Tot School Tuesday

I've been farming Ada off to local Vacation Bible Schools all summer.  It's made me realize just how short Willa's end was of the proverbial stick.  She had a big sister to compete with as an infant, and even before her 2nd birthday, another one came in to take more attention.  Six months is such a short time, and such a long time.  I've really enjoyed the one on one time we've had over the summer, and I realize how far just a little bit of focus timed goes.

I'll start this week by sharing Willa's vice- her thumb sucking.  We had limited it to night time only for a while by having her leave her night nights (we have two) in her bed.  Somehow, that fell apart and now we've given up trying to get her to stop.  When the time comes, we'll take a collection from the grandparents for her braces.  Here she is watching Ada sing at her VBS closing ceremonies, with Night Night up to her nose.  I almost always make sure she leaves it at home, or at least in the car. I'm not sure how this even happened really, but here it is.

This one was in our bean bag post- but I had to put it in tot school.  She's scooping- fine motor!

She laces!

I'm still not in the habit of keeping the camera around, but here are the ones I snapped today.  She got some  Tadoodles for her birthday (her 1st 18 months ago).  She showcases it well, but she wasn't impressed.  She moved onto pencils and crayons a long time ago- and regular markers, like the vibrant neon ones she used to decorate the arm of my living room chair this afternoon.

If I had to choose a favorite educational toy company it would Learning Resources.  (Have you seen these)?(And talk about a perfect color learning tool!) We don't have a lot of their toys, but Santa brings us a couple each year, and I've managed to snag a few at consignment sales.  The great thing is that they are learning toys- but not. These cupcakes are great toys for creative play, and then so much more. I particularly love the Smart Snacks collection because it doubles as play food.  This one is Sorting Shapes Cupcakes.

I've been eying stacking blocks for quite some time.  I was at AC Moore with a 50% off coupon, and I just couldn't resist.  She loves it. Check out this sneaky face.  Guess what she's getting ready to do?

Crash!

I think I may have mentioned it before, but Willa is good at math.  She counts, understands one to one correspondence and she's learning counting and adding right with Ada.  Here she's counting and sorting bugs.

 

Willa thrives off of one on one attention.  I've cheated her out of sit down lunches with Mama.  Usually I get it ready, sit the kids down down and then go off and unload the dishwasher, or jump in the shower while Micah sleeps. My lunch is whatever they didn't eat.  I'm an efficient garbage disposal. I wonder why I'm putting back on most of the 170 lbs I lost.  Well, that and three pregnancies, and the Mt. Dew.  With Ada away in the mornings,  I've made it a point to sit down and have breakfast or lunch with Willa. Honestly, it wasn't a grand idea I suddenly had. There was no forethought.  I didn't want her to eat lunch alone. Only then did I realize how much she needed it, and enjoyed it.  I have to make it a priority for her to get the one on one time that Ada got because there was only one of her. This is Willa practicing closing her mouth while she chews.  I pinch my lips together as a reminder to the girls to close while they chew.  Willa said "look mommy! I have manners" and pinched her lips closed.  If you're the type that notices the small stuff, our mac-n-cheese is green because it has frozen spinach in it.

To see what other tots are doing- go on over to Tot School.