Friday, January 29, 2010
Flood Status Update
I wanted to get some pictures up of the damage from the flood. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the house when the water was at it's highest. I wasn't thinking about pictures at that time, as you might imagine. I started taking pictures after Lorne had extracted the two inches of standing water, and they were trying to get the wet carpet and pad up as quickly as possible to minimize further damage. Believe it or not, Beulah slept through the whole ordeal. There was metal on metal hammering, drilling, loud talking over machines and equipment, ect. Andy and Lorne were running around ripping up carpet and linoleum like they were in a race. It was pretty crazy to watch! I can't say enough about how grateful we are for Lorne and H2O Drying Solutions. The damage would have been A LOT worse if it weren't for him.
These are not great videos, but they give you a good idea of what we were dealing with.
Water running around from behind our building, across our front yards and down the street.
Water running across our patio just outside our back door.
The downstairs is still gutted, but we have some incredibly generous friends coming tomorrow to repair the dry wall and we should have new floors in sometime next week. Lorne ended up having to take out the cabinets on the wall between us and our neighbor where the water was coming in so that he could cut out the wet dry wall. The cabinets seem to be OK, thank God. Insurance won't pay for any of this, even though it came in through our neighbor's unit. The insurance adjuster said that Andy was mislead when he was told that there may be a chance they'd cover it if it didn't come through our back door, but came from the neighbor's unit instead. We didn't have flood insurance because we were told that we weren't in the flood plain. But, Andy requested a copy of the FEMA report from last year, and it looks like we ARE in the flood plain (duh!) and should have been notified by our mortgage company. We've got a little more investigating to do on that issue. Meanwhile, the City of Fort Mill is investigating where the responsibility lies and will hopefully be fixing the storm drain and raising the levee soon to prevent this from happening again (see video below). It makes us kind of wary to replace the floors if there's a chance this could happen again, and we've got rain coming this weekend. But, our house is unlivable as it is, so we need to move ahead.
We're still at Mike and Ria's house, and we're all really enjoying living together! I stay here with Beulah during the day and clean and cook when I can, then when Andy, Mike & Ria get home from work, we all eat together, play with Beulah, and then relax until bed. It's been fun! We're incredibly grateful for their generosity in opening their home to us. Many of you have also offered your homes and other resources, and we couldn't be more humbled by the offers to help. We are so so so blessed! Thank you, and thank God for you!!
Looking in from the outside, this all might seem like a mess. But, God is sovereign. This was no surprise to Him. He had a plan before it happened, and he's allowed many blessings to come from this. Our trials are never in vain. I have always said that the worst things that have ever happened to me are the best things that have ever happened to me. (I wouldn't have met Andy if I hadn't broken my neck, for example!) Here are just a few of the blessings that have come from this experience.
*Spending extended time and sharing space with Mike & Ria has been an incredible blessing; not just for us, but for Beulah as well. She interacts with them on a whole new level, and they don't seem to mind. :)
*H2O Drying Solutions got a lot of business because neighbors in need saw Lorne's business truck on our road in the middle of the night. They have worked tirelessly all week helping us and our neighbors.
*We have connected with a neighbor that we had a strained relationship with.
*We've connected with neighbors that we didn't know before, and Andy (along with the rest of the HOA board) had a chance to help them out post-flood. See the media coverage by WCNC here.
*Friends and family have pulled together and helped emotionally, spiritually (through prayer and encouragement), financially, materially, and physically (giving food and lodging). Thank you, all of you!
We'll continue to follow the story on whether the city will take responsibility for what happened or not.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Flood of 2010
As I was taking pictures last night we joked that we would label them in Beulah's baby book as "The Flood of 2010". However, I hesitated to use this title here, because even though we lost all of our flooring downstairs last night, our furniture, cabinets, walls, etc. were all salvaged. And, while the damage seems horrible in our small little world, we are reminded of the many people who have lost entire homes, businesses, or family members in different parts of the country over time, and most recently, in Haiti.
I can truly say God is good! It just so happens that we have a friend who owns an emergency water damage business. Lorne was at our house from 3-6 AM extracting the water that had already made it's way inside, ripping up carpets and linoleum, and setting up fans to dry the place out. Because he got there so quickly, our furniture, appliances, and cabinets were salvaged. Thank God, and thank you, Lorne! It looks like we'll only be replacing the downstairs floors and some towels and blankets. Unfortunately, we are one of the families mentioned in the news clips that didn't have flood insurance.
We've had dozens of offers for help with food, housing, etc. We are RICHLY blessed to be a part of a community of people that knows how to love. Mike & Ria are graciously allowing us to stay at their place, conveniently located across the street, until things gets back in order at our home. It looks like it'll be another couple of days before we can get an insurance evaluation to see if the water came in the back door or through our neighbor's unit. Fortunately for him, he did have flood insurance. If the water came in our unit through his, it could fair well for us because it could be coded differently. Once we know where the money is going to come from, we'll get the floors put down and can move back in. Keep us in your prayers.
Andy's a star!! Oh, and so is our garbage can that's rolling around in the raging storm water. :)
WSOC TV
Fort Mill Times
The Herald
WBTV News
I can truly say God is good! It just so happens that we have a friend who owns an emergency water damage business. Lorne was at our house from 3-6 AM extracting the water that had already made it's way inside, ripping up carpets and linoleum, and setting up fans to dry the place out. Because he got there so quickly, our furniture, appliances, and cabinets were salvaged. Thank God, and thank you, Lorne! It looks like we'll only be replacing the downstairs floors and some towels and blankets. Unfortunately, we are one of the families mentioned in the news clips that didn't have flood insurance.
We've had dozens of offers for help with food, housing, etc. We are RICHLY blessed to be a part of a community of people that knows how to love. Mike & Ria are graciously allowing us to stay at their place, conveniently located across the street, until things gets back in order at our home. It looks like it'll be another couple of days before we can get an insurance evaluation to see if the water came in the back door or through our neighbor's unit. Fortunately for him, he did have flood insurance. If the water came in our unit through his, it could fair well for us because it could be coded differently. Once we know where the money is going to come from, we'll get the floors put down and can move back in. Keep us in your prayers.
Andy's a star!! Oh, and so is our garbage can that's rolling around in the raging storm water. :)
WSOC TV
Fort Mill Times
The Herald
WBTV News
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Parenting by THE Book
Having taught dance in public schools for eight years, I learned a lot about "raising" children. Discipline was my greatest strength in the classroom. I considered myself to be fair and caring towards my students. Once, when I got laryngitis, I taught six classes a day for three days with no voice. I whispered and used body language and instruments to guide students' learning. When our upcoming Principal noticed that I had zero discipline problems those days despite the fact that an average of 30 elementary aged kids were actively dancing around my classroom at any given moment, he said, "Now, that's the mark of a good teacher!" It's true enough that when you walk into a classroom where the kids are well behaved and following directions, you think they MUST have a good teacher. But, lately I've realized that good parenting is nothing like "good teaching"*.
I vividly remember learning how to approach discipline in my Ed Psyc classes in college. There are different styles of discipline, and students have different responses to each style. We also learned how to motivate students to learn and behave. I specifically remember learning the terms "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation. Students are motivated intrinsically if they have a personal connection with the given material. They display intrinsic motivation when they are compliant and behave appropriately because they WANT to, as opposed to being forced. Extrinsic motivation is when students learn or behave because they are being manipulated by some external factor; i.e. rewards or punishment.
My classroom, composed of students of varying ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, religious beliefs, and skill levels, was controlled by rewards and punishment. I tried to present new material in terms that would be interesting to the average student, but motivating every single student using something s/he would have a vested interest in is nearly impossible when they come from such varied backgrounds. So, I settled for Time Out when a student was so disinterested that s/he would rather make their friend laugh. I offered dance parties to classes who had the least Time Outs each semester. We gave pizza parties to the most well behaved 5th grade class each semester. And the list for rewards and punishments goes on and on. Disciplining using extrinsic motivators is ingrained in me. It would take an act of God to change that. And, with the help of some AMAZING resources, I believe the process has begun.
I recently watched The Case for Kids by Dr. Tedd Tripp and his brother Dr. Paul David Tripp. It has changed my whole way of thinking about discipline, and especially disciplining in a Christian home.
As Christian parents, our goal is to raise up children who love God above all else, and who (in response) live to love and serve others. We want them to be so humbled by God's love for them that they are compelled to share His love with others and desire nothing more than to bring Him glory. Well, that sounds all fine and good, but how do you do that? Obviously that can't be accomplished by manipulating kids with rewards and punishments. Paul and Tedd Tripp made the point that extrinsic motivators don't touch the heart of the child. In this DVD series, they give practical advice on how to live, speak, and train your children to be motivated to live and obey out of a love for God and a grateful heart for what He has done for us. They put special emphasis on the fact that we're all sinners with no hope (parents and children alike) apart from the redemption offered to us through Christ Jesus. Can you imagine your child fully grasping that and living out of a true understanding of who God is and what He has done? Oh, GLORY!!
If you are a Christian parent, you don't want to go another day without seeing this material. The beautiful thing is, Paul and Tedd make it clear that it is never too late to start parenting this way, no matter how old your children are. If you live in the Fort Mill area, Eternal will be showing the DVDs before worship on Sunday mornings (9:15 AM at the Baxter YMCA) starting in February, and you are more than welcome to join us for the viewing and discussion. Childcare will be provided. If you can't make it, I HIGHLY recommend you find another way to see it, if possible.
If you can't find a way to see the videos (and even if you do), you will do well to read the two books that the series is based off of. Tedd Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart (which also has a handbook and instructor's guide if you want to study it with a group) and Paul David Tripp's Age of Opportunity. Couple your reading with the featured Resurgence Audio and Video of Tedd Tripp speaking at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, and you'll get a good feel for what the DVD series is all about.
I have also been reading a book that is really encouraging to me (thanks, Priscilla!). A Mother's Heart, by Jean Fleming, is a great book about viewing your family as your number one ministry and how to balance life with raising children in a Christian home. Moms, it's worth a read, for many reasons.
I would encourage you to step back and evaluate your parenting using Scripture. But, it would do us all well to remember...
"As [parents] we can do nothing to persuade or convince our children to love God...We can teach our children about God, pray for them, live the Christian life before them, and expose them to others who love and serve God. But only God can give them spiritual life. God doesn't need our help, but in His sovereign plan He invites us to take part actively--to colabor with Him as He works in their lives."--Jean Fleming
May God bless you as you strive to raise His children for Him.
*Just because someone is a skilled disciplinarian doesn't mean s/he is gifted to lead a large number of students with differing learning abilities, levels, and backgrounds towards mastery of curriculum. But, that's not the point of this blog...just a side note. :)
I vividly remember learning how to approach discipline in my Ed Psyc classes in college. There are different styles of discipline, and students have different responses to each style. We also learned how to motivate students to learn and behave. I specifically remember learning the terms "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation. Students are motivated intrinsically if they have a personal connection with the given material. They display intrinsic motivation when they are compliant and behave appropriately because they WANT to, as opposed to being forced. Extrinsic motivation is when students learn or behave because they are being manipulated by some external factor; i.e. rewards or punishment.
My classroom, composed of students of varying ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, religious beliefs, and skill levels, was controlled by rewards and punishment. I tried to present new material in terms that would be interesting to the average student, but motivating every single student using something s/he would have a vested interest in is nearly impossible when they come from such varied backgrounds. So, I settled for Time Out when a student was so disinterested that s/he would rather make their friend laugh. I offered dance parties to classes who had the least Time Outs each semester. We gave pizza parties to the most well behaved 5th grade class each semester. And the list for rewards and punishments goes on and on. Disciplining using extrinsic motivators is ingrained in me. It would take an act of God to change that. And, with the help of some AMAZING resources, I believe the process has begun.
I recently watched The Case for Kids by Dr. Tedd Tripp and his brother Dr. Paul David Tripp. It has changed my whole way of thinking about discipline, and especially disciplining in a Christian home.
As Christian parents, our goal is to raise up children who love God above all else, and who (in response) live to love and serve others. We want them to be so humbled by God's love for them that they are compelled to share His love with others and desire nothing more than to bring Him glory. Well, that sounds all fine and good, but how do you do that? Obviously that can't be accomplished by manipulating kids with rewards and punishments. Paul and Tedd Tripp made the point that extrinsic motivators don't touch the heart of the child. In this DVD series, they give practical advice on how to live, speak, and train your children to be motivated to live and obey out of a love for God and a grateful heart for what He has done for us. They put special emphasis on the fact that we're all sinners with no hope (parents and children alike) apart from the redemption offered to us through Christ Jesus. Can you imagine your child fully grasping that and living out of a true understanding of who God is and what He has done? Oh, GLORY!!
If you are a Christian parent, you don't want to go another day without seeing this material. The beautiful thing is, Paul and Tedd make it clear that it is never too late to start parenting this way, no matter how old your children are. If you live in the Fort Mill area, Eternal will be showing the DVDs before worship on Sunday mornings (9:15 AM at the Baxter YMCA) starting in February, and you are more than welcome to join us for the viewing and discussion. Childcare will be provided. If you can't make it, I HIGHLY recommend you find another way to see it, if possible.
If you can't find a way to see the videos (and even if you do), you will do well to read the two books that the series is based off of. Tedd Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart (which also has a handbook and instructor's guide if you want to study it with a group) and Paul David Tripp's Age of Opportunity. Couple your reading with the featured Resurgence Audio and Video of Tedd Tripp speaking at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, and you'll get a good feel for what the DVD series is all about.
I have also been reading a book that is really encouraging to me (thanks, Priscilla!). A Mother's Heart, by Jean Fleming, is a great book about viewing your family as your number one ministry and how to balance life with raising children in a Christian home. Moms, it's worth a read, for many reasons.
I would encourage you to step back and evaluate your parenting using Scripture. But, it would do us all well to remember...
"As [parents] we can do nothing to persuade or convince our children to love God...We can teach our children about God, pray for them, live the Christian life before them, and expose them to others who love and serve God. But only God can give them spiritual life. God doesn't need our help, but in His sovereign plan He invites us to take part actively--to colabor with Him as He works in their lives."--Jean Fleming
May God bless you as you strive to raise His children for Him.
*Just because someone is a skilled disciplinarian doesn't mean s/he is gifted to lead a large number of students with differing learning abilities, levels, and backgrounds towards mastery of curriculum. But, that's not the point of this blog...just a side note. :)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Noise VS Solitude
Back in September, Skip preached a sermon at Eternal about Living with the End in Mind. As the message progressed, I became increasingly aware of how temporal my thinking had become since I got pregnant. I started this post that week, but felt that my meditation on the issue wasn't complete, so I couldn't post it. Now, I feel like I have a lot more insight to share.
Since I stopped working full time in the summer of '08, thoughts of pregnancy, caring for a baby, and being a mom consumed me, I've regretted the fact that I haven't spent time in the Word. I blamed God, telling Him that He wasn't giving me the desire and saying, "I can't manufacture a desire, can I?" In other words, "What are YOU going to do about this?" I knew I needed it, but the blame was in the wrong place. I was just blind to the real reason I didn't have the desire at the time.
Looking back, I have realized that the one major contributor to my distance from God was television. I had no idea how much it was consuming my thought life and what a distraction it was to me. Breaking up with TV has been the best thing I've done for myself, my spirit, and my family.
Billy Graham said, "Mothers should cultivate their souls that in turn they may cultivate the souls of their children."
Jean Fleming, author of A Mother's Heart put it this way, "The single most important decision a mother can make is to develop her own life with God. Unless she nurtures herself spiritually first, she will have no base from which to have a positive spiritual influence on her children."
I knew this. The problem was, I was so distant that I couldn't see how deeply my addiction to TV was affecting me (or my family). Even when I wasn't actively listening to what was being said on the TV, it was still consuming the second space of my mind. What I mean is, there was never any quiet time in my head to think about or listen to God because there was always noise. Besides that, I didn't realize how much of what I was hearing throughout the day was infiltrating my mind. Culture influences us, especially when we spend a greater part of the day listening to it's "wisdom" rather than the LORD's. I counted on TV to be my companion, not God.
I wonder if postpartum would have been as hard if my spiritual life had been more in tact. That's not to say that postpartum depression is not real or that women don't have different degrees of it. It most certainly IS real, and I can't attribute the full scope of it to spiritual issues. I just wonder, for myself, how much my lack of listening and meditating contributed to the depths of my depression and lack of hope.
Someone whose spirit is not being fed is less patient, and therefore less loving, kind, and gentle. S/He will find that living in a state of peace and finding joy in everyday responsibilities and relationships is challenging, if not impossible. Think for a minute how this affects your family. I regret the time I've spent away from God. I've missed out on blessings, and have, no doubt, made things difficult for my family.
Fortunately, God didn't leave me alone. He placed in me the desire to turn off the TV. At the time, I thought it was for Beulah's sake. Now I realize that it was for my own, and in turn for my whole family. I know a lot of you were praying for me. You shared with me how much you have enjoyed living without TV, and I wanted that too. THANK YOU for your prayers! God made it easy for me to quit! After only a day or two without TV, I would consider watching it for 30 minutes or an hour while Beulah was sleeping and I was cleaning up. I would turn it on, and after 10 minutes I was uninterested or disgusted and had to turn it off. Instead, I've listened to sermons online or watched DVDs on parenting that have changed my life! (More on that in a future post.) These days, the only thing you'll see on the TV during the daytime is the Weather Channel. Beulah and I like the music. :)
If your prayer life and desire to read the Word is suffering, consider the source of the noise consuming your head space. If your spirit is crippled by a TV addiction like mine was, I challenge you to turn it off. Give it a week, and see what God does in your life. I feel like I have been revived, and I want that for you too.
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." Praise God!!
If you need help, check out Mark Driscoll's blog series Organizing a Silence and Solitude Day.
Since I stopped working full time in the summer of '08, thoughts of pregnancy, caring for a baby, and being a mom consumed me, I've regretted the fact that I haven't spent time in the Word. I blamed God, telling Him that He wasn't giving me the desire and saying, "I can't manufacture a desire, can I?" In other words, "What are YOU going to do about this?" I knew I needed it, but the blame was in the wrong place. I was just blind to the real reason I didn't have the desire at the time.
Looking back, I have realized that the one major contributor to my distance from God was television. I had no idea how much it was consuming my thought life and what a distraction it was to me. Breaking up with TV has been the best thing I've done for myself, my spirit, and my family.
Billy Graham said, "Mothers should cultivate their souls that in turn they may cultivate the souls of their children."
Jean Fleming, author of A Mother's Heart put it this way, "The single most important decision a mother can make is to develop her own life with God. Unless she nurtures herself spiritually first, she will have no base from which to have a positive spiritual influence on her children."
I knew this. The problem was, I was so distant that I couldn't see how deeply my addiction to TV was affecting me (or my family). Even when I wasn't actively listening to what was being said on the TV, it was still consuming the second space of my mind. What I mean is, there was never any quiet time in my head to think about or listen to God because there was always noise. Besides that, I didn't realize how much of what I was hearing throughout the day was infiltrating my mind. Culture influences us, especially when we spend a greater part of the day listening to it's "wisdom" rather than the LORD's. I counted on TV to be my companion, not God.
I wonder if postpartum would have been as hard if my spiritual life had been more in tact. That's not to say that postpartum depression is not real or that women don't have different degrees of it. It most certainly IS real, and I can't attribute the full scope of it to spiritual issues. I just wonder, for myself, how much my lack of listening and meditating contributed to the depths of my depression and lack of hope.
Someone whose spirit is not being fed is less patient, and therefore less loving, kind, and gentle. S/He will find that living in a state of peace and finding joy in everyday responsibilities and relationships is challenging, if not impossible. Think for a minute how this affects your family. I regret the time I've spent away from God. I've missed out on blessings, and have, no doubt, made things difficult for my family.
Fortunately, God didn't leave me alone. He placed in me the desire to turn off the TV. At the time, I thought it was for Beulah's sake. Now I realize that it was for my own, and in turn for my whole family. I know a lot of you were praying for me. You shared with me how much you have enjoyed living without TV, and I wanted that too. THANK YOU for your prayers! God made it easy for me to quit! After only a day or two without TV, I would consider watching it for 30 minutes or an hour while Beulah was sleeping and I was cleaning up. I would turn it on, and after 10 minutes I was uninterested or disgusted and had to turn it off. Instead, I've listened to sermons online or watched DVDs on parenting that have changed my life! (More on that in a future post.) These days, the only thing you'll see on the TV during the daytime is the Weather Channel. Beulah and I like the music. :)
If your prayer life and desire to read the Word is suffering, consider the source of the noise consuming your head space. If your spirit is crippled by a TV addiction like mine was, I challenge you to turn it off. Give it a week, and see what God does in your life. I feel like I have been revived, and I want that for you too.
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." Praise God!!
If you need help, check out Mark Driscoll's blog series Organizing a Silence and Solitude Day.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Beulah, 9 Months!
This is SUCH fun age! Beulah seems happier every day, and it's obvious to everyone who sees her. When we're out, strangers say, "She's the happiest baby!" One night we were seated in the middle of a restaurant, watching our 8.5 month old literally work the room! She made every single person in the place smile at her, and when the servers walked by, she clapped! It is such a joy to watch and enjoy her and see others enjoying her.
Beulah's first Christmas was awesome! We were in GA, and of course, she was the center of attention. Eight to nine months is the perfect age for Christmas and opening presents (see video). She didn't understand why she couldn't eat the paper, but she loved tearing it and climbing on (or in) the boxes (see pictures and video). Again, who needs toys?! Actually, I never really considered how important toys are to a child's development before Beulah, but it's amazing to see how they help her accomplish new skills everyday. Beulah's new favorite toy is her Learn & Groove Musical Table by Leap Frog (see pictures and video). It is SO fun to watch her cruise around the table playing with the different instruments. It has really helped strengthen her legs and back as she stands at the table to play, not to mention her hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect. This is by far my favorite toy of hers. I would recommend it to anyone with a child 7+ months old.
Beulah also got a walker to push around the room (see video). She's doing really good! It won't be long now before she starts taking steps on her own! She's really good at cruising from one piece of furniture to another, and sometimes she lets go for a second or two! She also climbed the stairs at her Uncle Mike and Aunt Ria's! Thanks to her other toys from friends and family, she's also learned to put objects into a container, and even plays games with us. She'll play peek-a-boo with her bib, pulling it up over her face until she hears, "Where's Beulah?" at which time she pulls it down and laughs. So fun!! She learned another game from her Paw Paw (my dad). He rolled her little miniature wagon around, and each time it passed her she'd either put her toy in it or take it out. She will also offer me her spoon, which I take with my mouth, then I offer it back to her. It's a fun, hands free game we like to play. She's learned to mimic certain gestures, like waving, clapping, and sticking out her tongue, and she can respond to instruction. She claps and waves when we ask her to, and she stops when she hears us say, "No!" "Danger!" or "Not for baby!"
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES (besides everything mentioned above!)
*Beulah will pull up on something (usually her music table), and start bobbin' her head like she's groovin' (see video)!
*She sits on her bottom with her legs straight out and repeatedly raises and lowers her right leg, tapping her heel on the floor.
*She likes to make hissing sounds like she's whispering.
*Sometimes she'll hold her hand up and tuck her chin down as if to say, "Thank ya. Thank ya very much." It's especially funny if she's just finished playing music on her music table.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH LAUGH/SMILE
*When she hears Daddy's keys in the door, she looks at me and smiles and then crawls as fast as she can to the door. Precious!
*Beulah has had the opportunity to spend time with both our families over the holidays, and recognizes them enough now to get really excited when she sees her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So sweet.
Beulah's first Christmas was awesome! We were in GA, and of course, she was the center of attention. Eight to nine months is the perfect age for Christmas and opening presents (see video). She didn't understand why she couldn't eat the paper, but she loved tearing it and climbing on (or in) the boxes (see pictures and video). Again, who needs toys?! Actually, I never really considered how important toys are to a child's development before Beulah, but it's amazing to see how they help her accomplish new skills everyday. Beulah's new favorite toy is her Learn & Groove Musical Table by Leap Frog (see pictures and video). It is SO fun to watch her cruise around the table playing with the different instruments. It has really helped strengthen her legs and back as she stands at the table to play, not to mention her hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect. This is by far my favorite toy of hers. I would recommend it to anyone with a child 7+ months old.
Beulah also got a walker to push around the room (see video). She's doing really good! It won't be long now before she starts taking steps on her own! She's really good at cruising from one piece of furniture to another, and sometimes she lets go for a second or two! She also climbed the stairs at her Uncle Mike and Aunt Ria's! Thanks to her other toys from friends and family, she's also learned to put objects into a container, and even plays games with us. She'll play peek-a-boo with her bib, pulling it up over her face until she hears, "Where's Beulah?" at which time she pulls it down and laughs. So fun!! She learned another game from her Paw Paw (my dad). He rolled her little miniature wagon around, and each time it passed her she'd either put her toy in it or take it out. She will also offer me her spoon, which I take with my mouth, then I offer it back to her. It's a fun, hands free game we like to play. She's learned to mimic certain gestures, like waving, clapping, and sticking out her tongue, and she can respond to instruction. She claps and waves when we ask her to, and she stops when she hears us say, "No!" "Danger!" or "Not for baby!"
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES (besides everything mentioned above!)
*Beulah will pull up on something (usually her music table), and start bobbin' her head like she's groovin' (see video)!
*She sits on her bottom with her legs straight out and repeatedly raises and lowers her right leg, tapping her heel on the floor.
*She likes to make hissing sounds like she's whispering.
*Sometimes she'll hold her hand up and tuck her chin down as if to say, "Thank ya. Thank ya very much." It's especially funny if she's just finished playing music on her music table.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH LAUGH/SMILE
*When she hears Daddy's keys in the door, she looks at me and smiles and then crawls as fast as she can to the door. Precious!
*Beulah has had the opportunity to spend time with both our families over the holidays, and recognizes them enough now to get really excited when she sees her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So sweet.
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