook....

I hope you have enjoyed the glimpse into what our  learning space looks like right now. Though, it is an ever evolving place. Interests peak and wane and with limited room, materials will sure to be rotated as necessary. No matter the size of our homes (and Bea has had three in her short life already), I feel nothing speaks to the idea of 'hominess' more than when children can find their place within it. That in some way, they are a part of it. A place for them is carved out. A path has been created for the child to assert her independenc and her desire to contribute.

In our case, it is working out smashingly well so far. A typical day begins with Beatrix rolling out of bed, Byron and I following along behind. We get the coffee going. First things first, after all. And she goes to town, so to speak. Working. Arranging flowers, counting, slicing an egg, squeezing her own orange juice. From one activity to another. Humming along. Engaged and peaceful. And during these times, there is an overwhelming joy that fills me up for the wonderful opportunity of being her mama and watching her grow. 

Setting up the learning spaces are always fun. Though, what is almost as rewarding is discovering creative solutions to store away the materials that you don't see on the shelves.  Afterall, everything must  be easily accessible or else updating the materials on the shelf becomes a daunting task which doesn't happen as often as it should. 

Next up, closets! Nah, not sure I'm ready to reveal that much! 

 

 

Big Check Off The List

I stop blogging when my world is full of questions. I get all antsy and nervous. I spend way too much time on pinterest. For the most part, I stop taking pictures with my real camera (yes, I did manage to capture one of many gorgeous sunsets we've been having lately). And I'm sorry, but in my opinion, my Iphone pictures stink most of the time. 

Bleh....

But I just did it. I sent the notice to my families at The Natural Child that I will be closing the Austin location. Yikes, I've hemmed and hawed over the decision for this entire school year. I've spent way too much time thinking about what to do. About my options. Feeling guilty, so guilty about it all. Wondering if I'm throwing a really good thing down the tube. Fearful that doing something different would screw my daughter up. Gah...It's silly. Of course, everything will be fine. It has to be.  

The truth of the matter is that it just doesn't seem right to commute a hour into town during rush hour in the morning. The income I bring in is very humble and with gas prices going up, a sizable portion of it goes to filling up the tank of my economy hatchback...not to mention the plain and simple quality of life issue. Sustainable, it is not. 

What next?

Well, I need to bring in a little money to help take us over the hump of scraping by the skin of our teeth on one income. For the next few years (at least until Beatrix becomes school age), I hope to continue to have a program similar to The Natural Child here at home. I think it could be quite lovely. We'll have plenty of space to garden. I can fulfill my pinterest dreams of having a wonderfully fun and muddy outdoor learning environment for the littles. We've got chickens and eggs that need to be collected daily, birds galore, and decent amount of space to play and learn.  

And if I can't have a big family of my own, helping to raise others is the next best thing, I suppose.  

In the past, I've worried whether or not Beatrix would be okay having others in her own home, sharing one more part of her life with others. But not so much anymore. This girl is morphing into one serious social butterfly. Very unlike her mother in that regard...I have a feeling she'll be on the front porch in her self professed role of eager greeter. 

Once Beatrix becomes school age, we may send her to the local Montessori school. It's a really sweet, beautiful community. I'd be happy for her if she could attend. It's country and farmy, yet progressive and groovy all at once. Otherwise, I may continue to homeschool her while offering a homeschool hybrid option to other homeschooling families. 

Who knows? In the midst of all of these changes/options/choices, there's also the wonderful chance we may become parents to another child at some point in our future through adoption. Though nothing would bring us more joy, we have no idea if this is certain. And we have no idea when this would be. Perhaps within the next two years - perhaps not. Perhaps we make peace with the very likely possiblity that we remain a family of three.

Somedays it's quite easy for me to imagine that I am nothing but a small particle of dust in this vast universe. Just floating and drifting. 

when her fever broke

When her fever broke, she met me in the kitchen with her bucket and sponge. "Mama, can I have some water please?" "What are you going to do with the water?" I asked. "I'm going to clean my kitchen." she said earnestly. I put a couple of inches of water into her bucket and handed it back to her. "That sounds like a great idea," I said. 

I was happy to see her wanting to play. She poured the water into her kitchen basin (which I've been known to disuade her from doing for fear of water stains.) But she's getting older. Her movements are more refined as are her intentions.  She washed her dishes one at a time with her sponge.

The she washed her counter top and the doors.

She began cooking, carefully moving water with a measuring spoon,  to a pot on the burner.

When she was all done, I mentioned that the water in her basin should be emptied out into the sink. And so she lifted it, once again with purpose and grace, and walked it to the sink.

I held it for her as she climbed her stool. When she found herself steady at the top, I handed it to her and she poured it out. Simple as that. She cooked and cleaned. I cooked and cleaned. The kitchen hummed as we worked together in silence.  

This was my moment of the day. 

Some new spaces for the little one.

First, let me say, that I feel really fortunate to be able to write about the little one's new work and play spaces. As a Montessori guide, over the last few years of my parenting journey, I've had to reconsile between my ideals and my reality in regards to our own creation of child friendly spaces for Beatrix. True, then and now, I know in my heart that what children need above all else, has very little to do with the look of their art shelf, playstands, or organic wool Waldorf dolls. I think so many of us know that their needs are much deeper than that. How simple yet humbling it is to realize that what they really need comes from within our very own souls -  that is, to be in the presence of someone worthy of imitating. Still, from my own perspective, an environment can not be ignored. An environment is a powerful influence. Being in the presence of beauty can certainly inspire energy and love for the world around us. 

Our previous homes were small - 800 square feet or less.  And though I admit to having a knack for organizing and using space wisely (my mom taught me well), I did eventually feel that we had maximized our living quarters to the best of our abilities.  Quite frankly, allowing Beatrix to choose, move, and work independently didn't always work perfectly in our well loved but tiny homes, because we were limited by space. This was fine. We have no regrets. Children are adaptive and forgiving. She is, I'm sure, all the better for it.  

Now, we have the space we need. It's not gigantic at all, but I must confess, this home seems luxurious in comparison. When we moved into our home last month, Beatrix's bedroom was the first room of the house I "completed". I love children's spaces. They can be so cheerful, bright, innocent, and timeless all at once. I've loved creating hers, tweaking it as she has grown. The majority of her belongings are either hand-me- downs or thrifted. I love the patchwork this piecemeal collecting has created. 

Also, I can not  write this post without talking about Beatrix's response to her little nooks in our home. Beatrix is fiercely independent. She absolutely thrives on being challenged to do things for herself.  From her earliest days, she has exhibited this force to care for herself and her environment. It has truly been an awakening for both Byron and myself - to watch her bloom. I know this statement sounds so generic, but it's so true! What a profoundly interesting notion to think as well: how much of a person is the result of nurture and how much is the result of their being  - their own spirit.  We'll never know with certain, but I find it hard to believe that we created this little person and her habits - her ways. My intuition tells me that she is in control. She is who she is and she has been the one in charge - creating herself. 

She is still very much the same child I've written about here and here. That is, who she was is who she is still.  If Beatrix has a task to do near Byron or I, she's a happy, content little one. She works and sings. She works and dances. She works and imagines. She works and plays. She flows. So throughout our home and our outdoor space, Byron and I strive to design our lives in a way that can include her. She is, afterall, so very capable and so very willing. 

Her bedroom is a place that she mostly sleeps in. Yes, she's slept in her own bed since she was six months old. It was her choice, not ours. We literally followed this child to her very own floor mattress! Lots of times, she'll take her toys to the living room or kitchen and play with them near wherever we are in the house. She'll play in her bedroom if we are near her, before or after sleeping, or with another friend!

The little art shelf near the kitchen mimics the art shelf at The Natural Child. Bea loves school. She loves the Montessori environment. She loves choosing her work and putting it away. It works very well for her. The Montessori environment speaks to her orderliness and independence. She feels empowered by the decision making.  As one can imagine, her little work shelf has been a real hit. Though basic in what it offers, I think it's just enough to inspire her. Right now, she can choose from cutting, drawing, water colors, and pasting. The bottom shelves also serve as the home to some of her play kitchen materials.   

Her play kitchen is also a much loved area. Though unless there is someone to play with her there, she usually prefers to participate in the real meal preparation and cooking as opposed to pretend kitchen play. Lately, she's been using her play kitchen as her work station. She'll grate cheese or chop vegetables there.  

Throughout our home, there are little accessories that we've added to help serve Beatrix's drive for independence and participation -  a good step stool in the bathroom, a coat hook at the front door, hooks for her broom, mop, and dustpan in the mud room, a low kitchen cabinet to place her dishes and napkins. These little adjustments make a world of difference to her sense of well-being. More than a bin full of  toys or the business of extra-curricula lessons, she discovers the world and thus discovers herself through meaningful work with her hands near the ones she loves and trusts the most. 

Oh, and if you haven't discoverd Pinterest. Please check it out.  It's an addictive source of inspiration to all of ones creative endeavors! I've had the most fun discovering and sharing with like minded folks there. Enjoy!!!  

Last bits of summer

And just like that - another summer rolls on. This one will not be easily forgotten. Cooler temperatures (below 100) are forecasted just in time for the Labor Day weekend. Our bedtime ritual once again includes a candle. The gradual shortening of days that has been occurring since late June are beginning to make themselves noticeable.

My little one and I have returned for another school year at The Natural Child. She "wuvs" school, and the "chiljren" and wants more and more of it. That makes my heart sing.  We are, indeed, back home so to speak. All together again. Yes. It feels good.  

to communicate

One day, when Bea was just a wee, little babe, my great friend and I were visiting and doting on our baby girls.  She, an experienced mother of three, said to me something that I never forgot. She told me how much she loved her children as babies.  Babies ARE lovely and precious and divine as can be. But she said the love and connection only deepened between her and her children as they grew.  And that nothing compared to being able to communicate verbally with her children.

Huh...I was skeptical.  Here I was, holding the most precious, the most gorgeous, the most perfect little being. And she was telling me that, for her, the best had yet to come.  

Intellectually, I could grasp what she was saying. Being a Montessori teacher, I had the opportunity to witness the growth of little children for the three years that they stayed in the primary environment. I knew the wonder.  I knew the potential. I knew that growth of human life was full of good stuff.  But I also knew that the ability to speak meant that they could talk. And that the talking would never stop. Sigh.  

No, 18 months ago, I was as in love as can be with my non-verbal, adorable, sweet, happy, smiley babe. "Better than this?" I questioned. I wasn't ready to believe it! Yet, these days, as I listen to Beatrix explode into spoken language - I hear Kristie's words in my head and I smile to myself.  This must be what she was talking about.  This is so incredibly good.  

I've been documenting a year of good things with Stephinie's flickr group and today as I was listening to her sing through her day, I couldn't help but feel so very happy for these sweet little moments.

Some of her favorite lines from songs that make my heart melt, melt, melt:

1.  wash, wash, wash your hands.

2. merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily.  

3. erika, erika, erika, erika. stella, stella, stella.  Proceeds to sing all her friends' names from school in her cute little toddler Beatrix accent.  

4.  ashes, ashes all fall down.

5. one, two buckle shoe. three five...

6. hokey pokey!