Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

The Joy of Reading!

From the time my daughter was in my womb, I dreamt of time spent together reading books. I yearned for it. I just couldn't wait to snuggle together in bed, and read. I had it all planned out. I had started my collection of books long before I even got pregnant. I love love love children's books. I was thrilled to receive so many great books as baby shower gifts, and I continued to search down good deals. (By the way, Goodwill and stores like that ROCK for books!)A few nights a week, I'd lay in bed and read, "Guess How Much I Love You" to my big old belly. It made me smile.

When Sugar Bear was only a few months old I started reading to her. Sadly, she didn't take to it very quickly, as some babies do. She only wanted to turn the pages, and hardly even look at the pictures. Some infants love to lay there and listen to the rhythmic words. Not my Sugar. There was absolutely NO WAY she would allow me to read the words. When she finally started have more interest in the books near the age of one, she only enjoyed looking at the pictures, and identifying the objects. She loved real picture books. There was a big period in her little life that she devoured picture books. Every day, on the way to and from work, she would sit in her car seat and read. She obviously doesn't take after her carsick prone mama, because it would NOT be pretty if I tried to ride backwards and read. Just thinking about it makes me nauseous. At this time, she continued to not let me read the words. She had none of it. If I even started to read the words she would turn the page. Every night before bed we would together flip through 3-5 of her books. The only book she'd allow me to even come close to reading was, "Goodnight Moon."

Then at about 25 months, she took an unexpected turn. She stopped having any interest in books at all. She didn't care to even look at her books anymore. She did not want to read them in the car, and she certainly did not want me to look at them with her before bed. I really was NOT prepared for this. I have no idea what happened, but it was almost overnight. Being the totally cool mom that I am, I stifled my FREAK OUT fear and just let her take the lead. Every night after we got her jammies on I would say, "Honey, pick out your books for mama to read." and she would politely say, "No hanks, mama! Just Na Na's!" (Na Na's=nursing, in case you were wondering) So, I would simply say, "Okay Honey!", and we would skip the books. I have to admit it was hard to accept her craziness decision, as I sat there imagining her brain cells withering. I just hoped and trusted that if I kept offering she would someday come back to the stories we loved.

Sure enough about two months ago, she started pulling her books out during the day and looking at them again. She began to slowly ask me to sit with her and READ them. OH.MY.GOODNESS...she actually wanted me to READ them. Oh the JOY!!!! Seriously folks! I have been doing a little dance about this. It isn't a pretty dance, but it is the best I can do. I am loving it. Every night, after getting her jammies on I say, "Honey, please pick out 4 stories. Only 4 please!" and she proceeds to pick out at least 7, and I have to help her weed them down. It is a hard job, but somebody has to do it, if I ever want to see "So You Think You Can Dance" on time. tee hee....I'm only half kidding.

This is BLISS! She may have walked away from books for nearly 6 months, but when she came back to them, she had matured, and is hungry for the words now. I have found my stride. I have started using different voices for the characters. I love how it makes her giggle, and beg for me to read it "ONE MORE TIME!" We are just having too much fun. Just as I always knew we would. Life is GOOD!

Stayed tuned for the Week's Four For Friday. I will be featuring four of Sugar Bear's favorite books these days. You wouldn't want to miss out on that, now would you?

10 Live It or Love It:

Heidi said...

She obviously doesn't take after her carsick prone mama, because it would NOT be pretty if I tried to ride backwards and read. Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.

LOL me too, i can get SO sick in the car!

How sweet you get to read to her again, I loved reading all about it!

Michelle said...

Me three on the car sickness!! That's why it's so hard for me on long road trips, and even flying! I just can't read as it makes me sick!

We're big book lovers here too and read to Kayla before her nap and bedtime (and in between time when she brings us a book). Joe read a couple big books (The Hobbit) to my belly when I was pg (I'm so sad he's going to be deployed for 4 months and won't get to do much of that this time around!)

Glad to hear she came around and is enjoying her books again!

Laura said...

Oh YAY!!! I'm so happy for you, Corey! I know how much joy comes from snuggling up on the couch with your girl and reading together. I hope this is a phase that lasts and lasts for you!

Deb said...

I love to read too and I think my kids have gone through every stage you mentioned at one age or another. My older kids love being read to now and my littlest one loves sitting on my lap turning pages as I try to get a word in edgewise, LOL.

Ugh, I'd be carsick with that too! :)

Meghan said...

That's awesome, Corey! How cool that you guys are getting to share that now.

I felt exactly the same way when I found out I was pregnant... I couldn't wait to READ to Xan. I even bought the entire Chronicles of Narnia books on CD to play to my belly (because, you know, I was too tired to actually READ, lmao).

Now I can't wait 'til he's old enough to start reading Harry Potter to him. Yeah, I've got some time to wait... I know.

Maude Lynn said...

I read to my pregnant belly, too. Little House In The Big Woods and The Hobbit.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Can't remember if I've posted this so if I've done it twice can you delete one or I'll feel like a goon.
You have an award over at
www.jobeaufoix.com.

Come and collect it if you get chance.
I love this post.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Ahhh, now I look mad.
Ah well, hee hee.

Grandmother Wren said...

Love it!
Reading with your child is one of the best gifts you can give her -
it is so much easier when she is willing to receive it! (they can be contrary little spuds, can't they???)
Enjoy her new love of books!

Anonymous said...

I love reading with the kids! I'm so glad your daughter is enjoying it, too!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Blog Archive

Love It!

Adoring Fans

Recent Reads

For a list of books I read from 9/14/09 until 9/14/10 go HERE!


For a list of books I read from 9/14/10 until 9/14/11 go HERE!


For a list of books I read from 9/14/11 until 9/14/12 go HERE!

Books starting 9/14/12


“Monsters of Men” by Patrick Ness

“Gregor and The Prophecy of Bane” by Suzanne Collins



www.GabriellasHeart.com Photobucket

Visits to my blog

Blog Styled by:

Analytics

Blog Styled by: NW Designs

  © Blogger Template by 'Photoblog II' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP