My Prayer

As a mom, there are many dreams that I have for my children. As a mom, I also know that there is little I can control over these dreams, since they are my dreams and not theirs. I do have prayers for my children. One is Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT)

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

What are your prayers for your children?

The Mark Of The Lion Trilogy

I read this set at Christmas time. I read it in 4 days. Can you imagine, a mother of 3 kids reading non-stop for 4 days. I can't do it very often, but it was like taking a mini-vacation. I took care of the kids' needs and it was back to the book.

I just can't stop thinking about the story. It is so beautifully written. Kirk got this set for me for Christmas in 1999. This is just the second time that I have read it. It is a love story, but it isn't as much as a human love story, than it is about God's love. There is action and historical facts, I think that even men would enjoy it. I truly recommend it.

My Grunter

As many of you know, my 23 month old son doesn't talk. He grunts, points, and uses sign language. He understands a lot of what we say to him, but he has no interest in making any distinct sounds. There are times that I worry about him - did he hit his head too much as a baby? I went online to see if I could find any answers. One article I read said not to worry and one said that I should worry. I am going to post the article that is more positive. It really fits my son to a "T."

Judith Hudson, developmental psychologist

Although it's not typical, your 2-year-old's situation is not necessarily cause for great concern, either. Some more cautious and reserved 2-year-olds tend to wait until they understand a great deal of what they hear before they actually speak. Look for these signs of language readiness:

• Does your child point to objects? Pointing to a toy he wants or to a picture in a book is closely related to the beginning of actual speech.

• Does he seem to understand what you say? Does he react when you call his name when you're out of sight? The ability to understand language precedes the ability to talk. If your child seems to comprehend a great deal of what others are saying, he's well on his way to talking.

• Does your child use gestures and facial expressions to communicate? Many kids communicate what they need nonverbally, and in fact most 2-year-olds develop a host of nonverbal signals.

• Does your child grunt? Research shows that the little grunts 2-year-olds make while pointing to pictures or playing with their toys are actually a kind of commentary. Children who aren't yet talking and don't grunt are more likely to later be diagnosed with a language delay.

If your child isn't showing these signs of readiness, you may want to make an appointment for a speech and hearing screening. Talk with his pediatrician, and, if he's in preschool, with his teacher. His preschool may refer you to an early speech and language intervention program (usually coordinated through the county or public school system) that will provide a free speech and language screening. Or his doctor can refer you to a private speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. In general, the earlier a language delay is detected, the easier it is to treat. Many language problems can be treated effectively during the preschool years so that your child will have no long-term deficits.

babycenter.com

Christmas

My parents flew to California and surprised us for Christmas. What a special surprise. Thanks mom and dad!

I hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas and are enjoying the New Year of 2008!