Monday, October 15, 2012

Slushy magic

Thank Goodness for downloaded shows, on-demand, and DVR. Jeffrey almost never watches commercials, because the only TV shows he really watches on Disney Junior. However he has one show that he watches that has a commercial on it for something called slushy magic. Every time he sees the commercial he says, " I want that!" Today, he spotted it at the store. "Is that slushy magic?" he asked. "I'm really excited because he said you can do it over and over again." He was, of course reciting what he had learned from the commercial. I think we are going to get him one for Christmas.

Sent from my iPhone

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Geoffrey - Preschooler

So Geoffrey is adjusting to preschool. Drop offs can be rough - at first he would scream and one of the teachers would need to hold him - but he seems to be doing better. Lately it has been a few tears and whimpers but that's it. The teachers all say that after Grant leaves Geoff is fine within five minutes, and he seems to have a blast playing there! Grant pointed out that he likes that Geoffrey has fun after the initial drop off- that there are other students who seem to mope the whole time their parents are gone. So I am glad that Geoffrey enjoys it.

When Grant works, he says that Geoffrey follows Ms. Lynette all over the place. Sigh. I spend far too much time worrying if his behavior is "normal." I ask Grant all the time, "Is he the only kid who cries?" "He doesn't play with other kids. Is the only one who doesn't?" "Do you think he bugs the teacher following her around?" It is so funny that I wanted him at a play-based preschool yet I am constantly worried if he is "normal," while Grant was concerned about him being in a more structured program and is perfectly relaxed with Geoffrey doing his thing.

Oh - they also are starting up a fun - non-competitive soccer program caled TOt Shots. Last Tuesday was a free class so the kids could try. Geoffrey liked it so I think we are going to sign him up!

Now that Katie is more mobile, Geoffrey is very concerned about his toys. He isn't very understanding yet and he can be kind of rough with her. Fortunately, Katie just loves the attention so for now it mostly amuses her.

Geoffrey also has this fantastic excuse that he uses with Katie and Cori, "I can't because I don't know how to share." Stinker.

Other fun Geoffrey sayings:

At the pumpkin patch Geoffrey was ready to go home. "I'm ready to go home. I'm full of fun."

Geoffrey brought his blanket, pillows, and four or five stuffed animals to the bottom of the stairs after his nap. I asked im what he was doing and he said, "That way if I fall down the stairs I can be comfy cozy."

We went to the Verizon store and Geoffrey picked up a box with a car charger in it and sauid. "This costs 4G dollars." (I am also impressed by the reading!)He also said, " I need a phone. I don't have one yet. Also a car."

We had a tickle fight one morning and he named our bed, "Tickle flower garden."






Katelyn / 9 months

So, I was planning to blog after Katleyn's 9 month visit - however, due to changing insurance types, her appointment got postponed. So I am waaaay behind!

In addition, Aunt Tammy and Uncle Andy are living with us for awhile, and I just had Back to School Night - so things have been sort of crazy!

So what has Katie been up to?

Eating - she is eating solids like a champ. We've been giving her small pieces of table foods - toast, cheese, pizza - pretty much whatever we are eating except for the allergy stuff (eggs, honey, nuts...) and she is doing great! SHe seems to love to eat! She's been doing slightly better with drinking milk at home, and she seems interested in drinking water from a sippy cup, too. She's still not doing full feedings from the bottle, but she's eating so many solids that she is fine during the day. She has not yet learned how to pick up food herself, but she'll get there!

Sleep - About three weeks ago, I cur her middle of the night feeding. At first, I offered her a bottle instead of me - for about 4 night. She didn't drink it and ended up just going back to sleep. Then I spent a few nights just picking her up and rocking her and then putting her back down. She tended to fall asleep pretty quickly. She even did a few nights where she slept straight through to 5 or 5:30. (She's been going down around 8:30 - 9:00) Then she started waking up again, and a few of those nights needed me to come in a few times to pick her up and rock her before she fell asleep. I have been implementing a new step to sleep training each weekend - so I have Friday and Saturday to adjust and I can sleep in if I need to. However with Tammy moving in and back to school night, I got off a little bit.

This weekend, however, I started not picking her up when she woke up in the middle of the night - just talking to her. She does this weird thing, though, where she sits up and cries - and I get nervous that she is so tired she can't figure out how to lay back down. So on Friday, I laid her down but didn't pick her up. Grant helped too and it took er about an hour to go to sleep. (the complicated part is when she's fussy - like making noises every few minutes - but not full out crying - to go in or not to go in???) Last night (Saturday) she slept straight through to 5:30!

So this week, we will continue with not picking her up if she cries to hopefully get her to soothe herself through the night. Eventually, if I can get her to sleep until 6:00 or 6:30 (her morning feeding is usually around 5-5:30)I wouldn't mind getting her to bed a little bit earlier - she's currently waking up around 9:00 and it would be ok if she woke up around 8.

Crawling - Katie is crawling like a champ now. She can get anywhere she wants to go, much to Geoffrey's chagrin - ha ha. She is also quite proficient at pulling herself up to standing. She has a new lion that she got from Julie and Penelope Fox that she can pull herself upto play on, and she likes her musical table, too.

She has been grinding her teeth lately. It is very disconcerting - that sound.... :::shiver::: She also still has that big bump in her mouth, so that's probably my biggest concern at her upcoming dr. appointment. If they say it has to  be removed, well, that can't be pleasant. They may just say that it is fine, but I worry because It has been there for such a long time...