Social Butterfly

Katheryn's birthday party is coming up in a couple of weeks. She got to pick 5 friends from school to come.

She came home after she handed out her invites to say that she wrote out invitations for 3 other kids and invited them. So we made 3 actual invites for these kids as well. Katheryn came home from school with 3 other hand-written invitations from other kids including a birthday in June, November and no date, but at one boys house #22.

We were home one evening and I answer the phone and hear this little voice say "hello". In the background I hear a mom say "ask for Katheryn".
Katheryn got her first phone call!

Katheryn was funny on the phone. Bluntly saying "who is this?" and then "what do you want?"
The conversation improved after that.
We put the phone on speaker because Katheryn was having problems hearing her.
And I got to listen to the cute conversation as the 2 girls made plans for the next day.

I didn't actually realize that her first social call was a milestone.
But it totally was! (at least from the parent perspective)

Counting

Nickolas is being a show-off again!

Nickolas is counting to 15!

Like everything in Nick's life, he kept this little secret to himself, and then blasted his poor mommy out of the water!
We've started to use potty time for some learning, we did colours and then this week I thought we could move onto numbers. The potty is a great time to work, because it is quiet time, usually without big sister who likes to give him the answers.
When we started this week I was so happy that he counted to 3! Or counted 3 things that we had around the tub.

Then yesterday I had 10 toys all lined up for us to count.And he just kept going, all the way up to 15! (or five-teen).
I asked him if I could go and grab my camera, not really 100% sure that he would give a repeat performance for the camera. But off he went! I'm sure in his head he was saying (oh mom!)

There have been a number of things that I have been worried about developmentally with Nickolas. He didn't know his colours - or I should say, he refused to say his colours (saying that everything is blue) for the longest time.
But I was worried about his numbers, he didn't know them (or so I thought).
I guess this means we will tackle the alphabet next!
Sorry kid, no rest!

Look what I'm doing now!

OK So I've been completely MIA. And it's not going to get any better this weekend (Victoria Day Weekend - cottage time!!).

So if I promise to blog next week - will you forgive me!

In the meantime - this is Nick's newest accomplishment - pulling himself to kneeling! He did it all himself, but Kyle had to help straighten his legs.

AND we start physio again soon.

AND Nick passed his 18 month mark a very happy boy - which made me a very happy mom.

AND I have lots I want to update about (including our current shunt watch).

AND I was blessed by being part of a new spina bifida mommy's journey with the birth of her Gage!

AND things are great!

Just wanted to update quickly and bump that lousy 18 month downer post!

18 months

I know it is a little early (Nick is 18 months next Lucky Friday the 13th - but it is something that has been on my mind alot lately).

I thought that 18 months would make me excited. I thought it would be a happy age, a good landmark. It has always been one of those ages for me, the ones you look back and gauge things against.

I was warned.

I was warned that 18 months is a hard time for us parents.

It marks a time when some of the motor deficits become very obvious. When I see Nick pulling himself along on the floor and all the other kids his age are running around. Not just taking tentative, shaky steps, but running, everywhere. I remember Katheryn at that age (just before I had Nick), and he is nowhere near where she was, in so many areas!

I need a new mantra, I need to remember that this is not a race, it is not a contest. Nick will do things in his own time, but he will do them.

And by comparing him to other kids at 18 months isn't going to do any of us any good.

But I just can't help it some days.

I was invited to get together with some moms from my babyville mom and baby group. The last time I saw most of them, was when Nick was 1 year old. And yes some kids were walking and standing, but not all of them. This get-together, I was working and wasn't able to go. I am very glad I wasn't able to go. I realized later that how different Nick would be from these kids. How delayed he would look. How sad it would have made me (and how sad it makes me now). And it makes me sad that I'm glad I didn't go. (Yes, I know, I can't really win with myself!)

I hate thinking of Nick in those terms. different, delayed, disabled. Those are not words that I want to use to describe my beautiful, happy boy. These are words that I can forget when I stay in my little Nickolas bubble. Where Nick is making great big strides, working hard (harder than he wants) and making progress. Meterstones.

Our current working goal is getting him stronger
lying to sitting. So basic, and we are still working on it!
AND we still haven't been picked back up from Grandview! (For PT).

Oh yeah, and today at our SB mom and baby group I realized that Nick will probably need a wheelchair as a child. (Even if just for distance, like the zoo or Canada's Wonderland). Which shouldn't make me upset, it is something to give him control and independence. But I'm still a little raw about it. Even though I shouldn't be surprised - and we aren't anywhere near to needing it now.

So we are hitting the 18 month mark a little grumpy. A little depressed. A little sad.
I don't want my baby to grow up. Can't he stay the same age for a little longer and then catch up? Let the Nick timeline and the calender timeline sync just a little?

 At the same time, I know that today I might be sad. Today I might be under my own little rain cloud. But tomorrow Nick will do something fantastic and the sun will shine again. And Nick doesn't think that there is anything wrong with some rain!

BTW - the pictures are from our trip to the Toronto Zoo on Easter weekend.

Age Appropriate

Age appropriate, age appropriate, age appropriate!

I don’t think I’ll get sick of hearing those words!

Occupational Therapy declared that … yes, you got it… Nick was age appropriate!

We had an assessment during Nick’s latest physio appointment. Our last block of sessions included both PT and OT and the two of them work very well together. And they both love Nick! So Sheka (our OT) likes to pop in sometimes to see how we are doing during this next block.

Nick decided to show off for her!

 

Coloring

Puzzles

Taking things out, and then putting them back in the tiny holes

stacking blocks

turning pages

feeding himself

She'd ask him to do something, and he would just go ahead and do the next step!

She said we must have been practicing. Not so much, but Nick really likes doing what his sister is doing - and really LOVES showing off, and if she is colouring, or playing with lego, or doing puzzles - well then he is right there wanting to do it too!

But
Sometimes I wonder, sometimes thoughts get the best of me. Nick isn't all that mobile yet (army crawling only), and not saying any words. I think of Katheryn when she was 16 months old, and my niece when she was 16 months old. And Nick just seems so behind them!

But wait a sec. How is he behind them? Well, first of all he's not running around. Well yes, I can't base all of my fears on something he is not going to be age appropriate in. And so much about being, (AHHH) a toddler, is about, well... toddling. Exploring the environment, learning limits, doing things and learning.

And talking. Talking. Well, we are working on that. We are going to speech therapy group - where all the other kids are older and running around and saying a couple of words (I think). And I KNOW in my head that when Nick is doing so much in his motor skills that his speech will come. I know it in my heart that he understands and that one day he will just pop out those words "Mommy, daddy, doggy, Katheryn" - or however he short forms it, probably banana will be high on the list too. I just wish we were there now.

BUT this is about AGE APPROPRIATE!!!
And everything else will come. I know it, Nick is super smart, and happy and healthy. He has definite opinions about a bunch of things. Not the least of which - if he doesn't feel like doing it, we won't.
Stubborn, stubborn child!
But I'm sure that is age appropriate too!

Meterstone Monday

There are milestones and there are meterstones. Not quite a mile, but still moving forward, one meter at a time.
So here are some of our meterstones:

Sitting

sitting up straighter

sitting unassisted for extended periods of time

lifting arms up when sitting

reaching to side and turning upper body when sitting

Rolling
reaching to sides when on belly
lifting arms when on belly
superman flying pose
brings knees up/side when on belly
reaches up when on belly
moves in a half circle (both sides) when on belly


Puts some weight on feet when supported


throws toys

pulls off socks

picks up cheerios

pulls hair

waves

does high five

laughing, giggling

blowing raspberries

will make noises back and forth - 'conversation'

Will sometimes understand no

Has 4 teeth!

Has a schedule

Eats crackers, toast, noodles and anything he can find on the ground

All of these are big things in our household!

So way to go Nickolas! for showing off your newest meterstones!

And his biggest supporter...

As a PS - If you love those hats as much as I do (thanks Jill for the site) check out http://www.petalbabies.com/
Katheryn is actually wearing Nick's hat - she kept taking his off and trying to put her purple one on him!

PANTS!!

Who knew being able to put Nickolas in pants would be a milestone?
We saw plastics yestarday and got the all clear - yes he is healed and he can wear pants and it shouldn't bother him. Even though the dressing has been off for over a month and he has been healed I've been hesitant putting him in pants that will bother his scar. But they said not to worry he can wear whatever he wants!
So here he is ... in PANTS! (yes I might be a little tooo excited about this).