Capture, savor, and celebrate right now.
Tags:After a few weeks of having all three of us here together Chris is back to meetings (the new legislative session begins next week) and Simon has one more day off school today (it's a "professional development/planning day"). I am ready for a bit of "alone" time around here to get some more work done before the baby actually arrives.
I finished cleaning up, clearing out, and reorganizing Simon's room yesterday. One of the things that was most fun was having him rediscover toys he has not played with for awhile that still bring him entertainment and joy. I am glad to have that entire project completed and can move on to my list for the baby room (thanks for all those kind words on the sneak peek).
One of my favorite things over the past couple of weeks is that Simon has really gotten into reading. REAL reading on his own.
Our normal routine is to read a book to him each evening before going to sleep of his choice (we intervene or make suggestions depending on how late or early it is). One night last week he picked Green Eggs & Ham, climbed up on his bed, sat criss-cross, and told Chris he wanted to read it that night.
It took over an hour for Simon to read Green Eggs & Ham the first evening.
After the excitement (and a bit of fatigue all around) Chris had the brilliant idea to come up with a simple way to track the books he reads all by himself: each time he finishes a book he can add it to a list we are keeping on a bulletin board in his bedroom. That in and of itself was enough of a motivator for him to get down to business and it has been working like a charm for the last week.
The next night he read Robert the Rose Horse. It also took him over an hour. He is super tired by the end and we are working in the suggestion that you can break a book into two nights (or more) but that idea has not caught on just yet. In the meantime we are adding in some shorter books or changing it up by having one of us read to him.
Tonight he fell asleep while Chris was reading to him. He had spent part of his afternoon reading Green Eggs & Ham (on his own on the couch) and starting on Horton Hears A Who.
I so hope this is just the beginning of a lifetime love of reading.
In addition, I would like to ask for your prayers and positive thoughts. Many of you know that I have had a bunch of moles removed over the last year and a half (actually more than 20 since August 2007). This past week I received some results indicating that the most recent one I had removed from my upper chest area is stage one melanoma (this is more serious on the spectrum than the melanoma I had removed in the past which was only on the surface of the skin). I should be getting more information this week as to what the next steps are in this situation.
Consider this your friendly reminder to have your own skin checked by a dermatologist if you have any suspicions or conerns.


Comments
Sign in or sign up to comment.
375 comments
Sending tons of prayers and good thoughts your way.....
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
oh ali,
you are always in my prayers but even more so now...please take care of yourself and keep us updated!lots of love.Amy
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
You are in my prayers!! God Bless!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Love the pictures of Simon reading....definitely a treasure. My thoughts & prayers are heading your way...take care & keep us updated. {{hugs}}
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Ali,
Love the picture of Simon. So cool that he is reading. I just dropped my son off at the bus stop and have mixed feelings about my son going back to school. Your post on Simon helped me embrace the good. My son who struggles with some basic things, made a peanut butter sandwich all by himself yesterday:)I loved how proud he was of his sandwich. I will be writing up that story!
Ali, sending lots of positive vibes your way as you find out more about the mole.
Take Care, Jess
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Sending you prayers and lots of positive energy!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hi Ali
My thoughts are with you.
And also just to say that you rock! Bringing life and joy and creativity to so many of us. Thanks so much.
Mel
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
You are in my prayers.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
How wonderful for Simon! My 5 year old is just really getting into Dr. Seuss and he loves the silliness.
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers today!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
hugs and prayers to you always!! WTG SIMON ON READING!!!!!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Ali,
Love the picture of Simon. So cool that he is reading. I just dropped my son off at the bus stop and have mixed feelings about my son going back to school. Your post on Simon helped me embrace the good. My son who struggles with some basic things, made a peanut butter sandwich all by himself yesterday:)I loved how proud he was of his sandwich. I will be writing up that story!
Ali, sending lots of positive vibes your way as you find out more about the mole.
Take Care, Jess
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Keeping you in my thoughts.
That's great news about Simon though! I can't imagine how it felt to know he WANTED to read it himself. What a wonderful accomplishment.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I really admire Simon's ambition for reading! My son is the same age and he gets so exhausted reading some of those longer books. When he starts getting tired I have him read one page and then I read the next page. It's a strategy they use at school when they read with a partner so he is willing to do it at home. Also, have Simon make his own special bookmark. It might make him more willing to break up a story into two reading sessions.
Please know you are in my prayers!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
What wonderful news about Simon reading-what a blessing also about your baby almost here in your arms. I will continue to pray for the baby and for your health and direction and guidance for this uncertain skin situation. Peace be with you during this transition time :)
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Prayers and thoughts are with you as you patiently wait for your results.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Ali...I love your blog, but I'm usually just a lurker (I don't even comment when you have give-aways)! However, I did want to come out of the shadows today to send good thoughts & prayers your way. I'm so glad you're sharing this with us...I really do believe in the power of prayer and you are going to have many,many prayers being sent your way from all over the world!
Keep the faith!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hey Ali,
I'm sending a prayer up for you and positive thoughts your way my friend!
Jill
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
hugs and prayers to you, Ali.
And congratulations to Simon on his new quest. A suggestion that my mother (a librarian) always makes to parents of new readers -- alternate reading pages, as in Simon reads a page and then parent reads a page. Since he doesn't seem to thrilled by spreading a book over multiple days, this option may make the book go a little quicker. If his answer is still, "no", you can always start the bedtime process a little earlier to accomodate. :-)
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Prayers to you and that everything with the mole turns out okay! I know how you feel, I had a bunch of skin tags removed recently and will be returning in a few weeks to have about 8 moles removed.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Your in my prayers Ali.
My younger sister has been having them removed as well. I am so proud of you that you that you have kept on top of it.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.