Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Wednesday's Winning Words: A kind heart

I can't believe it's been a whole week since my last post.  Wait, yes I can.  Sorry!  I'm still coming off the blood pressure spike from the Aggies' late night football antics in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

I digress.  This was such a sweet thing my boy did, I just had to share.

At the soccer game Saturday, one of the boys on Justus' team was not feeling well.  His tummy was upset, but bless his heart, he was trying to play through it.  His dad said that he had mentioned before the game he wasn't feeling well, but wanted to try to play.  Despite his best efforts in the first half, the poor kiddo permanently came out of the game vomiting after just a couple minutes of play in the second half.  While I was very concerned for the boy and simultaneously privately stewing with my so-help-me-if-he-has-a-virus-and-now-our-kid-has-it-and-we-have-to-keep-him-home-this-week thoughts, Justus interrupts my internal dialog with: "Mommy, I think we should pray for him during prayers tonight so he gets better soon."
 
God, I love that kid!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wednesday's Winning Words

Today's winning words post is more about a new habit Justus has, rather than one individual conversation.  I'm hoping that it is an age-appropriate thing and he will grow out of it.  Otherwise, he's going to be "that guy" and let's just say, mama ain't gonna let that happen.

So, it goes something like this (examples are ficticious because I can't recall any specifically off the top of my head):

Me:  Hey, let's read this book tonight, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm.
Justus:  I knew you were going to pick that book.  That's the book I wanted you to pick, so I knew you would pick it. (Note--there are about 100 books in Justus' book shelf to choose from.  There's NO way he knew which one I would pick).

OR this

Justus playing in his room in the morning, not at all aware of me standing there...

Me: ahem, shouldn't you be making your bed and brushing your teeth.
Justus:  I was just about to come tell you that, that I was making my bed and brushing my teeth.

OR

Justus:  What is that, mommy?
As soon as I tell him...he says, "I knew that, that's what I was trying to tell you."  Really?!

These are probably not very good examples, but everything lately with him is "I knew that" or "I told you that" when he didn't.  At all.

I fear that without redirection, he may become the know-it-all or one-upper.  How does one curb these tendencies?  We touched on the fact that when he says he knew that or he was trying to tell us that when he wasn't is actually lying.  While that is true, I feel like that's kind of strong response to a kiddo who seemingly is just trying to exert a little I-can-keep-up-with-the-big-kids behavior.

I'm open to suggestions or similar stories of others around that age doing the same thing.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

22 months!

Could she look more grown up in these pics???

It's hard to believe that the next time I do an update on this one, she will be TWO YEARS OLD!  I feel like it has flown by in a heartbeat.  I look at her newborn pics and can hardly remember holding that tiny baby.

So, what's up with you, Miss Delaney?!

Height and Weight:  When you were sick last week, you weighed in at 25.5 pounds (50.09%), and this week you weighed in at 25 lbs, 14.1 oz.  Glad to see you're eating again...  Good for you for not letting it get you down.  They measured you today at Texas Children's and said you were 2 feet, 8.76 inches (39.58%).  I think you are a little taller though because you kind of squatted down a bit when she started lowering that plate onto your head.  You did NOT like that at all.  Can't say I would feel any different.

Clothes:  You can wear most of the 18 month clothes and all the 18-24 month stuff.  I bought mostly 2T for winter, but they say they are for 30-33 lb kids, so beef it up a bit, will ya?  We got some really cute stuff you need to fit into soon.  Shoes, oh the shoes--you can wear some 5s, but I am beginning to get you 6s.  We even have to send one pair of 6s back because they are too tight.  I think we have a width issue with those little piggies.  Not judging, just noting.


Food:   You have become more picky in your older age, and less interested in eating.  You will eat salad, which is more than I can say for your brother.  However, your favorites are scrambled egg, mandarin oranges, refried beans and cheese.  You are kind of over the bread thing, so grilled cheese sandwiches don't do it for you any more.  Good for you.  Bad for me.  Meat consumption is unpredictable and determined on a case by case situation.  You will and have eaten chicken, pork and beef, but you don't seem to "want" any of them regularly.  Your brother gobbled up those Gerber pre-packaged toddler meals.  You, my dear, seem to think you are too good for them and want no part. 


Play:  You are starting to branch out with what you will do to consume your time.  You like a few more toys, although now you have made it clear you have no interest in sharing once you get something, and you may or may not be inclined to just walk up to what someone else is playing with, point and shout "Mine!" whether it actually is or not.  You LOVE music.  You will jam out in the car with a little headbobbing action.  Super cute.  Oh, look, I happen to have a video.

Somebody loves 90's on 9 (thank you Sirius, and thank you daddy for bringing back some of mommy's favorites.)

It's so much fun when you and Justus both go to "dancing" in the back seat.  He is still your favorite play thing, but you have started to  bicker a bit (see earlier statement on "Mine!").  He is tolerant and still loves you very much.  He has learned the art of distracting you with something else.  Too bad for him you are about grown out of that stage.  You are also our little daredevil.  You have no fear and you try to climb everything.  This combination makes me nervous and I feel like I should start planning fastest routes to the ER in preparation of what may be to come.  Speaking of climbing, you are starting to climb on the couches and beds in the house, and have no problem asking for "Hewp" if you need assistance.  This is cute.  Until you go up and down about 15 times in a row.

Talking:  You have become quite a chatterbox!  I love it.  You have started adding on the name of the person you thank, so you will say "tank you, mommy" or "tank you, daddy" which is beyond adorable.  You are also a big fan of "I got it!" or "I did it!" when you have succeeded.  I love it and am so proud of you--even if you've just knocked over something I asked you to leave alone.  Your visible pride in yourself when you do something you have been wanting to do is inspiring.

We also went to Texas Children's for your annual ENT appointment yesterday, where they did your hearing test and we met with the good doctor V (not to be confused with the good doctor H, your pediatrician).  Dr. V was his usual barrel of laughs (great doc, but seriously the least enthusiastic person I've ever come across), and your hearing test came back fine.  They said your hearing in your right ear is in the normal range.  The testing wasn't as precise as the ABR we previously did, but at least you didn't have to have anesthesia this time.  They did some behavioral testing, and noted that it's possible that in some situations, you may have been ignoring them as opposed to just not being able to hear them.  No. Way.  An almost 2-year-old ignoring a grown up?  Shocking!  They acknowledged it's a pretty high liklihood that it happened that way from time to time during the testing, and they take that into account.  Well, that's good!  All in all, a good visit.  We just have to be vigilant about watching your speech development.  It's times like this that I am glad you are at daycare and are surrounded by other kiddos your age, so we can get a good comparison for your speech.  Know that we are doing everything we can to give you the best opportunities to succeed!

Delaney, you continue to be the light of our lives with your vivacious spirit and warm heart.  Despite your tendency to hit when frustrated (I suppose I prefer this to biting--the evidence doesn't last as long), you are a very kind child, but the less (hyper)sensitive of our two.  You are a tough cookie, and tolerate a lot of bumps and bruises in your effort to hang with your big brother.  You love to laugh and to make people laugh with you.  We are starting to see some of the frustrations of the "terrible twos" setting in, but are certain we will all survive.  You just keep being you and letting us love you.

Next order of business:  Plan your "Goody-TWO-Shoes" birthday party!