Did you know I have three legs now? The newest addition doesn't quite match, with its brown hair and runny nose, but there it is, just the same. It follows me around in perfect time with the other two, attached by two stubby arms. Sometimes the leg thinks that it's in charge, and attempts to lead me around the house to do its bidding. But so far it is not strong enough, though I do oblige it at times.
If I go outside to feed the cats or get firewood, I sometimes have to detach it for a few minutes. That makes the leg very unhappy. I can usually hear it from quite a distance away, cussing at me in baby leg language, no doubt.
It does not like for me to be in the kitchen if it wants to be in the living room. And there is no compromising with it, I've found out. It will grab onto my pants and try its best to drag me around. Even if it wants to sit and read on its own, I am not allowed to be more than a few feet away. And if it wants to sit on my lap on the floor, it does not like for you to try to get up. It will refuse to stand on its own and keep quickly climbing back on top of me.
For three days now I have had this strange growth. Any day now I expect it to become more independent like it used to be. And as slighly claustrophobic as it makes me for a few seconds here and there, I will miss it. My sweet little third leg.
2.28.2006
2.27.2006
And in other news....
A talking update:
"Please" has been upgraded from "ee" to "chee" and sometimes "cheez"
"Kitty-cat" has only one syllable now. It sounds like "dah" He may think that kitty cats are just little doggies, I'm not sure.
And upon request, we can now point out our tummy, nose and tongue (the favorites) and sometimes head, ear, or eye.
In other news, I'm thinking of downsizing our morning "Wiggles" time, as he sits and stares like a zombie for the duration. Rarely, he'll be moved to get up and dance to a song, where he used to dance for almost the whole show. So I think I'll just let him watch a little bit of "Wiggles" and just listen to the music stations after that.
"Please" has been upgraded from "ee" to "chee" and sometimes "cheez"
"Kitty-cat" has only one syllable now. It sounds like "dah" He may think that kitty cats are just little doggies, I'm not sure.
And upon request, we can now point out our tummy, nose and tongue (the favorites) and sometimes head, ear, or eye.
In other news, I'm thinking of downsizing our morning "Wiggles" time, as he sits and stares like a zombie for the duration. Rarely, he'll be moved to get up and dance to a song, where he used to dance for almost the whole show. So I think I'll just let him watch a little bit of "Wiggles" and just listen to the music stations after that.
Eyelashes and Kisses
Brent's doctor's appointment went well today, as far as results. All is well with his ears, physically. Psychologically, it seems he has been a little traumatized by all of this, as was apparent today with his screams of murder as soon as he caught a glance of the doctor. And when I had to hold him down so they could look into his ears - well...I'm not keen on reliving that one. So, I'm glad that with this surgery he is able to hear better and have far less pain, but I can also add it to the list of traumatic events that will shadow over his life no matter how hard I try to avoid them. You trade the good for the bad sometimes, I know. But, as most parents would probably agree, I'd like to barter parts of my soul sometimes to add the bad parts to my own lists and leave him with only happy memories.
I'd also like to take away his memories of me having to raise my voice at him after 17 times of trying to keep him from climbing up the ladder to see daddy, or erase the feelings he had toward me when he wanted to go outside and play yesterday in super-windy cold weather even though we had spent most of the day before out enjoying the warmth and sunshine, and I had to deny him. Do they make just a little white-out for times like these? I promise I will use it sparingly.
And lately I've been compiling a mental list of all the little things to write here - the things that I take for granted - the things that will slowly filter out of my memories if I don't take the opportunity to list them:
- The length of his eyelashes. I've never seen any so beautiful on any person. And each one is completely perfect as it blends in length to meet the next. His eyebrows are also so nice, with just the right shape and color.
- In his world, a cow really says "booooooo" and sheep have strange gutteral jackhammer laughs. Pigs just make funny faces and scrunch their noses up (well that one may be true, I guess)
- The way he spends that last bottle of the day just staring at me from his crib, with his foot up in the air, and his body just wiggling softly with happiness as he cuddles against his blanket and drifts off to sleep. Once in awhile, his eyes will roll back in his head as he fights sleep. And I sing the same song to him every night, the one he loves from his children's songs cd.
- When he's really happy with me, and he'll shove his bottom lip out and tilt his head back, asking for a kiss. And no matter how runny his nose may be, I always oblige.
- The way he wants to feed me from his disgusting plate - holding out some miscellaceous soggy piece of food with his mouth as open as it will go, and his eyes big, and his eyebrows high and hopeful as his whole head shakes a little with anticipation.
- The way, like this morning, he can sometimes be flowing over with sweetness: cuddling on my lap, blowing kisses, putting his little hands on my cheeks and just smiling the most wonderful smile.
I'll try to add more 'little things' as they come up.
-
I'd also like to take away his memories of me having to raise my voice at him after 17 times of trying to keep him from climbing up the ladder to see daddy, or erase the feelings he had toward me when he wanted to go outside and play yesterday in super-windy cold weather even though we had spent most of the day before out enjoying the warmth and sunshine, and I had to deny him. Do they make just a little white-out for times like these? I promise I will use it sparingly.
And lately I've been compiling a mental list of all the little things to write here - the things that I take for granted - the things that will slowly filter out of my memories if I don't take the opportunity to list them:
- The length of his eyelashes. I've never seen any so beautiful on any person. And each one is completely perfect as it blends in length to meet the next. His eyebrows are also so nice, with just the right shape and color.
- In his world, a cow really says "booooooo" and sheep have strange gutteral jackhammer laughs. Pigs just make funny faces and scrunch their noses up (well that one may be true, I guess)
- The way he spends that last bottle of the day just staring at me from his crib, with his foot up in the air, and his body just wiggling softly with happiness as he cuddles against his blanket and drifts off to sleep. Once in awhile, his eyes will roll back in his head as he fights sleep. And I sing the same song to him every night, the one he loves from his children's songs cd.
- When he's really happy with me, and he'll shove his bottom lip out and tilt his head back, asking for a kiss. And no matter how runny his nose may be, I always oblige.
- The way he wants to feed me from his disgusting plate - holding out some miscellaceous soggy piece of food with his mouth as open as it will go, and his eyes big, and his eyebrows high and hopeful as his whole head shakes a little with anticipation.
- The way, like this morning, he can sometimes be flowing over with sweetness: cuddling on my lap, blowing kisses, putting his little hands on my cheeks and just smiling the most wonderful smile.
I'll try to add more 'little things' as they come up.
-
2.24.2006
I'm not sure if I should write today or not. I've been meaning to catch up on what he's been doing, but it was such a bad morning that I don't want that to overshadow all the neat things he's been doing lately. So I'll be quick on the bad part. Skunk sprayed again. Stunk all night. Toddler grumpy this morning. Ready to leave for daycare, clean happy and dressed nice. Spent next 1/2 hour cleaning up unexpected throw-up from all over the car/toddler/me. Chased aforementioned toddler across the yard several times. Leave again for daycare, semi-clean/not-so-happy/dressed in whatever I could find for us both.
Whew...got that out of the way.
Anyways, Brent has been talking up a storm lately. Here is a translation breakdown for those of you that may be speaking with him soon:
Doggie - "dob-wie"
Kitty-cat - "di-wa"
Please - "ee"
More/Give me that - "mo"
Night Night, Daddy - "ni ni da"
He says some other things pretty clearly, like bye-bye and uh-oh. And I'm sure he is trying other things that I just haven't caught on to yet. He spends quite a lot of time practicing with his voice with different sounds and syllables. I still don't know if it has something to do with his hearing being clearer with no infections, or if it is just time for him to start all this. But it's great! He has a voice like an angel. Now if I can only get him to behave like one more often, I'd have it made!
Actually, he's been pretty good lately. He's still waking up quite a bit at night. I agree with Andy on this one - I just might have to wait until he can tell me what's going on before I understand completely why he is still doing it. It's not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things anyhow (well, for anyone not named Mommy I suppose). I have so much fun playing with him in the evenings and on the weekends that it's worth it.
He is book-obsessed lately! I know we have to go through at least 20 per night. Pretty much by the time we finish eating and reading, it's bedtime. Partly because eating takes much longer than it ever has now that he's mastering utensils. He'll eat very quietly and neatly until he's full, and then he wants nothing but to practice with his plastic spoon and fork with the rest of it. If you threaten to take it away (sometimes it is too gross to watch), then he will eat a few bites to barter some more play time. He's no dummy...
We go back to the doctor on Monday morning for a post-op check, but I think everything is going fine. Hopefully the fact that I spilled most of his eardrops doesn't end up hurting anything. It's not like he really let me get much in his ear to begin with.
Whew...got that out of the way.
Anyways, Brent has been talking up a storm lately. Here is a translation breakdown for those of you that may be speaking with him soon:
Doggie - "dob-wie"
Kitty-cat - "di-wa"
Please - "ee"
More/Give me that - "mo"
Night Night, Daddy - "ni ni da"
He says some other things pretty clearly, like bye-bye and uh-oh. And I'm sure he is trying other things that I just haven't caught on to yet. He spends quite a lot of time practicing with his voice with different sounds and syllables. I still don't know if it has something to do with his hearing being clearer with no infections, or if it is just time for him to start all this. But it's great! He has a voice like an angel. Now if I can only get him to behave like one more often, I'd have it made!
Actually, he's been pretty good lately. He's still waking up quite a bit at night. I agree with Andy on this one - I just might have to wait until he can tell me what's going on before I understand completely why he is still doing it. It's not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things anyhow (well, for anyone not named Mommy I suppose). I have so much fun playing with him in the evenings and on the weekends that it's worth it.
He is book-obsessed lately! I know we have to go through at least 20 per night. Pretty much by the time we finish eating and reading, it's bedtime. Partly because eating takes much longer than it ever has now that he's mastering utensils. He'll eat very quietly and neatly until he's full, and then he wants nothing but to practice with his plastic spoon and fork with the rest of it. If you threaten to take it away (sometimes it is too gross to watch), then he will eat a few bites to barter some more play time. He's no dummy...
We go back to the doctor on Monday morning for a post-op check, but I think everything is going fine. Hopefully the fact that I spilled most of his eardrops doesn't end up hurting anything. It's not like he really let me get much in his ear to begin with.
2.16.2006
Thankfulness
Brent did great on his surgery Monday! Everything went more smoothly than I had even hoped. He had lots of fun toys to play with in the pediatric waiting room, and they let him stay with us up until the doctor was ready for him. All said and done, he was only away from us for about 20 minutes, and then they brought him back to me safe and sound. A little cranky and disoriented for a few minutes, but that's about all. Within an hour or two, he was 100% his old self, and has been fine ever since. I'm just so grateful that things worked out well.
I'll write this here, even if it's a little mushy. But it has just been weighing on me lately just how lucky we are. There are too many other children that are so less fortunate...too many parents waiting in rooms just like the one we were in, only they may not have had good news at the end, or may have been waiting for surgeries far more complicated and dangerous. I can't even imagine what they must go through. I knew in my heart that this was simple and that he would be just fine, and yet when the moment came for them to carry him away, my heart just sank to the floor in an instant. You live outside of yourself for those minutes, where time passes with heavy feet, and sounds move through you without any life. Until they are back safe with you, it seems like anything is possible. Scenarios run through your head, skipping around senselessly. And then it's over, and life returns to normal. But every time I see a poster with a missing child on it, or read headlines of horrible situations, that feeling creeps up my throat just a little. It's my reminder of how lucky I am, and how precious every single moment is with the people you love.
I'll write this here, even if it's a little mushy. But it has just been weighing on me lately just how lucky we are. There are too many other children that are so less fortunate...too many parents waiting in rooms just like the one we were in, only they may not have had good news at the end, or may have been waiting for surgeries far more complicated and dangerous. I can't even imagine what they must go through. I knew in my heart that this was simple and that he would be just fine, and yet when the moment came for them to carry him away, my heart just sank to the floor in an instant. You live outside of yourself for those minutes, where time passes with heavy feet, and sounds move through you without any life. Until they are back safe with you, it seems like anything is possible. Scenarios run through your head, skipping around senselessly. And then it's over, and life returns to normal. But every time I see a poster with a missing child on it, or read headlines of horrible situations, that feeling creeps up my throat just a little. It's my reminder of how lucky I am, and how precious every single moment is with the people you love.
2.10.2006
Getting ready for the big day...
No, not getting ready for the Superbowl, that has come and past. AND WE HAVE CONQUERED!!!!! And I'm just SURE it's because Brent was a fan this year. There's no other explanation for it! The #1 fan for the #1 team. What a great year!
No, we're getting ready for the big day on Monday, when he undergoes his first trip to the other side of reality and has tubes put in his ears. I'm sure everything will be just fine. He's such a tough little guy. And maybe he will feel a little better from here on out.
I don't have much to report lately. He's doing great with everything, and learning new words every day. He's not really saying those words yet, unless they all resemble "na-na". Na-na usually means "give me that thing I'm pointing at, NOW please", but can be used in a variety of ways: "Pick me up NOW please" or "Stop taking away these dangerous objects I keep finding NOW please". The most important thing to remember when someone says Na-na to you is that an immediate response is required. Each repeat Na-na will become exponentially more urgent and impatient. Usually if you make it to the third one, it is accompanied by shrill crying and looks that can kill. It's best to avoid getting to that level. Trust me on that. So I'm not sure that he'll ever learn to talk at this point. Because -really- why does he need to? When one word gets you just about everything you want and need, there's no real need to expand a vocabulary. Sometimes I think he's smarter than even I give him credit for, with all the power he commands with such limited words.
But seriously, he is doing great, and he is more of a joy every day. Yes he has his moments, I'm 100% sure that all toddlers have them. But most of the time, I'm either laughing or smiling with him. He's very interested in books lately, and on more than one occasion I've been forced to a sitting position in the middle of the kitchen (while trying to cook him the very dinner he's NOT willing to wait for) because it is demanded of me that we sit and look at one of his favorite books. And like everything else, it cannot possibly wait. But I'm determined not to be the kind of parent that lets housework/tv/etc become more important than spending time with him. Does it spoil him? Maybe a little. Does is show him that he's the most important thing to me? I guarantee it. And at this age, I think that's important. Sure there's times when I have to look at a dirty house (okay...maybe more times than there should be), and there's times when I do have to get some things done (like when the dishes start jumping out of the sink of their own force). But for the most part, we spend lots of time together. And I cherish every second.
And still I think Da-da is his favorite. But hey, he's a pretty likeable guy, so I can see that. As soon as we pull into the driveway, he starts yelling for him and searching for him. I'll put him on the ground and he runs over to help Andy with carrying firewood or feeding the dogs. It's great to see. Some days I think we actually function pretty well as a family. And the other days...well...they really aren't that important in the long run.
Some pictures I took this morning while we watched the Wiggles. Not great photos, but it was all I could do to tear him away from the strange and colorful dancing men long enough to take a picture.
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