Babies Born June 2006 #36

[Bathsheba]

Good afternoon Junies Hope you all had a lovely day yesterday... I was out all day.... first church with Verity then straight into the city to the footy where we watched a real nail-biter against Melbourne... but we won I was so engorged when i got back! Haven't been that big since my milk came in! Lucky Niall was hungry.... DH did well looking after both boys all day... and held off the last feed knowing that I would be home full. Niall also turned 11 months old yesterday too... I've been meaning to take some new piccys of him... when i have I'll send out my password to those who have asked (unless you can remember the name of my late cat LOL... it's his name). Rory: yes French Music classes are every Thursday morning from 9.30am -10am. They run according to the school terms and are roughly $100 per term. The classes are designed for 0-4 y.o children who are either fluent or at a beginner level in French. It is full immersion (English is hardly spoken during the class). Simple songs constitute the main part of each lesson. The small group (maximum 10, usually about 8 mums/child per lesson) sits in a circle and sings about 4 regular/2 new songs per lesson. Every lesson starts and ends with a Bonjour/Au reviour song so the repetition is helping the beginners to become familiar with the language. Percussion instruments are used for about half of the songs, hand actions for all the others. This is Wade's favourite aspect and he has picked up "rhythm" and following instructions extremely well.... Niall loves shaking the maraccas and clochettes (bells) too. There is also a piano and the teacher helps the children follow simple tunes on it if they are able (we are doing the French version of Do-Re-Me at the moment). Our teacher, who has young children of her own (at school) has a lovely vibrant personality and is also very encouraging as I practise my broken French too LOL We also do a bit of dancing and role play (pretending to be animals... French animals make slightly different sounds too Meu Meu (I think for Moo Moo) hehe. Anyhow we just love it... it's held in a pretty room with stained class windows so the whole thing is thoroughly enjoyable in every way. I hope to continue taking my boys until Niall is 4yo! ROFL at Spanish Golf lessons!!! But be warned, my mother forced me to do golf when I was verity's age (12/13) and even though I was a submissive child and begrudgingly went along with it i loathed it and it has turned me off the sport even though technically i have an excellent swing etc. If I thought Wade disliked any aspect of these French Music classes I wouldn't persist... it's sometimes tricky knowing what direction or activity to support your kids with, especially when they are very young... but their personalities often point the way... Wade is a very sensitive little guy and has always enjoyed listening to melodic sounds and constantly nags Verity to put on her school French DVD so this, for him, is a natural extention. It might not be right for Niall, but I hope so, because I too really enjoy it and am also getting to know the other mums

back a bit later...