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+.

Mommy Tears Rain Down

April 15, 2010 By Deirdre

During my brief time as a mommy, there have been many different types of tears that have fallen.

There are tears of happiness that fell when for the first time I got to hold him at the hospital.

There have been tears of exhaustion when JDaniel didn’t sleep much as a baby. I used to hold him to my chest with tears rolling down face questioning why God didn’t give a non-sleeping baby to a younger mom. There have been long days when my husband had to work late, JDaniel was fussing about something or other and a simple thing that goes wrong can lead to a few tears. I know those are tears of exhaustion.

There are tears of sadness that rain down when I have seen JDaniel cry at something he has seen on one of his PBS shows. Toddler’s tears are contagious. They also rain down when he gets hurt. (I don’t cry right there in front of him. They seem to hit later on.)

There are tears of joy that fall when he does something for the first time. When he climbed a ladder at the playground or took his first step, I have to admit there were small drops falling from my eyes.

Finally, there are tears that come from writing a blog post about a simple everyday event that has happened in our lives. There isn’t a particular reason for those tears they just seem to come. Maybe it is just because I am so grateful to have him be a part of my life and be his mom.

Wordless Wednesday- Catching Rain Falling Up

April 14, 2010 By Deirdre

This picture was taken last summer.

Allergy Testing Results Are In!

April 13, 2010 By Deirdre

JDaniel was awesome through all the testing on Friday. It may have been due to the fact that he could have lollipop during the test. (A Blogfrog friend suggested I bring in a lollipop when I mentioned the testing. It acts as a pain inhibitor and is just fun to have.) He also got to watch a video he had never seen before on Blues Clues.

So, what are the results of the tests? He had a slight irritation in the dust area. All other areas were clear. The nurse said that his immune system isn’t fully developed and that he may test positive for things if we do the test again in a few years.

JDaniel is on four medications to bring down the swelling around his eyes and cheeks. (He loves taking the medicine.) The breakouts that looked like acne on his cheeks are clearing up a lot. He still complains every now and then about his eyes hurting. It could be pollen that bothers him. It could be that he is allergic to pollen and the test didn’t pick it up.

It looks like we will still be inside on high pollen days.

Great Posts I Came Across This Week- April 10

April 10, 2010 By Deirdre

Each week I travel around the internet visiting blogs. Here are a few posts that I loved, learned from, or gave me great ideas:

Here are some child-related posts:

Chasing Marcus has a Tot School post on eggs that is really fun. I love her fly swatter activity. I would love her peg game.

I love Southern Savers. She saves me a lot of money at the grocery store. This week she posted about a fun game online on How Wheat Works that is worth checking out.

Little Llamas! is one of my new favorite sites. I love her Easter- Palooza. She did such wonderful Easter activities with her children. I really like the bread as the empty tomb activity.

Moments of Mommyhood made the cutest chick footprint as part of her Friday Book Project Ducklings Love post. I wish I wasn’t afraid to paint JDaniel’s feet.

Recipes I need to try:

justJenn has a great cupcake recipe for Whipped Cream Cupcakes.

Homemaking Helper has great recipes for leftover eggs on her Hard-Boiled Egg Recipes post. The stuffed cheese rolls look wonderful.

Posts I just loved:

Jenny Matlock posted a wonderful piece called On Easter Our Youngest Grand Sat On My Lap. I love her Alphabe- Thursday too.

Learning To Be A Butterfly While You Are A Caterpillar

April 8, 2010 By Deirdre

JDaniel is still learning so much about everything in his world. He would love to fly freely and explore the world on his own terms much like a butterfly. There are times during the day that we need to crawl like a caterpillar through the lessons needed to grow into a beautiful butterfly. They are not always his favorite times of the day. Some lessons require time outs while others are teachable moments, learning from books or building on skills he has already acquired. These times can be frustrating for both of us. Learning isn’t always easy. Sometimes the same lessons need to be crawled through over and over again. Not all these times are tough. During some caterpillar times, JDaniel and I rejoice in lessons learned and concepts understood with loud cheers and flitting around the room.

Some day he will fly freely into the world. I hope he will remember the lessons he learned from his caterpillar moments.

Wordless Wednesday- Looking At Butterfly Books

April 7, 2010 By Deirdre

Butterfly Fingerplay and Song

April 7, 2010 By Deirdre

Roly-Poly Caterpillar

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)

Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)

Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Wakening by and by, (“stretch” right pointer finger)

Found himself with beautiful wings

Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)

Oh, Butterfly!

Sung to: “Oh Christmas Tree”

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly

How I love your colors.

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly

How I love your colors.

You fly so high and beautiful,

You are so soft and gentle.

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,

How I love your colors.

Pollen! Pollen! Go Away! JDaniel wants to go out and play!

April 6, 2010 By Deirdre

On Sunday as we got in the car to go to my mothers-in-law in Georgia JDaniel must have touched a little of the green pollen that coated my husband’s car. He started rubbing his eyes within minutes of getting in the car. I washed his hands and face with Cetaphil to clean them off. (I carry small bottles on Cetaphil in his diaper bag.) He continued to rub his face and cry, “Eyes hurt.” I sit in the backseat with him when we go on road trips. It was breaking my heart to see him in pain. So, I did what I thought was best. I took him illegally out of his car seat and held him. Yes, he should have stayed in his seat. Did he stop rubbing? Yes, he wrapped his arms around me, put his head on my shoulder, and rubbed only every so often.

He was fine traveling in the car around Augusta. JDaniel started rubbing his neck on the way back home last night. This morning he woke up with a rash on his face and puffy eyes. I gave him a bath and thankfully had lotion left from an allergic reaction to grass last summer along with his daily dose of Claritin. The dermatologist can see him tomorrow. I hope we get a good rain soon. Until we do we will be playing inside.

Are you having trouble with pollen now?

I know we need pollen and butterflies and bees love it. Right now I just want it to go away!