Thanksgiving Recap

How do I even begin to describe such a wonderful hiatus from the norm? Our 6 day (well, 1 hour of one of those days and then all the rest) trip home was fabulous. I may never work the Wednesday before Thanksgiving again if I can at all help it. We left Tuesday night after work and some scurried packing and had a relatively uneventful trip home. Morgan was NOT happy from about 0.75-1.5 hours into it but that was likely due to hunger (despite being given crackers, milk, and whatever else she was given) and being stuck in a car seat in the dark (hate being dark so early!). Dinner solved the problem followed by jammies and another (quiet) 4 hours or so in the car. 6 hours? No problem.

Wednesday was relatively low key although we were able to pack it full rather quickly. We had breakfast out with Adam’s grandmothers (who are just tickled pink every time she signs even though it’s Morgan’s norm) and later met Grandma Sherri for lunch (after some showing off around the clinic, of course, while Adam and I waited). Thursday was filled with Thanksgiving meals and fun. Morgan, by the way, was not much into long naps during this trip. I think her longest might have been an hour 15 or something…and every time someone was over to visit at nap/bed time, she’d lie down and then a few minutes later remember that someone fun was just playing with her and she’d cry and cry and then go back to sleep about 5 minutes later. It was sad though – she was SO mad.

Morgan had a great time playing with her cousins Thursday night and quickly learned to follow them around and do what they were doing. I can see how this little group of three (and more in the future) might get to be a handful… ;-)

Potty update – Morgan never ceases to amaze me. Wednesday she used the potty 5x. Thursday – 4x. Friday – 6x. Saturday – TEN times – no wet diapers the whole day save for a messy one). Sunday – 4-5x? That’s a tough one with traveling. She goes anywhere too. She’s not as “comfy” on public seats without her cushy potty chair, but she’ll totally go especially if she can see her mini M&Ms (she gets 2 for going). I think I might have wrecked her and now whenever she sees a red container of mini M&Ms, it wouldn’t shock me if she peed her pants. That child will do anything for candy/chocolate. So anyway, we’re not ready for panties or anything yet but I think some pull ups might be in order…she didn’t even pee during her naps. Overnight is a whole other story but I’m not worrying about that any time soon, nor with messy diapers. She did well at Mary's today, I guess...sort of. She only went once on the potty, tried several other times, but just the once. I told Mary to have the M&Ms in plain sight and she seemed eager to try that tomorrow. Oh, and while we were on our way home from WI yesterday, Morgan was NOT happy on several occasions b/c she had a wet diaper. I think we’re really on to something this time…

So I finally got Morgan’s cold she’s been having. It’s awful. No wonder I had to stay home with her a few weeks ago. Thank goodness it waited for the worst of it until after Black Friday. I had a bad sore throat that day but after 10 hours of some serious shopping, list crossing off, and Visa transaction burning, I’m about 75% done with Christmas shopping and going strong. I got to wrap a bunch of them to leave in WI as it didn’t make sense to haul them to IA, wrap them, repack them, and bring them back to WI. OhmygoshIloveChristmas. Can’t wait to see the looks on people’s faces when they open their gifts!! And note to self – nieces are wonderful but stop spoiling them and finding more “perfect” gifts. ;-)

I feel like I haven’t updated on Adam in a while so here goes. He’s officially done with his MBA. He’s got his cholesterol levels FINALLY under a bad level and his good levels are getting much better (it’s hereditary). We’re working on getting him back into a “normal” diet of healthy “I’m-not-on-the-go-constantly” eating so we can all get back into that groove. He’s pretty busy until the end of 2010, but after that, I see some smoother sailing in his future. Still traveling, but not so crazy like it’s been for the past…I don’t know…few YEARS.

Morgan’s talking…a lot. She frequently attempts to repeat 2-word phrases and the other day I’m pretty sure I heard her say a three word utterance (here you go/there it is…can’t remember which one). She’s so funny…I started saying, “daaadddyyy” in a tone indicating “what did you do now” and within a few days Morgan was walking around saying “daddyyyyy” in a very similar tone. Kills me. This morning she went in the bathroom and yelled “buh tee!!” b/c she thought it was time to brush her teeth. So we did early. Morgan also continues to make up her own signs that baffle us. Over Thanksgiving, she invented one where she puts both wrists on her upper bum with fingers trailing behind while she’s walking. I got all excited b/c I thought it might be an indication of her needing to use the bathroom, but nope. Just a Morgan sign. She doesn’t sign or say that she needs to use it but I’m not entirely sure she knows when she needs to go…I think we just have her on a timing schedule that allows her to be successful. Who knows. PS. After hearing it several times from Jessie being naughty, Morgan now says, "Dop!" appropriately when she wants someone or something to "stop" what they're doing. Uh oh.

TV – Morgan is getting more and more into TV and we’ve decided that it’s time to make sure we bring the DVD player in the car for trips. Which also means that we need to get her some DVDs to watch…she’s been into Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse since that’s what’s on in the morning. Morgan also stops what she’s doing and looks to the TV whenever cheering or music with a good beat are on so she can join in and cheer or dance along with it. I don’t know how I feel about this interest in TV…unless it keeps her from screaming in the car… ;-)

Now that I've used entirely too much time to blog, it's time to get going on things. More soon...it's time to finish those Christmas presents!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I will likely not even be close to a computer that has working internet (or want to be) while on vaca from the norm to head home for Thanksgiving. Pray for us that the rut (deer hunting, for you non-hunting folk) holds off so we can stay in WI an extra day. I'm almost giddy with excitement to leave. Family, good food, SHOPPING, family...what a great combination. We have so much to be thankful for this year...off to finish up the day so we can head home. Happy Thanksgiving!! (pictures of the festivities to follow next week!)

PS/PPS

Potty update - Morgan also went on the potty yesterday after Friday's antics. :) But nothing since. She's terribly interested though, especially when she sees me using it (I'm not too modest with her at this stage of the game). She tried at BW3s today when we went for lunch and it turns out sitting her sideways on a big public toilet makes a tiny hiney feel much safer and not like she's going to fall in. ;-) Waiting for the fold-up potty to come on Tuesday! Just in time for a long trip. :)

Off to work on the cleaning/to-do list. Gearing up for another fun-filled trip to WI!! (and Adam thinks we might stay 'til Sunday instead of coming home Saturday for him to hunt - yeah!)

PPS. Morgan's on to something - she totally peed on the potty TWICE tonight within an hour and fifteen minutes of each other! And today we started giving her 2 tiny M&Ms each time she went on the potty and it only took one time before she immediately started signing "please" and was very excited to get them. Can't wait to tell Mary tomorrow!!

Breakfast with Santa and a Holiday Parade!

This morning we went to Breakfast with Santa and the Quad Cities Holiday parade. It was a good time and I couldn't believe it but Morgan actually (finally) took a 1/2 hour nap in her stroller. I thought she was going to tough it out but it happened. Whew. We were just getting to the parade when she woke up and bundled her all up in her snowsuit. She might have been the only kid in snowpants, but by golly she was warm enough. :) She also got to try popcorn for the first time but don't worry, we gave her "hull-less" pieces (no choking here!). As you can see by the picture, Morgan was not thrilled to meet Santa and has not imitated "ho ho ho" as hoped. :)

Mary's "girls" - kids that have either gone to Mary's or are currently going.

Christmas-plosion 2010 is complete. When I was done, Adam said, "That's ALL we have!?" I took that as a complete invitation to buy many more Christmas decorations. I win.

She left Frosty hangin'. Poor guy.

I'm done and tired. Enjoy the pictures. :)

You must laugh when you see this picture. It's the epitome of a toddler's picture with Santa.

Morgan was not initially happy to be at the Holiday parade after Breakfast with Santa. She enjoyed it though - first parade ever!

Enjoying her first popcorn with Daddy during her first parade. :-D

13 months

It's still hard to believe I have a YEAR old child, much less a 13-month old one. She's so great and every day is a new surprise with what she knows, learns, and now (continues to, really) says.

Her verbal skills are really taking off now. Mary said today a dad came to drop off his son and he said hi to Morgan. She surprised him by saying "Hi" right back. She's also saying a few (likely) two word phrases like a version of thank you and here-a-go (here you go - I realize it's 3 but it sounds like two when she says it...but who's counting?). :) She says so many words now either imitatively or on her own that it's hard to keep track of anymore. Morgan is answering yes/no questions. It's cute b/c you can ask her a question and she goes "Yep!" like it's nothing or that she's been saying that for-ev-er, Mom. Duh. Mary and we all think that she's saying much more than we understand at the moment. She tells us things in such a matter-of-fact way that all you can do is say, "Really!? That's SO interesting!" and let her finish telling you the rest of her story. She imitates like a crazy person and has new sounds emerging each week. Tonight on our way home from dinner, I was entertaining her by fake (obnoxious) sneezing (which seems to delight her to no end). I did it once and sure enough, she said, "Achooo!" right after me. The mommy part of me is so happy. The SLP-mommy in me is positively DELIGHTED. :)

Tomorrow morning we are getting up bright and early to head to the Quad Cities for Breakfast with Santa. Mary told us about it and she has 2.5 tables worth of "Mary's kids" attending. Afterwards, there is a holiday parade that I hope Morgan enjoys. It will finally be her first one since every other parade we wanted to/attempted going to have fallen through. We need to grab her snow pants though b/c it's going to be COLD! Pictures to follow...

Adam's home. Our house is whole. It's amazing how much easier life is when there is another set of adult hands. I can't imagine being a single parent constantly with no end in sight. Toughest job ever.

Tonight Morgan walked around Walmart with us and didn't have much trouble keeping up physically...distractibility may have played a bigger issue. :)

Tonight when we got home from errands/dinner, it was immediate diaper time since she hadn't had a diaper change since Mary's (who's so great about changing her right before we show up). I had been "monitoring" the situation and she didn't feel overly wet or anything...so I put her on the potty and within a minute she totally went. Her diaper had been completely dry. Yeah!! So then 10 minutes later she totally pooped her diaper. I have to laugh - one battle at a time. I was pretty excited for a second go of it. We are also getting tiny M&Ms tomorrow for a reward. Sometimes clapping and making a big deal just isn't enough. ;-)

That's all. Enjoy the pictures below. We have to get things ready like it's another work day (ugh. That's early.) so we can actually be somewhere on time. :) Nighty night, folks.

Woops...product built in error. Let the dad do these things, mom!

Taa Daaa!! Finished (correctly) product!

I love my new rocker!! Thanks mom & dad!

300th Post

It's a little hard to believe this is my 300th post. It seems like I just started this blog not so long ago but really it's been just under two years, since February 2009. Carry on!

Last night Morgan was up 2x but it was fine b/c they were for 5-10 minutes each. Nothing major even though I think it's obvious I would have rather slept. But maybe a hug from a teeny one was better. :) She hasn't had Tylenol since 1am last night and we're good to go! Her diaper rash looks better and we're back to disposables since she's got multiple butt creams and now pure corn starch baby powder. No need to wreck such pretty diapers...although I'm not sure if she's ever going to get to a point where she doesn't need all these "extras" on her bum. Her doctor thinks she's just super-sensitive and we might have a long battle until she's potty trained...

Which brings me to our play date tonight. We hustled after we got home, ate, and headed to Davenport to my work friend Abbie's house and had a great time playing and holding other kids/babies. Morgan saw Abbie's daughter, Cammie, use her little seater potty and sure enough, Morgan was banging down the closed door when they were done for her turn. :) She tried but nothing happened. I told Adam that I think we need to get her a tiny potty instead of just the insert on the regular toilet. I think she felt more secure with her little feet on the floor instead of dangling there crossed at the ankles. We shall see! Still just taking her lead on it but I think if she has something at her level, she might be more interested. Now we just need a bigger bathroom. Tiny potty = bigger bathroom? I'm in.

New sign to add to the list - cracker. The actual sign is a fist tapping the opposite elbow. Instead, Morgan taps a fist on the other open palm. Close enough for me! She also attempted to imitate "toilet" when I asked her if she had to go potty at Abbie's house. Almost had it...

Tomorrow I get to present on a specific approach to treating articulation therapy/kids and I'm eager to do it. Not so much about staring 50 other more experienced/brilliant/knowledgeable SLPs in the face, but I'm eager to share and contribute to the incredible amount of knowledge that will be in the room between these women (and a few men). Wish me luck that I don't fall on my face. :)

I suppose I should go wash sippies so the child can drink out of something tomorrow. So hard to get up...c'mon...and for the record, I'm SO excited for Adam to come home tomorrow. More than usual. No specific reason. Just miss and love the guy. :)

Home sick today

So I got up, did the normal morning routine (starting at 5:38am ugh), and was unfortunately correct in my assumptions that Morgan would wake up with a fever. I called Mary and we decided I'd stay home with her today. Thankfully, Tylenol has been her friend and she's been relatively ok the whole day. Before her morning nap, she went to the door and made up some sign that could only mean "Time for Mary's please" and was sad she wasn't leaving.

We've done some playing, napping (she's actually taking a 3rd one right now so she must not be feeling 100% for sure), and ran a few small errands seeing as how she kept getting her shoes and walking towards the door. I must have taught her that it's impossible to stay cooped up in the house all day long unless you're really down and out.

I also put together her pink rocking chair. I had a little mishap when I realized I'd put the bottom pieces on backwards (nice, huh?) which resulted in some minor damage. Woops. Nothing she wouldn't have likely done herself along the way...darn wood glue working so fast. :) It's cute. I'll put pictures on later. I'm a bit tired myself and now that I know what dinner will entail, I'm going to go relax and watch some TV. I'll clean the toy disaster that was today later after it's complete. :)