New Drum and Lessons for A.J. & Family!

I’m so excited to have Baba Bey come to our home to give us drum lessons. The lessons are really for A.J., but we’re learning, too! Due to Patrick’s schedule, he will miss the first two lessons. He’s pretty coordinated when it comes to drumming so he will be able to catch up quickly.

A.J. was able to play on Baba’s drum and on several of his own drums. A.J. was in a little drum heaven.

We bought A.J., a floor drum that he can play with mallets, sticks or his hands. The sound quality is clear and robust yet muffled enough that he can play it when Amira is downstairs.

Speaking of Amira, I was able to take a cute 10 second video of her bowling.

Pray, Persist & Prosper!

-Asia

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Creative Counting Games and more…

It’s hard to believe that February has come to an end! There are several items still on my todo list that I simply will have to move to March. But don’t worry, I’ll still get them done and will share them in due time.

For now, here are the three counting games that we did over the last couple of weeks.

1. Using bottle caps A.J. matched the numbers 20-30. Because I have different shapes and colors, I could also change the activity to have him match the colors and/or shapes.

2. Again, using bottle caps I placed three numbers in a muffin tin and A.J. had to put the correct numbers of hearts in each bin.

3. A.J. counted hearts on pipe cleaners and used foam numbers to put under the correct number of hearts.

Parenthood is a funny thing. There are moments of bliss, periods of sheer chaos and everything in between. On my birthday, A.J. had a tantrum that lasted about an hour or so. It was other wordly. Then yesterday, as I was tucking him in for his nap he asked me to pray with him. Prayer plus nap equals bliss! So in spite of the turbulence we experience as parents moments like this make it all worth it!

This month, A.J. had an opportunity to meet Sonny Emory. Thanks to Dr. Clint Carter and Steve Michaels who told me about the event! I wouldn’t have this picture if it weren’t for Steve. I was in the back of the auditorium nursing Amira when A.J. met Mr. Emory.

Other heart centered ideas…

Next month I will do a better job sharing about the books we are reading and the songs/finger plays that we are singing. I’d better wrap-up this post. We’re going to see Mighty Bugs at the Center for Puppetry Arts later this morning. So, until next time my Loves!

OHHHH…one more thing… My parents came to visit. Here are some lovely pics from their visit.

How did you celebrate the month of LOVE?

Pray, Persist & Prosper

-Asia

Music as Brain Food for Tots

Kindermusik classes in South West Atlanta are starting soon! You can check out the instructor’s, Ms. Wendy’s web site at www.mylittleovertures.com. She is a retired music teacher of 31 years and would be glad to have you and your little one in her class. A.J. and I will be participating again. We hope to see you and your little one, too!

A.J.'s first Kindermusik class participants

In Kindermusik class

I made some matching instrument cards for A.J. found here.

We played a few times so that he could get the hang of it.

My Sister bought A.J. a keyboard for Christmas. He likes to play it, especially when I have to put his drum away because he threw it on the floor out of frustration! (I must say that he has stopped doing this over the past week!)

A.J. playing his keyboard

Last weekend my husband and I took A.J. to see the performance “Blast.” It is a drum, dance, musical ensemble that is EXTRAORDINARY! I had never seen a performance like this before. The musicianship was incredible and the drummers inspired A.J., too! I found this YouTube clip of one of the numbers called Drum Battle. It’s off the chain on video, but even more so, live.

A.J. with his Dad and two of the "Blast" percussionist.

This Saturday we attended the Honda Battle of the Bands. Although Florida A&M  University was not in attendance, the schools that represented, showed up and out!

Finally, the Library of Congress has wonderful Podcasts on Music and the brain. Check  out these podcasts,  here.

How do you share music with your little one?

Pray, Persist & Prosper!

DIY Bath Paint Equals Water Fun!

Happy New Year Dear Readers!!

It’s been a busy holiday season, but ohhh so fun. Let’s start with DIY bath paint that I learned to make from the blog Having Fun At Home. All you need is a muffin tin, shaving cream and food coloring. I also had a leftover paint brush that A.J. used.

The paint colors were vivid and attractive to play with.

 

My sister also visited during the holidays. We always have a blast when we are together.

Sherria, JaDawn and me with A.J. Earlier that day we ate at This Is It and finished up some shopping. Sherria was thoughtful to buy A.J. a Mr. Potato Head, too.

We met writer friend Pamela Antoinette at Jeju for some pampering and then met up again the next day to eat at Papadeaux Seafood Restaurant.

Having a blast at Hippo Hop!

A bracelet I made for my Sister.

A.J. was excited about all the special gifts from his Auntie “Gee Gee.”

His grandparents sent us a gift so that we could purchase A.J. a big wheel. We were able to do that and more. We were also able to get him Congo drums and an electric drum machine. That was so sweet of them.

We did attend a couple of Kwanzaa events. We especially liked the all female drum ensemble, Giwayen Mata. A.J. was mesmerized by the drumming. We attended church on New Year’s Day, then Skyped with My sister and parents, which was a perfect way to end the holiday season and to begin the New Year.

Pray, Persist & Prosper!

First Course of Kindermusik Comes to a Close

Today was the last day of A.J.’s first Kindermusik course. A.J. and I attended all 10 sessions. DH did attend the last session to observe what we did each Saturday morning for the past 10 weeks.

We play the CD that accompanied the class everyday. A.J. loves it and asks for the CD to be played CONSTANTLY. I hear the songs in my sleep!

To honor the end of the  course, I made placemats for all the moms and made a special card for the teacher. The placemats had a picture of each mom with their little one along with numbers and shapes.

When I made the placemats, I didn’t have any good pictures of me with A.J. in class, so I used a picture of our family at Pettit Creek Farms. I meant to take pictures of all of the placemats, but I forgot. Since I created one for A.J., I can show you that one.

Just in case you can not read the words at the top, it says: God is Love. I Love my Mommy and Daddy.

Kindermusik Class November 2011

We are looking forward to the next session, which starts in January!

What enrichment activities does your child(ren) enjoy?

Pray, Persist and Prosper!

My Little Drummer Boy

A. J. took his first drumming lesson today. It took him about 20 minutes to warm up. Once he warmed up to his teacher, Baba, A.J. began to play his  own drum and even danced around.

He will take lessons once a month until he gets a bit older. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the video of the session off of the cam corder, but we do have video from my iPhone of A.J. drumming. Check out this 15 second video and you’ll see why I call him “my little drummer boy.”