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.


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375 comments
Ali, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Good for Simon! I've always loved reading. It has been such a gift in my life.
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thoughts and prayers coming your way. i so glad simon is reading...that's wonderful!
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I'm so happy that Simon is reading. That is truly wonderful news. He is such a sweet boy, growing more handsome with each passing day.
I'm sorry to hear about the skin cancer.
I'm so glad you shared it with us. I'm also glad to hear that it's "early" so proactive steps can be taken for healing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Peace to you.
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It's so hard at night when they want to read themselves because it does take so long - sometimes too long when it's bedtime. So we started after dinner reading which my daughter does and then when it's bedtime, mama or daddy does the reading. I love the idea of keeping track of the books they are reading. I'm going to start that with my daughter right away. And definitely saying a prayer for you and also saying thanks to you for getting me to call a dermatologist and make an appointment to get checked.
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Sending hugs and prayers your way, Ali.
I'm off to make a "Read Myself" chart for my 6 yr old...and reschedule a derm. appointment! Thank you.
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Prayers and positivity heading your way, Ali. Hugs:)
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Prayers and positivity heading your way, Ali. Hugs:)
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Ali, first of all my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. In regards to reading, this past summer before entering 1st grade we had our daughter record every book she read on a large blank piece of paper that we taped on her bedroom door and labeled "Emily's Summer Reading Club". We also agreed to give her a quarter for each book she read so she could go to Chuck E. Cheese. We were amazed that she read over 30 books and she was so excited to see her list getting longer and longer. It is so much fun and rewarding to see them learn and grow. Have fun with your list and by the way i have the same issue with my daughter picking out the longest book at the end of the night and asking to read it herself. Karen
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I will pray for you!!!
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Ali, I will be sending positive thoughts your way. I hope knowing that so many people have you in their thoughts and prayers can provide you some comfort. You give so much to everyone around you. Heidi
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Had to comment again today to add a book recommendation for Simon:
The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (a favorite artist of ours!)
My son has always used my library card, as we were waiting for this kind of break-through to signal the big "moment" of getting his own card. Another idea if Simon doesn't already have his own!
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Prayers coming your way, Ali!!!
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((((((hugs)))))))
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Prayers, hugs, and good thoughts to you Ali. My word for this year is courage (to deal with my own health issues), so I'm sending some of my courage your way.
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You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers, Ali!
Good for Simon to read on his own. It opens a whole world of possibilities!
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I really believe a love of reading is so huge in life, and starting early is key. Yay Simon! Have you seen the new Pottery Barn Seuss stuff? Fun! Hugs and prayers, Ali, I know all too well the stress this kind of diagnosis can bring - thank you for the reminder, I need to call for an appointment.
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Prayers said. :)
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positive thoughts and prayers for you from me...Andrea
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I'm praying for you that everything turns out OK. Thanks for the important reminder to get our moles checked. I finally convinced my husband last year and he had two that needed to be removed. Blessings to you and your family, Ali!
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Sending good vibrations your way.
Kathy
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