Reading

Happily for Michael and I, who are both very much addicted to reading (in a good way, if one can be addicted in a good way), both Hannah and Naomi love to have us read to them.

Hannah has recently begun trying to figure out how to read, too. She doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself, although she does sound words out quite well if she doesn't get impatient. The other day at the vitamin store, she said, "Rhino Calciums."

"Hey, Hannah, you read that!" I said.

"No, I didn't sound it out or anything," she replied, apparently convinced that a lot of struggle is necessary for reading. I explained that knowing what something says, even if you don't sound it out, is what reading is.

Naomi has begun reading some of her favorite books to some of her favorite stuffed animals. She does a pretty good job, too, especially with the books that we read over and over to her, of course. It's pretty cute to see her sitting with her animal either next to her or in her lap, paging through a book and "reading" it. I did explain this morning, as she read to her rabbit in bed, that she might read a bit better without her pacifier in her mouth. Which she took in good part, removing the pacifier for the duration of the book.