Friday, February 24, 2012

Dexterisms

I don't like to talk about this too much, mainly because everyone is an expert, and sometimes it can be....overwhelming to get advice coming from everywhere.  Dexter has a speech delay.  We noticed around 16 months that he had "lost" or stopped saying many words he had learned and was just sort of grunting and pointing.  So we talked to our pediatrician about it and I actually had to push to get him evaluated by an early intervention speech therapist.  As a teacher, I know that the earlier you intervene, the more they advance.

Dexter was evaluated and blew them away with how well he understood language, followed directions, and his overall physical development.  He did qualify for speech though when communicating.

So we are astounded at how much he's changed since he started therapy at 18 months and since his tubes were put in his ears.  In other words, before the tubes, because of his many infections, the poor kid wasn't really hearing.  Hence the problems.  Needless to say, he has been cracking us up lately.

**********************************************************************************

We push manners like crazy, please, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me, etc.  The other day, Dexter burped at breakfast, so I asked him, "Did you burp?" which I usually follow up with What do you say.  Dexter says, "No, Mommy.  Chair burp."

I went to get him from his room one morning,  D "Back hurt,  Belly hurt.  Teeth hurt."  Me "I'm sorry buddy.  You're just falling apart!"  D "Dexter broken.  Mommy fix it!"

Going upstairs at night for tubby and bed D "Bye light, bye carpet, bye door, bye toys, bye shoes, bye tv, bye kitchen, bye playroom...."  really kid?

He likes to take Annie's play mat and make a tent/tunnel with a blanket.  We don't let him do that if she's on it.  She was playing on the mat when he decided he wanted a tunnel. D"  tunnel mommy"  Me "After Annie is done playing."  D "Put Annie there (pointing to the couch)" Me "No she's still playing.  You can have it when she's done."  D "Dexter want tunnel!  Baby Annie there!!!"
'
He won't eat most meats without ranch dressing.  I don't know...  He's the first kid to hate ketchup.  Me "Eat your chicken."  D "Need dips!"

IN the grocery store, passing by a display of said ranch dressing D"  Bye bye dips!"

He likes to count backwards and say blast off..in his own way D "10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1 Whop Ow!"

I know there are more...but Miss Annie is stirring so I have to run.  Seriously, if you have any question about your child's speech, early intervention rocks!  It costs you nothing and they come to your house.  It's that simple!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Differences

We always knew that when we had a second child, that child would be different. 

**Disclaimer:  I know the next thing I'm going to write is going to be really annoying, but in the case of full disclosure, must be written**

Dexter was an easy baby.  I mean really easy.  The only time he ever cried was when he was hungry, needed a diaper change, or sick.  That's it.  Dexter was the happiest child in the world.  He was sleeping through the night at 7 weeks.  I mean really sleeping through the night.  Like we put him to bed at 8 and didn't see him until we woke up the next morning.  (Please don't throw anything at us).  Dexter never refused foods, he ate whatever you gave him.  When his belly was full, he pushed his little lips together and that was it.  He got his first tooth at 3 months, had a mouthful of teeth by 9 months and never cried or lost sleep over teething.  He had an insane amount of ear infections (resulting in tubes) but never really complained about the pain.  He learned how to go up and down the steps at 9 months, and never bothered with them.  He never put anything he wasn't supposed to in his mouth.  He. Was. Easy.

The following phrase has escaped our lips about  a thousand times since we decided to have another child,"We are so screwed with the next kid."

Poor Annie.  We've predicted she will be our.....challenging child.

So far, yes they are different.  Annie is much more like me than her dad.  She's stubborn.  She does things the way she wants to.  She, at 7 weeks, is sleeping pretty well (8 1/2 hours last night!!!) but not like the D-man.  She will eat until you quit feeding her, which results in much spitting up.  It's hard to tell when she's really full.  She will get a little annoyed at us at times and cry just to cry.  That being said, we love every second of it. 

The real question is....are they at all similar?  You tell me.


Thursday, February 16, 2012

7 Weeks

Tomorrow, our baby girl will be 7 weeks old.  How the hell did that happen?


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Things....

I have found myself in a new place in my life.  I enjoyed my time in high school.  Never had too much drama, which is kind of funny really. 

It has caught up to me.

I have found entirely too much high school drama going on lately.  I'm not participating in it, but I'm being stuck into it by others.  I don't like it.  I'm married, I have two children, I just don't need it.  I find that incredibly sad. 

I'm not the kind of person to cut people off, but...I think I need to.  For my own sanity.  I'm tired of fake people, pretending to care.  I will never just ignore someone, because that would be very rude.  But, I'm no longer actively seeking out the poisonous people in my life.  I'm sorry if that is hurtful, but frankly, I don't want myself, my family exposed to it.

I'm moving on.