Thursday, February 12, 2009
Ordering Take-out
Tonight Elem and I were out running a few errands and in an effort to save some time, I decided to run through a drive through, grab some food, and head back to the house, just in time to torcher both of us in attempt to get Elem to take a bath. While anticipating the much dreaded episodes to come, as I am looking at the menu options I hear my son scream out, "I WAN PRITE.......CHICKEN!". I looked back to see Elem looking out the rear driver side window at the same menu I was looking at, and soon realized he was placing his order. Mimicking me if you will. :) It was at that moment I forgot all about the bath "aches" to come and simply laughed out loud. And then thought to myself it is indeed some time for some good ole home cooking. We dont even eat out that much, and Elem never even gets sprite unless it is a special occasion, but I guess he was under the impression, if you yell it out the window, you get it. Seems to look that way if you think about it. Smart baby.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Anti-Bath Phase
Who knew the anti bath phase would ever exist with my child!!! He had everything going for him-mom loves the water, dad loves the water, everyone around him including Cecilia loves the water, and until last week, Elem Zane loved the water! These days he is so anti bath it is ridiculous! Over the course of the last week I have been trying everything to coax Elem into getting into the bath selling him on the idea that it will be so much fun! Some things I have tried include: buying him a mini basketball goal to play with in the water, new bath toy cups, giving him a bath in the jacuzzi, sitting in his bath tub with him, giving him food in the bath tub, giving him a bath in the sink...and the list goes on, but nothing is working! Former water lover turned anti, who knew! Any ideas on what might have caused this? I have no answers for this one-he didnt fall, he didnt slip, or go under water or anything, just a change of heart. Hope to see this phase come and go with a quickness, because my 30 pound child has legs of steel and is super heard to force into bathing. Poor Seth and I have been taking a royal beating over the last week and ar full of scratches and hurt feelings of the rath that we end of taking when bath time comes up. However we are thinking happy thoughts and I will think of something! Send your ideas my way, if you have some good ones! Anything is worth trying!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
20 month milestones
We have finally entered the twenty something digits as far as months. So that in and of itself is a HUGE milestone for us. No more teen months to be counting around here, but we welcome the twenty's with open arms-I think. :) When looking at the current month, I am always in awe of the new accomplishments and learning that has taken place over the course of just one month. With each month comes so many things I feel I take for granted and I am trying more and more to praise Elem for the littlest things he seems to learn. I really do not want to miss any tiny piece of his child hood and LOVE seeing him learn to do more and more literally every single day. This past month I have tried a newer, or better approach to every day activities. Working with kids every day can be draining and it makes it a little harder to tend to your child's every need while he is with you at work, and I feel like I have been "missing" some of what he has been needing from me. The biggest adjustment for us this month would be Elem's neediness for me. He is really being a mommy's boy lately and is needing to be reassured that I am there for him and that it is okay to go and do things while mommy sits back and watches you-or more so works. In an attempt to better the situation and save some tears from my baby boy, I have really been trying to overly assure him that I am right here every single day, and when I am here, I am really "here for him. He doesnt have to "hold you" as he likes to say, every second that he realizes I am not paying attention to him. So while at school I have really been making the effort to talk to him more so from across the room, give him extra hugs and kisses, and most of all praise him for all the little things he does throughout the day. Some of those things would include picking up toys, helping me with something, doing his art project, sitting in his chair or on the carpet, etc. It really seems to be working and giving him the security that he needs. So I hope this continues and he slowly realizes that even though I am not holding him, I am right there, and if I am not where he can see me, I will be back to get him-thus minimizing his neediness. :)
Now onto the milestones:
Stats:
Weight: 29 lbs 8 oz
Height: 39 inches tall!!!!
Teeth: 16 total-the upper eye teeth finally made there way fully, and the lower ones are almost done!
Shoe: 7 and 1/2
Diapers: size 5
Physically:
-can go up and down stairs with ease (for the most part)
-officially can climb to the top of the Chick-Fil-A playground! haha this is a big step. :)
-turns in a circle while stomping one foot
-tries to jump on 2 feet-but it kind of looks like a skip
-kicks balls
-shoots in the basketball goal over and over and over
-opens and closes doors on his own
-rolls sideways on the floor
-hits balls with a bat (like a tee ball or a ball on the ground)
-helps with dressing-takes off own socks, and tries to do his shirts, pants, and diapers
-jumps up and down on his bed and our bed
-pees in the potty when you put him there when he is already in mid pee :)
-washes his body with soap, and tries to wash his hair, washes his hands well
-brushes teeth on his own-pretty well
Mentally:
-recognizes different cars-mommy's, daddy's, grammy's dustin's, etc.
-loves to sing songs, or really hear me sing them
-knows the color green
-counts to 5
-recognizes letters as "ABCs"
-sings A, B, C, D and nods to the rest of the song, letting out a few grunts here and there
-tries to do puzzles but really needs help to do any of them
-speaks in 5-6 word sentences on average. For example: "I wan go bye bye sissy house"
-loves to imitate-constantly doing whatever mommy and daddy are doing such as vacuuming, scrubbing toilets, wiping up messes, throwing trash away, rocking a baby, etc.
-learns about 10 new words a day
-associates people with names-and knows his name
-refers to himself as Elem when speaking (rather than me), for example: thats Elem's bankmey) (blankey)
-says please and thank you all the time, often tells himself thank you before you can even get the words out
-knows the following body parts and says them by name and points to them: hair, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, cheeks, chin, hands, toes, belly button, tummy, and bottom (he calls it a bo bo)
-acknowledges every boo boo and wants you to kiss them all the time
Top 10 likes (not including mommy and daddy)
10. The vacuum
9. Big trucks (real life or books)
8. Playing outside and on the playground
7. Sage (petting her, playing with her, talking to her, getting on to her, or feeding her)
6. Water play of any kind (in the bath tub, with cups, pouring, washing hands, all of them)
5. Basketbal (or really balls in general)
4. Barney and Backyardagains (they tie)
3. Sissy (Cecilia is one of his most favorite things)
2. Sippy Cup (juice)
1. Blankey
-The blankey is the most prized possession around our house these days. He has been slowly becoming more and more attached to it, and we pretty much have to take it everywhere with us. We take it in the car, to school, to grammy and poppas, most trips into stores, and always always always at bed time. Elem tends to hold his blankey very tight and cuddle with it near his face. At the other end he rubs the blankey between his thumb and pointer and middle finger. It really seems to comfort and calm him. And is so adorable to see his attachment to it. He is very independant and wants to do things on his own, but never turns away the blankey no matter the time of day. So sweet.
Dislikes:
-most vegetables. still a picky eater like mommy, and is showing no signs of expanding his diet
-washing his hair in the bath tub (this is new for us-he used to love getting his head wet, but no more!)
-getting his hands dirty
-changing his diaper-still doesnt like this, but getting better at it.
-the dark-pretty much scared of the dark and needs a light on when he goes to bed
-his socks on when he sleeps-he hates this! He has to have them off every single time he naps or goes to bed
-new teachers at school-not big on change in his environment and doesnt like new people
-riding in the basket at Walmart and Target-this is an annoying one! He wont stay in the basket for more than 10 minutes at a time.
-showers-no way with the showers-he doesnt like the water hitting him from above
Elem's Favorite phrases:or rather most common phrases he speaks around my house:
" Top it now!"-stop it now, I think he got this one from me-oops!
"Go get it mommy/daddy"
"I wan my bankmey, juice"-I want my blankey and my cup
"I wan go bye bye sissy house" I want to go bye bye to sissy's house
"comeon" come on
"I wan boots, ead it" I want a book, read it
"gud gurl mommy/sage" good girl mommy, and good girl sage-usually referring to sage going potty outside, or mommy going potty in the potty (I must over due the god jobs at school)
"I wan eat eat" I want to eat
"daddy ball, mommy ball, 2 pnts"-here is daddy's ball, here is mommy ball, shoot for 2 points
"I wan go night night mommy bed" I want to go night night on the couch with mommy
This month is for sure the most verbal month we have had thus far. Sometimes when I hear Elem speak I want to laugh out loud at what is coming out of his mouth, and others I want to kick myself for saying some of the things he is repeating! The fact that he can repeat, go get in time out, makes me think I say it too much, as well as go get in the kitchen which is another phrase I use for a time out spot. But on the other hand, to hear him say please and thank you with every single sentence or good girl or good boy, or good job, makes me proud that he has picked those up from us. So it goes both ways. This month has been really hard and I feel like Elem has tested me so much,. This is by far the hardest month we have had, and I have felt myself questioning everything choice I make and wondering if I am making all the right decisions. Everything from should he eat candy? all the way to what time should we let him stay up? to should I really be putting him in timeout? are questions that I sometimes am not sure I have the correct answers too. But all I can do is try, and hope that we are making the right decisions and ones that work best for our family. Elem is still such a sweet natured little boy, wild as ever, and on the move like a mad man. My favorite time these days are when I ask him if he is ready to go to bed, and every single night he answers with, I go night night mommy bed". Which means he wants to snuggle on the couch with mommy and fall asleep. I LOVE this time, although I know it is not the best habit to get into. I love watching him lay there and hand me his cup, turn his head over to the left while he rubs his little blankey and fall right off to sleep. Its amazing. So peaceful and just simply beautiful. Seth's favorite time with Elem is playing basketball on Elem's little goal. This usually occurs early in the morning before Seth can get off to work, and late at night when we get home from school. Elem grabs one specific ball that he calls "daddy's ball" and gives it to seth every single time. Then he grabs another one that he calls 'Elm's ball" and they shoot over and over again, never stopping. It is so adorable to watch them, and occasionally I get included in the madness. But more than anything it is father/son time, and Seth LOVES it. I know he is secretly super excited that Elem already is showing an interest in basketball, and that 8 out of 10 times, he makes the goal. :) Before you know it I will be needing to do my 21 month post, since that day is almost here! Till then, these are the milestones we got!
Now onto the milestones:
Stats:
Weight: 29 lbs 8 oz
Height: 39 inches tall!!!!
Teeth: 16 total-the upper eye teeth finally made there way fully, and the lower ones are almost done!
Shoe: 7 and 1/2
Diapers: size 5
Physically:
-can go up and down stairs with ease (for the most part)
-officially can climb to the top of the Chick-Fil-A playground! haha this is a big step. :)
-turns in a circle while stomping one foot
-tries to jump on 2 feet-but it kind of looks like a skip
-kicks balls
-shoots in the basketball goal over and over and over
-opens and closes doors on his own
-rolls sideways on the floor
-hits balls with a bat (like a tee ball or a ball on the ground)
-helps with dressing-takes off own socks, and tries to do his shirts, pants, and diapers
-jumps up and down on his bed and our bed
-pees in the potty when you put him there when he is already in mid pee :)
-washes his body with soap, and tries to wash his hair, washes his hands well
-brushes teeth on his own-pretty well
Mentally:
-recognizes different cars-mommy's, daddy's, grammy's dustin's, etc.
-loves to sing songs, or really hear me sing them
-knows the color green
-counts to 5
-recognizes letters as "ABCs"
-sings A, B, C, D and nods to the rest of the song, letting out a few grunts here and there
-tries to do puzzles but really needs help to do any of them
-speaks in 5-6 word sentences on average. For example: "I wan go bye bye sissy house"
-loves to imitate-constantly doing whatever mommy and daddy are doing such as vacuuming, scrubbing toilets, wiping up messes, throwing trash away, rocking a baby, etc.
-learns about 10 new words a day
-associates people with names-and knows his name
-refers to himself as Elem when speaking (rather than me), for example: thats Elem's bankmey) (blankey)
-says please and thank you all the time, often tells himself thank you before you can even get the words out
-knows the following body parts and says them by name and points to them: hair, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, cheeks, chin, hands, toes, belly button, tummy, and bottom (he calls it a bo bo)
-acknowledges every boo boo and wants you to kiss them all the time
Top 10 likes (not including mommy and daddy)
10. The vacuum
9. Big trucks (real life or books)
8. Playing outside and on the playground
7. Sage (petting her, playing with her, talking to her, getting on to her, or feeding her)
6. Water play of any kind (in the bath tub, with cups, pouring, washing hands, all of them)
5. Basketbal (or really balls in general)
4. Barney and Backyardagains (they tie)
3. Sissy (Cecilia is one of his most favorite things)
2. Sippy Cup (juice)
1. Blankey
-The blankey is the most prized possession around our house these days. He has been slowly becoming more and more attached to it, and we pretty much have to take it everywhere with us. We take it in the car, to school, to grammy and poppas, most trips into stores, and always always always at bed time. Elem tends to hold his blankey very tight and cuddle with it near his face. At the other end he rubs the blankey between his thumb and pointer and middle finger. It really seems to comfort and calm him. And is so adorable to see his attachment to it. He is very independant and wants to do things on his own, but never turns away the blankey no matter the time of day. So sweet.
Dislikes:
-most vegetables. still a picky eater like mommy, and is showing no signs of expanding his diet
-washing his hair in the bath tub (this is new for us-he used to love getting his head wet, but no more!)
-getting his hands dirty
-changing his diaper-still doesnt like this, but getting better at it.
-the dark-pretty much scared of the dark and needs a light on when he goes to bed
-his socks on when he sleeps-he hates this! He has to have them off every single time he naps or goes to bed
-new teachers at school-not big on change in his environment and doesnt like new people
-riding in the basket at Walmart and Target-this is an annoying one! He wont stay in the basket for more than 10 minutes at a time.
-showers-no way with the showers-he doesnt like the water hitting him from above
Elem's Favorite phrases:or rather most common phrases he speaks around my house:
" Top it now!"-stop it now, I think he got this one from me-oops!
"Go get it mommy/daddy"
"I wan my bankmey, juice"-I want my blankey and my cup
"I wan go bye bye sissy house" I want to go bye bye to sissy's house
"comeon" come on
"I wan boots, ead it" I want a book, read it
"gud gurl mommy/sage" good girl mommy, and good girl sage-usually referring to sage going potty outside, or mommy going potty in the potty (I must over due the god jobs at school)
"I wan eat eat" I want to eat
"daddy ball, mommy ball, 2 pnts"-here is daddy's ball, here is mommy ball, shoot for 2 points
"I wan go night night mommy bed" I want to go night night on the couch with mommy
This month is for sure the most verbal month we have had thus far. Sometimes when I hear Elem speak I want to laugh out loud at what is coming out of his mouth, and others I want to kick myself for saying some of the things he is repeating! The fact that he can repeat, go get in time out, makes me think I say it too much, as well as go get in the kitchen which is another phrase I use for a time out spot. But on the other hand, to hear him say please and thank you with every single sentence or good girl or good boy, or good job, makes me proud that he has picked those up from us. So it goes both ways. This month has been really hard and I feel like Elem has tested me so much,. This is by far the hardest month we have had, and I have felt myself questioning everything choice I make and wondering if I am making all the right decisions. Everything from should he eat candy? all the way to what time should we let him stay up? to should I really be putting him in timeout? are questions that I sometimes am not sure I have the correct answers too. But all I can do is try, and hope that we are making the right decisions and ones that work best for our family. Elem is still such a sweet natured little boy, wild as ever, and on the move like a mad man. My favorite time these days are when I ask him if he is ready to go to bed, and every single night he answers with, I go night night mommy bed". Which means he wants to snuggle on the couch with mommy and fall asleep. I LOVE this time, although I know it is not the best habit to get into. I love watching him lay there and hand me his cup, turn his head over to the left while he rubs his little blankey and fall right off to sleep. Its amazing. So peaceful and just simply beautiful. Seth's favorite time with Elem is playing basketball on Elem's little goal. This usually occurs early in the morning before Seth can get off to work, and late at night when we get home from school. Elem grabs one specific ball that he calls "daddy's ball" and gives it to seth every single time. Then he grabs another one that he calls 'Elm's ball" and they shoot over and over again, never stopping. It is so adorable to watch them, and occasionally I get included in the madness. But more than anything it is father/son time, and Seth LOVES it. I know he is secretly super excited that Elem already is showing an interest in basketball, and that 8 out of 10 times, he makes the goal. :) Before you know it I will be needing to do my 21 month post, since that day is almost here! Till then, these are the milestones we got!
Monday, January 26, 2009
TV Time
Man so much to say about TV time, but I am going to keep it short and focused only on TV time in MY house in regards to Elem Zane. Since the day Elem was born, actually since I was in college, I learned all the sides of the effects of TV on children at an early age. And although some shows or tactics rather are proven to aide in the learning skills of your child, for the most part, plain old one on one interaction and teaching works best! Dont get me wrong, I have seen the articles where the little 18 month old girl learned to read because she watched some video along with working with her parents, but still, I believe in just getting in the floor and working with your child. With all that said, we do let Elem watch some TV, but not much. Currently, he only watches Barney, and although he picked it out to be a true love of his, we did purposely show him Barney because it does have good teaching in it. And pretty much the entire show, every single one of them, are education based (having something to do with letters, numbers, shapes, colors, manners, etc.) A normal day for us will include him getting up in the morning, eating breakfast with mommy and watching one episode of Barney. Then since we have the DVD player in the car, he usually watches a little more Barney on the way to and from school-but not usually in between in the middle of the day. And then I dont let him or any of the other kids EVER watch TV at school, unless they have been couped up for about a week because of the weather, and they really need something to just chill to. And then I am pretty sure he watches another episode of Barney when he goes to visit Grammy and Poppa. So thats a whole lot of Barney for one day, so I am pretty sure that is enough for one little bitty boy! I originally had planned on sticking to just 30 minutes of TV a day, but with the DVD player in the car, that is next to impossible :) and usually when Barney is on, he isnt really watching it for the whole time. Barney time is usually playing with the basketball goal or coloring or something like that while Barney is on in the background. So thats not too bad.
Now all that said, Elem has recently seen something new-a show I had no idea about...da da da da....THE Backyardagains! And more so than being really interested in the show-he is totally obsessive about the intro song. And more so, so is Cecilia. As soon as the show comes on Elem and Cecilia both start running circles and doing this insane little dance. I have no idea where he learned this, but it is an automatic as soon as he hears the music. And once the music is over he says, " more agains" meaning more backyardagains. Hahah it is so cute. I had a great video of them, but I cant locate it on my computer, so I got another one a couple of days ago. Please disregard Elem's outfit, it was right before bed and we were at Ali and DUstin's house. No I do not let him go out in public like that!
Here you have it, in Elem's words..."agains"
Now all that said, Elem has recently seen something new-a show I had no idea about...da da da da....THE Backyardagains! And more so than being really interested in the show-he is totally obsessive about the intro song. And more so, so is Cecilia. As soon as the show comes on Elem and Cecilia both start running circles and doing this insane little dance. I have no idea where he learned this, but it is an automatic as soon as he hears the music. And once the music is over he says, " more agains" meaning more backyardagains. Hahah it is so cute. I had a great video of them, but I cant locate it on my computer, so I got another one a couple of days ago. Please disregard Elem's outfit, it was right before bed and we were at Ali and DUstin's house. No I do not let him go out in public like that!
Here you have it, in Elem's words..."agains"
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hats are the coolest
Elem is FINALLy starting to show an interest in hats. And we are so excited. Ever since he was an infant we have tried to force him to wear some kind of hat, but he always seems to get them off one way or another. Even just a warm winter hat, he was never really down with. But, this past month, he has really noticed that Seth wears hats all the time. And what little boy doesnt want to be just like daddy and do what daddy is doing? In Elem's exact words, "daddy hat?, I wan Elem hat". Thus begins the excitement!!! As soon as we head out the door, if Seth has a hat on, Elem will want his too, and will keep it on for at least a few minutes. :) Better than nothing at least. We keep the hats (just a couple of them) hanging on the hook for your coats right before you walk outside, so they are always right there to grab! Currently he only has 2 really cute hats (not including winter hats that I try to put on him for playing outside), but I am working on increases his hat wardrobe. Just gotta make sure he actually wears them before I haul off and spend like $6 or something on another one.
Here is Elem trying on a few hats in front of the mirror on our way out one day. He was really into checking himself out on this particular day, and couldnt decide which hat looked best. Both of these hats are so adorable, but the blue newsboy cap kinda takes the cake. Now if I could only get him to actually keep them on when we go out....that'll be my next mission. But for now a short time period will do.
The fabulous blue newsboy hat. My favorite. Please note the powdered donut lips. Gotta love those.
Off?
Or on?
Such a cutie. I will try to catch up this weekend on my blogging. I have been such a slacker, and I still need to do Elem's 20 month milestones before he turns 21 months!!! So I have to get on it!
Here is Elem trying on a few hats in front of the mirror on our way out one day. He was really into checking himself out on this particular day, and couldnt decide which hat looked best. Both of these hats are so adorable, but the blue newsboy cap kinda takes the cake. Now if I could only get him to actually keep them on when we go out....that'll be my next mission. But for now a short time period will do.
The fabulous blue newsboy hat. My favorite. Please note the powdered donut lips. Gotta love those.
Off?
Or on?
Such a cutie. I will try to catch up this weekend on my blogging. I have been such a slacker, and I still need to do Elem's 20 month milestones before he turns 21 months!!! So I have to get on it!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Supa Sty
I mean SUPA sty. One of the reasons I took a small break from blogging recently was due to the fact that I couldn't hardly see out of my right eye. (Okay so I could see, but it was next to impossible to focus on any kind of words on the computer). I woke up last week and my eye was itching really bad. It continued to itch all through out the day and was feeling really sore towards the inner eye towards my nose. I had a feeling I was getting a sty or something similar, just because I have had one or two in my lifetime and there wasnt really much more it could be. I was just thankful it was not the return of the pink eye at first-but actually pink eye was nothing compared to this! The next day I went to bed and woke up the following morning looking like this!
My head was pounding and my eye was so sore, and I was dying to itch it! It was all I could do to keep my hands off of it. I called my friend whose dad is an eye doctor and he scheduled me in pretty quickly. He took a closer look and found that it was not one sty, but two right next to each other! If you look very closely or click on the picture you can actually see the two dots. So grose!
He started me on a few things, including an antibiotic (which I conveniently already had in my medicine cabinet!) some eye drops (which I also conveniently had in my medicine cabinet-from the pink eye episode), and gave me some free samples of creme to put on my eye as well as some cleansing wipes. The best advice he gave me though, was so just keep a warm compress on it once every hour. So I did, but since it hurt so bad I kept it on pretty much all the time all day and night long till I fell asleep. It totally worked though and helped to bring everything out. Grose post I know but this is why I was slacking, like I said.
AND**it is why I missed one of my dear friend's 30th birthday! And I am so sad. Kristi, I will make it up to you I promise. I was so consumed with my eye thing that I forgot to call you, but please know I love you and will totally take you out ASAP. Or you can just come over and w can love on our babies together.:)
Oh and the most important advice I received was of course from my husband. His was to go to a cross in the road and say, "Sty sty get off my eye, jump on the next person that comes walking by". He's so smart bless him. I had already been to the doctor by the time he gave me this advice but next time I will give it a try. Actually I hope there is never a next time. It was awful!!
My head was pounding and my eye was so sore, and I was dying to itch it! It was all I could do to keep my hands off of it. I called my friend whose dad is an eye doctor and he scheduled me in pretty quickly. He took a closer look and found that it was not one sty, but two right next to each other! If you look very closely or click on the picture you can actually see the two dots. So grose!
He started me on a few things, including an antibiotic (which I conveniently already had in my medicine cabinet!) some eye drops (which I also conveniently had in my medicine cabinet-from the pink eye episode), and gave me some free samples of creme to put on my eye as well as some cleansing wipes. The best advice he gave me though, was so just keep a warm compress on it once every hour. So I did, but since it hurt so bad I kept it on pretty much all the time all day and night long till I fell asleep. It totally worked though and helped to bring everything out. Grose post I know but this is why I was slacking, like I said.
AND**it is why I missed one of my dear friend's 30th birthday! And I am so sad. Kristi, I will make it up to you I promise. I was so consumed with my eye thing that I forgot to call you, but please know I love you and will totally take you out ASAP. Or you can just come over and w can love on our babies together.:)
Oh and the most important advice I received was of course from my husband. His was to go to a cross in the road and say, "Sty sty get off my eye, jump on the next person that comes walking by". He's so smart bless him. I had already been to the doctor by the time he gave me this advice but next time I will give it a try. Actually I hope there is never a next time. It was awful!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
