reading :)

Reading is really starting to click for Meredith.  It's been such a fun year to see her work at it and for the elements to begin to make sense.  Lately she's been making leaps and bounds in her progress!

I love this moment! I suggested we take a stack of books outside to read during our afternoon quiet time.  While I put some groceries away, Meredith got all the supplies, and settled down with her sisters to begin....and they added some extra snuggles and giggles for good measure. :)

sisters reading

We have the typical older sister and younger sister roles playing out as our girls grow these days.  Here Meredith announces, "Eliza, I'm going to read you a story."  Then she gathers a book or two and plops down next to wee Wren (who is usually happily playing nearby) and begins. :)  

Wren's Sunday best

Eliza Wren wore her sweet, handmade sweater from Carol today for church. 

 Just a few days before her 1st birthday! :)

Reading with Leah

Meredith shares her love of reading with Leah, a good friend who lives close by.  

What naturally follows a good reading session...snuggling in bed with stuffed animals.

Frog and Toad

More and more Meredith loves to read on her own.  Often we find her happily reading to herself...I caught this video a few days ago of her reading through our "Frog and Toad" book. :)

Storm Day #2

Yesterday Erik was home again due to public transit still being down from the storm.  We miraculously made it through hurricane Sandy without loosing power!  Philly wasn't hit as hard as NJ and NYC, that's for sure.  We are thankful.

Peter Spier's Rain  is a current favorite of Meredith's - such great pictures!

...the balancing act...how many people can fit?!?

Meredith was a big helper to Daddy.

Mid-morning snack after Mama's nap #1 (yes, I was living it up having Erik home!)

A late afternoon grocery store shopping trip was made by Meredith - just in time for dinner!

Experimenting

I had another random free find a few weekends ago....a sweet chair, just the size for MJ to curl up and read in. In fact, as soon as we brought it in the door, Meredith promptly brought her dollie and had her own reading session there for the next half hour.

So...since the chair was already so well-loved by the wee one in this home, we decided it needed a facelift in order to stay around. :) Erik went to work pulling it apart this weekend to see if we could experiment with recovering it on our own. I had some IKEA fabric I'd had for a few years now...waiting for the right project. We had just enough fabric, so on Saturday evening Erik and I had a date-in evening and worked on the chair together.

And now...we have a jazzy "new" chair for MJ to read in! :)

reading :)

MJ is enthralled with her board books lately. Often, I peek in on her in our sunroom, surrounded by dozens of books she's pulled from the shelves. She's sitting there quietly turning the pages and looking at all the pictures. Sometimes she babbles a little - she's reading to herself!! :)

Yesterday I caught these photos before she realized I was looking over her shoulder....

"Hey, Mama!"

...I'm just readin' ;)

Reading with Granna

Meredith loves reading time!