Daley Ponderings | Jonathan

Bits of Intelligence

I have been teaching Jonathan using a not-so-intense version of the programs recommended by The Institutes. I'm adding this post here, because I want to give updates as a kind of diary. But I wanted to clarify in public why I am doing it.

If it really does work, what better and easier way to learn things? We have fun - I never force him to do anything. My intention is to give him the opportunity to learn interesting things. My goal is not to create a "super baby." It is to have fun with my baby while teaching him about God's world. Here's a paragraph from an email my mom sent me, which sums it up well:

"He's obviously such a bright boy (almost all babies are, but of course our grandson is even brighter :) ), and I'm sure he's learning SO much -- but here's the wonderful thing: whether or not the process "works" the way the IAHP thinks it does, aren't the two of you having a blast, anyway? I know I am, even long distance. Does it matter whether or not they are right in their theories about the brain? In one sense it does, but in another, not at all. You can develop any theory you want about how gravity works, and argue all day long, but still -- the apple falls!"

Posted by Heather Daley on November 2, 2004, 1:04 pm | Read 8999 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Mid-Night Bath

Thursday night, Jonathan was crying for hours, which is completely unlike him. At about 2am, he threw up all over himself, me, and the bed. We went upstairs for a bath/shower to clean up, while Jon (dear heart!) changed the sheets. After that, Jonathan slept fine. We did have a hard day Friday running on less sleep.

Posted by Heather Daley on November 2, 2004, 1:01 pm | Read 2229 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Good Kick!

Jonathan is amazingly adept at kicking a ball. We have fun playing "soccer" together, and he usually kicks the ball straighter than I do! He always uses his right foot, and if the ball is not in the right position, he will use his hands to either position it or push it away.

Posted by Heather Daley on November 2, 2004, 1:01 pm | Read 2064 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Chase

Jonathan likes to be chased. Especially fun is for Mommy or Daddy to get on hands and knees - then he (nearly) runs away and giggles all the while.

Posted by Heather Daley on November 2, 2004, 1:00 pm | Read 2253 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Signing, finally!

I had just told my friend yesterday that I was getting discouraged about signing because Jonathan was not doing any except for an isolated sign here and there.

Then today, he distinctly signed for "milk" several times! The first time, he was cranky and I asked him what he needed. I said, "do you want milk, or a diaper change?" I neglected to sign either of those. He responded by signing "milk" and eagerly nursed when I gave it to him. Hooray!

Posted by Heather Daley on October 27, 2004, 5:03 pm | Read 2306 times | Comments (1)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Hello

This afternoon, Jonathan walked around the dining room table, and when he got back to where I was, I said, "Hello!" He immediately said, "hebbwo!"

Posted by Heather Daley on October 27, 2004, 5:01 pm | Read 2357 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Getting off the Bed

In a recent post, I mentioned that our bed is a little too high for Jonathan to comfortably get off by himself. So today, I took the bed off the frame (and took the legs off the headboard, which was quite the job by myself, I should have waited for Jon to come home, but it's already done.)

Jonathan then practiced several times. He still requires much encouragement, and he gets nervous when he starts to slide. He is then pleasantly surprised when his feet hit the ground before he loses his grip on the covers.

Posted by Heather Daley on October 27, 2004, 4:56 pm | Read 2300 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Vacuum Cleaner

On Monday, which is my vacuuming day, I did two floors while Jonathan took a nap. Then for the other two floors, he was awake, but he was content to be out of the backpack - which is a great help to my energy!

As always, I warned him when I was going to turn it on. Usually, he would run away when it came on, and then come back when it looked safe (ie, Mommy had not gotten eaten.) He would alternately follow closely and run away.

But I consider this a great step forward because he is getting heavy!

Posted by Heather Daley on October 27, 2004, 4:52 pm | Read 2230 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Open and Close

Jonathan likes to watch me "take the diapers out of the washer and put them into the dryer." This evening, he closed the dryer door before I had finished transferring the diapers. So I asked him to please open the door, and he did! Then, when I had finished, I said, "ok, now it is time to close the door. Will you please close the door?" And he did!
One educational opportunity missed if we had a diaper service. (:

Posted by Heather Daley on October 14, 2004, 5:45 pm | Read 2434 times | Comments (1)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Games

Jonathan and I now have this fun game where we sit on the bed and fall back. He will do this by himself now, and he thinks it's very funny. Also, the other day, he did several practice trials of getting off the bed feet first. It's still a little high for him to comfortably get all the way on his own, so we're going to take the bed off the frame soon. He likes to walk on the uneven and unsteady surface of the bed, and he is quite aware and careful of the edge now.

Posted by Heather Daley on October 14, 2004, 4:43 pm | Read 4102 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Talking in His Sleep

At some point in the middle of the night, Jonathan, in a sing-song quiet voice, said, "Hi-eye, oh, bdoy" It was cute.

Posted by Heather Daley on October 13, 2004, 8:51 am | Read 3219 times | Comments (1)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Oh, Yeah!

That's Jonathan's favorite phrase nowadays. He says it while walking, while looking at lights, and at other random times. Somtimes it's "ooh yeah" sometimes "ho yeah" but it sure sounds like any teenager to me. (:

Posted by Heather Daley on October 7, 2004, 7:03 pm | Read 9945 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Light Switches

Jonathan can now flip the light switches in both directions. He also continues to enjoy pulling the chain switches.

Posted by Heather Daley on October 6, 2004, 12:10 pm | Read 2546 times | Comments (0)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Stairs

Jonathan fell down one whole flight of stairs all by himself this afternoon. ): All three of us were up in the computer room, and he was happily exploring the floor. Then Jon said, "is something burning?" and I suddenly recalled that I had been making dinner. I rushed downstairs, and in my hurry, did not close the gate behind me. Jon continued doing computer stuff, and Jonathan continued exploring. I took care of the burnt lentils and started making some more. Then we heard three or four thump, bumps, and then crying. When I heard Jon run down the stairs, I knew that Jonathan had fallen down them (and not some other falling.) Jon picked him up, and I came too. Praise God, only one goose egg and a few abrasions on his head, some abrasions on his mouth, and a fat lip. Jon thought there was some bleeding in his mouth, but it stopped before we could look again. After he calmed down, we noted that everything he did was normal - nothing broken or funny. He can walk and pick up things, and all the usual. He does like chewing on the ice pops, though. Rather heartwrenching, I must say.

Posted by Heather Daley on September 21, 2004, 7:29 pm | Read 2989 times | Comments (1)
Category Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]

Lead Results

Dr.Anderson called and said that Jonathan's lead came back 9.2. That's below their threshold of 10, but still some, so he said to be careful, make sure we wash his toys and keep the rugs vacuumed and watch out where he plays. Jon isn't really satisfied with that and said he'd call him to see what he'd recommend if Jonathan's levels were over 10.

Posted by Heather Daley on September 20, 2004, 4:36 pm | Read 2744 times | Comments (8)
Category General: [first] [previous] [next] [newest] Jonathan: [first] [previous] [next] [newest]