Desicions! Some made up, some waiting to be made up for me (Baby!)...

Despite the new rule for myself 'start to go to bed EARLY', I find myself (most nights) rebelling and then thanking God in the morning I got just one more good night's sleep! My midwife and the assistant that will attend the birth gathered here last  night; chatting, checking baby, and addressing the elephant in the room. Not just me ;-), but the calm before the storm that is most assuredly looming...labor.

Somehow this time, I feel absolutely unwilling (in my mind at least because 'body' will inevitably take over) to participate in my fate. Baby remains posterior much to my dismay and despite any and all efforts to lure him/her to cooperate. My midwife remains not even remotely concerned. I remain very much aware labor can and could be a lot harder/longer than some of my others. The way my stomach  moves with limbs, knees, feet, and elbows remind me of the night I went into labor with Asher. "Oh look honey! How cool is that?" as we sat watching Seabiscuit in our little apartment in West Stockholm, and entirely past an early bedtime I might add! It was cute then. Now, I'm piecing together the why Asher's labor was so intense from the very first contraction, harder to manage, stay on top of.... He clearly was posterior like this one is now. Being the naive first time mom that I was, as well as never being informed of any of my babies positions from my OB, I just didn't have a clue.

So while I continue to mop the floors on all four and the kids hear me say out loud, "I just don't want to do it this time. I just really don't want to do it!" I know there will be grace and strength unexplainable and insurmountable waiting for me to tap into. As the emotions seem to have gone a bit hay wire in recent days! and the physical stress of aches and pains are taking on a very real and tangible form, I appreciate and see even their purpose in preparing me for the 'bring it on' mentality that I've been waiting to have hit.

On a more lighter note! Because I am still very much in denial this baby coming out thing will all take place, our plans for next year's school term appear to be somewhat decided. Sophia will be joining the ranks and for this she couldn't be more excited! I'm taking an all out break from anything school related for the summer months and she is not exactly embracing it quite like everyone else. She would prefer her Explode the Code book C to come in the mail today so she can get busy.

For her, as I did with Asher, I have planned to focus mostly on math and reading for 'subjects'. She can fall into suit as the younger ones kinda always do/have for history, science, Bible/scripture memorization, and anything else we do together. Honestly a big part of Kindergarten, from what I remember with Asher, is working up to it all; learning to sit still, finish something, obey, have a good attitude, and a lot of character building and laying the foundation. She's had a good start to all of that as it stands, and yet I really do appreciate how homeschooling does bring these kinds of issues out where they can be addressed from the start and the year can carry on with greater ease and enjoyment on all our parts!

She will do Bob Jones K for math, and Explode the Code for reading/phonics. As well as the highly liked and suggested from many I know Getty-Dubay series for handwriting.

Asher will continue on with Saxon grade two for math, Beautiful Feet Early American History semester II for history, as well as Explode the Code supplemented with Abeka's grade two Language Arts readers only for his phonics, reading and spelling. Those readers I'm actually able to borrow from my sister which is a plus! He will continue doing the Getty-Dubay series for handwriting as well.

The kids are well into and absorbed with our read aloud series. That remains the only thing I have planned to keep up with over the summer, when it feels right. I'd love to take a trip to visit Almonzo's farm sometime next fall when I'm feeling uber ambitious!

Some new things that I plan to focus on for Asher pertain to an area in which he has shown much interest, talent, and gifting. This book will be the core for the vision of implementing the principles introduced to create his very own book. He's written several already but I see a need where he can improve and learn a lot which in turn, I think, will spawn on more creativity as well as more self independence to see a project through from start to finish.

I don't plan to get into the nitty gritty that someone could concerning these next two choices for second grade, but just enough to start to lay some simple foundation work for writing/communicating. As opposed to Abeka's in depth study concerning the language arts, this or this seems to be exactly the simple and straightforward something I am looking for. I'm tending towards the language fundamentals one due to the mechanics it seems to offer which will help aid in the core vision I have for writing for him.

Gabe always says, "As long as they can write/communicate and figure problems out, they will succeed." Which is why I've also gone this particular route, approved by the principal himself! ;-), for science this year instead of a bulk study on just one particular thing. Asher and I got a little bored with that route as well as seeing the importance for spawning on a life long love for learning by means of something just as simple as changing/sprucing it up with new topics. The 'daily' part does not scare me or make me feel bound in any way. I have no problem doing what will work for us! And I'm actually looking forward to this study!, one who isn't particularly interested in science myself but everything to do with most teaching/learning styles for it. Science at grade 2 should just be fun and interesting!

Something else I have in my cart ready to purchase is this Bible book for Asher to start his own little personal devotions. Something he can read everyday before even climbing down from his bunk bed to start the day. The verses are simple and I plan to use them to aid in our memorization and devotional time for further study and insight, as well as copy work. I love his composition notebook from this year filled with the scriptures we memorized and the handwriting put into practice.

That's a wrap for now. Piano lessons were a highlight this semester so those will continue on as well! I selfishly just love to hear the music playing in the background to the ebb and flow of my day.