First Days and Nine Months

 Back to school has come and gone, and now school is routine, but I still wanted to share our pictures.  LMM is THRILLED to go this year, unlike last year where he cried and clung to my leg for, oh, the first 6 months.  No longer!  I barely get a "goodbye".

 There are tears though, I assure you.  Instead of LMM clinging to me sobbing that he wants to go home...I have Rosebud clinging to the art table or whatever furniture she can get her sticky-from-breakfast hands on screaming that she wants to stay.  She'd give up something pink and sparkly to be at school.  She has the back-to-school-bug bad.

 MMMM.  I could eat this one up.  She is a mama's girl for sure, and I am loving it.  I'll admit most days it is hard to have her wanting me ALL THE TIME, but as she gets older...I'm learning to cherish it.  Her baby days are numbered.  Everything is new and exciting and she loves to explore anything she can get her hands on.

 And then she eats it.  Cause that's what you do at nine months.

 I have zero new growth to report this month.  She is not even registered on the charts for weight (14 lbs 9 oz...still not as big as Rosebud was at 6 months) and is in the 10th % for length (26.5").  http://www.babycenter.com/baby-child-growth-percentile-calculator

However...she is developing GREAT!  She is taking steps along the furniture, exploring standing unassisted, learning to open/get into/crawl around everything in her way.  She feeds herself gluten free cereal, nurses often and well (finally sleeps 4 hours at a time most nights and is transitioning to her crib more than cosleeping) and eats baby food.  While she'll eat my homemade rice cereal and advacado, she has a bad gag reflex with homemade pureed veggies and fruits.  She is doing better on jar first foods, so I have been buying 2-3 of those a week as well.  Three jars doesn't kill anything but my pride.

 Snug Snug Snug.  I can't believe my preemie is in first grade.  He is not as excited about school this year as last.  I second guess my decision to put him in school daily.  I am trusting I did the right thing, but it has been hard.

He's already had his taste of bullying, but his teacher handled it well.  Not ready to tell that story yet, but I may in the future.  It for sure upped my opinion of the teacher though.  He is a little bored as the work comes easily to him, but new things should be introduced soon.  He also started swim lessons yesterday.  We found really reasonably priced ones at the YMCA a short distance from us.  He loves the water and we hope this opportunity will not only teach him swimming skills, but also boost his self-confidence (something he has very little of at school despite knowing all the required work) and social skills.

I have so much I want to/need to post and am working it into my daily schedule.  Er...weekly schedule.  After my last post I really missed blogging and need to make more time for it.

As it is September 11th I have a story to share.

A few weeks ago our family added a new activity (cause really we have nothing to do, totally bored).  We started Letterboxing.  I read about it in Parent's Magazine (or was it Family Fun?).  We've only done it a few times, but MAN is it fun, and has proved to be educational for the boys and a great way to get some exercise and spend time together as a family.

We went to our local 9-11 memorial for our very first try (we either failed, or the box was missing).  While there we took the time to examine the monument which is constructed from some of the Twin Towers building material  .  We talked a little bit with the boys about why it was there.  We kept it very basic.

Fast forward two weeks to this past weekend.  We're at #1's softball tournament (where his team did FABULOUS, knocking out the #1 ranked East Coast team in Police Softball shocking everyone including themselves).  LMM and I are watching the other team warm up and he asked if "thems is cops".  I told him yes, everyone here is a cop...it is Police League Softball!  Then he said they were bad cops.

More than concerned, I asked why on EARTH he would say a thing like that.  He proceeded to tell me that they were bad because they flew airplanes into buildings.  Heavens.  I don't think he got one thing right about 9-11.  I patiently tried to re-tell him and correct what he was way off base on.

I also informed him that his daddy is a cop (which he doesn't believe anymore now that #1 is a detective and doesn't wear traditional uniform...my boys think that is quite the disappointment these days!) and he knows daddy helps people at work.  He had to think on that for awhile, but I HOPE he understands at least the part that the police officers (and firefighters and all first responders) were the GOOD GUYS in history.

Have you told your kids about 9-11?  Any tips?

Playing Catchup

So.  Between the Flats Challenge and my computer being dead (hard drive is failing...be ready for me to be out of blogging for quite awhile at no notice) I have been a bit behind on our summer events!

 First up was strawberry picking.  We found this great place not too far away thanks to Jenilee.  Although these aren't organic, the farm uses minimal chemicals in their crops, much less than what is in strawberries you buy in the produce section at the grocery.

 I swear my kids each ate a quart of berries.

 I snapped this cute picture and then got that berry out of Sweet Pea's mouth.  It was her "first solid", although she didn't ingest any of it.  Strawberries are a high allergen...so probably not a good thing.

 The boys literally walked out of that place with handfuls of "free" berries.

 Little Monkey Man finished preschool.  This is his FIRST day of school...

 ...and this is a picture of his last.  He had a great year and we continue to see improvements in his speech, adaptation to new situations, ability to transition, and with his sensory issues in general.

 Ah.  Potty training.  Sassy McLassy has been doing great, terrible, and everything in between.

 She has days and days where she is fine.  And then she decides she isn't going to use the potty.  So we convince her otherwise.  Cause we're not going back to diapers.  Much.  There are times where her bowel is so messed up she can't help but have accidents.  We do have a date to take her to a GI specialist this month.

 We got to see some friends who we haven't seen since she and he were only a few weeks old.  He wanted to be friends.

 She wanted to tattle.  Tattle. Tattle.

 We all "ran" a 5K.  It was for the FOP that #1 belongs to.  #1 and Snug ran it.

 Mommy had Sweet Pea in the sling.

 And two in the double stroller.  I didn't run.  But I got MUCH exercise.  I also don't recommend babywearing and speedwalking with a double stroller.

 Here he is after the race, very proud of himself.  After all, he beat five people.  Mommy, Sweet Pea, LMM, Rosebud, and some lady he didn't know.  What a race buddy.

 Rosebud loved the race.  She got to eat.

 And eat.

 And eat some more. And what goes in must come out.  So that is loads of fun when she can't control it.  We kinda let her pig out because at nearly 26 months old she is barely hitting 22 lbs (on a good day-often closer to barely 21).

Here was Snug on his first day.

And here he is on his last day on Tuesday.  He loved his teacher.  I think he thought she walked on water.  She was cute as a button, so can you blame him?  He had a great report card.  The only things he didn't get perfect were that he makes the number "3" backwards and a couple of letters incorrectly.  However, he writes sentences on his own, reads on a beginning 2nd grade level (with fluency), and has great comprehension.

Watch out summer, here we come!!!!!!!!!!

A Day At The Pool...Little M Man's View

 This summer I went from a "I must have my life jacket on in case the water touches me" boy to a swimming with my face in the water without any help boy (as long as I can touch...nothing over my head please!).

 When I can't be in my "Nemo Fish Pool" I love love love the water cannons at the splash pad.

 I will spray you if you come close enough!

 My mommy thinks I'm cute.  She keeps taking pictures of me...and I just want to SWIM!

 At the beginning of the summer all I'd attempt were the little slides in the "Nemo Fish Pool".

At the end of the summer, I'd do the little slides in the "big pool".  

 I always tell mommy what a brave boy I am after each slide.

 And when I'm tired, I go back and relax in my "Nemo Fish Pool".  I cried when the pool closed this week and there is no more swimming.

*Mommy*
I am so proud of how far LMM came this summer.  Until the end of July he was terrified to be in any water over his head, even with a life jacket.  He was not confident even in water where he could touch.  By the beginning of September, when our pool closed, he would not only go into water where he couldn't touch with a life jacket on, he'd take it off in water where he could touch.

The downside is, he developed a NASTY case of swimmer's ear in mid August...something we battle daily now.  He cannot get even a drop of water in his ears without them starting to get infected.  He dutifully wears earplugs and an ear band-it to protect them.  The other day Snug was taking a bath, I was helping Rosebud, and the next thing I know he was in the tub with Snug with his head under the water "swimming".  As I had left him at the table to finish his milk...well lets just say I wasn't prepared to have him swimming.  And now he has a fever and headache and earache...which means it is once again back.  We'll probably have to take him to the doctor as I've battled this by myself for two days and he's getting sicker.  We have medicated ear drops, but we know from the first time that if it gets bad enough we have to do antibiotics.  With his previous history we simply cannot take any chances when it comes to his ears.  Evidently he didn't get that memo.

SOCK MONKEY CAAAAKE!

 You must read that the way it is written "SOCK MONKEY CAAAAAKE!"  Ever since I wondered if I could make a gluten free ice cream cake with a sock monkey (LMM has a sock monkey he adores that inspired his birthday theme) face on it and told Little Monkey Man about it, he has yelled "SOCK MONKEY CAAAAAKE!" whenever anyone mentions a birthday or a party or cake.  He's been excited for months.

 His birthday started off with Uncle "Alligator" and Aunt Danielle, along with Grandmommy and Pop Pop being at our house.  We had pancakes (his favorite) for breakfast and I added a candle for good measure.  You're only 3 once, right?  My mom gave me a book called "Cooking For Isaiah" that if you or someone you love eats gluten free you MUST check out.  These pancakes are from it, and they are great!

 After breakfast we packed a picnic and headed for the Children's Gardens.  I've posted pictures from there before...in fact we went there LAST year for his birthday.

 Neither the air nor the water were warm, but the kids wanted in anyway.  I love this picture because it looks like LMM has the ball suspended in thin air-like a magic trick!

 I never get tired of taking pictures of Rosebud.  Here she is cuddling with her Uncle Nathan.

 The koi/frog pond in the garden.

 The bees were out in full force pollinating the flowers.

 I think I took as many pictures of plants and bees as I did of the children!

 We'd been there about an hour when it started to rain.  It wasn't exactly lunch time, but it seemed like a good time for daddy and Uncle Nathan to go get our lunch.  We waited out the rain, and then were able to go back out after it stopped.  I know they'll both be pleased I posted this one.

 Snug and Aunt Danielle in the music maze.

 This is one of two doors into the garden...this one is the kid one  :o)

 Outside the children's garden is another set of gardens.  For the next two years this "sculpture" will be on display.  Then it will need to be taken down and turned into mulch as it will be starting to fall apart.  It is made out of saplings that are overgrown and taking over a local wetland area.  I should have taken a picture of the explanation of it all, I don't really remember.  A famous person who does this all over the world made it.  

 Inside the "sculpture" it is like a maze.  The kids played hide-and-seek for quite awhile.

 A view of the formal garden.  (If you want to see more garden/flower pics, click here)

 After naps and the putting up of decorations, it was time to PARTY!  I made his shirt, and his hat was made as part of Faith and Travis' adoption fund raiser!

 Getting ready for the party...

 The "setup".

 And then it was time to eat.  I even made him a sock monkey pizza!  Gluten free of course!  Our favorite pizza crust for him is by Bob's Red Mill.  It is fairly inexpensive, quick, and EASY.

SOCK MONKEY CAAAAAKE!!!!  Yep, this is the final product.  It is a 2 layer ice cream cake that I made using a springform pan.  In the middle is hot fudge.  It is frosted with fondant and the monkey face is fondant.  Which I think tastes like the bottom of a shoe.  But we peeled it all off and enjoyed the "cake".  

Happy Birthday big guy!   You are a special and great kid!!!!

**At his 3 year check up he weighed in at 32lbs and is 38 inches tall.  I don't know if I posted about it or not, but he does not qualify for any special services from this point out.  Although he still has a Sensory Processing disorder (always will) they don't feel it affects his day-to-day life enough to qualify and he is not delayed enough in speech either.  His last day of school was last Thursday.  Yeah for him!!!!!

To see his birthday from last year, click here.