Some Random Updates and a Cute Pic

Here are some new and interesting facts about Brian:

1. His two new favorite words are "car" and "ball." He loves both of these objects as well and will play with them forever.

2. He ate two new things today: Tombstone pizza with peperoni and sausage (two meats) AND bourbon chicken that Shawn cooked for dinner (yummy-I love New Year's Resolutions)!

3. He now wears a size 4 diaper. When the red marks appear on the legs, it is time to go up a size

4. He loves to weigh himself on the digital scale. It's kind of unpredictable when you are as unbalanced as a 19 month old, but the low weight yesterday was 27 1/2 lbs and the high was 29. Even at the low this is an increase of a pound since his 18 month checkup.

5. Splashing is a new fun thing to do in the tub. He used to splash when he was smaller. Now that he's rediscovered the joys as a larger being, the splashing causes a much bigger mess.

6. He knows the bath time routine. First he demands that I put the "duck" on the spout. (The duck is the spout cover to protect his head.) While we are filling the tub, I undress him. He then pulls his diaper off HIMSELF. (God forbid I help.) Once in the tub and after his hair has been scrubbed, he dutifully stands up so I can scrub his legs, behind and boy parts. When he sits back down, he immediately lifts his feet (one at a time) so I can wash those. This kid cracks me up!

7. Among his many household tasks (washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms), he decided tonight to add baking to the list.


Please ignore the fact that we really need new oven mitts (or "pot gloves" as some people might say)...I am aware of this.

19 Months Old

Brian was 19 months old yesterday! I was sick and spent most of the day in bed :( But I still managed to upload his 18 month old photos...even if it was a day late. Click here to view them.

Brian's newest thing is actually spitting when he sees a camel. It started out with Shannon telling him to watch out for camels because they spit (thanks Aladdin). That was a few weeks ago and every time she said, "they spit," Brian would respond, "oh shit." This week he's moved onto actually spitting. Is it sad when spitting is an improvement? I can't help but think it hysterical. I promised Shawn I would stop asking him after I captured it on video. I succeed last night, so I will try to upload that when I feel better!

He also RUNS to the window whenever he hears a train. I keep trying to tell him you can't really see the trains from the window, but he's insistent. Shawn says you can if you look really hard. Maybe Brian has really good eyesight like his Dad.

We also started music class this past Saturday. It was FUN! Brian was a bit shy at first, but managed to leave my lap and play with the other kids when all was said and done. We get to go back for the next 12 weeks or so!

Alright, as I said, I'm sick, so I am going to bed. Good night.

Trains

We live by the train tracks. Not so close that it's annoying, but close enough that the sound of a train makes me feel like I'm at home, even when I'm not. Our location is perfect for Brian and his new found love of trains! Crossing the tracks used to be SUCH A PAIN when a train was en route. I would do anything possible to avoid them. Now days I find myself intentionally getting "stuck" by a train so I can enjoy watching Brian watch it go by!

I remember not too long ago when Brian was first born. I had him outside so we could enjoy a little bit of sunshine. A train came through and I found myself in a sudden fit of tears. It struck me that Brian might not ever hear a train. This, as I said, was back when he was a newborn and we didn't know the severity of his hearing loss.

This morning as we were enjoying our breakfast, a train passed through. And I cried tears of joy. My baby boy heard it. He not only heard it, he recognized it as a train, and threw a fit to go "OUT" so he could see it. We didn't go out, because you can't see the trains from our house. And I resisted the urge to stick him in the car and drive up to where he could see it. But I did take the time to bask in the moment. That loud "choo-choo"...what a wonderful sound!

The Strangest Haircut Ever

Cute hair cut right?

You may be wondering how we managed to get all of Brian's hair cut at one time today? Sedation? Nope? Bribes? Nope.

This is how good my hair dresser, Becki is everyone....

SHE CUT BRIAN'S HAIR IN MY CAR!

He was asleep. I knew I could move him up front with me with out him waking up. I wasn't so sure I could get him into the salon though. It's cold out. And there are bright lights in the shop.

So, Becki, in her good natured, roll with the punches way, came outside scissors and comb in hand, and got the job done. It's perfectly even everywhere. She didn't miss one hair.

I LOVE her!

Nana remembered to take some pictures of this crazy event. They are below.

Back into a Routine

I realize I haven't posted in awhile, which is abnormal for me. We've been busy getting back into a routine!

Brian is really enjoying being at the preschool in this new year. Every time he hears the "What's the Weather" song or the "Days of the Week" song or the "Goodbye" song, he stops dead in his tracks where ever he is, turns toward the voices and takes off running in their direction. Once he reaches the kids, he jumps right in, swaying and humming along, clapping and stomping his feet. It's hilarious! He also "says" morning prayers with them, respectfully folding his hands right long side the kids. Today, I was working on report cards right by our indoor recess area and Brian was standing at the doors, peering through the glass just watching the kids. Ms. Annette took pity on him, and brought him into the recess room. Once the time was up, I heard the kids signing a marching song on the way back to class. When I looked up all I could do was crack up laughing. I actually hit my head on the table I was sitting at because I laughed so hard. Brian was at the back of the line...marching along with the others.

We've also been watching our fair share of "Osty" ("Frosty the Snowman") at the preschool. Nana and Pappy gave Brian a portable DVD player for Christmas and it's been a real hit! He knows how to make the movie play, how to stop it, and unfortunately how to pop the discs out. (This may result in us having to track down a new DVD of "Osty" before next Christmas...not too sure how easy that will be.) Anyway, Brian LOVES Frosty, and it's a good distraction when Mommy really needs to get work done, so we use it.

At the Bantas Brian has figured out how to get into their pantry. He eats endless amount of "fish" (Pepperridge Farm), Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops while we are there. He's getting along better with the puppy and is endlessly fascinated by the "kitty." The cat does not share his affection.

At home Brian drags us from room to room, floor to floor, endlessly finding new things to do. He loves his cars downstairs, his trains and books upstairs, and of course we watch quite a bit of "go go" (football) each day. Too bad the Bengals went and lost their way out of the post season. We will be watching them beat the Steelers from now until next season I guess. (That's Brian's preferred game on our Tivo.)

So that's what it's been like around here the last couple of weeks. Nothing exciting, but still good.

Fresh Coat of Paint

Brian's Auntie Whitney (with the help of Auntie Lauren) painted a beautiful scene on Brian's train table for his Christmas present. Although he struggled with giving it up for the day, he and I both agree that the results were well worth it. Isn't it awesome?! You can tell she lives by the beach! And yes, Auntie Lauren is the one who baked the monkey Birthday cake. There is no lack of talent in that family!

Cousins!

On Sunday we went to Shawn's Aunt Bibber's for the extended family Christmas party. Brian got to play with all of his cousins! It's really fun having so many so close in age. Especially at Christmas. The kids played SO WELL together. It was neat to see :) Too bad the parents can't get along as well as the kids! Oh well. He re are some pictures of the kids together.

"Jade this lasagna is YUMMY!"
"I know, my Grandpa Neil made it!!"

"Look, a goat."
No, really...they were looking at a goat. There is one in Bibber's backyard.
And now Brian can say goat :)

Brian's race car track was a hit with everyone.

A New Perspective from an Episode of Desperate Housewives

A strange title I know. A strange happening really. I realize I am one of the few people who actually still watches Desperate Housewives. What can I say? However, I am so glad that I do. And here's why...

I was not a huge fan of this week's episode. It was a follow up to the fall closer where a place crashed on Wisteria Lane. It was one of those shows were characters look back, or look forward and wonder what might have been or what could be. No real forward progress in the storyline was made. I usually hate that.

However, one character's thoughts hit close to home for me. Lynette is pregnant on the show and was injured during the crash. One of the two babies she was carrying was injured too. She was wheeled off to surgery and the show drifted to her thoughts of what might happen with the injured baby. She dreamed that he was born physically disabled. Tears streamed down my face as the baby underwent painful physical therapy, as Lynette argued with her husband over whether or not she could handle raising the child, as Lynette argued with the boy as a tween and forced him to do things for himself, and finally as the boy gave a speech to his class at his law school graduation.

Here's what really hit home. The boy said:

"My mother was scared. Scared of my disability. My limitations. I know this because she told me. Then she realized what she was really scared of was my potential. And that she's miss something that would help me reach it."

Wow.

And so true. Like all of the other mothers in this world who are raising a child with a disability, I too am scared. But the words he spoke were correct. I'm not scared of Brian's hearing loss. I am terrified that I will do something wrong and he will miss out on reaching his full potential. And it will be my fault.

It feels so good to know that truth. And it makes me feel a whole lot less guilty for being so scared.

It also makes me realize that I have to just keep doing what I am doing. Reevaluating. Observing. Working with Brian. Seeing specialists. Trusting the doctors. And most of all, trusting me. My instincts and my gut feelings. And, of course, loving the precious little boy God gave me. He has an amazing amount of potential. And I'm so lucky that I've been blessed with the support and resources to help him reach it.