The probelm with the beach...

is trying to crop all of those fat people out of the pictures...

More to come.

Life Lessons

Last night Brian learned a tough life lesson.  We were at the pool and he was being a bit rough in the baby pool...splashing other kids...so Shawn took him out and into the big pool.  While they were in the big pool I had Lilah in the baby pool and one of the little boys kept squirting Lilah with his water gun.  He was also squirting my friend Melissa who was fully clothed sitting on the side of the pool so we could chat.  I asked the little boy to, "please not squirt the baby," repetitively until his parents finally noticed the situation, yelled at him and took the water gun away for maybe 2 minutes before returning it to him.  At this point the scene repeated itself.  I was annoyed, but I was trying to make lite of it with the Dad.  In retrospect I should not have made lite of it at all.

Lilah decided she needed to nurse, so we got out of the pool.  At some point adult swim was called and Brian returned to the baby pool.  He was splashing around with Addison and some of the other kids.  They were being silly, but having fun...nothing to rough.

Then literally out of nowhere, the kid who was squirting Lilah 10 minutes prior, walked over to Brian and clocked him in the head with his water gun.  In the seconds that followed I could see that Brian was about to LOOSE it on this kid.  Brian was bigger than the kid and he is really, really strong.  I told Shawn to get in there and remove him from the situation, quick!  Shawn did and Brian was absolutely ticked.  I am not sure if he even know whether he was mad at the boy, or at Shawn for keeping him from taking the kid out.  Maybe both?

It took Brian a good long time to calm down.  He was crying so hard and he is just not a crier.  I held him and kept telling him it was okay and he kept shouting, "No!  It's not okay!"  Poor guy.  I really think this is the first time he recalls being treated so unfairly.  He's used to nice kids who don't act like that.  We haven't intentionally protected him from (pardon the Mama Bear in me) little jerks like this kid, but our friends have similar values to ours and that's who he has been around-our friends kids.  He goes to school, of course, but the teachers seem to be really good about squashing this type of mean spirited behavior.  He was completely crushed that someone would treat him that way.  In Brian's world, if someone does something like that, they get punished and they have to apologize.

Now Brian is definitely no angel, and often he deserves what he gets.  He seems to accept that. If he is being silly or punky and someone acts that way back to him, he takes it in stride most of the time.  He could be gentler with his baby sister, but he knows when he's not it means he is in trouble.  Just last week he put himself in time out after pushing her over! 

Brian and a sensitive guy and his sensory issues didn't help him in this situation either.  He was also overly tired and had not had a great day leading up to this event. 

After we left the pool, we went to my parents house.  My Dad (not knowing this had happened) asked Brian what he had done before coming over.  Brian said (through tears), "Went to the pool.  The boys were mad at me."  "No, Brian," I corrected, "the boys were mean to you."  He was clearly still upset about it.

And then again this morning, I tried to talk to him about it and he got visibly upset.  He told me he wasn't going back to the pool.  I think have convinced him that he should go back, but that we won't play with those mean boys again.  I tried to break it down to his level.  Sometimes people are mean.  We just don't play with people who are mean to us.

It's hard though.  Should I have let him knock the kid out?  The parents basically did nothing.  They yelled at the kid from the side of the pool.  I know it seemed unjust to Brian.  Hell, it was unjust!  If he had acted that way, he would have been in time out and then forced to apologize to the kids.  It's not fair that some parents don't parent and my kid got hurt (both physically and emotionally) because of that. 

But it happens.  I know that it happens.  It's life.  Sometimes life just isn't fair.  That's a hard one to explain to an almost four year old. 

Summer

Sorry about the lack of posts...it's summer around here!  We are busy being lazy.  We have had great weather mostly, so we have been playing outside, visiting the zoo, taking walks, eating ice cream...

I've also been working really hard with Brian on school things.  He has improved so much, but is still behind in many areas.  I even bought a lesson plan book so I would stick to a schedule and try to help him meet some of his goals.  He will begin speech camp the week we return from vacation, and I am hoping that will be great for him.  He really misses his school and his friends, so I also need to work on getting him together with other kids this summer.  But speech camp will certainly help with that too.

Lilah is getting so big.  She will be ONE in a little over a month.  Happily, she still looks like a baby.  I feel like Brian started looking a bit like a big boy around 1, which was very hard on this mama's heart.  Lilah has three teeth and is standing on her own for short periods of time!  She's not been sleeping so great lately and started with a snotty nose this morning so I am anticipating a trip to the pedi before we leave for the beach next week.

Well, I am off to bed.  Just wanted to put up a short update.  Will be posting Lilah's 11 month chair pics next week and of course lots of beach pictures while we are away!! 

Lilah, 10 Months

A little overdue as usual, but yes, you read that right.  My baby girl turned 10 months old! 

Lilah, this month has been one of great development for you.  You have mastered crawling, pulling up, cruising and the stairs. 

You are in the great stage where you like to empty every basket, bags, etc. that you can find.  And recently you have started to refill these things as well!  You say mama, dada, nana and bye-bye (sometimes while waving)!  You sign more...always for food.  You love to clap! 

You are quite the little eater.  I don't now that I have ever seen a hungrier baby.  I'm not sure you would ever stop if we didn't cut you off!  You really love big people food that you can feed yourself-puffs, wagon wheels, bananas and mandarin oranges to name a few!

I was afraid our nursing relationship would end this month when you got thrush and I got those nasty yeast infections.  Thankfully I finally googled the problem and we both got treated!  Problem solved!!

You have made the move to bathing with your big brother.  Oh how you love the water!  You splash like a crazy person!!

You still love being outside, but we have to be careful because you tend to overheat easily.

We had such a fun playdate with your friends Jack and Amelia this month!  We made it all the way to Louisville and you were so, so good.  You have gotten better about the car.   Not great, but much better.

You absolutely ADORE your big brother.  My favorite times are when we can all three cuddle together. 

I am waiting for the day when you learn to retaliate against him.  Sometimes he loves on you a little too hard and I am amazed that you put up with it.  You are tough though, that's for sure!





You are definitely my sleeping baby!  You would sleep until 9 every morning if you could.   Can't wait until next week when Brian's school lets out and you'll be able to sleep in most days.

Your top right tooth broke through this week.  It's not all the way in yet, but it's coming.  You have been handling it really well. 


I ordered your first birthday party invitations this week baby girl.  And not without shedding some tears.  I love watching you grow, but as always it's a little bittersweet.

Love you Miss Lilah!

Preschool Pet Show

Two Fridays ago we were invited to attend the pet show at Brian's school.  Each child was asked to bring a stuffed animal to school on Thursday so that they could practice for this event.  Brian chose a kangaroo on his own.  I was really proud of him.  He named it himself, "Baby Kangaroo," and was able to tell anyone who asked about it, that it jumped.  This may not seem like a big deal, but if you look at where Brian was and where he is now, it was a very big deal!

The night of the pet show I was more than a little nervous about how it would go.  Just the night before Brian had pulled his pants down to pee in the middle of his soccer practice.  Things like this-where is the center of attention-don't always go well for him.

I am happy to report that it could not have gone better.  He sat with the family when he was supposed to sit.  He marched in the "pet parade."  He stood on the platform and proudly accepted Baby Kangaroo's award for "best jumper."  He did all of the activities without being crazy or arguing.  It. Was. Amazing.

Remember all of my fears about preschool, particularly public preschool?  I could not have been more wrong.

One Month!

We fly to Myrtle Beach in one month!!  With a busy two weeks ahead of us the month is going to fly by!  Can't wait.  These kids are ready!!

Can you even imagine how many pictures I am going to take of those fat legs???!!!

My Kids Always Get the Weird Stuff

MRSA.  That's what my baby girl has on her rear end.  Went to the doctor on Monday and he lanced the sore to culture it.  It was finally confirmed as MRSA yesterday.  Awesome. 

She also has a sinus infection.  She is on an oral antibiotic, I have to put a topical antibiotic on her rear along with a water proof band aid, and she has to bathe in warm antibacterial soapy water-all 3 times daily for 7 days. 

She likes the baths!

We also all have to put that topical antibiotic up our noses twice a day for 5 days.

At least she's cute!