2 Year Check Ups

Big Bubby had his 2 year check up today. I couldn't go - last day of school (well, last day with students) and I had to give finals and get grades in. It was the first appointment I'd ever missed and I was a little sad I couldn't go, but I knew Bubby and Bryan would be fine without me.

Although this does mean that I don't have exact measurements. Bry and I don't have the same priorities ;) but we measured him the other day (I think I posted it?) and he's 36.75 inches and he's about 32 pounds. So 75% in both categories... we thought for awhile that he would catch up to Sis and they'd start to look more like twins (our midwives told us it would eventually happen) but she went through another growth spurt and is still 5 inches taller. I'm sure that he'll surpass her at some point, but it's not going to be anytime soon.

We have discovered that he has a strawberry sensitivity. I thought at first that he might be allergic, but both his Ped and my Guru Kathy who talks me down from the ledge every time I think something is wrong with the kids. Strawberries give him wicked diaper rash and he loves them. Kathy said he should eventually grow out of it, which is good because I don't know if I can keep them out of the house.

He was up for 2 shots and a lead test - apparently he took it all like a champ. He and Poe are very different in that arena (well, they're very different in most arenas). And I have to admit that I was a little nervous this time around... I really wanted to be there for his shots, but in retrospect I'm glad I wasn't. My rational brain and my irrational brain played a bit of tug-of-war leading up to this particular shot session.

I know that shots don't cause Autism. I KNOW this. They don't. But, from what I've read (which is, admittedly, not exhaustive) the jury is still out on whether or not shots - particularly the 2 year shots - may trigger Autism in those predisposed to Autism (i.e. with the right set of genes). Now, there isn't a huge history of Autism in either side of the family; so risks for G probably aren't high. But I was still a little nervous even though I realized it wasn't really rational. So I am relieved that everything went well and he hasn't had a fever or behavioral changes.

I was never so worried about stuff like this with P... And if I'm being honest, it's because P reminds me so much of Bryan and G reminds me so much of my brother. Now, there's nothing wrong with my brother. He's a great guy. He's a wonderful Uncle. But I think he'll be one of the first to admit that his ADHD has made life more challenging. My Dad would probably admit the same thing - he also has ADHD. And I love both my brother and my father, but I don't wish those challenges on my son. If Griffin (or Penelope) develop any type of disability, Bryan and I will be there to support and advocate for them... I just fervently hope that's not an issue that we have to deal with. Ever.

Anyway, we have one healthy, sweet, snuggly, stubborn, curly-haired little boy (or Big Boy, as he constantly reminds me).


In this, the children are the same - they both love salad

Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day was pretty low key. Holidays should not come at the end of the month :)

But the Salinas area has a quite a few fun and free things to do and we had a fun weekend.

Sunday was really our "big" day - we went to the beach and made sand castles. Well, Bryan and the kids made castles. I was exhausted and spent most of the time lounging on a beach towel. G is getting in his 2 year molars so his sleep has been erratic (read: lousy, although not at Suck levels).

So let me inundate you with pictures!


Bubby wondering what it is I'm doing... next words out of his mouth "Mommy, I see! I see!"


No! I don't want my picture taken!


Sissy has some loooooooooooong legs


Squishy and her Daddy


Castle under construction


Construction


I love this one, I think I need to get it framed


Just like his Uncle Nic, he sticks his tongue out when concentrating


Sand Castle complete!


At lunch, you can see how utterly exhausted he is... when we got home the kids and I slept for almost 3 hours


Squishy is tired too!

Conversations

At the dinner table. Penelope has tried her lasagne and has decided to like it. Griffin is refusing to eat anything.

Me: Bubby, you need to at least take a bite.
Poe: Try it Griffin, you'll like it. I like it!
Griff: No!
Poe: Ok, well if you won't eat it then I will.
Griff: No!
Poe: Ok, I'm going to eat it! (in a sing-songy voice)
Griff: (louder) No!
Poe: Well then YOU eat it.
Griff: No!

You can see where this is going. Later, when he's been in time out (crying the whole time) she comes up to me and says "Mommy, Bubby doesn't want to be in time-out, can he get out now?" Um. No.

Earlier: "Bubby is my favorite boy. He's the best boy I ever saw!"

And: "Mommy, I love Griffin. He's the silliest boy in the world." Yes honey, yes he is.

Griffin isn't nearly as nice to Poe as she is to him, but he'll get there (granted, she's not always nice to him).

Other things she said today: "I don't want to be in a good mood!"

Luckily that didn't last. She drives me nutty sometimes, but she really is a sweet child. Really, really sweet. And so loving. We are so, so lucky.

The boy-child's 3's will not be nearly as calm. This I can guarantee. But he's probably the most prolific hugger of any 2 year old I know. And a snuggler. Child will full body slam you and then come in for a surprisingly ferocious hug and a very loud kiss.

I love my babies.

BIG boy!

My son is... silly.

He's also sorta-kinda-potty training. He pees on the potty when we have him sit there, but has only asked to pee twice. No poop in the potty yet. I was going to hold off on potty training, but he's been insisting on wearing underwear and he's been waking up dry from naps & overnight on occasion. So we're sorta-kinda staring. His daycare will go gun-ho after school is out. I'm hopeful that he'll be fully day potty trained by the end of summer. I don't expect night-time training for awhile longer.

Although if it doesn't happen and we go back to diapers I won't be upset. He's only just two. Poe didn't PT until 3 and I think that's the average age. So I'd be ecstatic if he trained sooner.

Regardless, he love his undies. And they're super cute.

A Typical Evening

Fridays are unofficial movie nights - unless we have plans (and we usually don't). So Fridays go a little something like this...

4:00pm - kids get home from daycare. Snacks. Playing in the living room (i.e. pouring every toy they own onto the floor). Music. Dancing, gymnastics on the couch, screaming, at least one tantrum and at least one time-out.

5:15/5:30 - dinner... which usually includes negotiation (i.e. eat 2 more bites and you can have dessert and/or Griffin, eat something other than frozen peas please).

6:00 - bath time! This now includes Griffin peeing on the potty before he gets into the bath (woot!). Which, in addition to making me hopeful that potty training won't be a huge PITA, also means G no longer pees in the bath.

6:15 - movie! Tonight was Lilo & Stitch - which was the kids' first viewing. They didn't want to watch it at first, but quickly got into it. The four of us snuggled on the couch, Sissy with her head on B's chest and Bubba curled up beside me.

7:30-7:45 - end of movie - cue kids dancing around to the cheesy music at the end of the movie. Then Bryan teaches the kids "pantsing", which they think is HILARIOUS and then they demand to be pantsed. Griffin figures out how to pants himself and then runs around with his pajama bottoms around his ankles, laughing hysterically. Penelope asks B to imitate a character from "Phineas and Ferb", which he does to thunderous applause from the peanut gallery. Kids do somersaults off the end of the couch, twirl around the living room, and run from one end of the room to another copying some pseudo-karate moves one of their daycare friends must have shown them. Kids do.not.stop.laughing until Mommy makes them brush their teeth.

7:45-8:00 - reading, kisses, bed.