Learning So Much!

As a first grade teacher, February was my favorite month of the year. After almost 6 months of HARD WORK, students who weren't able to read, suddenly got it! A couple teacher friends and I called February the "Magic Month" for first grade. I remember wishing in September when I was exhausted after working with my first graders that February would just get here already! Now that I am not teaching, I am really missing seeing the progress that kids make throughout the year. I miss the camaraderie of the staff and the friendships I formed. I THRIVE on praise and words of affirmation (as Kevin will tell you), so I am especially missing the "you're a great teacher" comments from parents, my principal, and other teachers. I really miss the phonetic spelling and sweet notes that say "Yoo R the bestest teecher." As a mom, you're eight month old can't look at you and tell you, "Wow, Mom, you are doing a really great job with me!" However, they tell you in other ways like smiles, kisses, and cuddles. I wouldn't trade my new job for anything! :)

As much as I miss teaching a roomful of 6 year olds, I wouldn't want to miss a minute on the opportunity of being Caleb's first teacher. This age seems to be like the "magic month" in my classroom. I am so amazed how much he has learned in the past few months (not because of me, but I am so glad I have gotten to witness it). From sitting up to crawling, and now standing and trying to climb stairs (yes, he has climbed up 2 stairs as I have been sitting at the computer typing this...who knew you would need a baby gate for the bottom of the stairs?). Today he was rolling a ball and chasing it and I kept saying "ball" and then he looked at me, looked at the ball and said "ba". I really don't think this is an actual word or that he understands what he was saying, but at least he was trying to make the same sound as me. Yesterday, he had a cowboy outfit on and Uncle Chris was saying "Yee-haw". Caleb starting mimicking the tone of the Yee-haw (high then low) in squeals. It took us by surprise! He also has learned to shake his head "no" in the last couple of days. Caleb also knows exactly what he wants...he has begun to throw little fits if you take something away from him or he doesn't get what he wants. I am not really sure what to do about that... Kevin and I have been reading What to Expect the First Year together so that we are both on the same page and we recently read we are supposed to have him start self-feeding (both with finger foods and practicing holding a spoon). We have tried that for a couple days and WHAT A MESS! I have included a humorous video of one feeble attempt.

When I was growing up, whenever anyone would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said a mom and a teacher. Who knew that at 24 (almost 25) I would already be in the midst of fulfilling my childhood dreams! I absolutely love being a mom. It brings so much joy to watch your child grow and has instilled in me a much deeper faith in our creator than I would have otherwise never known. What a blessing parenthood is!

I couldn't resist putting this picture up...