Baby Brother

I wish I had some new pics of little brother to post, but I don't have any. :( I did get to see him last week as they were checking my low lying placenta for the last time. Everything looks great with it, and the placenta has moved up just like it did in my last pregnancy! Little guy was curled up in a ball, kicking me at the same time. Silly boy!! I feel him move all around quite a bit! We are so eager to meet him. I am in my 25th week. My doctor said we may be able to sit down at my next visit to look at a good date for me to have my c-section. Woohoo! She also said everything looks good..blood pressure, weight gain (only 11 lbs. so far), baby, etc. My belly is expanding quickly at this point, and people are not shy about telling me! I go back next week for my glucose screening..sure hope I pass!

Crazy Kid

Ok, for some reason, J LOVES for me vacuum. He likes to get it out for me, set it up, and he runs all around me the whole time I vacuum. He doesn't even like it when I am finished! Here he is vacuuming for me today...

Little Tyke

The weather is finally warming up, and we are outside a lot more! The first huge accomplishment since the warmer weather is that J can pedal his tricycle!! He was starting to get the idea of it last fall, but then he didn't get much practice throughout our cold winter. Dave had him outside on Saturday and informed me that J could pedal his tricycle. I wanted to cry as I know that this is big for J. Most kids with a motor planning problem can't pedal until closer to 4. Although Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a speech disorder, it can spill over into other areas that require motor planning at times. So proud of our boy!!




Here are a few more pictures from this week:

Swim Lessons

J started swim lessons this week. This makes his 3rd set of swim lessons but first independent lesson. We knew he is comfortable in the water but we were not sure if he would cooperate fully with the directions and a new person. Maybe we weren't giving him enough credit, but we know three year olds...we know J. He is used to swimming with Dave and not having to wait on the side of the pool for his turn. The aquatics director at the Y had watched him swim earlier in the year, and he totally clamed up when she started watching. He would not jump in until she did. Luckily, he got comfortable quickly with her and she encouraged us to get him into independent lessons. So, Tuesday was the BIG day. Much to our displeasure, the class had 6 kids, 5 four year olds and our three year old, many other classes were going on at the same time, and one instructor who clearly had not worked with this age before. I watched J and another little girl let go of the side of the pool and bob up and down in the water until Dave pulled J out and the other parent pulled their daughter out-my nerves were shot! However, I was glad to see J trying to keep himself up, get to the side of the pool, and not totally overcome with fear. Little was accomplished on Tuesday. When we got back on Thursday, 2 kids had dropped out and the aquatics director decided to co-teach the class. It went so much better! J did everything they asked and didn't mind waiting his turn. Here are a few pics...

Wordless Wednesday

My Valentine

As a little girl, I can remember my 1st Valentine (my Daddy, of course) giving each of his three girls (and our mom) a heart-shaped box of chocolates on the morning of Valentine's Day each year...what a sweet memory.

Dave and I are celebrating this Valentine's Day with a nice dinner without our 3 year old and maybe some sweet cards for one another...that's the extent of Valentine's Day for us but that is what we chose together. This Valentine's Day I decided to come up with a Top 10 List for my hubby on what I love about HIM...I tried to keep it very real without sappy details that just sound good. Here are just 10 things I love about you, Dave...

1. I love the way you provide for our family. You have given me the incredible gift of staying at home with our children and the responsibility that you feel to provide for us lies deep within who you are..a gift to this wife.

2. I love the passion that you hold for the things that are in your heart.

3. I love it that you are an extrovert and are always willing to be out and about even when I know you are tired! I know you can have a conversation with anyone and I mean ANYONE!

4. I love the excitement you have about being a daddy to both of our boys. The way you talk to little guy in my belly in the same way you did with J is so special to me right now. I never grow tired of watching you engage J in those things that you love.

5. I love your silliness, even if it is sometimes at my expense...love my theme song and crazy way you say my name when I am in a bad mood.

6. I love the sweetness that you hold. I am sure it has been with you since you were a little boy, and I can see it in J over and over again.

7. I love your sincerity...what you see is what you get.

8. I love how you can put my perspective back on track when it sways from what scripture commands.

9. I love the way you aren't afraid to try new things. I can't think of anything that you won't try once.

10. I love how you are still totally in LOVE with me and very much keep our relationship a top priority!

I know you love this picture, sweet boy!

New Hobby

J's new hobby is looking at our old photos. He totally cracks up at some funny photos...Daddy in Mickey ears, especially! He also likes to see his family members in their younger age!

Storytime

Today, J and I took the light rail system to uptown for a storytime. This was the first time we had visited this notorious library and taken the light rail without Dave. We asked a couple of our speech friends to join us, but they couldn't for one reason or another. This storytime was led by an actual speech pathologist and targeted young children affected with any kind of speech issue. We got to the train in plenty of time and quickly met a very sweet mom who was taking her little boy. His name was Ryan, and he was a little older than J. He was a really cute little guy! We shared stories while on the train and the boys took in every part of the ride. She was telling me how little Ryan had his first experience of being teased just recently. Some other little boys told him he sounded funny, like he was speaking Spanish. Of course, it broke this mom's heart and mine, too. The only thing worse than having a child with an issue/problem of any kind, is having a child who makes fun of that child. In my opinion, you have a bigger problem on your hands if your child is a bully or mean-spirited. I felt that way when I was teaching and definitely now. I hope and pray that both of our boys will make the right choices in how to treat others. Now, where was I about our library trip...oh, we got to storytime right on time and met the leader. It started out with a welcome song where the kids shook hands, then she read a story that repeated giving themselves a hug, next they did a craft, did a couple more songs, and then a good-bye song. J cooperated really well. However, he wouldn't do any motions to "If You're Happy and You Know It", which he clearly knows! Sometimes, it seems like when I have expectations for him, he knows it and does the opposite ;) Ryan's mom said her child was different in there, too. J did the craft, though he isn't fond of crafts, but finished it without complaining. I liked how the SLP interacted with J. She got down on her knees to talk to him and waited for his responses. She liked the words he used for her and told him. At times, unknowingly, people will ask J many questions at once and talk over him as he tries to get out a response. He tends to just give up and move on, but he needs practice in saying the words that he can. There were a total of seven boys there and most seemed a little older than J. There was an older sibling there that appeared to have no speech issues, and she answered many of the questions..grrr! I think I will definitely take J again. I think his favorite part was the train ride and the school buses in front of the library..ha ha! He would LOVE to take a ride on a school bus!

Before storytime...



Can't help but think how much J is built like his Daddy when looking at this pic...

Vision Screening Nightmare

Well, I have finally recovered from J's first visit to the optometrist! He has always done really well with doctors, but every office he has been in since his three year old shots have consisted of, at the very least, a few tears...even the one OB visit that he got to come along with me. Anyway, we didn't suspect any problems with J's eyes, but Dave and I both wear contacts and got glasses when we were young. Also, I had read where children should have a vision screening at 1, 3, and 5 with no problems suspected. Our pediatrician did a vision test at the 3 year old well-check, but J couldn't really tell him everything he needed to in order to get a good indication of his vision. The optometrist does a more extensive screening which quickly reveals how his eyes are working. He started out with some tears when we walked through the doors of the office...or should I say, as I pushed his body through the doors. After he got comfortable, several stickers later, I thought we were headed toward a successful visit. As I talked to the doctor, he proceeded to push various buttons on machines which turned them off or on...whatever the opposite of what they should have been. He wanted to explore every single instrument the doctor held up and on and on. Believe me, I don't let my child run wild and give the excuse of "boys will be boys", but he was literally moving faster than me! The way they examined him was quite interesting and pretty quick. At one point, the doctor put these old, thick glasses on J and told him to look at me so I could see how smart he looked...it was HILARIOUS...J was grinning from ear to ear in these hideous glasses. Too bad I had to wear those kind when I was in 4th grade! Thankfully, his vision is great, and we don't have to see that doctor again anytime soon!!