Funny Friday: Week Recap

Having a verbal toddler can be REALLY trying sometimes. (I swear if I get told "No, I can't!!" one more time....) But occasionally he's really hilarious. Here are highlights from my Facebook this week! (By the way, click that and be my friend!)

Franklin found a fly that can't fly...this leads to things like this:
"He just walking, Mommy. Look."
and
"The fly's walking on me! Look look! He's walking on me"


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Franklin just put on a pair of fleece pj pants and is now walking around saying "Whew. It's hot in here. Whew."

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I might have made a mistake when I asked Franklin yesterday if the fly was his friend...
Why? Because it's sort of creepy to hear your toddler say, "I gotta kill my friend." 

In other fly news: "He fly up the sky and he come back down and he can die."


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It's wayy too early for me to be decoding Franklin speak...
*points at TV* "Mommy, that's sexy crock!"

WHAT? We're watching Veggie Tales.

"Mommy, that's 6 o'clock!!!"

Ohhhhh Where's my coffee??

Chores On Their Own!

I've written before on chores and listed the chores my son did at the time.

A lot of that went out the window when the new baby was born. (Honestly, a lot of housework did!)

The boys surprised me the other day!


I heard Franklin (3yo) messing around in the dishwasher and I asked what he was doing. His response was "I just cleaning." I came around the corner to find him unloading the dishwasher! I helped him with the high/sharp things but that was it.

The next day he did it again. This time he enlisted the help of his younger brother. He handed Jonathan plastic things to put in the cabinet and showed him how to put the silverware in the drawer. I was BLOWN AWAY.

But he wasn't done!

I'd told him earlier in the day that we needed to clean up the living room if he wanted his dog to come inside to play.

After unloading the dishes he walked into the living room and started putting big things (toys, blankets, etc) on the couch. He called to me, "Help me clean a little bit, Mommy!" So I brought a small trashcan in to help him pick up trash and then I vacuumed. Of course the dog got to come inside to play!


Ack. When did my baby get so big?? Sigh.


And now for cute pictures!

3 years old

16 months

I'm linking up with the MOB Society

Book Club Friday

I'm linking up with Undercover Blonde today!



Right now I'm reading


Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic

If your child is wild, energetic, busy, screams a lot, never stops, constantly disobedient, loud, etc... YOU NEED THIS BOOK.
I'm learning so much about my kids (yes, both) and myself. I've realized that part of the reason I react so strongly to Franklin is we both have the *intense* characteristic. Think about it like this: When you put two pieces of dynamite together and only light ONE they both go off. Same thing with me and Franklin. We're both dynamite waiting for a spark. So when he goes off it sets me off and, well, sometimes things don't go so well. I yell, he yells, we both scream and cry and nothing gets accomplished.

I borrowed it from the library but I'm definitely putting it in my personal collection!

What did you read this week? Link up!!

I wish someone had told me...

So, I love my kids to death. I really really do! They're hilarious most of the time.

There are a few things I wish someone had told me about being a mom. I opened this thought up to Facebook and now I can't find it!! If you answered on the page please add your thoughts to the comments below!

I wish someone had told me...


- that I'd have bruises on the tops of my feet from my children stepping on me...it's just weird.


- that I'd willingly reach out and catch puke in my hands. 


- that I'd get pooped on and shrug it off...or LAUGH.


- that I'd get peed on weekly.


- that I'd become "that mom" that brings her own kid's snacks to parties. (Hey, food dye and HFCS makes him go NUTS)


- that it would be MY kid screaming "SHUT UP" repeatedly at the top of his lungs at the grocery store.


- that makeup would be a luxury.


- that I would consider a few bites of hotdog a "meal." (For kids or adults)


- that I'd love someone as much as I love my family. (Aww...you have to have the sappy entry!)


Comment below!! What things did you not expect as a parent?

Phone Fun!

I REALLY enjoy this link-up!

I got a concert! :-)

He always asks "Ready Mommy?" and then jams out.

I pushed out my mile in UNDER 11 MINUTES!

He wanted to play in Franklin's sensory bin...so I made him his own

He's gotten really good at crawling...

Crazy face!

Making the baby laugh

Eating breakfast! He's so big!!!!

Rest assured, that's lip gloss on his eye. 

Yeah, he's 8mo and pulling up to his knees. *sigh* I'm betting he walks before he's a year old.

That was my week! I forgot to pull out my phone more often...

I'm so proud

First off let me introduce you to these neat dice my parents brought me:

They're prayer dice. Each side has a different prayer on it. I thought they were really neat.


Anyway, I'm sitting at the computer today and I hear Franklin yell, "Dead bug, Mama!!" Now, he's been known to yell this about speck of ANYTHING on the floor so I didn't think much of it...until he said it again and I heard the above block banging on the floor.

He ran in, quite proud of himself, and told me "Dead bug!!!" I want to foster his pretend so I said, "Oh really? Show me!!" and ran with him.

It turns out there HAD been a bug. He'd squished it. No, I take that back, he'd obliterated it. I think it was a spider....but it was hard to tell from what was squished across the floor.

Now I hate spiders. I don't want 50 comments from people saying "but spiders are good! They eat bugs! blah blah blah..." I know. I'm well aware that spiders eat bugs and that not all of them are horrible killing machines ready to take me out in my sleep. Logically I KNOW this...but I also have a phobia. So, in the phobia part of my brain I want every spider in the world dead because only then will we all be safe.


Can you guess how I reacted to the spider killing by my son? I hugged him, told him he was awesome, and we did a high-five. He's my hero.

Monday Phone Fun!

My sweet Jonathan (who is CRAWLING at 7mo!!!!)

My loving Franklin enjoying dinner!

This made my feet look fat

I like the color

He wanted to cuddle mama

My fathre-in-law said an amateur did them....well, I did !

A gross deal at my grocery store. Who needs THAT MUCH SUGAR in the morning?

Drinking his bottle without a top!!

He's riding his motorcycle. Notice the helmet

He unzipped the couch cover and crawled inside.

Franklin wanted to hold the baby...but the baby is too big. This was the compromise.

HUG

SO SWEET (he probably smacked him 10mins later)

My mile time. Yep. I'm awesome. 

Click this button to see what everyone else did this week!

In My Neck Of The Woods...

I've been a bit frustrated...

When am I not, right?

We tried church on Sunday but it was a HUGE bust. Franklin didn't want to go to nursery (like, freaked out about it), he wouldn't sit in service (praise and worship was his limit), and then he started having meltdowns in the cry room (yeah, we had to leave THE CRY ROOM). We figured out that he was probably hungry (he's not a morning eater...this can pose a problem) and tired (his schedule was off)...in any case, I got frustrated.

We've been doing this Occupational Therapy for his SPD for several months now and it feels like he's getting WORSE not BETTER. His meltdowns are getting more intense and more frequent. As his mother I feel horribly lost. If you're a parent you understand how painful it is to see your child suffer and not be able to help him.

He's also destructive. That's due to age/being a boy/SPD/etc...I have SO MUCH working against me some days. I want nice things but I know I can't have them yet. Sometimes I think "I'll get shelves for nice things" and then a toy goes flying through the air and I think "Uh, never mind..."

Jonathan is scooting (!!!!!!!!!!!) He's also getting his first tooth. The child is 7 months old! Franklin didn't scoot until 8-9mo and didn't get teeth until almost a year old. *sigh* Why is my baby growing up so much faster?

I am glad that the boys are able to play together...at least for short bursts. Jonathan can't get up and go the way that Franklin likes; so, Franklin will sit and play as long as he can and then he has to run around. Jonathan will probably walk early just so he can keep up with his brother!


That's a little bit about my neck of the woods. I'm linking up! Post what's going on in YOUR life and link up with me!

Hindsight

Hindsight is always 20/20...

I realize now that it was there the second he was born.

- The nurses thought it was odd that he didn't cry when he got his vitamin K shot at birth.
- They had to MAKE him cry to get his Apgar. 
- He didn't flinch when they did his PKU stick.

I joked that he was tough like his Daddy.

- He fought being swaddled...he HAD to have his hands free. (At a day old)
- He would only sleep facedown on my chest....until he got older and was so heavy I couldn't breathe. 
- The only way to get sleep in chunks longer than 30mins was to have him in bed next to me. Even then he only slept an hour at a time...until 6 months and he "graduated" to 2 hours at a time.

I'm justified it by saying that I'm not a good sleeper and poor thing must have inherited my insomnia.

- If we went out to eat it couldn't be busy...and God Help Me if someone had a birthday. We'd have to eat fast or the screaming would start.
- He spent most of his life diaperless because a wet diaper meant screaming bloody murder.
- I would spend hours on my feet walking or hours in the glider rocking because it was the only way he would nap.

I learned about "high needs" kids and saw a lot of my son in it.

- He falls down and I hold my breath...will he laugh and shrug it off or will this be a screaming fit?
- I have to wipe his hands numerous times during dinner...he falls and gets dirt on his hands and screams until you wipe them off. 

He's quirky. He's unique.

- Night-weaning takes a month. A month of no sleep and screaming for hours. 
- Nothing helps him sleep...I do EVERYTHING that's suggested to me...routine/no routine, noise machine, dark room, aromatherapy...and bedtime is still an hour of screaming. Or...
- We let him sit on the couch until 10pm when he passes out sitting up. 

High Needs. Spirited. Insomnia. That's it, right?

- He jumps off the couch and crashes to the floor. That can't be comfortable and it sure isn't safe. And try as I might I can't.make.him.stop.
- There are no clean bottles and I try to give him milk in a cup. He starts screaming hysterically. This goes on for at least 10mins...I even wash a bottle and fill it with milk but by then he's too far gone. His breathing is ragged, he's gagging, he's bright red...I cry with him because it's painful to watch.

My depression gets worse. My anxiety goes up. I frequently sit in the shower and cry because deep down I know that something isn't right.


Now I know...something WASN'T right. He has Sensory Processing Disorder. It's actually pretty mild...but when you're in the middle of things it doesn't seem like it.

So when you see the kid screaming in the high chair, see the mom updating Facebook again about how overwhelmed she is, or hear the kid screaming in the grocery store don't judge. I'm doing the very best I can.

The Update You're All Waiting To Read

Franklin got evaluated yesterday on speech and for sensory processing disorder.

He qualifies for the program!

What is Sensory Processing Disorder? Here's a link to a short video that I thought was very informative (and easy to understand as it's made for kids)

Basically, sometimes when people are processing information it doesn't process correctly. Lines get crossed or things go too fast or too slow.

For example:
A neurotypical person hears the vacuum cleaner and it sounds normal...like you would expect a vacuum to sound. Someone with SPD might process it as a nothing sound (like, barely register it) and another might process it as pain.

Some things they noticed about Franklin:

- They showed him how to play with a toy and then tried to get him to play with it another way...and he wouldn't do it because that's not how you play with that toy. (Stefan realized last night that this is why getting him to drink milk out of a glass is so hard...he's ALWAYS had it from the bottle. To him, that is where you have milk)

 

- He tuned them out a lot because he wasn't finished doing X Activity. (This is why discipline is SO HARD! He doesn't distract.)

(those two things they want to work on...being able to stop an activity even if it's not perfect)

 

- He's still a bit behind on language.

 

- When he's upset and calming down (he had a tantrum while they were here) he makes this specific tone noise (a whining noise) They said that for him that sound feels good. One of our goals is to give him other ways to calm down.

 

- They want to work on his pretend play. He doesn't do it.

- He plays rough with people because that's how HE likes to be played with...he doesn't understand that not everyone needs the firm touch that he does.

 

 

They said we have to go outside AT LEAST twice a day. (It's about to be too hot to go out in the afternoon) They want him to do more heavy work activities and find ways to get that deep touch (so he stops throwing himself off of the couch).

 

Basically, I feel really good about it. Right now someone will be coming out weekly to see him. (The ECI Specialist) The Speech Person and OT will come monthly right now.

 

They said he's perfect for the program. He's not an extreme case but there's enough there that we can get tools to help him. That's all we wanted, really.

What was the evaluation like? They came in (armed with a suitcase full of toys and books with pictures) and sat on the floor and played with him. They alternated playing with Franklin and asking us questions. And then they sat back and watched him walk around and play. It was really low key.

I'll be honest, I had to keep reminding myself that they were here to evaluate FRANKLIN and not ME. I guess it's ego...but no parent wants to admit that their child is less than perfect. I've also been struggling with "is there something *I* did wrong?" Every time they asked, "Does he do X?" and I had to answer in the negative I felt the need to defend myself. That was hard for me.

Things are better already. They gave us some things to think about and a couple of tools. The Occupational Therapist said that if I observe him I can learn what he needs. When he's throwing toys it's because his muscles need more stimulation so I should find a "heavy work" activity to help tire them out. (Like, pushing/pulling/lifting heavy things...we filled his little backpack with cans. Last night before bed he had to "wheelbarrow walk" across the living room) When he's crashing around and jumping off of the couch it's because he needs that deep touch. Like you get from a hard massage, the nerves interpret it the same way. So, I can roll him tight in a blanket or massage his legs.

This also explains why spankings rarely work. He LIKES the deep touch, so a spanking barely registers...or it registers too high. There is no middle ground. 

Please ask questions!

Who Holds YOU Accountable?

So, I'm doing this month long prayer journey for my sons. Let me tell you, I'm not doing so well... I forget to pray all the time.

If nothing else, we've vowed to try to pray before meals and before bed!

Well, the other night we were all REALLY hungry and started eating before praying. I commented (with a bite on its way to my mouth) "Oh, we forgot to pray." My two year old (well, almost two!) stopped eating and held out his hands for us! All he needed to hear was the word "pray" and he was ready to go! I've seen this during the day too. If I need him to stop and focus (usually during a screaming fit) I'll say, "Do you want to go pray?" and he'll stop and go sit on the floor and wait for me. Sometimes he sits in my lap.

Praise God for children that adore Him! Franklin isn't even old enough to really understand the entire concept...but he's learning that prayer is important!

Pipe Cleaner Headband? Check!

A letter to my son

Dear Franklin,

It's just one more month before you turn 2. I can't believe you're 2 already! It seems like just recently I was able to hold you in my arms for hours, and now you won't sit for more than a few minutes. You're on the move constantly.

There are times when I find myself getting annoyed with your behavior. I have to remind myself that there are pluses to these things. The antics during your endless bouts of energy will always make me laugh. The fact that you run yourself so hard means that I can always (well, usually) count on having you collapse on me for a nap. Your stubborn nature will help you become a leader in whatever crowd you choose. Your strong emotions and empathetic nature will help you become a loving husband. And even though I have to say "no" when you try to help with your brother, I'm happy to think that someday you'll make a great dad.

I'm sorry that I can't give you the individualized attention you want right now. I'm sorry I find myself yelling way more often than I should. I hope that someday you'll look back and realize that I did the best I could. I hope that you'll cherish the memories of sitting on my lap and rocking down for a nap, of playing on the floor in our living room, and of cuddling in bed first thing in the morning. I know that these are a few of the many memories I will hold near and dear to my heart.

I'm afraid to blink and miss you growing up; but, at the same time, I'm also excited to see the wonderful man I know you will become. I pray for you and your brother daily. I know that God has a plan for you.

I love you with all of my heart. I had no idea that I could love someone so much. You are an amazing little boy. I can't believe I'm 2 years closer to you being an amazing man.

Boys In Motion

Linking up to Boys In Motion Friday

He was laying in the dirt right before this...I didn't get that shot (sadly) but I got this one of him jumping up.

Is It Friday Already?

Wow, it's time for another Boys In Motion Link UP

Franklin Update

All of the previous updates are in italics and the new stuff is in bold.
Words he says:
- uh oh
- aww man!
- pe-ew (like something stinks)
- duh (dog)
- book
- booger
- mama
- dada
- good bye (when he thinks no one is listening)
- block (bah)
- milk (muh)
- HI!!!
- monkey (muh nuh)
- ball
- blue (boo)
- Yellow (yeyo)
- Juice (a high pitched: joo)
- Duck (quite clear actually)
- He's also started using the words he knows more often.

He signs:
- more
- eat/want
- milk
- music
- bath
- shoes
- socks
- water
- go (like go out)
- love
- bed (bedtime) We're still working on this one...
- all done
- apple
- brush teeth
- bread
- baby
- potty

He can identify (when asked):
- yellow
- head
- ears
- belly
- penis (he kept pointing so we told him what it was called)
- fingers/hand
- toes
- nose (sometimes)
- booty (Daddy taught him this one)
- blue
- red
- he can blow a kiss, give a real kiss, and a hug
- he also waves and says "bye bye" and waves hello
- I didn't realize it, but screwing lids on and off is apparently an advanced skill...he's been doing this for months now.
- He can stack 11 blocks high. He can probably stack more but he can't reach and the carpet won't allow for stacking.

- If you ask him what a bird says he'll tell you "tee tee tee" (tweet tweet tweet), a cat says "mew" and a dog says "woo woo woo." He also points them out when he sees each animal.

He also understands "no" and can follow instructions like, "Give your bottle to Daddy" if he asks for milk and Daddy is in the kitchen.
The other day I told him "I'm going to open the stove and it's going to be hot. Can you stand back?" and he walked over to the safe spot I taught him (behind and out of the way) and stood and waited for my okay.
-He loves to help out with the baby. He will give nice touches when the baby is crying, help me pat him to burp, and throw away dirty diapers for me.
-He's started sleeping in his own bed at night. Granted, he isn't always alone (Daddy sleeps down there when Franklin gets upset) but he does spend a good part of the night in it all by himself.
- He loves fruit and veggies and has been eating 30 Days RAW with Daddy (well, 80% of his diet has been raw...he eats cooked food with me on occasion)
- He asks to go potty and then actually uses it!!! We haven't mastered poop on the potty yet... but we get 98% of pees in it.

Time for my Boys In Motion

I am SO behind on this blog! It's been overwhelming here lately...fussy toddler and clingy baby. There were some major meltdowns this week.

I'm trying to work out a schedule that involves a bit of blogging during the week...we shall see.

Franklin decided he wants to dress just like Daddy.

Linking up Boys In Motion

Tot School: It's COLD

This week we were NOT blessed with warm weather. It has been too cold to go outside...and cold in the house. Add in that Franklin is still cutting teeth...it's been a rough week.

We did get ONE nice day to play outside. So, that was the busy day for Tot School.

I made a sensory bin! My first one!

Contains: split peas (that we'd never eat), some brown rice (that we didn't like), cheap rigatoni dyed red, cookie cutters, ribbon, and a squishy pig. (The pig is way more fun to throw and never made it back)

I gave him a spoon and bowl and let him scoop.

He's good at it when he focuses.

We tried on the floor but that didn't work as well.

He liked fitting the cookie cutters into a bowl. (The fist is him telling me he needs to go potty)

It was also fun to line all of the cookie cutters on the edge of the table.

We also played with the Geo Sorter toy this week.

In one week he went from only being able to do one color to being able to do 4 with little difficulty...

We went outside ONE DAY.

But he wasn't tired or anything.

Mommy discovered an ant home at his feet *sigh*

Okay, I must give some information before sharing the next photos...

I hate bugs. HATE HATE HATE them. This applies to most of the bug community. Yes, I understand that many are harmless and even helpful. BUT THEY'RE GROSS!! I have a phobia when it comes to most bugs. (Like, freak out and run screaming kind of thing)

However, I'm also dedicated to my son learning. So, when there was a cricket in the yard and I saw that he was interested in it I went inside and got a yogurt container AND I CAUGHT THE THING.

That's right. There's a cricket in there.

Now, Franklin didn't care so much about observing it...he liked to dump it back and forth and hear it scrape on the foil as it tried to stand upright.

I let it go after a bit. 1) I don't want bugs in my house. 2) It seemed kind of mean to let my son beat it to death...

He may have tried to squish it with a rock...

I also have him making Valentines. No photos of that (it would ruin the surprise) He's fingerpainting and I'm going to cut out squares to send off as Valentines. Those photos will go up after V-day is over!

Oh, we got Franklin a doll (yes, a DOLL) because he's been so interested in the baby (and babies all over). We wanted him to have is own baby to take care of (and be able to carry)

He was super excited:

How does Jonathan spend Tot School?

My favorite photo of the week:

Franklin fell, Mommy couldn't get to him, so Daddy put Jonathan down quickly...and he never woke up.


Linking up: