home schooling

I have decided that I'm going to homeschool!! And yes, I have determined that already! :rolling I mentioned it to someone, and they were like, you're researching that ALREADY. But I wanted to check all the requirements for my state and such. :D So, yes, I've been doing tons of research on it! :)

Sam and I had talked about it while I was still pg, and we agree we think for us it's the best choice. :) Sam and I are VERY science oriented people, and schools don't focus on it anymore! :( I went to school for teaching, and got so dishearted that the science program was a 1/2 hour lesson maybe once a month! I think you can do sooo much with it. And I can see how you can teach reading, writing, math and so much more with it!! My other disheartenment comes from all the schools around here strictly teaching to tests now. B/c with the federal standards of schools not receiving funding if they fail these tests. I want JD to learn to learn, not learn just enough to pass tests. And, if he finds something that really gets his attention, I want him to be able to enjoy researching it. Not having it brushed aside. :)

Not that schools aren't ok, and I know most will do this. :) Just for me, I can't think of anything better for us. I just have to make sure we find enough social events for him. :)

But this way, when one of the animals on Sam's friends farm is having babies, we can go there as a lesson. He can go to all the different events at Audubon and the library. We know he's going to be doing 4-H with his dad, and I'm looking at starting up a Pagan Scouts troop for him. It's like boy/girl scouts, but not the christian focus that they have. :) So I know he's going to get out and meet people.

I just hope that he enjoys it. and, if he decides he wants to try public school, we'll look at it again then. :lol

Peas

I don't know if I failed tonight and did the wrong thing or not. But I did what I thought was best. LOL. So I guess that can't be totally failing, right??

We had our first try at peas tonight. And let me tell you, it did NOT go well at all!! I think he has a texture issue, and the peas are a bit thicker. Like the cereal/oatmeal he won't eat! But I thought we'd try peas for dinner. He's been doing so well with everything, so I was NOT prepared! His first reaction was to make a funny face at me. But he does that every time we start something. Then a couple bites later, he stuck his tongue back out at me. Then for the next 3-4 bites he literally SPIT it at me!! I also could tell it wasn't his choice of food since he hid from the spoon and didn't try to grab it like he always does. Usually he opens his mouth wide for his bites, yells at me that I'm not going fast enough and grabs at the spoon.

So, I decided it was better to not fight the battle, and headed to the kitchen to get the left over banana from breakfast. (My kitchen and dining room are connected, and it's literally about 2 steps from my chair to the fridge!) I got up from my chair, watched JD put his hand in his mouth and forcefully got himself to vomit up all his peas!! A 5 minute interlude to clean up the peas, and he was eyeing the jar of bananas. So I opened it and let him have a taste (just to make sure he didn't have an upset stomach which caused the peas) and he licked the spoon clean and did his normal grabby action for the spoon. He actually did this really cute beckoning the spoon to him motion. Not that he knew he was doing it, I found it cute. So, I guess that showed he didn't have an upset tummy. Just really didn't want those peas!!

But now my fear is that I failed. Should I have not caved and gave him some bananas after his very forceful hatred of the peas. Should I have pressed the pea issue. Gaah, I don't want him to hate them, but I also don't want to force him to eat something he apparently hates. I still have nightmares of being stuck at the dining room table all night because I refused to eat my potatoes! I wasn't allowed up until I ate them, even if they got ice cold! I swore I would never do that to JD!!

And it's not like he does it for all things. I know some things say to start with only veggies, then move to fruits, and so on and so forth. But I've been mixing things up. We've had:
Green beans
Squash
Carrots (which we have learned causes hives!!!)
Sweet potatoes (which we don't like...but we tolerate...much better then the peas that is!!!)
Mommy's mashed potatoes!!
applesauce
bananas
Mango
rice cereal and Oatmeal

And really, the only extreme negative reaction was to the peas!! Even the cereal and sweet potatoes he tolerates and will eat his whole meal. This was a no-go!!

So did I fail!! Gaah, I don't know! I know I'll try again and not totally remove it from his diet, but by caving and giving him something else, did I do anything.

Oh, this mommy thing can be really difficult!!

5 months

I can't believe it!! John-Douglas turned 5 months on Saturday. Where has the time gone already. It still seems so unbelievable. I truly have been blessed!! In one sense I can't believe how quickly the time has been flying, but in another, I can't believe there ever was a time he wasn't here!! And every day I think I've reached my fullest height of love for that boy, and every day I find I love him even more.

I think back and realize how much we've been through. There was a time before him, there were 6 we lost, and a time when we didn't even think we could have children. I'm still so dazed at how quickly it's all flown by. I still remember the day that I got that positive pregnancy test for him a little over a year ago!! And all the stress and worries about him throughout it all....but now he's here healthy and the sweetest, happiest baby...and a whole new host of stresses and worries develop! :)

A mommy's work is never done!!

JD's stats

Birth - 6lb 15oz and 19inch

1 week - 6lb 15 1/2 oz and 19 1/4 inch

1 month - 8lb 14 1/2 oz and 21inch

2 month - 12lb 1 1/2 oz and 23 1/4 inch

3 month - 14lb 12 1/2 oz and 25 inch

4 month - 15lb 9 1/2oz and 26 1/4 inch

We haven't done the 5 month ones, and since he won't be going to the doctor who knows what the next level will be. But I'm tempted to at least measure him...b/c he has to be close to 28inch by now!

Family visit

Snell and Fox family weekend in NY

July 9-11th

So this past weekend saw us taking a trip back to upstate NY to be with family. I wish the trip was planned on happier notes, but the weekend before my Great-Aunt Shirley passed away after a long battle with kidney failure, among many other health issues. I know she's finally back with my Great-Uncle Harold and my Grandma O. Grammy and her are probably enjoying a nice long chat at the "local" bingo hall!

However, the rest of the visit was much enjoyed and much needed. It's been to long since I've had time with my mom and my niece. It also was a much needed visit to my very trusty and local Golden Retriever, who is very sick and may not be making it through the summer. We spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning with Grandma Snell. JD loved it. He spent the whole time giggling and laughing, and had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa. He really loved to laugh at Grandpa, and I think it's just because he knows that's what he'll look like one day. :) Thursday morning was the funeral, and then Grandma had to go to work for the rest of the day. How else are we going to get all that great Beech-Nut food she brings him home! That night we took a trip to the store for a new toy for JD, but they didn't have the one we needed! So Friday after work, we headed off to Albany to find the much needed Jumperoo replacement!

Grandma Snell, Mommy and JD

Grandma Snell, JD and Cinnamon

A very happy JD sitting on Grandma's lap

Grandma and Grandpa Snell - Feeding JD his bananas!


The Park

On Friday afternoon we decided a trip out was needed to relax and ground us. So we took a trip to the very small Tribes Hill Park to let JD have a try on the swings, and Mommy and Daddy decided to get a little goofy. It was a blast, and relaxing! It was a bit sunny when not under the trees, but being under the trees brought out the mosquitos, so sadly our trip was shorter then we would have liked. After JD and I went for a nice walk through my very quiet neighborhood. It was a very peaceful afternoon, and definitely made me miss being home!!

Even Mommy's can be kid's at heart!! So much fun!

But only b/c Daddy ran to this while I was walking down from the car! I love my big kid!!

Aww..look, time went backwards... This is what Daddy looked like 30 years ago! JD trying out the pony too! Notice how he held on like a good boy! :)

JD trying out the baby swing!!

At first he wasn't sure if he really liked it, but after a cafeful examination of it, we got a big grin!!

Mommy and JD on the big kid swing

Daddy and JD on the big boy swing

Cousins

Another very exciting part of the trip was spending time with my adorable niece, Kimberlee! She really is my sunshine!! She loves her baby cousin, and I can already see he's going to adore her too! She was such a great helper! From helping feed, to picking out his clothes, and even "babysitting" while JD rode with Grandma and Grandpa to breakfast while I drove in a separate car!

Kimberlee entertaining JD when she first got there!

Kimberlee feeding JD

Kimberlee, JD and I on Grandma's couch

So absolutely precious!! My sunshine and my handsome Prince!!

My precious Sunshine and I! <3

Sunshine Love! <3

Cinnamon and I

Kimberlee, JD, Cinnamon and I




The Fox's

After a much too short visit with Grandma and Grandpa Snell, we headed off to Sam's parents for a few hours before heading back home to MA. Sam's niece and nephew (Zoe and Joe) were up from VA, and they got to meet JD for the first time. We spent the afternoon hanging around. Sam played a few different games with his niece and nephew, and then we all played a game of 'Who Knew.' After dinner we headed home.

Grandma and Grandpa Fox, Daddy and JD

Home Again

Our trip home was thanfully uneventful. We thought we were the only ones happy to be home. But JD had a much more relaxed atmosphere about him once he realized we were home. He was good on our entire trip, but I could tell he missed being home. He had a rough time sleeping, and by the ends of each of our 4 hour drives, he definitely was ready to be out of his seat. Unlike other babies who sleep in the car, he stays awake and gets grumpy!

Home was good to see though. We walked through the door, and all 7 of our babies were waiting for us. Giving us much love for the remainder of the night, just to remind us that they love us and not to go away again. I also made sure I put together JD's new toy as soon as we got home! JD wasn't tired, so we tried it out. My son is so big, I can't believe it! Then we finally went to bed, where Ezra joined us like he usually does! And I am sure my son missed his kitty!

JD trying out his new Precious Planet Jumperoo! I think he likes it!! =-D

Goodnight! <3>

New things learned

Apparently Sam missed me while he was away at his conference. He came home with these beautiful roses! The photos I've been trying to take of them do not do them justice. I've had them going on a week, and they are still looking beautiful. Too bad I'm not able to enjoy them as much as I'd like, b/c the second I take them off the fridge and put them on a lower table, Snickers attacks them! I should let her find the thorns! ;)

Also, JD learned something new today! And if I had any doubt to whether or not he was ready for solids. This completely quenched that!

Yup! He has learned that he can use the spoon himself! He actually had it all the way in, but by the time I got the camera he had it to this point! He was fighting me for the spoon while I was feeding him. I thoguht he wanted to play with it, but he put it right in his mouth like I had been doing! *sigh* He's getting big I guess.

He loves his peaches!! This is actually the most he lets get on his face! :) We had an early meal today, and I'm not sure he liked it. So I think I'm going to go back to dinner meals. But he loves his food!! And not only has he learned that he can use the spoon by himself, but he's slowly starting to hold the bottle by himself. If it's a full 8oz bottle, it's too heavy for him, or if he's too tired he won't do it, but he tries to hold it and if it's light enough, he handles it all by himself!!

He's also playing games with mommy. Apparently he thinks it's funny that mommy is waiting for him to roll over again. He did it around 2 months a couple times, found out it got him to his back and got mad about it. So stopped right then and there and hasn't done it again. Until the other day. He's done it twice...for his FATHER!! I'm never around. I keep telling Sam it's all in his head, and he's saying it to upset me. :) I've seen him almost make it from back to front though. He gets so close, but then his arm just gets in the way! Not that I want him really to learn more ways to be mobile. His army crawling is enough for me right now!

JD's latest update

JD has determiend that he really likes that little round thing that I put in his mouth! It brings him all different tasty things, that mommy actually lets him eat! Haha, that is the spoon! Yup, we've officially entered the world of trying out solids!! He's been pretty good about most things. He's not a big fan of cereal, but most everything else he'll eat. The cereals he will just spit right back out at me. At first I thought he didn't have the tongue control, but he ate the mashed potatoes he stole off my plate all too well. So, I'm skipping the cereals and we've been working on the fruits and veggies. He's had green beans, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, apple sauce, peaches, pears, and bananas. So, I guess you can say he's had it all. :) He really likes the squash and the fruits, but I think he's allergic to the carrots. So we're taking a break from those! But he does so well with the eating. He drops very little and actually gets mad that I'm taking to long to give him his next bite! He's growing like a weed..and I'm not sure I like it!

His eyes are turning...or so they think. Parts are turning a greenish-brown, but the majority of them are blue. I'm sure he's going to have the darker eyes like me, but it's interesting to see the progression of them. He's also teething...A LOT. He's been doing it since he was a couple months old, but I hope it ends soon. Not that I want the teeth, b/c they'll show how big he's getting. But I want him not to hurt from those dang things! He's constantly sucking and chewing on his hand, elephant, blanket, arm. You name it!

We've also started taking our walks "big boy style" in the stroller, and he LOVES it!! You would have thought I gave him the best present every time I put him in his stroller. He gets a grin from ear to ear and starts giggling! The best thing about it...it makes me WANT to walk. B/c how can I deny him when he gets so happy. Here are a couple of him in his stroller, "big boy style!"




How can you not be like...let's keep going all day long..when you see that smile!! It touches his eyes..and I love it!

And... In other JD news, I'm still co-sleeping with him. I always told myself I wouldn't co-sleep and such, but I've learned to never say never when you add a child into your lives. When he was little and we brought him home (and even in the hospital) I never wanted to put him down. We'd been through so much to have him! But also, he slept so much better on me. That is how it continued for the first few months. He slept better when he was laying on me. Now, he sleeps better laying where he can feel me or Sam. I'm not going to have him fight me in his crib b/c he wants to be with us. The other part of this little escapade, is that he refuses to sleep on his back!! He will only sleep if I let him lay on his tummy. I'm not willing to fight and have him stay up all night and be crabby b/c he isn't sleeping on his back, but I also don't feel comfortable if he's not near me keep an eye on him. So, for now I'm contently co-sleeping.He snuggles up with me all night, and I love it! I might as well enjoy it while I can, soon he'll be too big..and then he'll not want a thing to do with his mom. But right now, I'm his mommy and all he wants is to snuggle and be with me. And for that...I feel so blessed!!

So much to tell..

Starting out fresh with so much of a past is hard to do. But here we go. I'm hoping this will allow for all those special moments in our family to be put down and remembered! Some posts I am going to transfer over from my livejournal, so that I have them here.

To start:

I'm 27 and mom to a handsome baby boy, John-Douglas, who was born on Feb. 11th, 2009 at 4:13. But more on that to come!!

I've been married for a year and a half to a great guy, who adores me. We got married on Oct. 20th, 2007. We struggle along, but we do know we love each other, and we make things work. :) And we try to keep those pesky stalker family members at bay. :) Just kidding, but we are doing what we can and moving along. We're happy to be with each other, and even happier to be parents to our precious miracle!

We also have a host of kitties, that are also our little babies. The bad thing with becoming a foster parent, is that you end up not wanting to ever let them go. And thus, the family grows! :-D So, to mention or kitties...for they will be playing a large roll in this family as well. :) The family started with Ezra (10 yr old) that we adopted when we first moved in together back in 2006! He was not to be kept alone too long, and his sister Peanut was rescued from a shelter a couple months later! At the shelter she was named Greta, but that name didn't suit her well, not that Peanut fits now! Hehe! The following spring, my friends cat had a liter or 1/2 meezer and 1/2 mix kittens..and I HAD to have one..so Snickers came and joined us. The only part of her that shows her Meezer heritage is her BIG ears and hypnotic eyes. But we love that little wacko to pieces. Then last summer the family grew when we rescued 4 feral kittens from the outside of our old apartment building. They were about 4 weeks old, and just willing and able to be kept seperate from their mother. The grounds people were getting ready to spray more harsh chemicals on the grounds, so we did what we had to do. Anticipating that we would rescue, clean and pass on to a shelter when ready for new homes. As I said, when you foster...it's hard to let go. So, Lugh (named for the Celtic Sun God..and the season that they were rescued in, Lughnasadh), Onyx (all black with smooth and shiny hair), Phantom (named b/c she has a mask on her face with her markings) and Harlequin (another beautiful calico) joined our family!! They were covered in ticks and so dirty. So we gave them baths and hand picked off the ticks multiple tiems a day. And they grew quickly and took to the rest of the "family"...and thus our kitty family were born! :) Also, joining in on the fur-babies of the family is a rabbit named Mr. Bunsy, from a Terry Pratchet book that Sam and I enjoy.

Now, since I added all that. I'll see what else I have left to say. :)