Tuesday, March 23, 2010
MOM! askyouquestion
We've signed up Jacob for speech school. Last month we had an EarlyOn speech therapist come into our home to assess Jacob's speech. Her prognosis wasn't surprising to us: expressive language delay and hypernasality (Mom VD and Laura's speech expertise has come in handy for us).
Basically, Jacob often doesn't pronounciate things well (though there doesn't seem to be an identifiable pattern) and doesn't often put words together, still talking at the one word sentence level.
He does, however, have a wide vocabulary. His moment to shine during the assessment was when his sock fell off while he was doing one of the activities. "Freezing" he said and then tried to put his sock back on. I do take full credit for introducing this word into his vocabulary as I say it all the time (living in an old house during a MI winter...I shall say no more).
In the past week or so, we've seen some improvement in his speech. He's been using more action verbs. He's talking in a few more two word sentences ("eat it" "shoe on").
He's also started responding to ANYTHING we say with "why?"
Me: Jacob, get your shoes on.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because we're going outside.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because it's nice outside.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because it's almost spring.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God made it that way.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God wanted order and structure in our world.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God's creation reflects who God is...
OK. I usually never even get past the second "why?" because, to be honest, I'm not even sure Jacob knows what "Why?" means. I think he's learned that when he says it, he gets a response. And, as third kid, there is a small small chance that he might not get as much attention as say his older sister did. This also might explain his yelling, screaming and extremely loud talking.
The other thing he's been saying is "MOM"...I'll stop there, he usually prefaces everything he says with MOM, MOM, MOM (there is another small small chance that I don't respond right away to when my kids talk to me). Anyway, Jacob's been saying "MOM askyouquestion (one word).
We know he picked this up from Claire who has been saying this for the last few months.
Claire: At the dinner table, "Mom, can I ask you a question?"
Me: "Sure Claire"
Claire: "Mom, can I be done?"
Jacob's version is to string all those words together.
Jacob: MOM askyouquestion? (he even does the intonation)
Me: Sure Jacob, what is it?
Jacob: silence. Stares as me.
Me: Jacob, did you want to ask me when we're going to the waterpark?
Jacob: nods his head
Ah. I love this kid so much. His excitement for life is contagious. The little glimmer in his eyes when he discovers something new, the smirk on his face when he finds something funny, the feel of his arms around my neck when he's giving me a hug. The stories he could tell. And, once he starts talking more, I'm sure he will.
Basically, Jacob often doesn't pronounciate things well (though there doesn't seem to be an identifiable pattern) and doesn't often put words together, still talking at the one word sentence level.
He does, however, have a wide vocabulary. His moment to shine during the assessment was when his sock fell off while he was doing one of the activities. "Freezing" he said and then tried to put his sock back on. I do take full credit for introducing this word into his vocabulary as I say it all the time (living in an old house during a MI winter...I shall say no more).
In the past week or so, we've seen some improvement in his speech. He's been using more action verbs. He's talking in a few more two word sentences ("eat it" "shoe on").
He's also started responding to ANYTHING we say with "why?"
Me: Jacob, get your shoes on.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because we're going outside.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because it's nice outside.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because it's almost spring.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God made it that way.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God wanted order and structure in our world.
Jacob: Why?
Me: Because God's creation reflects who God is...
OK. I usually never even get past the second "why?" because, to be honest, I'm not even sure Jacob knows what "Why?" means. I think he's learned that when he says it, he gets a response. And, as third kid, there is a small small chance that he might not get as much attention as say his older sister did. This also might explain his yelling, screaming and extremely loud talking.
The other thing he's been saying is "MOM"...I'll stop there, he usually prefaces everything he says with MOM, MOM, MOM (there is another small small chance that I don't respond right away to when my kids talk to me). Anyway, Jacob's been saying "MOM askyouquestion (one word).
We know he picked this up from Claire who has been saying this for the last few months.
Claire: At the dinner table, "Mom, can I ask you a question?"
Me: "Sure Claire"
Claire: "Mom, can I be done?"
Jacob's version is to string all those words together.
Jacob: MOM askyouquestion? (he even does the intonation)
Me: Sure Jacob, what is it?
Jacob: silence. Stares as me.
Me: Jacob, did you want to ask me when we're going to the waterpark?
Jacob: nods his head
Ah. I love this kid so much. His excitement for life is contagious. The little glimmer in his eyes when he discovers something new, the smirk on his face when he finds something funny, the feel of his arms around my neck when he's giving me a hug. The stories he could tell. And, once he starts talking more, I'm sure he will.
Our mini-vacation...with the emphasis on "mini" and the sarcasm on "vacation"
frankenmuth, MI (2 hours away from us), overnight stay in a hotel/indoor waterpark.
spring trip 2010.
we have returned. it was quite the trip.
our first trip since we've become a family of 6. and, we're happy to say that we survived, survived but didn't exactly thrive.
where to start?
let's just say that there seemed to be a discount at the waterpark for people with extremely large tattoos. there were also a proliferation of warning signs telling waterpark goers to limit their time in the park because of the extremely high chlorine levels. and, though the hotel had recently been "refurbished", the 1980s wallpaper border was left behind.
let's just say that though there were 5 slides in the waterpark, a basketball area, a river, a splash zone and a playground, my kids preferred "the hot pool" (aka the hot tub). actually preferred is not strong enough. we had to forcibly remove david away from it.
let's just say that the town of frankenmuth was really just an extended version of holland's windmill island except with a german theme. Kitschy (please notice the capital K)
let's just say that early on in the trip, jon and i high-fived each other because the trip was going so well. we didn't, however, high five each other when jacob had a complete meltdown in the bavarian inn, home of the world famous chicken dinner. or when the kids refused to go to sleep even though it was 10pm, viewing their big hotel beds as gymnastic mats. or when the kids put themselves in front of the TV (not even turned on) at EVERY CHANCE THEY GOT pleading and begging us to let them watch TV and not go back to the waterpark. or when, in the world famous bronner's christmas store (how can everything in this town be world famous?!), i had sales clerks following my every move. 4 kids in a store dominated with dainty christmas ornaments and precious moments figurines...i guess it was rather dangerous.
jon's final comment of the trip, as we pulled into the driveway, "just think deb, it can only get better"
spring trip 2010.
we have returned. it was quite the trip.
our first trip since we've become a family of 6. and, we're happy to say that we survived, survived but didn't exactly thrive.
where to start?
let's just say that there seemed to be a discount at the waterpark for people with extremely large tattoos. there were also a proliferation of warning signs telling waterpark goers to limit their time in the park because of the extremely high chlorine levels. and, though the hotel had recently been "refurbished", the 1980s wallpaper border was left behind.
let's just say that though there were 5 slides in the waterpark, a basketball area, a river, a splash zone and a playground, my kids preferred "the hot pool" (aka the hot tub). actually preferred is not strong enough. we had to forcibly remove david away from it.
let's just say that the town of frankenmuth was really just an extended version of holland's windmill island except with a german theme. Kitschy (please notice the capital K)
let's just say that early on in the trip, jon and i high-fived each other because the trip was going so well. we didn't, however, high five each other when jacob had a complete meltdown in the bavarian inn, home of the world famous chicken dinner. or when the kids refused to go to sleep even though it was 10pm, viewing their big hotel beds as gymnastic mats. or when the kids put themselves in front of the TV (not even turned on) at EVERY CHANCE THEY GOT pleading and begging us to let them watch TV and not go back to the waterpark. or when, in the world famous bronner's christmas store (how can everything in this town be world famous?!), i had sales clerks following my every move. 4 kids in a store dominated with dainty christmas ornaments and precious moments figurines...i guess it was rather dangerous.
jon's final comment of the trip, as we pulled into the driveway, "just think deb, it can only get better"
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The ballet
I took Claire and David to see a ballet last night. Claire and I had seen the performance before but she really wanted to go again and really wanted David to go with her.
On a sidenote, the two of them have been getting along so well lately. "Claire's my best friend" David told me the other day. He gets so excited when she comes home from school and is often so disappointed when she goes up to her room to have some alone time. The two of them play Uno, Slamwich, Sorry, and Go Fish. They play up in the attic for hours or go outside and construct elaborate worlds of snow or mud. Last weekend, when we made the bedroom switch and moved Claire into her own room, she brought her sleeping bag into the boys' room at bedtime and said "I want to sleep by David. I missed him."
The ballet performance was based on the book The Squire and the Scroll. It's a bit too didactic in its allegorical nature for my taste but it's an engaging tale nonetheless.
The kids love the story. We read it a few times prior to going and then got dressed up and went to see the ballet version of it. It was magical for the kids. We saw some of the dancers after the performance and then came home and had ice cream and hot chocolate.
Today we acted out the story. David was the knight. Claire was the squire. And me? I was the red dragon. Good times.
On a sidenote, the two of them have been getting along so well lately. "Claire's my best friend" David told me the other day. He gets so excited when she comes home from school and is often so disappointed when she goes up to her room to have some alone time. The two of them play Uno, Slamwich, Sorry, and Go Fish. They play up in the attic for hours or go outside and construct elaborate worlds of snow or mud. Last weekend, when we made the bedroom switch and moved Claire into her own room, she brought her sleeping bag into the boys' room at bedtime and said "I want to sleep by David. I missed him."
The ballet performance was based on the book The Squire and the Scroll. It's a bit too didactic in its allegorical nature for my taste but it's an engaging tale nonetheless.
The kids love the story. We read it a few times prior to going and then got dressed up and went to see the ballet version of it. It was magical for the kids. We saw some of the dancers after the performance and then came home and had ice cream and hot chocolate.
Today we acted out the story. David was the knight. Claire was the squire. And me? I was the red dragon. Good times.
In place of a pet...
For a number of reasons, we will not be getting a pet (at least if it's up to me...Jon really want to get a bird).
Aside from the developmentally delayed gerbil we adopted from our school and a couple of rabbits who ended up as meat at a rabbit farm (something of which I only found out in my adult years), I never had a pet growing up or at least one that I felt connected with.
I do see beauty in the relationships that people establish with their furry friends and do agree that in many ways I've missed out on something. However, I remain resolute in my decision not to have pets.
To compensate, I've started buying dog treats and cat food for the pets of our neighbors. The kids love feeding Whitby, Francie, Piper, and Joey (in Jacob's case, it's throwing the biscuit as soon as the dog comes close).
I also try to visit pet stores with the kids when time allows. A huge act of love for me as I almost vomit every time I walk into those stores and get engulfed by the smell of the animals.
And, probably because I do feel a bit selfish for inflicting my animal phobias on my children, we've also been reading lots of books that have animals as main characters. Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web and now, The Mouse and the Motorcycle series. Claire, David and I are now into the second book and I think I'm enjoying it as much as they are.
The world of books is often the world I feel most at home in. There, Ralph is a cute and daring mouse. One I'd consider a friend. He's nothing like the mouse that inhabited our basement for awhile last winter. Nothing like the squirrels who made their home in our kitchen ceiling.
Aside from the developmentally delayed gerbil we adopted from our school and a couple of rabbits who ended up as meat at a rabbit farm (something of which I only found out in my adult years), I never had a pet growing up or at least one that I felt connected with.
I do see beauty in the relationships that people establish with their furry friends and do agree that in many ways I've missed out on something. However, I remain resolute in my decision not to have pets.
To compensate, I've started buying dog treats and cat food for the pets of our neighbors. The kids love feeding Whitby, Francie, Piper, and Joey (in Jacob's case, it's throwing the biscuit as soon as the dog comes close).
I also try to visit pet stores with the kids when time allows. A huge act of love for me as I almost vomit every time I walk into those stores and get engulfed by the smell of the animals.
And, probably because I do feel a bit selfish for inflicting my animal phobias on my children, we've also been reading lots of books that have animals as main characters. Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web and now, The Mouse and the Motorcycle series. Claire, David and I are now into the second book and I think I'm enjoying it as much as they are.
The world of books is often the world I feel most at home in. There, Ralph is a cute and daring mouse. One I'd consider a friend. He's nothing like the mouse that inhabited our basement for awhile last winter. Nothing like the squirrels who made their home in our kitchen ceiling.
the storm
We shut the door on the kids. That simple act, arguably, was one of the best parenting moves we've ever done.
We had just come back from a church retreat at Timberwolf Lodge. Jon and I were exhausted. All of the people who told us that we were crazy to do a weekend retreat with a newborn (and 3 other kids) were absolutely right. it was crazy.
Despite the craziness, the kids had a glorious time. "This is better than being at home" was David's proclamation as he and Claire and Jacob "settled in" for the night in our 6 bunk bed cabin room, not falling asleep until close to midnight both of the nights we were there.
When we got back home on Sunday afternoon, we unpacked and then had the brilliant idea to put the kids to bed at 6:30, thinking they would fall asleep immediately upon hitting their pillows.
No such luck.
The first sign of the storm was David, at the top of the stairs, yelling "It's a party!" "Go back to bed" we said. A few minutes later we heard a big thud and some muffled laughing and screaming.
This is what we saw when we opened the door to their bedroom: the three kids stripped down to their underwear/diapers, all the bedding from the beds and the closet in a huge pile in the middle of the room, pillows being thrown every which way, and all of them yelling "It's a party!" (though in Jacobese it was "Pardy! Pardy! Pardy!)
As I said, we looked. We shut the door. We went downstairs and let them celebrate for another 1/2 hour.
We had just come back from a church retreat at Timberwolf Lodge. Jon and I were exhausted. All of the people who told us that we were crazy to do a weekend retreat with a newborn (and 3 other kids) were absolutely right. it was crazy.
Despite the craziness, the kids had a glorious time. "This is better than being at home" was David's proclamation as he and Claire and Jacob "settled in" for the night in our 6 bunk bed cabin room, not falling asleep until close to midnight both of the nights we were there.
When we got back home on Sunday afternoon, we unpacked and then had the brilliant idea to put the kids to bed at 6:30, thinking they would fall asleep immediately upon hitting their pillows.
No such luck.
The first sign of the storm was David, at the top of the stairs, yelling "It's a party!" "Go back to bed" we said. A few minutes later we heard a big thud and some muffled laughing and screaming.
This is what we saw when we opened the door to their bedroom: the three kids stripped down to their underwear/diapers, all the bedding from the beds and the closet in a huge pile in the middle of the room, pillows being thrown every which way, and all of them yelling "It's a party!" (though in Jacobese it was "Pardy! Pardy! Pardy!)
As I said, we looked. We shut the door. We went downstairs and let them celebrate for another 1/2 hour.
books i'm reading
Mitten Strings for God and the gift of an ordinary day (both by Katrina Kenison).
I've really enjoyed reading these books. Will try to remember to add quotes at some point.
I've really enjoyed reading these books. Will try to remember to add quotes at some point.
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