Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Second Thoughts


I was going to write about how Kolton's little quirks have been in overdrive lately.

I was going to write about that stay at home mom who publicly announced that she regretted it and how its just another example of women judging each other.

I was going to write about how much we are looking forward to our visit back to MN/WI in a few days.

But instead I ask that you relish in the pure joy of summer.  I hope it doesn't go by too fast!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Symbols


Thankfully the dogs have managed to find some peace with each other.  We still have to shoo Oscar off  of Sophie quite a bit but she learned that if she just sits down he is denied access.  So while things are still a little helter skelter around here we've settled in to a nice little rhythm.

Little man has been just as sweet as can be lately.  I didn't want to say anything before so not to jinx it but we finally got back to a quiet bed time routine.  One book and "The Wheels on the Bus" and that's it.  Hallelujah!

He's also been identifying symbols...mainly Mazda and Acura; the cars we drive.  I kid you not he can spot them before I do.  He'll point to a vehicle and say "a-Mama" and sure enough its a Mazda.  It doesn't matter the color or type, he just knows.  Same thing with Acura for Dada.  Things like this let me know just how smart he is.  I love him sooooo much!

And Happy Birthday to my mom.  60 years young!  Wish we were there to celebrate =)

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Houseguest


I'm dog sitting this week while a Richmond friend is at the beach.  Oscar is a male, around 8 months old and he is not fixed.  I highly underestimated his natural urges!  He will not leave Sophie alone for 2 seconds.  Sophie is fixed so I'm not worried about her getting preggers or anything but,  I can't subject my baby girl to getting humped non stop for 5 days.  So they are living on separate floors; Oscar downstairs and Sophie upstairs in my bedroom.  I feel a little bad because I'm not really spending that much time with her but she's pretty laid back now.  Its crazy but I honestly forgot what it was like to have a puppy in the house.  The constant potty breaks and high energy have me thrown for a loop.  The fact that I also can't walk them together means its a little more work than I thought it would be.  Is this what it's like to have 2 kids??????

Monday, June 17, 2013

Just A Boy


This weekend I realized that Kolton is all boy.  He LOVES to play outside.  When we weren't outside he was pulling my hand to go outside. He also knows how to unlock and open the sliding door.  He even knows how to remove the stick that locks the door in place.  All weekend we were shouting "Shut The Door!"  Our June has been quite lazy.  It helps that there is a pool in our community so we always feel like there is an option.   But, I think being the mom of a boy means I have to be a little more inventive and adventurous.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Concentration


When I saw this look on Kolton's face I couldn't help but capture it.  My mind flashed to him working on a school project or being up to bat in little league.  I can tell that he is smart and I believe he enjoys learning.  Which is why I've decided to start him with the speech therapy the school is offering in the fall instead of sticking with Early Intervention until he turns 3.  When his speech therapist comes to the house Kolton is still able to wander and play with his toys or Sophie.  He probably doesn't understand the difference between her and his babysitter...they are both playmates.  Maybe he will be able to concentrate better in a school environment.

Or maybe I'm just looking for any justification to get away from his current therapist.  I don't know what it is about that woman but she just rubs me the wrong way.  I always feel like she's talking down to me.  She's a perfectly nice woman, around my age, and in a different environment we might even be friends.  But since day one I've always felt judged by her.  Judged on my parenting, judged on my appearance, judged on my home, and judged on the fact that I keep asking the same questions over and over... Will he ever speak?  What does this mean for his future?  How do I prepare myself?

I know I could ask for a different therapist but I'm not quite sure my feelings are justified so I don't.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Little Fish


Hot, sticky, humid, and raining pretty much sums up Richmond weather lately.  Either way we've been spending a lot of time in doors.  Unless we're in the pool...


Kolton is a little fish.  He LOVES the pool!  When its time to leave I have to gather our things and head out of the gate as fast as possible so Mike can just scoop him up and walk out.  Otherwise he does not want to quit.  It so fun to share such a simple joy with my child.  I will tell you though, that I am completely paranoid about drowning.  And now there is even this whole dry drowning thing where your child may even seem completely fine and then drown in his sleep later from water that got into the lungs...WHAT?!?!

I grew up around pools.  My dad always had one.  I can't remember exactly how young we were when we were swimming unsupervised during the summer.  Or maybe I just remember it that way.  But I definitely remember going to water parks and going in wave pools without hanging on to my mom's hand the whole time.  I don't want to be a super over protective mom but how do you learn to let go?

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Rockin & Rocking


Kolton has been rockin that hat since we put it on his head Saturday.  He's so funny!  Usually he wants nothing to do with hats but now he loves this one.  He gets lots of compliments every where we go.


The power struggle at bed time continues.  If anyone has any tips on how to sleep train a 28 month old I am all ears!  I think I've got the book reading under control...he gets to pick 3 books and I pick 1.  I choose the same book every night to signal that it's time for bed.  Coincidentally enough Kolton also picks the same 3 books.  Whatever!  Beggers can't be choosers.  Now I'm stuck rocking him forever.  He resists me sooooo hard when I try to put him in his crib.  Unfortunately letting him scream for a few minutes and then going back in to rock some more is usually the path I take.  After crying it out he gets really tired and settles in pretty quickly.  I just wish he would go back to going to bed peacefully.  I feel like its been forever since we've had smooth bedtimes.  Its always kind of a stinker to end the day that way.  And I dread what this means for a toddler-bed transition.  Just another reason why I probably won't try until he's three.  

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Evaluation Results


Friday Mike and I met with the panel of therapists that evaluated Kolton to see if he should be placed in a special pre-school program this fall.  He will continue to receive speech therapy but at this time they are holding off on any type of Autism diagnosis.  This means that he will attend his regular pre-school and I will take him for speech once a week for about 30 minutes or so.  I could also continue with his current Early Intervention speech therapist until he turns 3 in January and then switch to the school program.  The advantage there is that they come to us.  I'm thinking a change in therapists might be good for him.  It wouldn't start until September anyway so we will still have 3 months with the current one.

I am very comfortable with this plan.  Although they kept telling me that since he is so young he was able to test out very easily.  There are still some Autistic behaviors that we need to keep an eye on...mainly the obsession with spinning objects.  His saving grace is his social skills.  He did just fine interacting with all of the adults but since they weren't able to see him with his peers they still aren't convinced.  I guess its easier for kids with Autism to have normal interaction with adults but struggle with other kids.  So it'll be nice to get another year of pre-school under his belt.  They urged me not to say anything to his teachers right away to see if they bring up any concerns.  Again, I'm super comfortable with this plan.  And since he is so young if we re-evaluate next year he will still have 2 more years of pre-school before kindergarten.

There is one other avenue I'm looking into.  If you ever read my favorite blogs you may have seen this post from It's Always Something.   I was blown away.  I don't believe anyone has ever suggested I get Kolton's adenoids checked before.  One sign that there is a problem is chronic ear infections.  Kolton has only had 1 in his life.  However, he snores; has since birth.  I'd just like to rule it out so I made an appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow hoping she will refer me to a pediatric ENT.

So after all of that worry I'm not sure if I have all the answers.  For now I'm happy to let Kolton be Kolton.  And I'll admit that I still hold on to the hope that one day he'll just start speaking in sentences on his own.