Raising a Reader!

I have always loved to read! Even as a child I remember having a love for books (and subsequently, writing my name in permanent marker inside all of my books). As a parent myself, I have tried hard to instill a love of reading in Preston. I remember buying him "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" when he was probably 2 weeks old, because really, what newborn doesnt need to hear about the Who's down in Whoville?!? 

Now at the age of (almost) 2, he has his own favorites and loves to keep books in his crib to look at while he falls asleep. Most of them include animals, marine life, or pirates. He is a boy after all. So, when I was given the opportunity to review a children's book, I was absolutely thrilled! 

Allow me to introduce you to Hugo:

HUGO is a little starfish with a BIG HEART. He has a passion is to make others happy but he still has many things to learn. Fortunately he has more than just a big heart, he also has a CURIOUS MIND.

Through his adventures, Hugo learns many valuable lessons of character, life skills, and ecological alertness — all against the colorful backdrop of a magical underwater world and mystical islands.

Believing that happiness can be learned, feelings can be understood, and that building character based on a positive attitude leads to a happy, content, successful and confident human being, Suzy Liebermann has written this charming series of children’s books to help educate children about their feelings, their attitudes, their choices, and the consequences that follow.

I downloaded Hugo the Happy Starfish - One Step at a Time onto my Kindle Fire and fell absolutely in love! This story centers around Hugo after he finds an empty candy wrapper with a picture of a huge chocolate mountain. Hugo discovers that his chocolate mountain is in fact a real mountain, which is called the Matterhorn and is located in Switzerland. He decides to set off on a journey to find this mountain – a huge challenge for a little starfish! Hugo learns to take one step at a time and to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Join Hugo as he finds the secret of perseverance when the road gets difficult.

While the theme of the book is admittedly a little mature for Preston, I loved that it set forth a positive message of not only perseverance, but it was also educational and sets a tone of adventure. Preston loved the bright colors of the illustrations and we had fun pointing out the different ocean creatures and sites that Hugo saw during his trip to Switzerland. Another thing that I loved (and will utilize when P gets a little older) are the free worksheets, games, and coloring pages that are available for download through the Hugo website (link). 

In addition to this book, other Hugo books revolve around important themes such as self-esteem, bullying, and sharing, which I plan to get for Preston!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Now We're Talkin!

Incase you need an extra dose of cuteness this morning I thought I would post this video of Preston talking a couple of weeks ago. He started talking around the beginning of February and has just been taking off since! It's so funny, but now I have to watch what I say around him...yikes!

When I took this video I had the camera turned around so he could see himself, which as you will see...he thought was the most hysterical thing ever. The tongue...not sure whats up with that tongue lately!

He's up to about 15 words now...most of them names of friends and family members (and Bella, of course). He also LOVES to say "hi" any time Ed or I walk into a room. Of course, any time anyone else talks to him in public he just stares at them, unimpressed.

Christmas Recap

As per usual, I am a bit behind on discussing Christmas. Living so far away from our family, we tend to  take a 2-3 week vacation around the holidays. We load the entire brood into the car and venture north...usually in the middle of the night.

Regardless of the long drive and crazy schedules, we have been having a fabulous time visiting with everyone and celebrating being together.

This Christmas brought two very fun things -- Ed got me this beauty:

Canon t3i

We also celebrated the first Christmas with Preston aware of what was going on. Well, about as aware as any 1 year old can be! As a result...here is how we spent our Christmas morning!

Christmas stockings and tree at Ed and Lorries!

First thing Christmas morning. He's not quite into it yet!  

I love how concerned he looks...he's not really into opening presents at this point!

That's a little better...books are always fun! 

Then we decided to climb on the unopened presents

This is probably one of my favorite pictures from Christmas. I was playing with the camera settings and just love how this turned out! My sweet baby boy. 

I am still playing with my camera and discovering all of the fun things it can do! We have had so much fun enjoying time as a family, and with our families. Preston got into opening presents, but I cannot wait until he is old enough to understand the reason for the season and participate more in fun Christmas traditions that we plan to implement (how excited am I to leave cookies for Santa next year?!?)

 Here's hoping you and yours had a wonderful holiday season!

5 on Saturday: Because my #6 requires an entire post!

My friend Cameron does an awesome job keeping up to date on her family's life with "5 on Friday", which I absolutely love! As a variation (and because I tend to have more time on Saturday), I am going to attempt a 6 on Saturday!


1) Preston was "sick" this week, which was EXHAUSTING! I was amazed by the level of patience that is required to take care of a sick baby. I am still not sure what his deal is, but I have narrowed it down to either seasonal allergies or runny nose as a result of teething. Most of the teeth he was working on, though, have cut through, so I am thinking he got my seasonal allergies. I am going to pick up some medicine today to see if I can offer the kid some relief! He isn't sneezing anymore, thankfully, but he is still congested and has a runny nose.

2) Ed and I are going on our first date night in....way too long! We usually stick to the standard dinner and a movie, but we both seem to be feeling a little adventurous, so I think we are going to head downtown! There is a restaurant that I have been wanting to try -- Flight -- which is exactly what it sounds like. A flight is a grouping of 3, so you can try a flight of red wine (3 small glasses of different red wines), a flight of salad (3 different small portions of salad), and/or a flight of steak (3 pieces of steak prepared in different ways with different toppings). Its different than our usual. I am looking forward to a night out after spending so many weeks apart!

3) I have a secret first love. Okay, well its not really a secret, as she is one of the most spoiled members of our household...

 The Ring Bearer in our Wedding 

 Anyway, Miss Bella Frances is having surgery on Tuesday to remove a golf ball size fatty tumor from her armpit. The doctor seemed to think it would be a quick procedure and she wont even need a drain, which is good. I am nervous for her, though I know she will get around much easier without it interfering with her leg! Now to figure out how to keep Preston from climbing on her and Zoey from wrestling with her while she recovers...

4) I am still hard at work figuring out what the heck I am doing with our living room wall. As I have previously mentioned, once we moved our couches around the pictures that were hanging didnt look right. We also happened to buy some photographs when we were in Charleston in the spring. I have those hanging, but I still need to get the prints made to hang the smaller pictures I want up. I swear we will be moving before I finally get around to it. Last week I finally hung pictures in the hallway. We've lived here a year and a half!

5) Speaking of moving....looks like we will be heading north in May. As of now, we dont know where we will be stationed next and probably wont know until March or April, but we do know that we will definitely be going to CT for 6 months while Ed finishes SOAC (civilian translation: department head school [though I realize that makes as much sense to you as SOAC]). Ideally, we would stay in CT, but we are both well aware that the Navy likes to "surprise" us. Nonetheless, we have been looking at houses, which makes it super exciting!

6) I was going to regale you on Preston and my adventures to Connecticut over Labor Day, but looking at the pictures, I realized it required an entire post. Stay tuned for pictures of my future daughter in law, gorgeous best friend/bride, and naughty little boy taking over New England!



As a wrap up...our week in photos!

PJM - 8 months

Another awesome Chelsea, over at The Life We Love, has a sweet little 7 month old boy named Logan. Every month she does a bio for him, and I loved it so much I decided to borrow her idea. They will be fun little tidbits and pictures to remember P at this age!

Name: Preston James May

Age: 8 months (and 4 days)

Favorites:

• Jumping in your bouncer! You love it so much that you think every toy you stand in is made for bouncing. Your NeNa bought you a walker and you couldn't understand why you were going anywhere when you jumped!

• Picking things up off the floor and sticking them in your mouth. You are especially fond of the dogs food and seem to be able to find things even after I vacuum. Twice. 

• Talking! Your favorites include "Da Da Da Da" (even though I keep telling you Ma Ma Ma Ma) and "Ba Ba Ba Ba"

• Giggling! You think everything is the funniest thing you've ever seen! Especially when momma plays peak-a-boo with you or when the dogs lick your face.

• Snorting and blowing raspberries. You make the most hysterical face where you scrunch of your nose and snort in and out. It's especially funny when I do it to you and you do it back.

• You love Bella and Zoey! I originally thought you and Zoey were going to be kindred spirits just from how she was when I was pregnant and you were first born. Now I see that you love your Bella and she loves you. Boy does she love you! You are always climbing on top of her and grabbing her tail. She is so patient. She generally doesn't even move and when she does its only to give you a kiss.

Talents and Skills: 

• We have just got through your sleep training. We have tried to do it in the past but you weren't having any of it! You would just sob and sob and sob for hours -- until someone picked you up and you would promptly pass out! We have been working on your sleep training for just over a week and you are doing so well! It has also helped you get onto a schedule. You are down to 2 naps a day now, but they are awesome long naps instead of those crazy 30 minute naps you use to like. You are so sweet when you sleep...

• In a matter of weeks you have gone from doing an army crawl to sitting up, trying to crawl on your knees, and now pulling up on daddy and me, as well as the furniture. You are especially fond of the end table in the living room, probably because thats where we keep the tissues and magazines. 

Temperament: 

• You are the sweetest boy ever! You are so content and easy to get along with!! Momma is so lucky! You love to flirt with the girls when we are out and about and you are the best shopping buddy ever! You seem so content to just sit in the cart and look around -- to take it all in! You are so alert and it seems like you are learning something new all the time. I am constantly amazed by how sweet and amazing you are! 

Movin' and Groovin'

We are on the move here in the May household -- and not just because its Memorial Day weekend. Little one has become more interested in crawling over the last couple of days! It's not legitimate crawling just yet, but its pretty close.

Yesterday we were on the blanket outside. I was flipping through a magazine while he played with his toys. It didnt take long before I realized that he would crawl for books/magazines. Outside he was using the blanket to help him along...grabbing handfuls of the blanket to pull himself while he kicked his leg.

Inside last night I decided to try again and low and behold....he is getting the hang of it!

Lord help us when he realizes that he can do this even when there isn't something shiny in his sights!

C.R.A.Z.Y.

Things have been crazy busy around here! This week I have finally felt like I can sit down, breathe, and spend some down time with my little man.

Speaking of my little man....he turned 6 months old the other day! I cannot believe he is already that old! It has been such a fun time though...he's moving and talking, and so interactive. He is right on the verge of crawling, which I could definitely wait for! His first tooth is also making its grand entry. We had some jagged corners popping through today, so I'd say any day we will have a full on tooth. Oy.

It never ceases to amaze me thats its possible to love someone this much. Even on my worst days this little boy changes it all.

In other news...I have been bit by the re-decorating bug. I blame it on the fact that this is the longest I have ever lived in one resident (aside from growing up). I have had the tendency to move every year, if not sooner. Now that we're home owners, though, this gypsy has to stay put. I am busy re-creating our living room, though, so stay tuned for how thats going!