July 2013

Whew!  Where did July go? Here are the highlights from our July (it was a BIG month for us!):

Happy 4th of July!

                                           



Our schedule looked like this:

Mondays and Wednesdays: School 12:00-2:30
Tuesday: PT & OT: 1:00-2:00
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: My Gym camp 9:30-12:30

Mikey started "The Happy Mouth School" on July 8th.  It was such a smooth transition.  I was a little emotional in the car after dropping him off for his first day but he was so happy and excited (as it should be, I guess...).

Ken the Music Man 

Mikey would love to come home and play with what he used at school.  One week it was the farm.  Nicholas enjoyed playing, too!

My Gym craft--wrestling belt 

                                             

Nicholas started eating more "fun" food this week.  Here he is enjoying his meals...

 He also rode in the shopping cart for the first time....

Nicholas changed to a rear facing big boy car seat after he was getting too heavy for his "bucket" car seat.  Mikey had some difficulty sharing in the beginning (he got promoted to a booster car seat) but then came around.  

                                   

 Mikey got a buzz cut this summer.  His barber loves to give him colored spray after his haircut!

Prior to starting school, we discussed with Mikey that he is now going to be attending "big boy school" and big boys don't use loveys.  The next morning he woke up and decided he was going to give his loveys to baby Grace--our friends Sean and Maryanne's new baby.  We saw Sean at a birthday party that day, Mikey ran over to him and gave him the bag with his loveys.  It was THAT easy.  He went to bed that night and every night thereafter without a problem.  I feel like we always dread big events (stopping the breast feeding, toilet training, cutting out the lovey) and it never seems to be as a big of deal as I envision it to be.

His gift for being a big boy and not using a lovey anymore.  It is the "Octopod" from his favorite Disney show, Octonauts!

We spent LOTS of time at the pool so far.  There are many pools to choose from so every day is a different experience for us.  Sometimes we are at the "frog pool", the "whale pool",  splash pad, "beach" pool (with a small water slide) and always having fun!  A few nights we have grabbed dinner there, had Mikey take a shower and change into "jamas" before heading home.  So convenient.  Nicholas typically takes his afternoon nap while we are there, too!

                                         

The "beach" pool with the gradual decline.  Most days were not very busy (like in this picture) which made it relaxing and fun.

On July 20th, Michael and I went to see Bon Jovi at Gilette Stadium (my Valentine's Day present!).  We had a really nice dinner at Davios before the concert (just the two of us) and then met up with our friends, Bob & Katie.  Grandma and Bob watched the boys for us.

The last Sunday of July we went to Newport, Rhode Island for the day to visit Mimi & Papa Fred as well as Mark & Meredith.  We went on a sailboat ride, walked around the town of Newport and then had dinner before heading home.  It was a fun day trip and visit!

                            

                           

                                         

                                           

I got a new car!  Michael got me the Mercedes GL 450.  It is my birthday present, anniversary present, Christmas present, etc!  I got the car on a Friday and on Saturday we took it for a day trip to Rockport after Michael finished at work.  We walked around the town and checked out all the cute shops and scenic points overlooking the ocean.  We attempted to eat at our favorite restaurant (The Lobster Pool) but it was too crowded.  Just another reason for us to visit again!

I love this picture.  Nicholas is so adorable smiling for the camera while Mikey wasn't being as cooperative!

And that was only HALF of our summer!  Wait until you hear about August!  :)

8 Months

Feeding:

You prefer to feed yourself with your fingers and if you are really hungry, I can spoon feed you.

Your diet goes like this:
Wake up (you nurse either around 5 or 6 and typically go back to sleep until 7:30 or 8)
Breakfast includes rice cereal or oatmeal mixed with a fruit (usually banana, applesauce, pear or mango) and then you pick up Puffs and pieces of banana;
Nurse mid-morning
Lunch around 1:00 consists of soft foods that you feed yourself (usually butternut squash, carrot, canned no-salt green beans, steamed zucchini or yellow squash) or "stew" (pureed yellow potato, apple and butternut squash);
Nurse again in the afternoon 1-2 times
Dinner around 6 with barley or oatmeal cereal mixed with pureed veggie (same veggies as above)
Nurse before bed--around 7.
When the food comes at you, you twirl your wrists and ankles and you grunt with excitement.

The week that you turned 8 months you have been waking up around 2 and then 5.  Boo to that.  I also introduced meat into your diet.  You had chicken soup---drank the broth from an open cup (no spilling!) and finger fed yourself the carrots and chicken.  You also enjoy your mesh feeder which works out perfectly for when you still want to eat but when I cannot feed you.  I put grapes and watermelon in the mesh bag, fasten it to the handle and you are able to hold it and chew/suck on the bag to get the juices out.  I don't have to worry about you choking and it also feels good on your gums.

You are starting to get the concept that you want to move.  When I am holding you, you will pump your legs like you are jumping.  On the floor you are just starting the looks of commando crawling.  You can sit briefly unassisted.  I am trying my hardest to give you a lot of floor time.  Since Mikey's summer schedule isn't so busy these next few weeks (read: you aren't spending most of your time in the car going here, there and everywhere), we should be able to achieve this goal.  You bang up and down and I have seen some hands together which looks like clapping. You open and close your fingers like you are waving, but not yet realizing that it IS a wave.  You cover your eyes with your right hand to play "peek-a-boo".  You are doing lots of raspberries with your mouth, "ra-ra-ra" utterances and vowel sounds come out from time to time.  You are very passionate about what you are doing.  If you really really want something, you won't back down until you get it.  All you have to do is look at Mikey and you crack up.  This happens a lot in the car.  Daddy and I love to hear you laughing and often look at each other and laugh, too.  Daddy says "Baby boy please don't grow up any more.  You are getting too big!" AT LEAST ONCE A DAY.  I tell him that you get cuter every day which makes it okay---but we would like you to stay a baby for a little while longer.

I know I write this every month, but I cannot believe another month as passed.  We love you, Nicholas!

7 Months

Wow!  I cannot believe it has been 7 months since you have been born.  Although it has passed so quickly, it is also hard to imagine life before you were here!

You are rolling everywhere--which makes it quite difficult to change your diaper!  You are beginning to sit up and it has been quite helpful during bathtime.  We try to read books but they aren't very interesting to you yet.  You LOVE your Sophie the Giraffe, rings, vibrating star, cool teething toys from the fridge and anything else you can get your mouth on.  

This month you have expanded your culinary horizons and branched out to Cheerios (broken in half), Puffs, sweet potato and avacado you now like (yay!), yellow squash, carrots and mango.  I am feeding you two meals a day of cereal with a pureed vegetable or fruit.  For "lunch" I give you soft "table food" items like soft cooked carrots cut into small pieces, avocado and banana.  You attempt to pick it up in your hand but it usually gets stuck in your palm and then you forget about it (object permanence---out of sight, out of mind during this phase!) so I wind up feeding you.  You get very upset if I don't feed you fast enough.  You LOVE to eat.  Sometimes I need to put you in the highchair while I am doing something and you expect to eat while in there!  You also still love to drink from a cup.  I swear you think you are four years old---just like your big brother!  You nurse 4-5 times a day for 5 minutes or so. I don't think you are getting much--more like just going through the motions.  You communicate that you want to nurse by eating my face.  You have done this in previous months however now with two teeth IT HURTS!  

You went on your first extended trip from home as we ventured to Pennsylvania to meet two sets of Great-Grandparents and then headed to New Jersey to celebrate Gran-ma's retirement.  You were an excellent traveler.  You slept most of the time in the car and/or entertained yourself with toys or by watching your brother.  You slept great in your travel bed (thank you so much for that).  Since we have been back you have been waking around 2am.  I'm not sure if it is teething related, hunger or just wanting to see my sleepy face at that hour but either way you fall fast asleep after a quick nursing session.  

We never would have guessed that you were teething since you acted no different than before.  You are getting a bit long and heavy for the infant car seat.  I am thinking of upgrading you to Mikey's car seat soon.  We should also consider lowering the crib and baby proofing this house before you get any more mobile.  Those will be on my "to-do" list for the month of July.

Love you little boy!

Make that TWO TEETH!

FIRST TOOTH!

Yup, you read that right.  I can feel Nicholas' first tooth coming in.  It is his lower left front tooth.  I cannot believe this is happening already!  Okay, part of me can believe it since he chomps away on everything but why can't he stay my baby just a tad bit longer?  I know he can not wait to "catch up" to his big brother!  Mikey has no idea what he is in for!

For now I will continue breastfeeding.....until I get bitten.  (Mikey was 10 months old when his first tooth erupted and coincidentally he also weaned himself in that same month---biting was a non-issue.)

As soon as I can catch a glimpse of his tooth it will be posted here immediately!  Stay tuned!

Mmmm...TOES!

"Happy Mouth School"

Due to those insurance issues we had covering speech therapy back in the winter, I took it upon myself to have Mikey screened by the public school.  The public school offers special education services to children starting at three years old, should they qualify.  We live in a top rated school system so I figured it wouldn't hurt.

Mikey went for the initial screening which resulted in further testing based on concerns that were noted.  Our school system evaluates children differently than other school systems do.  Instead of it being a one time evaluation with each discipline, Wellesley puts together a small group of children (all being evaluated) and has them come to school over a course of six times so the team of clinicians gets to know the child really well (and avoids excuses like "he didn't sleep well last night", etc).  Mikey went on Friday mornings from 10-11:30 with four other children his age.  It was a drop off type thing so unfortunately I wasn't able to observe ANYTHING and no feedback was given upon pick-up.  We started back in March and didn't complete the evaluation process until May 10 since they had off for Good Friday and spring break.

May 24 was our IEP meeting.  We received the written reports two days ahead of time and everything made total sense.  They really got to know Mikey by working with him directly as well as through conversations/documentation from Eva and myself.  By the end of the meeting it was determined that Mikey is eligible to receive special education services in the Wellesley Public School system based on delays in every area of development.  They are looking at him as having a developmental delay.  No other diagnosis is needed nor anticipated at this time.  Mikey will be attending the five week summer program starting July 8 four days per week for 2.5 hours.  In the fall he will be attending school four days per week (Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri) from 9-2:30.  He will be receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and will be a student in an inclusive classroom (with other children receiving services as well as "typically" developing children from the community).

Upon leaving the meeting one of my reactions was "OMG.  He is getting so many services!".  Here I am an occupational therapist that works with kids Mikey's age and younger and I was not anticipating he was going to get as much as he did.  It is a well known fact that Wellesley gives A LOT of services up front so that they can say by elementary school they don't have many children on IEPs.  This was partially reassuring but at the same time I am also blown away with how much help he needs.  All of my objectivity of being a clinician (obviously) went right out the window when looking at my own child.

Michael and I are happy that Mikey will be getting the help that he needs so that he can thrive in all areas of life.  Mikey works so hard every day to do things that many other kids his age can do naturally without hesitation.  I am looking forward to working with the school system and watching Mikey learn and grow this coming year.

The preschool is in its own free standing building around the corner from our house.  It has a big smiley face on the roof at the entrance to the school.  In working with other families that have sent their kids there, many children refer to the school as the "smiley face school".  Mikey calls it the "happy mouth school".  And he is thrilled that he gets to go back.  He is VERY disappointed that he will not be going there on the school bus, however.  It is very hard to explain to him that yes, he is going to school but no, the school bus doesn't go to THAT school!  (The official name of the school is Preschool At Wellesley Schools--PAWS for short.  This is how you will hear me refer to it from now on:  PAWS or Happy Mouth School!)