Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Pep Talks Abound!
Warning: This post is actually for me. Really, you should stop reading now. I figured I would round up all my pep talks and stick 'em in one place, incase (or when, I should say) I need them in the future.
* You made an avacado smoothie without me? I feel a little sad. Also, O will walk very soon!!!
* This is an easy pep talk to come up with, because I stalk your blog and I see what a sweetie he is! He's bonding with you and his daddy and his big brother--these are BIG! Those are the scary things, to me, and he's right on it.
Also, babies do these things at their own pace. L didn't think about taking a step until she was 14 months old, and a woman behind me in line at the nursery drop off at church yesterday said that her 17 month old was just starting to try to take steps.
L first stood for a few seconds at a time only when she was distracted and usually holding something, which seems like it would make it harder to balance, but she woudln't let go of a table (or whatever she was using to balance) until she was distracted enough to grab a toy or water bottle or something with both hands. So offer up lots of good distractions!
A huge factor is that he is having to develop muscles ALL OVER. He was used to laying down probably most of the day. I remember that it took a while (2 months?) for L to sit up on her own, and the physcial therapist who consulted at her initial dr. appt. said that there are so many muscles, like core trunk muscles, that are underdeveloped and just take time to beef up.
Also, his cute little helmet might make it harder to balance. Any little thing can throw them off at first, so that extra weight probably makes it a little trickier.
I had started to get a little antsy about L, and many kind souls said that they just do this on their own time. I looked online at excercises to do (balancing, walking holding onto a broom handle that I held in front of her, using toys as bait to encourage cruising along furniture) and those may have helped, but it probably has to do with building up the right muscles. And you're feeding him healthy good things and he's working hard to keep up with big brother, using his muscles every day, so I'm sure those muscles are getting stronger and stronger. He'll get there! Other babies his age had a 6-8 month head start!
And I'll pray for Ollie and for his sweet Mama who's worried about him! You do such a great job letting us in on the joy of your new family members with your blog! Keep me posted, and let me know if you have anythign else you want me to pray with you about!
* ok.... lets start at the beginning.... for me (and you too) it is hard to be a teacher and know what we know about development and then see delays in our kids.... it sucks! but we are also hyper sensitive.... we want our perfect children to have perfect lives - no drama..... then we realize we have adopted children who came to us with more trama / drama in their short lives than we can fathom....sucks sucks sucks....BUT not the end of the world- as you so wonderfully wrote of in your post about the ronald mcdonald house :)
I had a conversation with my intn'l doc about circumcision.... you see I did not circumcise T and this was kinda a taboo thing with my fam and friends.... why would i not do it??!!! anyway I said I don't want him to stand out in the boys locker room she said...hello he is a black ethiopian- he will be different just because and it is ok because that is what makes the world go round.....
my point... all in due time.... O will do it eventually - he's not worried, only we are! My friends 14 mo old came home from ET 2 mos after T they are SO DIFFERENT... her son is laided back - sweet T not so much! T is standing... her son not even close.... still army crawling! I read a blog post somewhere recently that talked about a child home from ET who they thought was developmentally and physically delayed when she came home at 8 mos- took a YEAR and she is fine with slight gross motor delays- which are not even registering on the scale..... My niece- now 16 did not walk til 18 mos- mom was freaking out- researched and found kids that crawl for a long time actually are better readers.... just saying! ok so not a cure but he has therapy and he is fine just not ready to stand or walk.... plus i LOVE carring T think of all the extra hug time MAYBE he likes it too... You are an awesome mom you are doing everything right for the boys... O will stand and walk when he is ready.... deep breath..... miss you... wish we could have this conversation over coffee :)
* oh Joy, he will walk, he will walk!
just think about how he will seem so grown up so fast once he is walking! Enjoy the babyness while he's still a baby. Is the leg thing slowing him down, you think?
There was a girl in my library group who had a little girl that didn't start walking or even seem interested till she was like 18 months. She just preferred sitting, ha! Maybe she realized her mom would bring her toys/food, and do all the footwork for her if she just sat in one spot. smart kid!
* Heck yes he will! He has only been sitting up and crawling on all fours for, what, 3 months? Maybe he just wants to take this standing/walking thing slow. He is still making progress though. He'll get there...don't you worry!
* He will, he will. I know lots of kids who had every health and emotional thing going for them from day one and didn't walk until 18 months plus. O has come so far in a short time and will be caught up on all those silly milestone things soon. Enjoy that you get to have him in babyhood a little longer :)
* That baby has been through so much and is doing so well! He will catch up in his own time. He has that thing to balance on his head and trouble with his toes, but he is still getting around, right? He will catch up soon and then you will wish he was still! He is also so very sweet and interacts with people. That is way more important to me. His legs can catch up!
I would be more worried if he just sat there and didn't even try to move around or if he didn't engage with you. Yall are doing a great job with those boys. Think how much better their lives are going to be with you!
Pep talk complete! :)
You still with me? I told you to stop reading long ago...
* You made an avacado smoothie without me? I feel a little sad. Also, O will walk very soon!!!
* This is an easy pep talk to come up with, because I stalk your blog and I see what a sweetie he is! He's bonding with you and his daddy and his big brother--these are BIG! Those are the scary things, to me, and he's right on it.
Also, babies do these things at their own pace. L didn't think about taking a step until she was 14 months old, and a woman behind me in line at the nursery drop off at church yesterday said that her 17 month old was just starting to try to take steps.
L first stood for a few seconds at a time only when she was distracted and usually holding something, which seems like it would make it harder to balance, but she woudln't let go of a table (or whatever she was using to balance) until she was distracted enough to grab a toy or water bottle or something with both hands. So offer up lots of good distractions!
A huge factor is that he is having to develop muscles ALL OVER. He was used to laying down probably most of the day. I remember that it took a while (2 months?) for L to sit up on her own, and the physcial therapist who consulted at her initial dr. appt. said that there are so many muscles, like core trunk muscles, that are underdeveloped and just take time to beef up.
Also, his cute little helmet might make it harder to balance. Any little thing can throw them off at first, so that extra weight probably makes it a little trickier.
I had started to get a little antsy about L, and many kind souls said that they just do this on their own time. I looked online at excercises to do (balancing, walking holding onto a broom handle that I held in front of her, using toys as bait to encourage cruising along furniture) and those may have helped, but it probably has to do with building up the right muscles. And you're feeding him healthy good things and he's working hard to keep up with big brother, using his muscles every day, so I'm sure those muscles are getting stronger and stronger. He'll get there! Other babies his age had a 6-8 month head start!
And I'll pray for Ollie and for his sweet Mama who's worried about him! You do such a great job letting us in on the joy of your new family members with your blog! Keep me posted, and let me know if you have anythign else you want me to pray with you about!
* ok.... lets start at the beginning.... for me (and you too) it is hard to be a teacher and know what we know about development and then see delays in our kids.... it sucks! but we are also hyper sensitive.... we want our perfect children to have perfect lives - no drama..... then we realize we have adopted children who came to us with more trama / drama in their short lives than we can fathom....sucks sucks sucks....BUT not the end of the world- as you so wonderfully wrote of in your post about the ronald mcdonald house :)
I had a conversation with my intn'l doc about circumcision.... you see I did not circumcise T and this was kinda a taboo thing with my fam and friends.... why would i not do it??!!! anyway I said I don't want him to stand out in the boys locker room she said...hello he is a black ethiopian- he will be different just because and it is ok because that is what makes the world go round.....
my point... all in due time.... O will do it eventually - he's not worried, only we are! My friends 14 mo old came home from ET 2 mos after T they are SO DIFFERENT... her son is laided back - sweet T not so much! T is standing... her son not even close.... still army crawling! I read a blog post somewhere recently that talked about a child home from ET who they thought was developmentally and physically delayed when she came home at 8 mos- took a YEAR and she is fine with slight gross motor delays- which are not even registering on the scale..... My niece- now 16 did not walk til 18 mos- mom was freaking out- researched and found kids that crawl for a long time actually are better readers.... just saying! ok so not a cure but he has therapy and he is fine just not ready to stand or walk.... plus i LOVE carring T think of all the extra hug time MAYBE he likes it too... You are an awesome mom you are doing everything right for the boys... O will stand and walk when he is ready.... deep breath..... miss you... wish we could have this conversation over coffee :)
* oh Joy, he will walk, he will walk!
just think about how he will seem so grown up so fast once he is walking! Enjoy the babyness while he's still a baby. Is the leg thing slowing him down, you think?
There was a girl in my library group who had a little girl that didn't start walking or even seem interested till she was like 18 months. She just preferred sitting, ha! Maybe she realized her mom would bring her toys/food, and do all the footwork for her if she just sat in one spot. smart kid!
* Heck yes he will! He has only been sitting up and crawling on all fours for, what, 3 months? Maybe he just wants to take this standing/walking thing slow. He is still making progress though. He'll get there...don't you worry!
* He will, he will. I know lots of kids who had every health and emotional thing going for them from day one and didn't walk until 18 months plus. O has come so far in a short time and will be caught up on all those silly milestone things soon. Enjoy that you get to have him in babyhood a little longer :)
* That baby has been through so much and is doing so well! He will catch up in his own time. He has that thing to balance on his head and trouble with his toes, but he is still getting around, right? He will catch up soon and then you will wish he was still! He is also so very sweet and interacts with people. That is way more important to me. His legs can catch up!
I would be more worried if he just sat there and didn't even try to move around or if he didn't engage with you. Yall are doing a great job with those boys. Think how much better their lives are going to be with you!
Pep talk complete! :)
You still with me? I told you to stop reading long ago...
Monday, January 30, 2012
Randoms
S-Man asked if Jesus was coming over today. (in some broken English, of course) Some major confusion followed when I said He was already here.
Lil'O did not want to walk at all today. Taking a day off, I suppose. Of course I want him to work on his new skills all day, every day. Feel free to give me a pep talk on how my 17 month-old will stand and walk soon enough. (Thank you to those who already obliged in a word of encouragment.)
I made an avocado smoothie to accompany dinner. Delicious, albeit unusual. Everyone liked it, which was one of those good/bads. Good: You like it!?! Bad: I have to share it?
Lil'O did not want to walk at all today. Taking a day off, I suppose. Of course I want him to work on his new skills all day, every day. Feel free to give me a pep talk on how my 17 month-old will stand and walk soon enough. (Thank you to those who already obliged in a word of encouragment.)
I made an avocado smoothie to accompany dinner. Delicious, albeit unusual. Everyone liked it, which was one of those good/bads. Good: You like it!?! Bad: I have to share it?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Brian
Brian, our worship leader at church is S-Man's new favorite person. He loves to act like him.
Conversation at home:
Mama: "S, go wash your hands."
S: "No, mama. Brian."
Mama: "Okay. Brian, go wash your hands."
S: "Okay, Mama!"
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Accessorizing?
Our little monster got his helmet dressed up today! Elite Sign and Design did the wrap complimentary!
One of the hubs' co-workers plus the Fabulous Farbie saw this on the news, and told us about the story.
One of the hubs' co-workers plus the Fabulous Farbie saw this on the news, and told us about the story.
Looking good!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Ummm...
I come out from my craft room to find my son wandering around the backyard, singing with a bucket on his head. Gotta love time spent with dad. :)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A Little Progress
Lil'O is starting to make a teensy bit of progress in all areas vertical. He is getting better about standing with only a small amount of support, like leaning on my legs or against a wall. It reminds me of 3 months ago when we were trying to teach him to sit up. He is fine when distracted, but once he realizes you are making him do something new, he gets fussy!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Perspective
We are home from another Dallas, Ronald McDonald House weekend.
“Toys, Ababa? Toys, Mama? Dallas?”
“Yes, we will be in the car for a long time, then we will get out and play with toys.” Repeat a hundred times and you are there!
Lil’O’s head did not grow a single smidgeon in the last two weeks. Bummer. Plus the long car ride makes him hot and sweaty (despite wearing nothing but a diaper and a helmet, with a blanket covering the window, and the air on) that he usually gets some mild heat rash, so then we have to keep the helmet off for a few hours. Another bummer. I always sternly tell him not to let his head grow while I take the helmet off though, so I think that probably solves that problem. Also, have I told you he now has another brace? One for his foot? Yes, it’s true. He’s got some major (MAJOR) stiffness in his left ankle and calf that prevent him from placing his foot flat on the ground. Despite our pt continually working on it, and the Hubs and I stretching it, kinesio tape, and an ankle weight, he remains on his tippy toes on his left foot. His tippy toe walking means his balance is terrible, and he doesn’t distribute his weight equally. These two factors are pretty important for things like learning to stand and walk.
Anyway, he has greatly hated the new leg brace. It forces his foot down, which probably hurts the little guy. We were supposed to change the adjustment so it gradually pushed his heal down over the course of many days, but the stupid thing kept falling off. I think he is finally getting used to it, and wants to pull up and practice walking again. The good news is that I can already tell he is so much more stable with much better balance. I went off on this tangent to tell you that he looks like a hot mess between the helmet and the brace (and often wearing just a diaper… those braces/helmets make a kid sweaty!)On the way home the Hubs was telling me about a little girl we met this weekend. She was in a wheel chair and really liked following Lil’O around to watch him crawl and play. When we were leaving the Hubs heard her say in almost a whisper, “I hope your baby gets better soon”. When he told me the story, I almost burst into tears. Although he is covered in plastic, he's not "sick", but that was so sweet of her. Another mom that has been staying there for months, waiting with her infant for an available heart for transplant, was telling me about how she was reading “Heaven is for Real” with her older children. She is trying to prepare them if their baby sister does not get a transplant. Let me tell you, perspective people! While I fret over no weight gain, an asymmetrical head, walking and standing, he is happy and healthy. What more can I ask?
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Pishy
We got a fish apartment for Christmas and would like you to meet our first family pet, Pishy! I was pretty sure she was dead this morning, but it just turns out she's not a morning fish.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tuckered Out
O heard about our new hobby and decided to make it easy on us by falling asleep in the living room a half hour before bedtime.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
New Year's Day
Mimi and Momo came down to celebrate Christmas after we got home. After welcome home parties, birthdays, and a stretched out Christmas, I'm wondering if S-Man thinks presents are a weekly occurance. Gotta love it!
He got a Twins hat exactly like Momo's!
Lil'O was happy to test out a new phone.
Mimi also scored a ton of Mega Blocks at an estate sale. Safe to say they were a huge hit!
S-Man and Momo streched out watching the Parade.
Another great weekend! Do I sound like a broken record yet?
By the way.... Happy Ethiopian Christmas!!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Main Street
Deer Valley Ranch has this super cute little town that S-Man loved playing on in Colorado. The last one is my favorite picture. So cute!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Christmas
Waiting for Grandma, Grandpa, Joy and BJ.
Uncle BJ and Aunt Joy.
Testing out the bunk bed.
My Christmas request: biscuits and gravy for breakfast! Yum!
Heading out in the snow.
Delicious Christmas day meal.
Playing with Grandma!
Uncle Josh and the diggers.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Skiing!
The intrepid skiers: day one
Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Joy and Uncle BJ (the fab four baby sitters), I was able to ski on day two!
Lil'O's helmet sporting a Ski Cooper sticker compliments of Josh.
Buddies all the way.
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