Trimming the tree

We got our Christmas tree super-early. But that meant that we could take our time getting it all trimmed!

 

Katheryn, as the electrician daughter (and grand-daughter) wanted to help with the lights!

And Katheryn was fascinated when we found our reindeer light glasses!

OK, maybe mommy was fascinated too!

 

Of the good things about having the tree up early is to get those pictures done!
I was very excited!

The kids, not so much!

But they eventually got into it (it's blurry because Nick is trying to push Katheryn in the chair)

Someone might be getting a little loud in his excitement!

After a bit of begging (please! just look at the camera and smile and I won't take any more pictures!)

I got 2 that I was happy with (the above one didn't really count because it was on my phone.)

OK Christmas season can officially start now!

Using our hands

Katheryn is exploding! She is writing, she is reading
She loves school - and she makes lists of everything that she likes (Mommy was on that list - along with flowers).

We had our parent-teacher interview and some of the things that Katheryn has to work on; writing with the correct grip, and cutting.
Perfect!
That is our homework with Nickolas from OT as well.

When we had our reassessment of OT at the beginning of the month he was still within normal range, but hadn't made any progress since he was assessed in the spring. So we started a block.

Nickolas has been working at OT - and not really realizing that he is working.

He gets to do mazes!
With his 'birdy fingers'

And cut things outs
He's made improvement staying on the lines

And at the end of the day he has his very own craft he can take home to Katheryn!
(we've  made a robot, garbage truck, penguin and now the pig this month)

So we have a bunch of fun crafts and stuff to do at home with both kids together.

At the beginning of the month I discussed applying for Cambell's school. We started our application for it as well. It is a written and video application. I'm happy with this decision. If we get in I'll be glad, if we don't I'll be fine with that decision too.
But we have our options all lined up!

Getting Around

We have a number of options for getting around

I just feel like we are in a getting around slump.

We have the wheelchair - we use this every morning to go to the bus and back, for long distances or trips, the zoo, the grocery store (if for some reason we don't use the cart). We use it for distances and times, so we usually just push it ourselves instead of getting Nickolas the opportunity to push himself.

And as I'm writing this, I know that this is the exact opposite of why we wanted to get Nickolas the wheelchair to begin with - Independence!

The walker - Nickolas is doing great with it.

We still don't have the distance I had been hoping for.
But we use the walker primarily outside of the house for appointments. And Nickolas wants to use the walker outside of the house. We walk to the doctors office, to therapy, to splash in puddles

 

But around the house, not so much. When Nickolas is in his walker in the house he can do a circle. Around the kitchen, around the dining room. Our family room is down a step. So far Nick prefers to crawl, cruise or convince (someone else to carry him). Or we'll walk together, with one of us holding his hands.
I hate being in a place - like upstairs where we don't have a walker, and Nick saying "I want to walk" and he has to wait for us to help him.

I'm frustrated that I can't help Nick more. Or that at times I'm helping him too much.
I don't know.

If I want to be truly honest, I feel like I'm failing in this part.

I have some vague plans to put some kind of ramp into the family room - but space is an issue, and a ramp into the backyard. But we don't have anything started yet.

 

When we went to cut down the Christmas tree we had to have a plan.
Just a little bit of extra planning.
How can we help to get Nickolas around and participate in this fun family tradition, without carrying him.
And without the wheelchair - we didn't think it would be effective at the Christmas tree farm.

 

The wagon will work for now.
And next year.
The year after we might need to think about some other options.

Chrismas Tree Hunters

We continued our family tradition today.

The Christmas Tree Hunt!

 

We had to start the season early this year, this is my only weekend off before Christmas!

We woke  up to some snow on the ground, Katheryn was very excited and wanted to make snowmen!

 

 

We had decided hat the best way for Nickolas to move around was in the wagon, that worked really well for this year; I'm not sure what we'll be able to do next year.

It was cold and windy, but we had lots of layers on.
And we got our tree!
The kids had reached their limit by the time we got it into the van.

But pretty soon we were defrosted and ready to get started.
We might have a little girl with some electricity in her blood

She was very excited to help with the lights!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! (for the next month)

3 years!

How did my little boy become 3 years old?
I'm not quite sure, but there he is.

A little boy who shakes that bum to the Handy Manny song

Who loves it loud!
And loves to drum and sing at the same time (at the top of his lungs of course)
His favorite song right now - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star 
or if he is in a pirate mood - Row, Row, Row your Boat

He is a big boy who will still share his brand new toys with his sister
Or will very sternly tell her no (until he's ready)

Is excited to ride his own school bus next year
Even if mommy is a little unsure.

He is a little boy who can watch his favorite shows over and over and over and over again
And was super excited to have a personalized message from Jake and his crew!

Who can't say the word 'bath' without needing to go upstairs immediately

Pretty much ditto for 'Hot dogs'

A little boy who didn't say very much a year ago, but now talks in 10 word sentences!
And he has such a little attitude!
"Don't want mommy say NO to me!"

Who wants to give the penguins at the zoo a time out ( to come and swim near his window of course)

3 years has brought me a boy who can have wicked temper tantrums
And he does not like time outs (luckily  he doesn't need them that often)

But he is still a little boy that loves to hug ... really tight

Who crawls and talks in his sleep - but looks so innocent when he's sleeping

Who drinks A LOT of chocolate milk

I have a little boy that loves to explore and investigate before playing
He was excited that this figure has a wheelchair - "just like me!"

Somehow I have a boy with big boy feet
Just look how big they are!
(They always just seemed so tiny!)

Somehow my little boy has turned into a 3 year old that has attutude, strength, personality all with a spark of silliness and the desire to see people laugh.

If this is what 3 years brings me - Bring it on!

Happy Birthday Nickolas!
You have brought such wonderment, amazement, joy into my life.

In 3 years you have changed our lives forever. And I wouldn't change a moment of it!