Toddler and Preschooler Check-in (7/26)

[oldbaylover1024]

Age: 4

Milestones: Chores. I've been increasing the amount of stuff she does around the house. The newest addition to her list is putting away her laundry. We started about a week or two ago and she's doing a great job!

Challenges: F**king streaks in her underwear. IDK what's gotten into her lately, but twice this week she's had streaks because she's too busy to stop playing to go #2. It's infuriating because she's gone a looong time with no issues. And she knows it's a problem, so it's tough to be tough on her. LOUD NOISES.

Funny/cute stories: She's all about entertaining her brother these days and will stand in front of his bouncy seat, wiggle her butt in front of him, and say, "Shake your booty butt!" And the baby laaaauuuggghhhs. I need to record it one day.

How are you? Ugh, surviving. I feel like that's my typical answer lately.

Anything else? We're going to the beach in a few weeks and I can't wait! I also have two girls weekends planned with different friends, so that'll be fun.

QOTW: Fish monger. I hate fish and have a weird thing about raw meat, so that's a no-go.

[hawkward]

Age: 2.5

Milestones: He is still saying tons of new words all the time, and he has suddenly become really social. I think he struck up a conversation with every single person in the commissary today.

Challenges: Toddlers be toddlering, man. The worst is when he deliberating pushes his brother's buttons... actually, the worst is when pushes his brother's buttons and I either secretly think it's funny or agree with him.

Funny/cute stories: He is such a daddy's boy. The sun rises and sets with H in DS2's world. Monday night, we were letting the boys stay up a little late, and DS2 was getting in trouble. H (who rarely actually disciplines him) told him he needed to settle down or H would put him to bed. He didn't so H actually followed through, but then let him get up with the promise to be good after about 10 minutes. DS2 came stomping out, sat on my lap and sucked his thumb for the rest of the show they were watching. Then when it was over, he grabbed my hand and said, "c'mon, Mom, Dad is mean!" Normally H puts him to bed, but he insisted on me. Poor H. I'm pretty sure that's the longest sentence DS2 has ever said.  

How are you? CD3 is killing me, but otherwise good! I'm waiting for a callback from the GYN office to figure out what is next. 

Anything else? Newp. 

QOTW: What job would you be terrible at? So, so many jobs. Basically anything that required working at a desk. I don't sit well.

[hawkward]

oldbaylover1024, surviving is good enough for now. You'll be out of the little baby survival mode soon. And what is it with kids and saying "booty butt??"

enchanted Nightmares suck. DS2 had one almost two weeks ago now that he's still talking about.

[Radley]

Age: 4 y/o

Milestones: with his SPD and anxiety, most water activities frighten him, we tried a splash pad last year and he was terrified, but a new one was built here and we thought we'd try taking him again. He loved it! It made me incredibly happy.

Challenges: due to an extremely busy summer (and almost none of it being fun summer activities), his schedule got really messed up. Schedules are nearly crucial for his mental health and for mine as well. He has been shutting down and sleeping a whole lot lately. The pediatrician is giving me 3-4 weeks to get him back settled and if that doesn't help, we're going to have to do labs and evaluations.

Funny/cute stories: He got super excited this morning because "Mommy there is bacon INSIDE my biscuit! And look! I can open it and eat the bacon!" I almost died from the adorableness. He also was the "man of honor" for my sister's wedding and he actually stood beside of her the whole wedding, held her bouquet (and her hand when he could) without fussing or talking. I was super proud.

How are you? I'm exhausted and overwhelmed and so glad that come Saturday, I have literally no plans for 12 days.

Anything else? Nope.

QOTW: What job would you be terrible at? Being a Nurse, I don't do gross or people. Or gross people.

[Radley]

enchanted my oldest has horrible nightmares. A couple things that helped was trying to see if they happened around the same time each night. For awhile they did, and we would wake him up about 15-30 minutes before the nightmare would occur. We'd make him go pee or offer him water. Just enough to wake him a bit and break the cycle. That actually worked, after about a week of doing that, most of his nightmares (and night terrors) stopped. He started getting them again recently, and this time they aren't happening at the same times at night, so I gave him one of these:
And told him it was a special, no nightmares bracelet. He wears it to bed every night now and hasn't had a nightmare in almost 2 weeks.

[Radley]

Age: 2 y/o

Milestones: he is really spitting out new works and sentences lately. It's so amazing.

Challenges: he is still choking on his drink, aspirating it into his lungs. He is objecting to drinking his fluids with the Simply Thick and I'm afraid he is getting dehydrated because he doesn't want it thickened. We are also still waiting on insurance to approve the goals and plan the OT sent in. I wish they would hurry so this poor kid could get the therapy he needs. He has spent the full 2 years of his little life, struggling with eating and it breaks my heart. Great, I'm tearing up now.

Funny/cute stories: he is learning some synonyms now and will say "I'm mad, I'm angry" and do the ASL sign for grumpy. It's so freaking cute and it's so hard not to smile at him when he does it. I am proud he is verbalizing and using other forms of communication to let us know how he is feeling instead of just crying/yelling.

How are you? Sad and stressed and see the 4 y/o update for more lol.

Anything else? Any idea how to teach him to do better with small children? He does this weird thing we're he kind goes up and down on his toes around them and sorta waves his arms around. He wants to hug but will end up tackling them, I can't just let him play with kids his age because he acts so erratically that it scares them.

QOTW: What job would you be terrible at? Anything animal related. Again, I don't do gross. And also, I'm not really a pet/animal person. I like them when other people have them, but I don't have patience or inclination to have them myself.