Reading Aloud/Finally Walking

Noah, I love that tonight at bedtime, you spontaneously opened this book here---

And began reading. Out loud. And wanted me to stay to let you keep reading it to me. I love that you managed 85% of the words. And though you are mostly a memory-reader right now, I love that the more you practice it, the more the words are actually seeping into your brain and REAL reading is happening. I am amazed.

I watched your small face as you concentrated, and I marveled at your beautiful eyes, your bones, your soft hair, and that you have become a BOY, not a little one. And I stared and felt so much love for you. For your mind. Your sweet individuality. 

Thanks for reading, little man. I am in awe that you're at this place already, and doing so well. 

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[I am chagrined, however, that I didn't run right to my journal the other month and IMMEDIATELY write down the date that you read your FIRST full book to me. Bears on Wheels. For your first attempt ever at reading a book out loud, I was AMAZED and on cloud nine. It took several minutes and several assists, but my gosh you were doing it! Suddenly, and without warning, you were ready to jump into reading. I don't have the actual date, but it was July sometime, at bedtime. I cheered so loudly for you that even Dad heard, downstairs. I am writing it now, so I don't lose even that much of the memory.]



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Lucy, I love how today as we walked back to our car from walking Noah to preschool, you let me hand you a sprig of thyme and you held it and explored it the whole way. I love how those new Mary Jane shoes look on your now-walking feet (you've been getting to 100% walking status all week! You're nearly there, at about 90% walking). I love that you love your stroller and your brother and our walks and that you gesture towards any bird you see with your little pincer fingers rapidly signing, "tweet tweet tweet" as you chirp with your small voice, "Teet! Teet!" I love that it was brisk enough this morning for you to wear that cabled pink sweater jacket and that you let me put a flower-barrette in your blonde curls and only pulled it out twice all day. I love every detail of you right now. Every last one.