Reading With Your Kiddos

Are you reading with your kids?

I can hear you now, "But Juuuuulllliiiieeeee....It's SUMMER!"

So?

It is so important that we read with our children. The foundation of learning is reading, and we all want our kids to be great learners, don't we?

Babies: Read to your babies! Even if they are wild maniacs like mine, sit in a chair and read out loud while they play.  I promise, they are listening and learning. When they become more interested in what you're up to, allow them to sit in your lap while you read.  Let them turn the pages and explore the book like a new toy.

Young children: Read to your children and let them read to you. Be patient and don't correct them unless they look to you for help. At this point, it's important that they become confident readers, not readers who are fearful of "doing it wrong."

Older children and teens: Ask your older kiddos to read to you! They may act like it's "totally lame" or whatever the kids are saying these days...but I promise, on the inside they are so proud to share their stories with you.

All ages:  Let your children see you reading! Turn off the tv, sit back with a book, and just relax!

What a year!

Shoo!  What a year this has been. I posted this morning that this past year has felt like being behind the wheel of a race car, all day, every day... and that's really the best analogy! I feel like I've been going, going, and watching everything fly by.  It's been fun, exhausting, and life-changing.  So many things have happened and I feel like I'm blowing up everyone's Facebook with all of my updates, so I'm just going to write all of my new happenings here! :)

First:
My Baby Girl Turned 1 (insert sobs here)
It's true. It's a strange feeling. On one hand, it feels like this year went by in the blink of an eye.  On the other hand, I can't remember life before her, so it feels like she has been a part of my life from Day 1.
Callie's first year of life (not counting the 9 months that she was in my belly...because I consider that life too) got off to a rough start.
"Birth day" - I went into this whole mom business with the idea that my child would be born, the doctor would place her on my chest, and we would cuddle and look longingly into eachother's eyes.  Boy, was I wrong.  Callie wasn't breathing when she was born.  It's a long story why (so we won't go there), but I remember the room being suddenly FILLED with medical personnel, the doctor having a look of panic on her face, and not hearing a sound from my baby. Everyone was swarmed around her and I couldn't see a thing.  It's probably a good thing I had an epidural and couldn't move, because I probably would have gone all crazy-lady if I could have used my legs.
After they got her breathing and crying, they wrapped her up, and whisked her away.  Luckily my mom spoke up, "Wait a second...aren't you going to let her see her first?" So...I got to look a her for a second, then they took her away.
The rest of that day and night were AGONIZING. We got to visit Callie briefly.  She was in a plastic box with tubes and needles sticking out of just about every appendage.  We couldn't hold her, and were told we could touch her hand and foot, but we absolutely could not rub her skin. I didn't even try to hold it together...I was a hot mess.
I wish I could say that the day my daughter was born was the happiest day of my life...but it wasn't.  It was probably the worst.  I can't imagine the pain that parents experience when they lose a child.  Just the thought of losing her was the worst pain I can imagine. However, on Day 3, we got good reports and were finally told, "Yes, you WILL get to take her home...eventually." THIS was the happiest day of my life.
Callie spent 11 days in the NICU and we were lucky enough to spend the last two nights there with her.  I think the doctors finally got tired of my hissy fits every time they told us we had to go home.

Since bringing her home, every day has been pure joy (with a few bits of frustration and exhaustion...okay, lots of bits of exhaustion).  She is literally the best baby ever.  She has slept through the night EVERY NIGHT since we brought her home, except for a few times when she was sick. She is brave, funny, kind, and looks like a pretty version of her handsome daddy. :) I am beyond excited to spend the next three months at home with her.

Here she is in all her glory:

She is truly the light of my life, my ray of sunshine, and all of those other cheesy things.

 

Other happenings:

 

I wrapped up an AMAZING year of teaching!

This year, I switched from Third Grade to Kindergarten.  I thought it would be less pressure.  Boy, was I wrong!  (Are you seeing a pattern, here?)

BUT! I didn't switch grades for the pressure...I switched because since being a part of an AMAZING Kindergarten class through student teaching, I have dreamed of running that circus awesomeness.  My first day was like herding cats, but within a few weeks, I had it down and was really loving going to work every day.

I have to say, I couldn't have done it without the special group that made up my class.  Those kiddos became my kiddos. THEY taught ME so much, and I hope I taught them a little bit too. ;)

 

I became a Younique Independent Presenter.

So, one day...I was playing on Instagram and saw a picture of a friend's INSANE eye lashes. I used to have really long lashes..then I had a baby. I was intrigued..so I asked her what was up.  She told me about Younique lashes and I immediately (honestly..right that second) ordered a set. They came in, I loved them, and I really loved their natural ingredents and CRUELTY FREE policy, so I thought, "What the hey.." and signed up to become a presenter.

I started as a hobby and my business has really taken off.  I just received a promotion and will be attending a swanky 3-day convention in August. Par-TAY! :)

I have to admit though...I am a COMPLETE makeup snob, so I wasn't really interested in their other products because I thought I wouldn't like them. Boy, was I... you get it.

I have been using Younique's facewash, moisturizer, primer, foundation, pigments, lashes, and gloss religiously and I couldn't be happier with the results.

My super sensitive, acne-prone skin has calmed down SO much and I REALLY love the assurance that there are no harsh chemicals touching my body and no sweet little animals are harmed to create these products. Win, win.

Check them out, here: www.youniqueproducts.com/JulieMaher

 

 

Oh, and I started making teething necklaces.

Amber teething what?! A few years ago, I spent Christmas with my family and noticed that my infant niece was wearing a necklace.  My sister-in-law told me that it helped with teething pain and it was SO amazing, and in my head I was thinking, "Yeah..whatever. Hippie." (Okay, maybe not in those exact words, but I thought she was FULL OF IT.)

Fast forward a bunch of years, and I had a screaming, crying, slobbering baby.  We were giving her Tylenol twice a day and I was hating it.  I'm not a fan of chemicals and artificial yuckiness, if you haven't gathered that yet. 

I was desperate. I ordered a teething necklace.  My child became an angelic, slobber free, baby.

Now...back track a few more years again.  In college, my sweet friend Jeri got me into jewelry making.

So...my inner jewelry-maker-extraordinare was constantly feeling the urge to tear Callie's necklace apart and make it prettier. But I didn't.

Then, everywhere we went, moms and sweet little ol' grannies were asking me about her necklace.  I would rave about it and tell them where they could buy one.

Then...the lightbulb came on.  I could make jewelry, I was super passionate about medicine free options for babies...I should make and sell my own teething necklaces! DUH!

In my first day, I sold out of necklaces before I could even make them.  I am currently waiting for my second (MUCH larger) shipment of stones, and will have more to post and sell next week.

I have set up an Etsy shop called The Calico Jewel (Get it? Calico-Callie, Jewel-Julie, Amber stones are brown and spotted like calico...anyway). Check it out!  I will be posting necklaces there for sale and LOVE making custom orders, so I will be doing that as well.

 

 

Are you still reading this? Bless you.

 

I think that covers some of our happenings.  I always start blogs and then forget about them...so hopefully I will keep up this time!

 

Love,

Julie