Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Birthday
So today is my birthday...it was nice and quiet. We got to spend some time with the family on Saturday and we went to "car and truck day" at Gymboree this morning before lunch, the grocery store, a much needed nap, and a quick trip for my free-birthday hot chocolate at Starbucks this evening.
Birthdays are a little uncomfortable for me. There's something about the spotlight that makes me not want to deal with it. But then at the same time, I feel I should take the opportunity to make something about just 'me'. I think this year was especially this way, because so much of my life is about other people right now. Its not about me and now, but about us and the future. I'm fine with this, but I'm also feeling like I've been getting a little lost in the shuffle.
Along those lines, I've also been meaning to mention that I started a new photo project at the beginning of the year. Its a daily self portrait and I'm hoping that it will help me to focus at least a little bit of each day on myself. I'm not going to post all my pictures here, because it would just be a bit too much. However, the group is available here and through the Flickr Photostream link at the right if anyone is interested.
Thank you for all my happy birthday wishes and here's to another year! Wow - 36, really?
Birthdays are a little uncomfortable for me. There's something about the spotlight that makes me not want to deal with it. But then at the same time, I feel I should take the opportunity to make something about just 'me'. I think this year was especially this way, because so much of my life is about other people right now. Its not about me and now, but about us and the future. I'm fine with this, but I'm also feeling like I've been getting a little lost in the shuffle.
Along those lines, I've also been meaning to mention that I started a new photo project at the beginning of the year. Its a daily self portrait and I'm hoping that it will help me to focus at least a little bit of each day on myself. I'm not going to post all my pictures here, because it would just be a bit too much. However, the group is available here and through the Flickr Photostream link at the right if anyone is interested.
Thank you for all my happy birthday wishes and here's to another year! Wow - 36, really?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Language Update
We recently took Elliott back to the Speech Pathologist for a follow up to our appointment last fall. We aren’t worried about Elliott’s speech development. We know that there are things that ‘most kids’ are doing by now that he isn’t, but we also know that all kids develop language (and everything else for that matter) differently. BUT, given that there are resources at our disposal (that we are already paying for, I might add), we figured that anything we do learn can only help us encourage language use as well as learn more about ourselves as parents through our communication with Elliott.
It took us some time to finally bite the bullet and buy their recommended book, It Takes Two to Talk. But I found a used one through the Amazon marketplace and picked it up for us as a Christmas present. One of the reasons it was so hard to spend the money on this book is that most of the content is available for free online. Unfortunately, it’s not in a very reading-friendly format as we rarely sit for hours on end reading the desktop computer screen and we couldn’t figure out how to otherwise download it. That being said, it has already been worth the purchase price and we have already learned a lot. The main thing we are learning is how to make opportunities for language use and how to let him lead.
As for Elliott? The therapist still feels he is in a good place and ‘just on the verge’ of making up some ground. After going through a review of what (approximately 60 nouns and verbs) and how (mostly single or two word combinations) he spoke, she has placed him at, or slightly above, his age range in comprehension and at about an 18-21 month range for expressive language. This sounds exactly right to me, too. Especially when it sounds like he has a vocabulary on par with our friends’ daughter who is in that range.
However, as is typical, just after our visit, Elliott started doing some of the things that he wasn’t previously, primarily using true 2-3 word sentences (not just 2 word combinations) as well as using language to satisfy need (as in asking for a drink of water – he would previously talk about water or point out water, but not ask for water if he was thirsty). This is really exciting and he seems to either be adding new words to his vocabulary or using language in a new way daily. Just last night he wanted me to sit next to him on the chair and eat Cheerios, so he said ‘sit right there’ and pointed to the spot on the chair next to him :)
The therapist is leaving the next steps up to us. Basically, after reading the book, if we have any questions or want to meet for private classes we can. Otherwise, we can just schedule a follow up meeting in a few months to check back in and see how he’s doing.
It took us some time to finally bite the bullet and buy their recommended book, It Takes Two to Talk. But I found a used one through the Amazon marketplace and picked it up for us as a Christmas present. One of the reasons it was so hard to spend the money on this book is that most of the content is available for free online. Unfortunately, it’s not in a very reading-friendly format as we rarely sit for hours on end reading the desktop computer screen and we couldn’t figure out how to otherwise download it. That being said, it has already been worth the purchase price and we have already learned a lot. The main thing we are learning is how to make opportunities for language use and how to let him lead.
As for Elliott? The therapist still feels he is in a good place and ‘just on the verge’ of making up some ground. After going through a review of what (approximately 60 nouns and verbs) and how (mostly single or two word combinations) he spoke, she has placed him at, or slightly above, his age range in comprehension and at about an 18-21 month range for expressive language. This sounds exactly right to me, too. Especially when it sounds like he has a vocabulary on par with our friends’ daughter who is in that range.
However, as is typical, just after our visit, Elliott started doing some of the things that he wasn’t previously, primarily using true 2-3 word sentences (not just 2 word combinations) as well as using language to satisfy need (as in asking for a drink of water – he would previously talk about water or point out water, but not ask for water if he was thirsty). This is really exciting and he seems to either be adding new words to his vocabulary or using language in a new way daily. Just last night he wanted me to sit next to him on the chair and eat Cheerios, so he said ‘sit right there’ and pointed to the spot on the chair next to him :)
The therapist is leaving the next steps up to us. Basically, after reading the book, if we have any questions or want to meet for private classes we can. Otherwise, we can just schedule a follow up meeting in a few months to check back in and see how he’s doing.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Level 5 Laser Lotus*
The 22 month mark is a transition month at Gymboree in which a child can be enrolled in either the level 4 class or the older, level 5 class. The level 4 class was more convenient for us, so I kept him there through his 22nd month and transitioned him to level 5 at the beginning of January.
This new class was great on the surface for a couple reasons, we could keep our great teacher (turns out she's the regional manager for San Diego) and in the last couple weeks of December, I had become increasingly aware of how young his classmates were. Elliott seemed to get great inspiration from watching the older kids do things he couldn't do (after all that's how he got the courage to walk the balance beam...after he saw Dylan do it all by himself.), so I was looking forward to him being around the older kids. I was also expecting the class to be structured more or less like our level 4 class.
Wow, was I surprised! The class was nothing like our level 4 class. Instead of it being about physical activity...and a lot of it. It was a structured class - the last two weeks it has been about 'making cookies'. We still used the Gymboree equipment, but the focus was on imagination and make-believe (something we are trying to foster in our home in this age of instantaneous gratification and round-the-clock entertainment). The bean bags were 'ingredients'. We also used the 'dive sticks' as rolling pins and the flat foam shapes ended up being our 'cookies'. We placed our cookies in the 'oven' and when they surprisingly disappeared, the kids had to climb on all the gym apparati to find them and put the cookies back in the oven. Once they were all done, we took them out and 'ate' the cookies on one of the low bridges that was serving as our 'table'. The kids then told their grown-ups what kind of cookies they were enjoying. So cute! :)
The kids counting to 10 while they waited for their cookies to finish bakingTo say it was hysterical would be putting it mildly. It was a riot to see these 22-28 month-olds running around and accomplishing all the different parts of the lesson as well as hear them TALKING! Since most of the kids were non-verbal in his last class, he rarely saw other little ones talking. There is also now a verbal component to his class where the teacher is asking for and encouraging verbal responses from the kids. When we heard one of the first kids telling us what colors she was holding, Elliott was completely enthralled. This is going to be so great for Elliott.
The class is a lot more work for me (Elliott is still getting used to a more focused class, so there is a lot more wrangling involved), but it is a lot of fun. The next two weeks will be a different theme and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
*Bonus points for the first person to correctly identify where this comes from - without Mr. Google.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
No Excuse
We are a Lego family. There are very few brands we are loyal to around our home. But we are Lego purists. Both Brad and I grew up with Lego brand building blocks and frankly, neither one of us could wait to bring them back into our lives. We started out with a starter set of Duplos...then added a couple accessories, then added a few more for Christmas...then added a Lego train...and did I mention that a significant section of the Lego.com site was half off after Christmas? So yeah, Elliott has some Legos.
The best part about them, is one set isn't just one toy. It grows with the rest of the sets and before you know it, you might even be able to build a tower to the ceiling in your living room...one might say...
The best part about them, is one set isn't just one toy. It grows with the rest of the sets and before you know it, you might even be able to build a tower to the ceiling in your living room...one might say...
(By the way - this is one reason I love my husband...not only did he build the best Lego tower ever...he thought to video it...to which we both immediately thought Also sprach Zarathustra was the only possible soundtrack to said video.)
(And I swear the Legos are Elliott's...unless of course I can't restrain myself from getting out the Lego Supermarket he is getting for his birthday and putting it together right now...which I would be lying to you if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind, once or twice...there's a Lego steak!)
(Do they have Legorehab?)
(And I swear the Legos are Elliott's...unless of course I can't restrain myself from getting out the Lego Supermarket he is getting for his birthday and putting it together right now...which I would be lying to you if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind, once or twice...there's a Lego steak!)
(Do they have Legorehab?)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Elliott's Camera
As I mentioned previously, Elliott now has a camera like his mama :) The resolution on the camera isn't great (after all it is meant to be dropped, kicked and otherwise tortured by a small child) and it has a crazy, bright flash, but I think it really adds a little something special to the pictures. It's also super cute to watch him imitate me...in fact, I have a feeling that's why there's a photo of the Christmas tree below, since he had watched me take pictures of our tree one night and he pretty much recreated exactly what I did (minus a few key subtleties). hee!
So without further ado...Elliott's photos:
Self Portrait
Grandma's shoes
Duck, Duck, Moose
Blue Socks
Chair
Television
The Tree
So without further ado...Elliott's photos:
Self Portrait
Grandma's shoes
Duck, Duck, Moose
Blue Socks
Chair
Television
The TreeThursday, January 6, 2011
A Few Videos from Texas...
Oh yeah...I don't know if I mentioned it or not...but mama got a new camera for Christmas! Woo! Thank you Cyber Monday sales! It is still a point and click, but with significant technological improvements so that I can actually...wait for it...take pictures INSIDE!! I'm beyond thrilled :) Anyway, it also takes some pretty neat videos, of which I shall share a few from our trip to Houston.
First up...this is what happens when a four year old feeds and almost two year old:
One of the outings we made while in Texas was to a place called It'z (think Dave and Busters for families). Elliott had a great time there getting in and out of the car racing games - who would have guessed? Mama and Brad had fun playing skee ball and basketball, respectively and earned enough tickets for a bumpy ball and a giant blow up crayon for Elliott. However, Elliott also enjoyed their toddler train ride, which he went on many, many times:
And this is Elliott and Leila at Gymboree class. We discovered that not only did they have a Gymboree close by, but they had a fairly convenient 'family' class. We also ended up being the only ones in class that day! Both kids got to take the class for free, which is good since I'm pretty sure they were counting the seconds until their lunch break...
First up...this is what happens when a four year old feeds and almost two year old:
One of the outings we made while in Texas was to a place called It'z (think Dave and Busters for families). Elliott had a great time there getting in and out of the car racing games - who would have guessed? Mama and Brad had fun playing skee ball and basketball, respectively and earned enough tickets for a bumpy ball and a giant blow up crayon for Elliott. However, Elliott also enjoyed their toddler train ride, which he went on many, many times:
And this is Elliott and Leila at Gymboree class. We discovered that not only did they have a Gymboree close by, but they had a fairly convenient 'family' class. We also ended up being the only ones in class that day! Both kids got to take the class for free, which is good since I'm pretty sure they were counting the seconds until their lunch break...
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year!
I have to admit this past holiday season was by far the best! We were so fortunate to be able to spend time with both of our families and our two Christmases were so much fun!
Elliott and I started things off with a sleepover at my folks house, so we were ready to start celebrating bright and early Christmas Eve day (6:30 am people! - this was clearly Elliott's idea, not mine!). Everyone else came over by early afternoon and we spent the rest of Christmas Eve talking, eating and enjoying the larger than life yule log ;) We also did a lot of present unwrapping and Elliott even got in on the action. Santa and Grandma and Grandpa K got him a Lego train set...to which he very quickly began 'choo-chooing'. He also got puzzles, a tool box, books and a Radio Flyer push bike. There may have also been a few matchbox cars among his loot :)
Christmas morning we left for Texas where we spent the next week with Brad's family. It was so much fun to see everyone again. We hadn't seen Krista's family in over 3 years and needless to say the kids have grown! My goodness!
We wasted no time digging into the presents that night (after all...I'm pretty sure we would have had a riot on our hands if we made the kids wait another day!).
Elliott even got his own camera! While I know it is a little old for him still, it has been so much fun to see his pictures and I know he will have a lot of fun with the camera for many years to come. In fact, I'll be sharing a few of his pictures in a coming post :)
...although this is one I took with his camera that I particularly like.
Elliott also made some new friends! This was the first time he met his aunt, uncle and cousins in person and it was so much fun to see them together. We took trips to the park together (as well as the mall) and Leila even joined Elliott for a Gymboree class! Keziah was particularly sweet with Elliott...and once again I wish they lived closer since she would make such a great babysitter in a couple years!
There may have also been a bit of wine and cheese...naturally ;)
And perhaps one of my favorite moments of the entire trip: Brad and I came in from where we were sleeping next door to find all the kids quietly playing together on the family room floor.
Uncle Brad was also able to rekindle his very special relationships with Keziah and Matias...and make a new friend in Leila. We will miss being around them so much and we are so, so very pleased we were able to see everyone. It has been entirely too long and I'm afraid it will be a long time before we see them again, but we are already counting the days!
Elliott and I started things off with a sleepover at my folks house, so we were ready to start celebrating bright and early Christmas Eve day (6:30 am people! - this was clearly Elliott's idea, not mine!). Everyone else came over by early afternoon and we spent the rest of Christmas Eve talking, eating and enjoying the larger than life yule log ;) We also did a lot of present unwrapping and Elliott even got in on the action. Santa and Grandma and Grandpa K got him a Lego train set...to which he very quickly began 'choo-chooing'. He also got puzzles, a tool box, books and a Radio Flyer push bike. There may have also been a few matchbox cars among his loot :)
Christmas morning we left for Texas where we spent the next week with Brad's family. It was so much fun to see everyone again. We hadn't seen Krista's family in over 3 years and needless to say the kids have grown! My goodness!
We wasted no time digging into the presents that night (after all...I'm pretty sure we would have had a riot on our hands if we made the kids wait another day!).
Elliott even got his own camera! While I know it is a little old for him still, it has been so much fun to see his pictures and I know he will have a lot of fun with the camera for many years to come. In fact, I'll be sharing a few of his pictures in a coming post :)
...although this is one I took with his camera that I particularly like.
Elliott also made some new friends! This was the first time he met his aunt, uncle and cousins in person and it was so much fun to see them together. We took trips to the park together (as well as the mall) and Leila even joined Elliott for a Gymboree class! Keziah was particularly sweet with Elliott...and once again I wish they lived closer since she would make such a great babysitter in a couple years!
There may have also been a bit of wine and cheese...naturally ;)
And perhaps one of my favorite moments of the entire trip: Brad and I came in from where we were sleeping next door to find all the kids quietly playing together on the family room floor.
Uncle Brad was also able to rekindle his very special relationships with Keziah and Matias...and make a new friend in Leila. We will miss being around them so much and we are so, so very pleased we were able to see everyone. It has been entirely too long and I'm afraid it will be a long time before we see them again, but we are already counting the days!
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