The Importance of Reading Aloud

Our wonderful friends sent us a book called The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It's all about the importance of reading aloud to your children. Yes, it's a book about reading books. OK, OK I know. But it's actually very insightful! The book includes numerous studies that document the benefits of reading aloud to your children, and continuing to read aloud through high school. Studies show children learn to read well and are more interested in reading when they are regularly read to. They get better test scores, and get into better colleges etc. One important point the book explains is that children want to be like their parents. If your child sees you reading, he will want to read too. So make an effort to not only read to your children, but read in front of your children.

Trelease also provides a large list of age-appropriate books. The book might be worth it if only for this list alone. For Gabriel's age, the best books are picture books that rhyme or are predictable. That's why Dr. Seuss is such a hit, along with Sandra Boynton and P.D. Eastman. Until he's two years old, it's important to re-read the same selection of books to him, rather than read a huge collection of books only a few times each. Young children need things repeated to them in order for it to sink in. So I've started reading his favorite books (the ones that hold his attention) more often, and sometimes two or three times in one sitting.

Right now, we're reading to Gabriel at least 30 minutes each day accumulated. We read before naps and bedtime and at random times throughout the day. He LOVES reading time. When we stop reading he starts crying. Of course, that might be because he doesn't want to go to bed. :) During reading time, he usually sits and looks at the pictures, occasionally reaching out to feel the pages. If there's a picture that's really bright or stands out from the rest of the page, he wants to feel it. We've set up a wish list on Amazon called Gabriel's Bookshelf. It's our collection of desired books that are recommended from The Read-Aloud Handbook as well as other sources.

One of Gabriel's favorite books right now is Geena Giraffe Gets Tucked In. We've preserved the memory of this book in a video.



We have also started going to the library regularly to see if they have any good books. Sadly, I am not impressed with the selection. I've been trying to find some sort of discount book club online, where I can purchase new books for a cheaper price. No luck yet. If anyone knows of a good recourse, please share! Since I plan to buy a lot of books over the next couple of decades, I need to find a more cost effective way to purchase them. There is one site I've found that will do a search for the book you're looking for and tell you what your cheapest option is for an online purchase. If you're interested it's http://www.booksprice.com/.

Free Birthday Stuff! Or at least very cheap.

There are so many coupons and free things to be had on your birthday. I made it my mission to enjoy as many of them as I could. I signed up for anything I enjoyed that would give me something for my birthday. There were actually so many offers, that I didn't have enough time to enjoy them all. So I picked the ones I liked best. Most of these are through email. I actually have a separate email account for stuff like this.

FREE IHOP Rutti Tutti Fresh and Fruity - eggs, bacon, sausage, and buttermilk pancakes (I switched out the meat for some hash browns because they are my favorite)
I started eating it before I remembered to take a picture. I was working my way through the pancakes when Richard snapped one for the blog.

FREE Starbucks coffee any size/flavor - I got a venti size of their new salted caramel mocha. After I drank half of it, I realized I forgot to ask for decaf. Let's just say Gabriel was WIRED later that day!

FREE Baskin Robins ice cream - Strawberry

FREE Auntie Anne's pretzel - BOGO

FREE Sephora Birthday Shampoo

$5 DSW coupon - I bought socks

15% off Anthropology coupon - head band

Banana Republic 15% off coupon - I actually got a better deal than the coupon, because I waited for the sale. But here's what I got. Black jeans and a belt.

 

Cheesecake Factory ice cream sunday - I still got a cheesecake too of course!

So Cheesy

Mozzarella Cheese that is.

Cakes From Before the Blog

Here are some cakes I've done before I started blogging about them.

Father's Day cake

Baby Shower

Bridal Shower

Baby Shower

Baby Shower

Gender Reveal

Baby Shower

Playing with my camera - Cute baby shots

I'm starting to get interested in learning how to take better pictures. After all, Richard has a Canon DSLR, which can take great shots if I learn how to use it. So I looked up some YouTube videos and started learning about ISO, aperture and shutter speed. I don't really know what I'm doing. I just started playing around. Here are some shots I took.

Yes, I gave Gabriel a mohawk. :)

This is a new hat I just got him. SUPER cute!

Notice there are two baby toys on the floor, and he goes for the cardboard box. Typical.

Gabriel's First Tooth!

I am SO excited that my baby just got his first tooth! Now I understand why he was so fussy yesterday. He kept waking up from his naps. I was able to get a couple shots of the little guy poking through his gums.

8 Month Picture

Snapped this today, just to document what my baby looks like at 8 months. Chubby and cute. What's that? A book? Oh, he's a smart one too!