First thing first. I started a new blog to showcase my crafts so I don't clog things up here. I plan on taking pictures of the things I make for work as well as for Ivy, although lately it's all been for Ivy. I am loving my sewing machine!! Anyway, check it out at crafty-me.blogspot.com. Bookmark it. Leave comments. Whatever. :)
So.... what you've all been waiting for.... an update. I don't even know where to start, so I guess I'll just go. Forgive me if this turns out disorganized.
Ivy is really growing up. Physically, she looks like a five year old, I swear. At her three year check at the beginning of September, she was about 41" and 42 pounds. That's off the growth charts, but still on her curve. She's always been a big girl. She's wearing a 5T, though.... just seems so big to me! We were reading the book I made her shortly after she was born today and I teared up... she was just so little.
Intellectually, she is growing up, too. I don't even know what to work on with her anymore. She knows pretty much everything I taught my preschoolers, so now I'm stumped. She does like to work in workbooks, and I want to set up a "homeschooling" corner somewhere in the house. I don't necessarily plan to homeschool (although it's something that I plan on researching) I believe that everyone with a toddler or preschooler is homeschooling every day. At this age, children are constantly learning and absorbing. I want to keep more materials in the house that can help her in that journey. I also really want to have an art nook somewhere in the house. She got an awesome easel for her birthday and we don't really have a "home" for it yet, so it is being neglected. I feel bad about that, because I know she loves the thing. She loves to create.
Speaking of, she is still very creative. Right now, she is sitting behind me just chit chatting with a bunch of toys. I believe her new kitty is going ice skating if I heard her correctly. :) She loves playing pretend with her stuffed animals and My Little Ponies.... and her hands and discarded papers and anything else she can give a voice to. She is rarely, rarely quiet. My dad says that's karma.
Oh gosh, now she is singing Veggietales songs.... adorable.
We go to story time at the library every Wednesday. She loves Mr. Eric, the librarian. She is normally really well behaved there and has a little friend, Molly, that we usually sit by. Thursdays she has "dancing school." It is adorable. Right now she is in the Star class, which is a combination tap/tumbling/creative movement. She looks forward to dance class and Miss Michelle all week. It's a very good motivator as well.... "Ivy, if you don't start listening you can't go see Miss Michelle!" Works every time. Here's a picture of Ivy before her first class.
I'm really trying to be the mom I wanted to be since she was born. I wanted to be the mom who did things, who went to story time and music class and had playgroups. Instead, I've struggled with a lot of things. Some things I think were always a part of me (the sloppiness) but a lot had to do with depression. Things are improving around here, from Ivy and I getting out of the house, to me keeping things nicer. I'm proud of myself, and hope I can keep things the way they are. I love Ivy too much to not give her the kind of childhood she deserves.
