All work and no play make Stefan a dull boy.

For the past 2 weeks, Stefan has accompanied me to Summer Song, the music camp I've taught in for the past 10 years. This is the year that a little girl, who started the camp and the year long version at age 3, the same year I started teaching, is graduating from our program. It is so strange to have so many children to be connected to through teaching, and now to have my own baby there too. What will be even more interesting is when he stops being a fly on the wall, as it is, and starts being a student too.

Stefan has been doing a wonderful job. He is held most of the time...he is my 20lb. weight loss plan. Yes it would have been cheaper to carry a sack of potatoes for weight loss, but potatoes don't giggle when you poke at them or try to sing with the camp kids, which is much more fun. We do large group music classes (singing, dancing, playing instruments) and small group recorder classes. Today, the second to the last day, he's coming out of his shell and "talking" to the children. He has also become a master of sleeping through recorder classes. I've finally have most of the children trained to touch only his feet. Thankfully neither of us have caught the virus going around.

Though I leave before the musical rehearsals daily (which shaves a couple of hours off our day), things have gone very well and aren't too different from last year. Unfortunately, I haven't put as much attention to figuring out the more difficult children, which for a two week camp, is kind of and act of futility. The best thing, this is the first year I've really lightened up and just had fun at this camp, which I hope carries into all the teaching I will do in the future. We've played a lot of games, sung songs, I've pushed them hard to do things they shouldn't be able to do but did, and we've had fun the whole time.

The cutest thing: the youngest group never misses the Stefan frown and is quick to break into "Twinkle Twinkle" to cheer him up. I've posted about the emotional connection music has (at least I think I wrote about this, I've certainly intended to, but I can't remember much of the past 2 weeks...besides camp there have been busted cars, rental cars, concerts, insurance companies, etc to mention a few...). They are constantly trying to touch him and hold his hand, to connect with him (...I can only imagine how he feels being bombarded by all these strange children daily). However, the connection they have made through song is much stronger than holding his hand. It only takes one round of "Twinkle" to get him to smile, but we usually sing two just because it is so fun to make him happy. At the end of the day, I imagine he appreciates the song much more than the poking. At least I hope he does, we don't need to start creating reasons for therapy this early in his life.

We take off around 1:30, except for performance day. If I'm not supposed to be anywhere (a concert or rehearsal), we've been able to hop in the pool, roll on the bed, and just spend quality time together. If there is an impending concert, we have a little less time to play around, and then starts the concert weight loss plan again...this time for the grandparents who walk him around the park or green while the band plays (Thank you!!!!!!!).

Needless to say, I can't wait for the weekend...probably neither can he. (I can't believe I used to have a hard time getting there and functioning without a baby!) Our only plans are Sign and Sing class, but that is all about Stefan:), and then we'll be off the grid up here at home until Monday!

Peek a boo, I love you!

So, I'm killing time before I absolutely don't want to sit in front of a computer any more. Camp started today, and Stefan was amazing! I still can't get over it. If you're in my family, you wouldn't think it was the same baby. We arrived in the class room, I set up everything, and plopped him down in a super mini pack and play (it is only 1 foot tall and 2 feet long), and he played through the first couple of hours. He only became a little crabby because he was hungry. We sang him some songs (thank you Summer Song children for helping entertain the baby!) and he was fine until I was done teaching. Then he sat with me at home through lesson planning and practicing flute. Are there misaligned planets? Hopefully they don't move!

We've been attending Kindermusik Summer Camps. One for his age with singing (Peek-a-boo, I love you), and another, for a larger age span for signing...that being more for me, since I'll be teaching it in the fall. Plus it jump started me signing with him. SO, it is so cool, every time I sing the Hello song from the baby "Peek a boo" class, his whole face lights up in a smile. Hurray for the emotional connection music offers! We also sing a fish song every night while feeding the fish...same face-lighting smile!

He'd knock someone down just to see the cats so he can laugh and squeal at them. He thought Kelder hanging out with us by the pool was THEE most hilarious thing ever. I'm really getting a kick out of all "thee most hilarious things" ever too. There are new funny things every day. Sometimes two:) Sneezing always cracks him up and his farts- so he's about as mature as any male I know. Then there are other random unexplainable funny things. We're having a ton of fun.

One of the best accomplishments is how well sleeping has been going. Now we're down to a few minutes of fussing, if that, after I read a story and rock him for a bit. It has gotten to the point that I want to sit and just watch him sleep well after he's drifted off because it's finally so much better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it continues.

He's started communicating vocally, which is interesting. I'm learning what his various grunts and screams mean. Like, "don't shove any more food in my mouth, Mom" and "I really really want to get up, but I can't do anything but sit, Mom." He has started liking tummy time a little more. He wines about it instead of full out wailing. He's started trying to move forward by digging his big toes into the rug and pushing. So he's mobile, a centimeter at a time. He likes to clap toys together and slap things. He's very good about taking everything out and not putting it away, I'm sure my mom would love to hear about that retribution she's getting through him;)

That is it for now...time to get some relaxation in before bed and camp tomorrow.