Deirdre, Author at JDaniel4s Mom

Deirdre Smith writes/owns JDaniel4’s Mom. After twenty years as a elementary school and technology resource teacher in Northern Virginia, she became a stay at home mom in upstate South Carolina. Her blog features ways she and her 5 year old are exploring learning, crafting, creating healthy meals and living life to its fullest. Deirdre can also be found on twitter as @jdaniel4smom and on her blog's FB page. You can also check her out on Google+.

Read.Explore.Learn.- Dr. Seuss and the Zoo

March 4, 2011 By Deirdre

Welcome to Read. Explore. Learn! This meme was designed to be a place for you to share the learning opportunities, crafts, field trips, and other activities you have done this week that tie-in to children’s books. I look forward to seeing ways you have learned with and explored books.

Steps:

Link your activity below.

Please place the Read.Explore.Learn. the badge on your post or create a link back to this meme.

Please try to visit at least three of the other people that have placed links below and leave a comment. I will visit each of you and leave a kind comment and Stumble your post.

If you are not linking up an activity and are just visiting, please try to stop by a few of the links below.
I would love a comment too.

My Book Tie-Ins of the Week:

JDaniel loves If I Ran the Zoo. It is about a little boy who has grand ideas about the animals he would have in his zoo. He would let go of all the common animals that everyone has heard of and find the most unique and usual animals he can. JDaniel loves all the fun animals and the rhymes in this book.

What did we do?

Field Trip to the Zoo

We went to Zoo Atlanta last Friday and had the best time. JDaniel really stopped to look at the animals and what they were doing. He asked questions about many of them. Usually he walks right past the animals and heads for the play areas at zoo.

Curious George had a whole episode on visiting a dragon at the zoo. We needed to see one too.

This pigeon was his favorite animal of all.

Field Trip to Target

Last Saturday we went to the Target Dr. Seuss Event. JDaniel and my nephew Kevin had a great time listening to stories and enjoying the items in the goodie bags they received.

This post is also linked to Feed Me Friday.

How Has The Blog Changed In A Year?

March 3, 2011 By Deirdre

This time last year JDaniel4’ Mom was in a totally different place than it is this year. Just has JDaniel has grown and learned new things since he turned two this time last year the blog has done that too.

When I started the blog, I really hadn’t spent time exploring other blogs and setting measurable goals for its success. I just started blogging to build community with other people. I wrote to a weekly theme because as a teacher I had taught to one. Posts were about great deals I found of the web, lessons I was learning as a mom, finger plays, craft, recipes, and anything else that came into my mind. This time last year the blog was nine months old and I was still in blogging niche limbo.

I did finally find a couple of memes to join. I visited everyone that linked to each of them. Visiting people’s blog would draw traffic I had read so I visited. Most of JDaniel’s naptime was spent visiting.

After awhile I sought a group that I could interact with and grow as a writer by being a part of it. Thank goodness I came across posts linked to Jenny Matlock’s Alphabe-Thursday, The Writer’s Workshop and a few other writing workshop type memes. I joined them and it has really changed what I post about each week. It has encouraged me as a writer. I have learned by reading others wonderful posts.

It has also allowed me more time to write. Knowing the Matlockians and other great blogging friends will stop by has me less panicked about whether people will stop to read what I have written.

I am not a big time blogger with tons of comments and amazing stats. Thank goodness! It would take me forever to respond to all those comments.

I do have the best set of commenters in blogdom! Many have been with me since the beginning cheering me on. You really are the best!

I couldn’t end this post without mentioning the wonderful societies that I have discovered in the past year. The blog has grown due to lessons the bloggers in the have taught me. I hesitate to list them for fear that one of you may comment that they haven’t really done that for me. You can view them on the left hand side of the blog.

I will mention the Mom Loop Community on BlogFrog. When I was asked to be a co-community leader at Mom Loop last spring, it totally changed the way I viewed my blog. I really try and think about Mom Loop when I make decisions about the blog. Being a positive and contributing member of the leadership team is really important to me. I really don’t want people scratch their heads and wonder how I ended up getting to work with the rest of the amazing bloggers that are on the team.

There is no question in my mind why each of the other leaders was selected to be a part of team. Have I told you why I was asked to be a part of it? It is because of you. My main asset is the ability to meet and stay blogging friends with amazing people. Actually I said that wrong. It is your ability to stay friends with a blogger who is still growing and evolving. The community support you share with me on my blog and I try to give on yours is my best blogging attribute.

JDaniel4’s Mom is still evolving. There are fewer giveaways and reviews. I don’t post deals any more. I have moved all crafts and most learning activities to Read.Explore.Learn. the reading meme I started last fall. Great Post of the Week appeared on Saturdays for seven months and has disappeared. It may return.

There are several exciting things coming up. I will be sharing the blog with several amazing guest posters who have agreed to be part of a series starting next week called Pausing Life for a Moment. Each hosts an amazing blog. I am so excited that they will be sharing their thoughts with you. Another virtual event for April is in the planning stages for Earth Day. I hope you will join the Tissue Box Challenge.

I am not sure where the next year will take the blog. I do hope you will stay with me and see where it goes.

Is there anything you miss from last year?

This post is the answer to the Writing Workshop prompt- What were you blogging about last year at this time? What has changed?

Until There Was You

March 2, 2011 By Deirdre

Being an aunt is one of my very favorite things to be. I just love my nieces and nephews. They were for a long time my surrogate children. I was the last of my sisters to get married and the last to start a family. My sister’s children were the children I loved to spoil, sent cards to, bragged about, and displayed pictures of on my desk at work.

For the longest time there was just Jason to spoil and love. My sister Michelle was the first get married and start a family. We all spoiled him and loved on him. There were three years between the births of her first son and her second son. Jason was the center of our family gathering and celebrations.

When he was about two we all met in Charlottesville, VA around Thanksgiving. We walked around the Lawn (the grassy located behind the main building on campus) following Jason around. Where he wandered we wandered. A man walked up to my mom after we had been strolling a few minutes and commented that there really needed to be another little one added to the mix. It looked so funny to him to have five adults trailing behind one small boy.

It took another year for my sister to have her second son and two years for my sister Kate to start her family. As each new child joined the family, they were loved on and spoiled almost as much as Jason had been.

It wasn’t until my sister Kate had her son Charlie that my sister Michelle got to experience deep aunt love. She told me that it had taken root when she had arrived to help with Charlie shortly after he was born. It was profound and taken a special place in her heart.

Michelle had thought it had happened to me due to the fact that I didn’t have children. I remember her telling me she had always thought it was a little odd that I loved Jason so much. Looking down at little Charlie in his isolette had instantly created in her that special connection that you are blessed to can with your sibling’s children.

It wasn’t until JDaniel was born that I got to experience a mother’s love for her child. I am so thankful that I learned about aunt love first. My sister’s children helped prepare me for the magical love that I have for JDaniel.

This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday.

On The Day That You Were Born

March 1, 2011 By Deirdre

It was so quiet in the hospital room the evening JDaniel was born. My husband and I were staring down at our little bundle of joy. JDaniel laid wrapped in a soft blanket in an isolette looking back at us. He was the most beautiful baby either of us had ever seen. We could have looked at him for hours and hours. We did look at him for hours.

Things had been busy earlier in the day. My mom had stopped by along with my husband’s brother’s family to see our little wonder. They had all enjoyed getting to meet JDaniel and hold him for the first time.

It was wonderful share him with others but, there was something so special about our being here just the three of us. It was just our family. JDaniel was the baby we had hoped and prayed for when we decided to start a family a year earlier.

Out of nowhere my husband started singing On the Day That Your Were born to our little man.

Why do birds suddenly appear,

Everytime you are near?

Just like me, they long to be,

Close to you……

Why do stars fall down from the sky,

Every time you walk by?

Just like me, they long to be,

close to you………

On the day that you were born the angels got together,

And decided to create a dream come true,

So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair

And golden starlight in your eyes of blue…

That is why, all the girls in town,

Follow you, all around,

Just like me, they long to be,

Close to you…….

On the day that you were born the angels got together,

And decided to create a dream come true,

So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair

And golden starlight in your eyes of blue…

That is why, all the girls in town,

Follow you, all around,

Just like me, they long to be,

Close to you………

Just like me, they long to be,

Close to you………

I hadn’t heard the song in years. It was perfect for that moment. It encompassed everything we both were thinking and feeling.

It will be a memory that stays with me forever.

This post is linked to Remembered.

Muffin Tin Monday- Some of My Favorite Foods

February 28, 2011 By Deirdre

Dear Mom,

Thank you for fixing me a meal with some of my favorite foods. Sometimes I look down and my muffin tin and want to add an extra sentence to my mealtime prayer. I would say something like, “Thank you God for this great food to eat. Mom made some of my favorites today.”

I just love your meatloaf. I don’t know if it is the tomato juice you add to it or the Italian breadcrumbs. It just tastes wonderful!

Sweet potato french fries are my favorite vegetable right now. I never seem to get enough on my plate. Dad doesn’t want to part with his when I ask him for some off his plate. We both just really like them. Could you make it more next time?

I didn’t think I was going to like the navy beans and yellow squash in my tin, but I did. I am glad you had me try new foods.

Blueberries are my favorite fruit right now. I ask for them at every meal and for snacks. Thank goodness you find them on sale and stock up on them.

Grape tomatoes are such fun to eat. They squirt seeds all over the inside of my mouth. Sometimes they squirt all over my shirt too. It is fun to bite into them and see what happens.

Love,

JDaniel

P.S. I would love to have chocolate fudge icing on my chocolate birthday cake. My friends will enjoy it too.

On Mondays JDaniel and I go to playgroup. We have been meeting with many of these moms for two years. The kids know each other, each other’s toys, and homes like the back of their hands.

Two days ago we met at Joe’s house. Joe’s house is known for its fenced in backyard as well as a sand/water table. When I tell JDaniel we are going to Joe’s, he is thrilled. He loves to play in the sand.

I think all the kids love to play in the sand. At one point all of them were huddled about the table with shovels or scoops in their hands on Monday.

Apparently one of boys named Jay decided that it would be wonderful to add water to the sand. He tried the faucet in the backyard and noted that handle was not screwed on tightly. He must have known he wasn’t supposed to turn it because he only turned the handle so a small trickle was coming out of it. It was just enough to fill dirt spot under the faucet and create mud.

Soon another little boy scurried over to see what he was up to. This drew the attention of Jay’s mom who rushed over to remind him that he wasn’t to play with the faucet. He apparently has worked at faucet handle tightening and loosening at home with much success. His mom wasn’t happy about his plying his talent at Joe’s.

Shortly after Jay’s mom reminded him not to play with the faucet. Jay decided to show JDaniel and Joe how to make more mud. He knew he had to be sly about it or his mom would find out. Joe silently sauntered away from the sand table and leaned against the house. JDaniel tiptoed over to the mud pile and looked like he was scooping up the mud to bring some to the table.

Suddenly JDaniel let out a huge laugh. It rose from his belly and filled the whole backyard. The noisy laugh caught all the moms and other children attention. We all went running to see what was happening.

Water was gushing all over the ground. Joe looked relatively innocent. Jay looked a little perturb at JDaniel. JDaniel just kept laughing.

He must have thought sneaking around to do something forbidden was a hoot.

I don’t think Joe and Jake are going to want to have JDaniel around to act as sentry when they get up to mischief later on. His laugh is going to draw attention every time.

I hope he keeps laughing loudly it will give me a heads up that there is trouble afoot.

Postscript: After Jay’s mom took him in for a timeout, all the children stayed away from the faucet. The lesson of leaving the faucet alone had been learned by all.

This post is linked to Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop.