Dear Noah,
Tonight, as I labor over your devil's food cupcakes with penuche frosting (okay, the laboring only involves the frosting...but it's worth it!), I ponder another labor...12 years ago.
I'm not really sure how it got to be that many years. I guess time just keeps marching forward, as they say. But on that night, February 15, 2000, I knew my life was about to change. I had no idea how it would change or how wonderful being a mom would be...and how hard it would be.
I thought that labor was hard. It wasn't. Not really, compared with a lifetime of parenting (I really don't have hopes of stopping my "labors" over you when you turn 18...just the nature of being a mom, I guess!).
This labor of growing a baby into a man, this path that stretches before us...I often don't know where to put my foot next. And I mess this mom thing up all the time, stumbling and making a mess of things on a near daily basis. I hope that in time, as you grow into an adult, you'll forgive me and better understand how much I have loved you through it all.
I loved you in the beginning. Your perfect little egg head with the blond tuft of hair. Your blue eyes like your Daddy. Your first words. Your first steps. You were just perfect, and I was determined to be the perfect mom!
I loved you as you grew. Watching you become a big brother, seeing how much you love babies. Seeing you learn new things every day. You weren't really perfect anymore though...and you weren't alone in that!
I love you now. Oh, I love you now more than ever, Noah Gregory! In the moments I want to tear my hair from my head...I love you. In the moments your sweet, gentle spirit shines through...I love you. In the moments that make me so proud to be your mom, and in the moments I'm pretty sure God didn't know what He was doing in giving you to me. Every moment of every day...I love you. I am nowhere near a perfect mom, but this one thing I do know...I love you.
This is such an awkward time in a boy's life, so I've read and been told. I haven't ever been a boy, so I don't really know. I think it's a time of leaving little boyhood behind, of becoming a man. A time of figuring out who you are and what you stand for. A time of becoming, a time of being, a time of growing. It can be rough, this journey...
I don't often know where I fit anymore. Twelve years ago, I was pretty sure I had this parenting thing all figured out, but today, as I look at you nearly eye to eye, I realize that I don't know a darn thing. I can only hope that the stubborn nature that is in me and the stubborn nature that is in you will always give way to love.
God's grace is sufficient for both of us on this journey. We'll make it, Noah, and one day we'll look back on these days of "boy turning to man" and laugh ourselves silly. Until then, always, always remember your Momma loves you more than any thing in the world.
Happy birthday, My Boy!
Love always and forever,
Momma
PS...one more year to a facebook of your very own! :)
Showing posts with label Noah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Noah. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Eleven already?!
Noah's day...my firstborn. My guinea pig. I hope we haven't messed you up too bad. I don't have a whole lot saved for therapy bills... You got your father's eyes and your mother's teeth. Let's hope you've also got some good things from us!
Some of my favorite "Noah" memories...
- When we lived in PA, we walked to the playground almost every day. One day, you were standing at the top of the slide, screaming your head off. I came rushing over, expecting to find an injury or maybe a bee or spider or something. Nope. There was a fly on the slide. :P You were very cautious and a bit scared of things. It's a good thing you got some siblings to help you get over that!
-Also in PA, when we first learned that Nick was your brother, for sure...you were only 2, but seemed to understand pretty well. You and I made letters for your name and Nicolas' name out of construction paper and artfully arranged them on your bedroom door. We also finger-painted a swirly-blue dinosaur for Nick. I remember that day like it was yesterday...the day you and I embraced Nick in our hearts when we hadn't even met him yet.
-When you had just turned 5 and we had just moved into this house...I went into the bathroom one day to find a jigundous terd in the cat box. Knowing right away whose it was, I called you in to see what you had to say about it. You told me the cat did it, and I told you, "If we have a cat in this house that can poop that big, we have a problem!"
-You got to be there when both Levi and Esther were born, and cut both of their umbilical cords. How very special! You have always loved your siblings so very much! They were your favorite when they were babies, though I think Esther will remain your favorite for all of your life. It makes me smile to know they will always have an awesome big brother to look out for them.
-You are my best eater. Your taste buds are growing up and you'll eat pretty much anything I make. Veggies, meat, casseroles, whatever. With a house full of complainers, I soooooooo appreciate that you appreciate good food!
I hope you know how very special you are to me, and that no matter how big you get, you will always be my little boy. My little boy, dear to my heart, for you were the first piece of it to walk outside of my body. Love you, Noah!
Some of my favorite "Noah" memories...
- When we lived in PA, we walked to the playground almost every day. One day, you were standing at the top of the slide, screaming your head off. I came rushing over, expecting to find an injury or maybe a bee or spider or something. Nope. There was a fly on the slide. :P You were very cautious and a bit scared of things. It's a good thing you got some siblings to help you get over that!
-Also in PA, when we first learned that Nick was your brother, for sure...you were only 2, but seemed to understand pretty well. You and I made letters for your name and Nicolas' name out of construction paper and artfully arranged them on your bedroom door. We also finger-painted a swirly-blue dinosaur for Nick. I remember that day like it was yesterday...the day you and I embraced Nick in our hearts when we hadn't even met him yet.
-When you had just turned 5 and we had just moved into this house...I went into the bathroom one day to find a jigundous terd in the cat box. Knowing right away whose it was, I called you in to see what you had to say about it. You told me the cat did it, and I told you, "If we have a cat in this house that can poop that big, we have a problem!"
-You got to be there when both Levi and Esther were born, and cut both of their umbilical cords. How very special! You have always loved your siblings so very much! They were your favorite when they were babies, though I think Esther will remain your favorite for all of your life. It makes me smile to know they will always have an awesome big brother to look out for them.
-You are my best eater. Your taste buds are growing up and you'll eat pretty much anything I make. Veggies, meat, casseroles, whatever. With a house full of complainers, I soooooooo appreciate that you appreciate good food!
I hope you know how very special you are to me, and that no matter how big you get, you will always be my little boy. My little boy, dear to my heart, for you were the first piece of it to walk outside of my body. Love you, Noah!
Friday, July 23, 2010
School plans 2010-2011
Yes, I have started lesson planning for the fall. Just spent all of naptime doing it, actually.
I decided to change things up this year. For the past two years, we have used Bob Jones DVD program. Toward the end of the year last year, I could tell Noah was getting sick of the DVDs. This was okay with me since we really didn't have the money to go with that this year anyway. By the time you add in shipping and tax, it was $1,200! It was a good program, and we may still go back to it later, but for this year, we're doing some different things.
Bible...sticking with BJU materials. I like the flow of the curriculum, and the depth of the Scripture teaching and application. The only parts of this curriculum I don't care for are the studies of random and mostly not well known hymns and also the random prophet focus thrown into the middle of other areas of the Bible. Since I am the teacher, that's not a problem. I just don't have him do those pages. I absolutely LOVE how the curriculum encourages the habit of daily Bible reading. Every section starts off with a new tear-out page with a bunch of short passages to read and check off. Noah will get a prize for each page he completes. $19
Math...we are switching to Alpha Omega Lifepacs. They are very different from Bob Jones, but seem to be more advanced. I decided to start him in the middle of 4th grade to get used to the curriculum and some new terminology. I hope to have him get through all of 5th grade also. Math is Noah's best and favorite subject, so hopefully he will do well with them. If not, we can always go back to BJU. $60
English...this is the area of biggest change for us. This has been a difficult subject for Noah, and one that BJU has really not worked well for us. I found some workbooks on CBD that I hope will be better for him: Grammar Rules (5-6), Diagramming, and Words on the Vine (Vocabulary, 5-8). I have dropped spelling completely and will use the vocab book for both vocab and spelling. The grammar book includes a good amount of writing practice, and he will continue with his online journal. $30
Reading...big changes here also. Instead of using BJU readers and workbook, we are going to focus on reading a greater number of full books and writing simple book reports. I am anticipating conflict on the book report front, but we will get through it. Some of the books will be read together and some Noah will read and report on his own. I will try to save the independent ones for my busy times in school. I have about 15 books already picked out.
Science...switching to SOS (Alpha Omega's computer program). What I have looked at looks great, and is pretty easy for him to do independently. $75
Social Studies...also switching to SOS. Haven't looked much at this one yet. $75
Health...also SOS. He did some of this at the end of last year, and I was very pleased with the setup. It takes a little bit to learn how to assign the work, but once you get it, it flows easily. $45
Music and Art...we have never used an actual curriculum before, but I wanted more structure in these areas. I chose Christian Light Education for these. I'm having him start with the 3rd art book and the 1st music book. $20
PE...we will be attending swim and gym at the YMCA again. Last year was our first year at this, and I was amazed at how much progress both Noah and Hannah made! They have really been practicing their swimming this summer, so they'll be that much farther along. Noah is hoping to move up a group when they start up again. He's made a couple new friends there too. About $200 per kid per year.
Total spent/planned to spend... about $600 for Noah, including reading books that will remain in our library. All of his English books are also reproducible, so I'll have those for the other kids later on. I spent about $500 on Hannah also, which might seem like a lot, but I'll have Levi and Esther use the same material for K5 and will only need new workbooks.
Thankfully, the superintendent of our school district has graciously given us permission to homeschool. Snort. I'm not sure he is aware, but we don't NEED his permission. We have to notify him and turn in the proper paper work, by law, but nowhere does the law say or imply he has permission to give or restrict permission. Ah well...as long as he doesn't give me grief, I'll leave it alone. ;)
I decided to change things up this year. For the past two years, we have used Bob Jones DVD program. Toward the end of the year last year, I could tell Noah was getting sick of the DVDs. This was okay with me since we really didn't have the money to go with that this year anyway. By the time you add in shipping and tax, it was $1,200! It was a good program, and we may still go back to it later, but for this year, we're doing some different things.
Bible...sticking with BJU materials. I like the flow of the curriculum, and the depth of the Scripture teaching and application. The only parts of this curriculum I don't care for are the studies of random and mostly not well known hymns and also the random prophet focus thrown into the middle of other areas of the Bible. Since I am the teacher, that's not a problem. I just don't have him do those pages. I absolutely LOVE how the curriculum encourages the habit of daily Bible reading. Every section starts off with a new tear-out page with a bunch of short passages to read and check off. Noah will get a prize for each page he completes. $19
Math...we are switching to Alpha Omega Lifepacs. They are very different from Bob Jones, but seem to be more advanced. I decided to start him in the middle of 4th grade to get used to the curriculum and some new terminology. I hope to have him get through all of 5th grade also. Math is Noah's best and favorite subject, so hopefully he will do well with them. If not, we can always go back to BJU. $60
English...this is the area of biggest change for us. This has been a difficult subject for Noah, and one that BJU has really not worked well for us. I found some workbooks on CBD that I hope will be better for him: Grammar Rules (5-6), Diagramming, and Words on the Vine (Vocabulary, 5-8). I have dropped spelling completely and will use the vocab book for both vocab and spelling. The grammar book includes a good amount of writing practice, and he will continue with his online journal. $30
Reading...big changes here also. Instead of using BJU readers and workbook, we are going to focus on reading a greater number of full books and writing simple book reports. I am anticipating conflict on the book report front, but we will get through it. Some of the books will be read together and some Noah will read and report on his own. I will try to save the independent ones for my busy times in school. I have about 15 books already picked out.
Science...switching to SOS (Alpha Omega's computer program). What I have looked at looks great, and is pretty easy for him to do independently. $75
Social Studies...also switching to SOS. Haven't looked much at this one yet. $75
Health...also SOS. He did some of this at the end of last year, and I was very pleased with the setup. It takes a little bit to learn how to assign the work, but once you get it, it flows easily. $45
Music and Art...we have never used an actual curriculum before, but I wanted more structure in these areas. I chose Christian Light Education for these. I'm having him start with the 3rd art book and the 1st music book. $20
PE...we will be attending swim and gym at the YMCA again. Last year was our first year at this, and I was amazed at how much progress both Noah and Hannah made! They have really been practicing their swimming this summer, so they'll be that much farther along. Noah is hoping to move up a group when they start up again. He's made a couple new friends there too. About $200 per kid per year.
Total spent/planned to spend... about $600 for Noah, including reading books that will remain in our library. All of his English books are also reproducible, so I'll have those for the other kids later on. I spent about $500 on Hannah also, which might seem like a lot, but I'll have Levi and Esther use the same material for K5 and will only need new workbooks.
Thankfully, the superintendent of our school district has graciously given us permission to homeschool. Snort. I'm not sure he is aware, but we don't NEED his permission. We have to notify him and turn in the proper paper work, by law, but nowhere does the law say or imply he has permission to give or restrict permission. Ah well...as long as he doesn't give me grief, I'll leave it alone. ;)
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