I'm ashamed to admit it.....I bought new pacis

I have ALWAYS looked in Target/Walmart for the 18+ Gerber Nuks. I can never find them. But I did last night. I bought two packages (4 pacis).

Yes, I want them gone, but at the same time, I really don't feel all that bad about him having them. I've said it before that I'd rather see him sucking a paci than screaming his head off in the middle of the store or a restaurant. No reason why everyone else's outing needs to be screwed up because of my child.

But, we were down to TWO! TWO!!!!!!!!!!

I'm okay with it, though. Really I am. He's been giving them up freely and not really wanting them as much aside from bed and nap time or when he's hurting or in need of consolation. I'd rather work on potty-training thank you.

And now a post for Nana and Papa

Duck loves to color. Moreso, he loves to color while standing. He loves his easel from Ikea!

What a MERRY CHRISTMAS surprise!

Well, we were supposed to have a friend of MIL's for dinner last night. E and I talked about a possibly early arrival, so we tried to make sure we had everything ready and cleaned. Didn't quite happen, but neither did our guest.

A knock at the door and who did E see? His parents, all the way from Michigan!

It was all a surprise. Oddly, I knew. Things just didn't add up over the past few weeks. After all, if David wanted to come see us, why wouldn't he call himself? Plus, with an off-hand remark back in October about wanting to be here for Christmas, kind of made everything fit last night.

Quite funny actually.

It was a nice surprise and Duck had a lot of fun playing with Grandma and Pampu.

It's time for a development update

It seems that every time Duck gets sick, about a week later, he has an all-out verbal explosion. so, here goes. The following was taken from the Arnold Palmer Hospital Howard Phillips Center for Children Development Center website (click here) to see the full outline.

I've changed all the things he CAN do to blue.

18 - 24 months of age - Receptive Language Skills

• Recognizes body parts and clothing articles in large pictures
• Understands simple yes/no questions
• Understands differences in personal pronouns (me, you)
• Follows a series of two - three simple relations commands with the same object
• Appears to listen to meaning of languarge, not merely words
• Recognizes many common objects and pictures as they are named

Expressive Language

• Replaces jargon with meaningful words
• Imitates animal sounds and other environmental sounds in play
• Refers to self by name
• Uses "no" frequently
• Uses "my" to declare ownership
• Begins combining words to form two-word phrases
• Asks questions by raising pitch of voice at end of word or phrase

2 - 3 years of age - Receptive Language Skills

• Understands actions in pictures
• Recognizes names of smaller body parts (chin, knee, elbow)
• Understands functions of objects
• Understands size concepts big and little
• Understands quantity concepts one, more, all
• Understands spatial concepts in, on, under
• Becomes aware of a sequence and organization for daily routines
• Understands question forms who, where, what doing
• Understands genders (boy/girl)
• Likes to listen to short stories

Expressive Language

• Combines words to express: - Possession: "my coat"
  - Recurrence: "more juice"
  - Action: "go outside"
  - Location: "want up"
  - Negation: "no eat"
• Usually uses two- to four-word phrases
• Asks for help with personal needs
• Uses I, me, mine, you
• Can say first and last name when asked
• Can repeat two numbers in squence
• Talks about an event that has just happened
• Uses many commands ("go get it")
• Uses here, there
• Begins using "is" verb form
• Speech is understood by others 70 - 80 percent of the time

3 - 4 years of age - Receptive Language Skills

• Understands concepts hard/soft, rough/smooth
• Understands spatial concepts front/back
• Understands question forms, "What do you do when you're hungry? Sleepy?"
• Follows two-step directions involving two different actions

Expressive Language

• Asks many who, what, where, why questions
• Uses four- to five-word sentences most of the time
• Engages in detailed conversations
• Uses language in imaginative play
• Imitates whispering
• Relates two events in correct sequential order
• Completes simple verbal opposites
• Uses verb forms is, am, are
• Uses regular plural forms consistently ("blocks")
• Uses possessives ("mommy's car")
• Begins using "because" as an explanation

In the past 24 hours

It's hit me that my not having a job in 5 weeks time is a HIGH possibility. this depresses me to no end because aside from the 10 days in 2004 between leaving my job at IRMC in Lansing and starting at Disney in Orlando, I haven't been unemployed since I was 16 years old. and it's not like I can really do much about it at 7.5 months pregnant.

Duck puked again last night, not sure why, but at least this time I kept him in the bathroom, facing the toilet and he hit it! I'm good. Not exactly something I like being good at. But at least I didn't have a bathroom, clothing or bedding to clean up. Just a quick wipe of the face and hands and he was good to go. (he's like his daddy.....puking makes him feel better)

Today is a VERY good day

So much to be grateful for today.

My day started with a very happy pre-schooler in my room at 6:30. Why was this a good thing? Because he was happy and he had POOPED! Poor kid had tried all day long yesterday without luck......even with getting him on the potty. He just gave up when we got him there.

Next? I had put his usual chobby, 2 mini pb cups and a syringe of Atarax on his little table. All I wanted was to change his butt. When I said, "C'mere Duck".....he not only came right over, but he grabbed the syringe of medicine!! Just too cute for words. He's finalyl just relegated that this is part of our morning routine. Shock of his life when by the end of the week all he's getting is chobby!

Then? We have company coming for dinner on Wednesday evening. A friend of MILs is stopping by. Don't get to see David much even though he only lives 3 hours away, so it's a nice treat. But what is making the visit more enjoyable (especially since I have work all day) is MIL treated us to a Honeybaked Ham dinner with cornbread stuffing and cheesecake. YUM! Very excited I do not have to cook this holiday, Thanksgiving was hard enough. So, 7.5 months pregnant and NOT cooking on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Quite possibly THE perfect gift.

And then???? I made a call to the pediatric allergist the pedi we saw on Saturday recommended. They have an appointment for him on Friday at 10:15!!! OMG, this really was a huge highlight to my day. Thought I was going to have to wait WEEKS to get him in. Turns out, we only have to wait a few days. YAY!!!! (Now, anyone want to tell me how to make sure my kid's not screaming bloody murder during an allergy test?)

Now? I'm getting to help out on another grade level at work. My stuff hasn't come in yet, so this gives me something to do, and it's NOT measurement!!! Just simple basic multiplication facts. Of course, my own measurement chapter is due in this week, but it's nice to have a break and be of use to someone.

To make a good day better? My friend Morgan offered to go to Midnight Mass with me on Wednesday night so I can leave my boys at home. Now, just to decide which church to go to.

So, it's 1:00 p.m. and I'm having an EXCELLENT day!

I should add....

the streak on his face? NEARLY GONE!

I'm wondering now if the steroid cream could have made the situation a bit worse, haven't used it since Friday morning. Coincidence? Maybe, but we'll see.

And of course because he's feeling better, we're seeing lots and lots of chattering.