38 weeks and counting

I don't think I've even blogged about the fact that we have little babe #5 on the way! Here he or she comes! I'm excited. Official due date is 11/10/14. November is a good month. Faustina and Jude came a couple weeks early. Benedict and Agatha actually came right now their due dates. It is a waiting game to see when this little person wants to make an appearance!

I'm excited to meet this new personality. We, of course, do not have a name - we surprise ourselves with that in the hospital. We don't know gender. And we really don't know what life will look like with 5 little people in the house - except that it will be busy!

I can't complain - I feel great. Thankfully. Oh, sounds like I better go attend to Benedict and see what he is up to. He.....needs a lot of attention these days being 2 1/2 years old...and just being Benedict!

Here is a picture of baby during the last stretch. I'm not a big 'take picture of the belly/pregnant lady' person. But it is good to document one or two, I suppose. Looks like I need to clean our mirror....

The Biker Boy

Benedict absolutely LOVES His bike that Grandpa Lee and Terry got for him. He is very possessive of it and he tells everyone that Grandpa got it for him. He rides it all over the house and he cruises down hills outside.....really fast. I watch him knowing that I am unable to stop him, and I just waiting for him to crash, but he hasn't yet. It, actually, is very amusing to watch him. He has this bike mastered (it is a little bike that has no wheels teaching kids to balance) and he swerves all over the place, stops likes a pro and, again, goes incredibly fast. I must say, it is one of the best gifts our kids have been given. Thanks, Grandpa Lee!

Here is a video of Benedict riding out in front of the house.

Our Business Man

Here is Jude on his first day of school!

Jude's first day of school he walked down the stairs in his uniform and asked, "Do I look like a business man, Mom?!"

I was planning on having Jude at home this year with Benedict and Agatha. I, actually, bought a couple history books and reading books with plans in mind to work with him on some lessons while the two younger kids napped.

Alas, there was something else in store for him!

A friend called and we were presented with an opportunity to send Jude to a Seton Montesorri School. I had already known about the school - we know the founder's family; and I had heard many good things about it. Well, a long story short, it has turned into an incredibly blessing to have Jude there this year. The school is for 3-5 year olds and the second half of the day is only for 5 year olds - so for 3 hours Jude is with 2 other kids basically getting one-on-one tutoring. The montessori style of learning is very hands on which Jude really loves (it is actually very endearing - you walk into the class room and EVERYTHING is only about knee high!).

I can tell that the wheels in his mind are turning differently after having been at the school for a couple of weeks. He asks more specific questions, I can hear him trying to sound out words, he notices numbers more and asks about math, he asks to do more tasks and has even more confidence. One aspect that montessori schools focus on is 'order' - and I can tell that Jude readily puts his things away now as more of a habit and keeps his things more tidy. He came home the other day and rushed to the bathroom sink to do experiments with his toys about 'sinking' and 'floating'. He was picking up leaves in our yard and telling me about them.

It really is fun to see the kids learning and witness them explore the world!