Capture, savor, and celebrate right now.
After a few weeks of having all three of us here together Chris is back to meetings (the new legislative session begins next week) and Simon has one more day off school today (it's a "professional development/planning day"). I am ready for a bit of "alone" time around here to get some more work done before the baby actually arrives.
I finished cleaning up, clearing out, and reorganizing Simon's room yesterday. One of the things that was most fun was having him rediscover toys he has not played with for awhile that still bring him entertainment and joy. I am glad to have that entire project completed and can move on to my list for the baby room (thanks for all those kind words on the sneak peek).
One of my favorite things over the past couple of weeks is that Simon has really gotten into reading. REAL reading on his own.
Our normal routine is to read a book to him each evening before going to sleep of his choice (we intervene or make suggestions depending on how late or early it is). One night last week he picked Green Eggs & Ham, climbed up on his bed, sat criss-cross, and told Chris he wanted to read it that night.
It took over an hour for Simon to read Green Eggs & Ham the first evening.
After the excitement (and a bit of fatigue all around) Chris had the brilliant idea to come up with a simple way to track the books he reads all by himself: each time he finishes a book he can add it to a list we are keeping on a bulletin board in his bedroom. That in and of itself was enough of a motivator for him to get down to business and it has been working like a charm for the last week.
The next night he read Robert the Rose Horse.
Tonight he fell asleep while Chris was reading to him. He had spent part of his afternoon reading Green Eggs & Ham (on his own on the couch) and starting on Horton Hears A Who.
I so hope this is just the beginning of a lifetime love of reading.
In addition, I would like to ask for your prayers and positive thoughts. Many of you know that I have had a bunch of moles removed over the last year and a half (actually more than 20 since August 2007). This past week I received some results indicating that the most recent one I had removed from my upper chest area is stage one melanoma (this is more serious on the spectrum than the melanoma I had removed in the past which was only on the surface of the skin). I should be getting more information this week as to what the next steps are in this situation.
Consider this your friendly reminder to have your own skin checked by a dermatologist if you have any suspicions or conerns.
Had to comment again today to add a book recommendation for Simon:
The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (a favorite artist of ours!)
My son has always used my library card, as we were waiting for this kind of break-through to signal the big "moment" of getting his own card. Another idea if Simon doesn't already have his own!
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Prayers coming your way, Ali!!!
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((((((hugs)))))))
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Prayers, hugs, and good thoughts to you Ali. My word for this year is courage (to deal with my own health issues), so I'm sending some of my courage your way.
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You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers, Ali!
Good for Simon to read on his own. It opens a whole world of possibilities!
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I really believe a love of reading is so huge in life, and starting early is key. Yay Simon! Have you seen the new Pottery Barn Seuss stuff? Fun! Hugs and prayers, Ali, I know all too well the stress this kind of diagnosis can bring - thank you for the reminder, I need to call for an appointment.
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Prayers said. :)
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positive thoughts and prayers for you from me...Andrea
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I'm praying for you that everything turns out OK. Thanks for the important reminder to get our moles checked. I finally convinced my husband last year and he had two that needed to be removed. Blessings to you and your family, Ali!
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Sending good vibrations your way.
Kathy
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Absolutely beautiful photo of Simon!!! I am lover of side light and that is gorgeous. =) Thank you for sharing your heart, my prayers are with you. Enjoy Tuesday with just you and baby. ;-)
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Ali,
I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much for sharing this personal information with us as well as giving us a gentle reminder not to put these things off. I guess I have been long overdue to get a couple of my moles checked as well. I will bring this up with my doctor at my next appointment.
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Adding my positive thoughts as well. This might also be the perfect time to consider cord blood banking. Those fetal cells will bring us all miracles someday and you have the perfect opportunity!! Consider signing up to get your kit before delivery today.
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I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers. You are always such an inspiration to me. Good for you in being so proactive with your health - I need to take a lesson from that. It must be hard to have this worry hanging over you as you anticipate the arrival of your new little baby girl. Good luck.
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It's so exciting when your children start reading on their own. It opens up a whole new world with so many books to explore.
You are in my prayers and thoughts
God bless.
Kim xxx
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Ali,
I'm thinking good thoughts for you. Hang in there.
On a lighter note, I laughed when you described Simon reading "Green Eggs and Ham". That was one of the first real books my son read as well. You might when to try getting him a fancy (maybe Star Wars themed) bookmark to encourage him read just part of the book at a sitting.
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Ali, prayers with you! That can be scary, but I know several people who've had some removed at that stage & it was caught early enough.
I read Dr. Seuss to my son about 35 years ago & we both still love the books. Now, we're reading them to his little girls. What fun.
K
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My prayers are with you, Ali.
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Big hugs to you! I had a questionable mole removed this summer and my scar is still healing...it was quite deep. I know what it's like waiting for word from the doctor what the lab says and what next steps are. It's very stressful. After all was said and done and the full-body check was done it was like I was holding my breath for three months to finally hear that everything was fine.
Thinking of you during this time of big changes and events in your life...
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I love that photo of Simon reading, isn't Dr. Suess the best I just love to read them out loud they roll off the tongue with their rhymes.
I am sending you positive healing thoughts as well. Remember to NUTURE yourself and you can get through this.
I was posting to show you that I painted my word of the year and put a photo up on my blog http://runswithtrimmer.typepad.com/runswithtrimmer/
Best wishes
Heather Main
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Best of luck and thoughts & prayers are coming your way!
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My prayers are with you. Now I'm off to make my own dermatologist appt that I've been putting off.
Congrats to Simon on his reading success!
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I love seeing a child enjoy a book! I worked in the children's department of a public library for a time and I absolutely loved it. Seeing Simon reading reminds me of that happy time.
Prayers going up for you. Think positive thoughts and keep us posted.
Dana in TN
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Just a quick note to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope the scariness is over soon and the additional information you get brings some measure of relief.
I'm so glad Simon enjoys reading - my parents read to me regularly as a child and it definitely fostered a life-time love affair with books. In fact, I'm currently reading Dr. Seuss to my own son (although he's quite a bit younger than Simon (only 4 months)).
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Lots of healthy, positive vibes coming your way. You've been so diligent about your skin health, so I'm sure you and your doctor will have this taken care of in no time.
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