Several people have asked if Vivienne and I are still working on 100 Lessons and Learning at Home.

The short answer is: No.

At Christmas time, I put an official pause on both books since I figured we’d be learning plenty through the holidays and the baby’s arrival. I wasn’t sure if I could keep up with the lessons with all the goings-on. Besides, when I asked Vivienne why she suddenly wasn’t enthusiastically asking about letter sounds and word structure (“Have I discouraged you, honey?”) she knowingly answered, “Let’s wait until I’m three, Mom.” Right-ho. How could I have forgotten that you’re only two?! I figure we’ll start back up in the fall when she’s the ripe old age of three.

So, instead of being drilled for hours at the kitchen table (just kidding: she was not drilled for hours), Viv’s been getting crash-courses in “Entertaining Oneself” and “Baby Care 101”. I’m liking the “curriculum”; the way I see it, these are two very valuable skills to acquire!

I’ve been thumbing through Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready for weekly suggestions for enjoying and encouraging Lia’s development. Viv loves the ideas and jumps right in. Sometimes we have to make things to dangle in front of Lia (like an aluminum-foil purse or a stuffed sock-ball) or we have to observe Lia’s responses (to a voice, a rattle, or the chaotic bobbing light from Vivienne’s enthusiastic flashlight). It’s a fun way for Viv to play safely with Lia while learning how to serve and teach her at the same time. It’s also fun for me to watch Lia develop an adoring love for Vivienne; she arches her back to follow Viv’s voice across the room. As her eyes adjust from Viv’s energetic stimulation, she must be thinking, “I don’t know what she was trying to do with that flashlight, but she is sooo cool!”