Ben goes to Family Day Care for one day a week. He has a fabulous Family Day Care Mum that looks after him as if he was her own – Trudy. To my amazement he is coming home and doing the most wonderful things. Trudy has all the little ones sit at the table for lunch. I thought to myself ‘goodluck with that’. But to my amazement not only does he do it for Trudy he will now sit at the table for snacks and lunch. I do have to keep a close eye on him as he loves to smear vegemite hands on the lounge. But I never thought he would sit at the table. I imagined he would still be in the highchair when he was sixteen!! Thanks Trudy… its a miracle!!
Author: Belinda
Basket + Carrot = Chocolate!
It was Ben’s second Easter this year. Ben was only a few weeks old last year so Easter was very quiet. But this year Ben knew something was cooking!!! We talked about easter, read easter stories, decorated a basket and filled it with nesting. Ben left a carrot out for the Easter Bunny. He was more interested in carrying the carrot around with him than leaving it for the bunny but he eventually let go! He was amazed in the morning that the basket had chocolate eggs in it and even more amazed that he got to eat a small one before breakfast!!!
Oh No! What are we going to do?
Ben loves Postman Pat. He jumps up and down with excitment as I load the DVD. While watching the DVD ‘Postman Pat – Go Kart Race’ Ben said his first complete sentence, not just a phrase. Postman Pat is always saving the day one way or the other after a disaster in the Village. One of the characters in the story was trying to find a solution to a disaster when they flung their hands to their cheeks and said ‘Oh NO! What are we going to do?’ Ben turned to me flung his hands to his cheeks and said ‘Oh NO! What are we going to do?’. It was just adorable!!!
Books, Magazines, Novels and Papers
Ben loves ABC Kids and for those who know him this is hardly anything new. He loves to join in when the bee comes on the screen and the children say A, B, C. As a teacher I was never a huge fan of kids watching TV. Well…… as a parent I need it for survival but I have to admit I have felt guilty at times turning it on. I do make sure he is not watching rubbish! He loves loves loves ‘Postman Pat’!!!! I was excited to see and hear Ben make some links between what he had watched on TV and the books we read. I was reading away to him the other night when he pointed to the text and said ‘A, B, C’. I was very excited and a tiny bit of the guilt disappeared. I am constantly amazed at the links Ben is making. It must be the Early Childhood Teacher in me.
His favorite books at the moment are On the Go by Jan Jugran, Noisy Noisy Vroom by Ronnie Randel and Bob the Builder – Push and Pop Up Book. All of these are new books he received for his birthday – thanks!! Ben also enjoys exploring other types of print – our novels, junk mail, and the local paper. He is particularly found of Daddy’s motorbike magazines.
Not a Baby Anymore!
Tonight Ben decided that there would be no more night time bottle before bed. He hopped up on my knee and instead of wanting his bottle he picked up a book for his story and pushed the bottle away. It has been a delight to cuddle Ben every night as he had his bottle. I write this with a little tear in my eye – My little boy is growing up. xoxo
A Quiet Moment….
Today was a testing day. Ben tested most of his boundaries just in case they had changed. So there was a few tantrums when he realised that the rules hadn’t changed in his favor! I was nearly at the end of my tether when I noticed all had gone quiet except for this little voice coming from the lounge. Ben had curled up with his favorite books and was reading. He was turning the pages and saying words. My little boy is growing up and wow it is so lovely to witness. His favorite books at the moment are Busy Railway by Rebecca Finn (he turns the pages saying ‘toot toot choo choo’). He also enjoys Row Row Row Your Boat by Trace Moroney and Baa Baa Black Sheep by Brimax (he says ‘Row row row’ and ‘Baa Baa’). Some other favorites are Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, Noisey Cars by Bright Baby, Gallop by Rufus Butler Seder, Cats by Baby Einstein and Playschool Numbers by ABC. We have story time every night before he goes to bed. It is my favorite part of the day.
