Pmc and I enjoyed a nice bike ride at the park this week, thanks to the J family (the one that stayed with us while they looked for a place to live) who watched the boys for us. There was a BEAUTIFUL overlook, which was simply impossible to capture, so we just took a picture of the green!
Cpc is still sleeping pretty well, although we have to be careful about his daytime naps. Yesterday he slept from 2:30-6:00, so of course he didn't fall asleep at 8:30, even with the Melatonin. I can't even express how much my perspective has changed since I've had regular sleep. I hope it continues. Cpc's language has started to take off like crazy. The other morning he was jabbering something to Pmc, and I started talking. OOPS! He turned to me and said "I wah tah-ee to Da" (I was talking to Dad). I could hardly believe how great his grammar was and everything. We've since realized that he is commonly saying full sentences, they're just not quite understandable yet. We are so impressed by how hard he is working to learn to talk as well. All of the time we spent reading the same books over and over and over and over and over and over again at his request seems to have paid off. He is getting pretty diligent about trying to use his words instead of a tantrum. If only his tantrums weren't only caused by a lack of ability to communicate! This week has been pretty rough as far as seeking deep pressure. Even though we've been playing in the couch cushions and giving him lots of tight hugs, and playing at the playground, he still has been pushing everyone and anything, and banging his head on things. I also had to watch him get truly picked on for the first time. One of his sensory things is that when someone is in his space, he goes into "fight mode." So he was playing with something at the playground, and a 6-year-old came over and started to play with it too. Well, since the kid was in his space, he started flapping his arms all around him. The older kid thought it was pretty funny, so he did it more, and beckoned a couple of friends. Ultimately there were 4 kids doing this before I was able to get in to help. I merely picked Cpc up and removed him from the situation, but since he was still in fight mode, he started hitting and kicking me too, as well as letting out some blood-curdling screams. As I sat with him trying to wait for him to be calm I heard one of the kids giggle and say "we made him cry!" I firmly told the boys that it was true that they had made him cry, that they were older and should know better and it was rude and unacceptable. There were no parents to be seen. It was clear I had made the boys uncomfortable and the playground kind of cleared for a few minutes. I had the opportunity to just sit and let it sink in that my child was the one being picked on, and how this might happen throughout his childhood, and he needs to learn how to deal with it himself. I won't always be right there. My heart ached for him as I sat there. Eventually he calmed down and went back to playing, the playground filled back in, and there were other children who were more polite and friendly. I became grateful for parents who taught their kids well how to treat those who are different. I also thought about how grateful I am that I can be with my kids at this important developmental stage, to teach them how to handle things. I love being a stay-at-home mom!
Cdc loves solids, and is teething. He wants to eat all day long (and uses his thumb to help him keep the food in his mouth), and is drooling EVERYWHERE, and a little grumpier than usual. He is still as tender-hearted as ever, and is really attached to me. I love it. He and his brother totally love playing together, and they have many episodes a day where they entertain each other for a solid 5 minutes. Every time I get out the camera, it ends. So I don't have any of it on video, but I have lots of special moments in my mind's eye! I am grateful for our amazing memory capacity! Pictures and video are definitely amazing.....but our minds? Wow!
Well, I better go, or I won't get everything done in time to leave tomorrow!
