Back to WAVE

Today was the first day of our homeschool co-op for the year. We are meeting in a new building this year, a nice brand new church. It is exciting to be in a new place, but a bit stressful too. We have many new families and all of us are learning our way around. I am teaching two classes, a preschool class about letters/ phonics, and a fiber arts class. The fiber arts class looks like it is going to be really fun. I have 11 very motivated students, 10 girls and 1 boy. Preschoolers are always fun.

Jayson is taking a Delaware history class, a running class and Spanish. Dalton is taking a class about habitats, the same running class as Jayson, and nutrition. Landon is taking three classes for the first time, my class, a class called Moving, Learning, and Growing with God, and another called All About Me. Maddox gets to spend three hours in the nursery. Today went well, no one had any problems beyond normal first day confusion. A few of the boys classes are going to require homework, so we have to fit that in with our school schedule.

The downside to WAVE in general, and specifically today, is it wears me out! I was exhausted before we even left to come home. I actually went to bed with Maddox at 9 pm. I am only up long enough to type this and then it is back to bed for me. It is well worth it though. The boys love to be with the other kids, and the teachers have great ideas and things to share.

I took my camera intending to get "first day of school" pictures, but was so busy it never came out of my bag. Instead, here is a picture to commemorate summer now that summer has started and the weather has already started to turn cool. Landon loves the ocean, no fear at all.

Babywearing in my state

I was recently hired by a well known baby sling manufacturer to teach babywearing to the nurses at our department of health. They used grant money to buy slings to distribute to their clients to encourage kangaroo care and breastfeeding. I taught one class last week and a second today, to accomodate the schedules of all of the nurses. It was such a great experience. The department is really pro breastfeeding and has welcomed me right into what they have going on. They are planning on utilizing our babywearing support group as well as La Leche League when I get our chapter going and helping me out where they can as well. I am very excited about how this will impact the natural parenting community where I live.

I also consulted with a pregnant mom tonight who is planning on babywearing for the first time with this baby. I actually tag teamed an appointment with her doula, so she was able to sign her doula contract and get some babywearing information all in one sitting. Convenient for her, and fun for all of us.

Day two of the school year is behind us now. Things are going smoothly so far. We also spent some time organizing clothes and supplies for co-op, which starts tomorrow. Jayson needed new gym shoes, but luckily we had a pair put away for him to grow into which will work perfectly.

A babywearing picture to go with the babywearing theme today, this is a Ball Baby Overall Mei Tai, converted from a Storchenweige wrap in the Anna colorway. How is that for a mouthful?

1 down, 179 days to go

Days of school that is. Today was our first day of school. I can't believe it. Especially when I come here and see that I last blogged at the beginning of the summer. Where did the summer go?!

Our school day started off a bit out of the ordinary. I am now leading our local babywearing group, and today was a meeting. We had planned to meet at a park, but due to poor weather we met at Chick-Fil-A. The meeting had a great turn out with about 10 moms plus kids. The boys got to begin their school year with chicken for breakfast and a couple hours in the play room. Afterwards we came home and got down to business with school. Of course we have details to work out in our schedule, but it went pretty smoothly for the first day.

Brad went back to work today after a four day holiday weekend. We spent the holiday at home, working on the house and cars and celebrating Phoenix's second birthday. Amazing that he is two already. Maddox is right behind him which is even harder to believe.

The birthday boy, all smiles as always.