Dear Daven {October 30, 2017}

Dear Daven-

Over the past month you have transitioned from the infant room to the toddler room at your place of child care.  You are not too happy about this change.

Today you asked me for toast.  I made the toast you gave your enthusiastic reply of "Oh ho ho" and promptly bit into the toast.  Then promptly gave it back to me and requested "mama orange juice".  I tried to convince you that there wasn't orange juice as I wasn't sure you really wanted it; however, you went over to the fridge opened the door and repeated "mama orange juice".  You drank down what was left in an open cup, not a drop was spilled.  I asked you if you wanted the rest of your toast to which you replied, "no toast mama".

After playing for a few more minute you stated from your play, "Mama potty" to which we went upstairs and you went.

You've been using the toilet successfully for your morning business for the past 5-6 weeks.  There has only been two incidences of not making it to the toilet quick enough after you wake up.  There have been multiple occasions on the weekends or evenings when you have stated your need to use the toilet and much to my surprise you have gone!

You've taken to yelling out, "Robert" when you want attention.  Robert is your dad, so this request for attention from him is usually followed up by "that is your dad you can say 'dada'"!

Every morning after using the toilet you get a fresh diaper on and we go downstairs to get dressed for the day.  This process of going down the steps involves you yelling for "Nadia, Nadia" to get her to come downstairs with you so you can let her outside to go potty.  The two of you have developed a fun routine of teasing each other which usually results with you giving the most genuine belly laugh, unless you've pulled her tail or hair too hard.  This certainly is a wonderful way to start my day.  One way of teasing Nadia is to take her tail and wave it back and forth while saying "wag wag" then laughing.  She isn't a huge fan of it but is starting to tolerate it as you've quit pulled her tail as often as you once did.

One evening after our usual routine of evening prayers and forgiveness I was rocking you and you were having a hard time calming your body down.  In my frustration I stated, "Daven you need to calm your body down", to which you demanded "WHAT!?"

You have a very strong and independent mind.  You prefer not to be interrupted when you are enjoying yourself playing.  If you decide you are going to do something even if it is not appropriate you will often still do it quicker than I can stop you and you usually follow it up by telling yourself "no-no".

You've tasted dog food a handful of times.

You still ask for your Papa Walter every day.  I can only imagine you have conversations in your head with him as one evening in the past month as I was rocking you to sleep you were saying "Papa  octopus, Kiki, Papa, octopus, Kiki"  Kiki being the over sized stuffed gorilla in your classroom named Kenny.  I can only imagine what the three of you were up to.  When we facetime Papa often you want to see him, won't say much, but the moment we hang up we have a hundred things to say to Papa.  The other day you sat in your car seat as I was driving and repeatedly say "Thank you Papa, Thank you Papa" I can only imagine what was going through your head.

You often say "thank you dada" to your dad when he gives you something you've asked for.  You name your Nana Alice's dog's "my-no" for Milo, and "daw dee" for Harley.  You have gotten more assertive with telling your dog Snowey to "move" out of your way.

You love to eat oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning.  You are labeling some shapes such as circle, oval, heart, and octagon.  You find the number two easy to use.  You have between 200-300 words- I quit counting as they were coming so quickly.

All of this and you are 3 days shy of being 18 months old.  I love you little dude,  I love you!

~Mama, Mommy, Mom

Dear Daven {June 25, 2017}

Dear Daven-

You are the bravest little boy I know.  Just today we were back in Urgent care because a fever you've struggled with since early Friday morning wouldn't go away.  Today we learned you have your fifth ear infection in 5 months, and that your tonsils which are normally too large are swollen are bright red, although you are without strep.  Friday we were at the ENTs office and learned you will have PE tubes placed on July 13, 2017.  And that possibly next summer you will need to have your tonsils out due to sleep apnea.  The amazing thing about you Daven, is this, in spite of having had recurring ear infections you remain pretty happy, considering.  When you get upset you settle with mom reading you books.  We've read Brown Bear Brown Bear about 500 times now, somedays even reading it upwards of 20 times repeatedly.  In spite of having recurring ear infections you continue to learn new words, albeit, they can be difficult to decipher; however, when your little hand raises and you point a tiny little finger at what you want it's easy to learn what your words are.  At the end of May you started putting two words together (you are only 12 months at this time) the first two phrases were "more milk" and "more bottle".

You have the greatest will, strong persistence, and amazing grit when you are trying to figure new things out.  You continue to do this even when you are not feeling well.  When you get upset with mom, you'll look at her and say "no no" and then quickly swipe her glasses from her face, or you'll quickly take a handful of hair and pull.

Mom has had many offers to help you via Essentia Oils, all of which I have not responded to.  Let me tell you why.  I am a mother of science.  Anatomically this is what has been happening.  Your adenoids when enlarged block off the eustachian tube.  The eustachian tube is what drains the fluid from your inner ear into your pharyngeal area.  When the adenoids block the eustachian tube the fluid just sits in your middle ear, festering until it can a) drain when the eustachian tube is clear/unblocked and/or b) you get an ear infection and your ear drum bursts or you get put on medication to clear it up.  No amount of oil I rub behind your ear or put into your ear is going to change your anatomical makeup.  Each to there own when it comes to oils.  There is a place for them just not in this situation.  They may smell nice if you diffuse them and that smell may help calm a person down.... if you are anxious.

Enough about that.  Daven, you make me a proud Speech Pathologist momma every day.  You follow simple directions, you answer some yes/no questions even if you shouldn't, and your vocabulary growth is constantly amazing me.  Your most recent words have been clock and sky.  I love you to the non planet planet Pluto and beyond and back again.

Today you tried your very first popsicle.  Some people think you look like Papa Walt, some think you look like your da-dads, and I think you look a little like your cousin Emmett.

Dear Daven {May 2, 2017}

Dear Daven-

It's your first birthday today.  You have successfully made your first trip around the sun.

It's difficult to comprehend during the first few months of life, how many changes will happen in the first year.  So perhaps it is best bullet pointed

• You rarely took a nap longer than 20 minutes the first few months of age
• Your physical strength has always been much higher than expected for your age
• You attempted to crawl over a tummy time pillow at 12 weeks of age.
• You army crawled (by choice) until 10 months of age at which time you decided you could crawl on all fours.
• You took your first few steps by just walking away from mom one day when you were feeling sick.
• You have the best grin and belly laugh.
• You find the dogs sneezes hysterical.
• You are a hearty eater.  You'll eat most anything besides raspberries.  You loved spaghetti until yesterday.  
• Your favorite breakfast is Ritz crackers.  You get all excited and start squealing and kicking your feet when I ask you if you want a cracker.
• You are most determined.  You'll pause when asked to stop; however, insist on continuing the activity that you choose to do.
• You love books.
• You have mastered the circle and square on the shape sorter about 1.5 months ago
• You love experimenting with limits and boundaries
• You have about 25 words on your first birthday
  

  

  Well Hello there...

  
  

  

  This man... my Uncle Trix

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Spaghetti.... mmmm.

  
  

  

  Yes, I'm cute

  
  

  

  Daddy, let's go over there

  
  

  

  What did you say?

  
  

  

  Momma and me

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  My da-dads

Dear Daven {April 5, 2017}

While rocking you to sleep this afternoon, I thought to myself, I would just like to hold him for the entirety of his nap.  You are growing so fast you are 23 pounds and some odd ounces, you are over 31 inches tall and most pleasing to this Speech Pathologist momma's heart is the amount of babbling you do; I just want to cherish these moments.  I know better though.  You would have slept for 20 minutes in my arms versus the 1.5 hours in your crib.  

Today it is your Nana Alice's birthday- we tried calling her today but it got abruptly interrupted by me needing to tend to you.  Today, you are sick.  You have a stomach bug.  You vomited from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. last evening.  Finally falling asleep closer to 11 for a longer stretch of time.  You woke in the morning in a fairly pleasant state however this is when the diarrhea started and hasn't stop yet.  

I've changed over 30 diapers today.  Not kidding.  Your poor bottom is so red and painful that you anticipate a diaper change and the screaming starts prior to even the change.  My heart aches for you, I want nothing more than to make you feel better and this unfortunately is something that has to "run it's course".  

I've been watching closely to make sure you don't get dehydrated.  I'm pretty sure you are awfully close to needing more than what I can do at home.  The pediatrician's office wasn't too concerned that you no longer are crying tears, because your mouth is still wet.  I can only pray that this is the case and that things will turn around soon because anything that goes in, comes out either the top or the bottom.

You had a couple of hours in the evening time in which I thought certainly things are starting to look up.  You wanted to play, tease Nadia, read books, and talk to yourself and anyone who would listen.  I was rewarded with a few opportunities to take photos of you.  What amazes me the most is your ability to be happy and content during the few moments you've had today which weren't wrought with pain, vomiting, or malaise.

You love "problem solving"

...and have not quite figured out to go around versus over things yet

Books, books, and more books

one of your favorite activities

peek-a-boo I see you

Sadly, you went to bed in a completely different set of pajamas as the vomiting started all over again.  I just hope I have enough patience to make it through another day and hope that the end result is not me getting the stomach bug.

I love you little man, I love you.

p.s. This blog post was going to be about how terrible my day felt.  Then I realized how terrible it must have been for you.  One thing I hope other parents understand is if kids are sick, they are not making your day bad, they are responding to being sick.  They are learning how to cope and it's hard for these little guys.