As Grady was approaching 18 months, we were growing concerned about his lack of communication. Everyone kept saying "boys talk later" but as more time went on, he seemed differnt than his peers. He understood many phrases and could follow directions that we gave him, but hardly ever spoke. He just seemed like he was always listening. As his little friends were saying more and more, we decided we should get him evaluated for speech.
We were really impressed with the BabyNet program that S.C. offers, and if you have ANY concerns about your child's development, I highly recommend that you call and have your child screened. They offer various types of therapies including speech, gross and fine motor, occupational, feeding, etc. at no cost to the family. If your child qualifies based on their screening, you get services for free until they turn three regardless of income. In our case, Grady did qualify based on his screening, and we were put on a list for a full speech evaluation within a month. Well, within that month that we were waiting, Grady had a speech EXPLOSION! So, of course he no longer qualified for speech by the time our evaluation came up. I think he planned it that way!
Now, about two months later, he can count to three, say his own name, knows several 3 word phrases, and almost all common animal sounds. He can identify and say the following body parts: lips, eyes, nose, teeth, ears, hair, knee, elbow, foot, toes, hands, and fingers. He will also repeat almost anything you say to him, so we have to be very careful what our little parrot overhears!!!
The First Day of School!!!
Grady had his very first day of preschool today. It was so much fun getting ready for school together, and then Mommy and Daddy BOTH dropped him off.
Grady was the very first student to arrive this morning, which gave us time to get him acclimated to the room, and talk to his teacher for a few minutes. Her name is Miss Leigh, and I think Grady is in love with her already! We are very lucky that he has already had a chance to meet her twice before today - once during our tour, and the other at Back To School Night. I think he felt right at home in his new classroom!
One Month Anniversary!!!!
It has been one month since Grady separated from his PACI!!! This is one break up I'm happy to celebrate!!!! Good job, little buddy... your momma is so proud!
Little Man Lingo
Grady's Current Vocabulary (16 Months):
Dada
Mama
Juice (any liquid in a cup)
Dog
Bird (Dird)
Fish
Quack
Trash
Duck
George (Curious George)
That
Hi-YA (karate kick sound... complete with a leg kick!)
Look
Night Night
Banana (which he can also identify in pictures)
Nana
Done
Animal Sounds:
SSSSsss (Snake)
Quack Quack
I think Grady's stubborn streak is DEFINITELY having an effect on his choice of words. Almost everything he says perfectly (juice, done, night night, trash) is out of necessity. He said his first words a little later than some of his buddies, but I think he's learning new words pretty quickly now. I hope being around kids that are a older than him, like his new playmate Collins, will help him want to talk even more. He understands a TON of words... it is amazing how many! Too bad he only chooses to listen to some of them :) Boys will be boys!
Dada
Mama
Juice (any liquid in a cup)
Dog
Bird (Dird)
Fish
Quack
Trash
Duck
George (Curious George)
That
Hi-YA (karate kick sound... complete with a leg kick!)
Look
Night Night
Banana (which he can also identify in pictures)
Nana
Done
Animal Sounds:
SSSSsss (Snake)
Quack Quack
I think Grady's stubborn streak is DEFINITELY having an effect on his choice of words. Almost everything he says perfectly (juice, done, night night, trash) is out of necessity. He said his first words a little later than some of his buddies, but I think he's learning new words pretty quickly now. I hope being around kids that are a older than him, like his new playmate Collins, will help him want to talk even more. He understands a TON of words... it is amazing how many! Too bad he only chooses to listen to some of them :) Boys will be boys!
Toot Toot! (That's me and my own horn...)
Drumroll Please....
WE ARE ONE WEEK PACI FREE! Where is our prize? Seriously, I think Grady and I deserve a grand congratulations here. I mean, my sister is becoming a physical therapist, my cousin is taking the bar exam in two states this week, my brother in law worked on the Mars Rovers... BUT I SURVIVED TAKING THE PACI AWAY FROM A TEETHING TODDLER - AND HE STILL LOVES ME (I think).
I get it. It is not even in the same realm of spectacular, but for me and my sweet, addicted baby boy, it is huge. I decided to take this one for the team. I gave up a whole week of summer vacation and personal sanity so that my husband wouldn't have to deal with my rants about the paci once I go back to work. Some of you might be wondering why in the world this is such a big deal? Why the deadline? Well, we are thinking about enrolling him in a preschool once he turns 18 months, and he has to be free of the pacifier by then. So, there you have it. One day at a time.
For now we are celebrating - and Grady got a Happy Meal (I know... that is the worst reward ever - Mom of the year, right here people).
WE ARE ONE WEEK PACI FREE! Where is our prize? Seriously, I think Grady and I deserve a grand congratulations here. I mean, my sister is becoming a physical therapist, my cousin is taking the bar exam in two states this week, my brother in law worked on the Mars Rovers... BUT I SURVIVED TAKING THE PACI AWAY FROM A TEETHING TODDLER - AND HE STILL LOVES ME (I think).
I get it. It is not even in the same realm of spectacular, but for me and my sweet, addicted baby boy, it is huge. I decided to take this one for the team. I gave up a whole week of summer vacation and personal sanity so that my husband wouldn't have to deal with my rants about the paci once I go back to work. Some of you might be wondering why in the world this is such a big deal? Why the deadline? Well, we are thinking about enrolling him in a preschool once he turns 18 months, and he has to be free of the pacifier by then. So, there you have it. One day at a time.
For now we are celebrating - and Grady got a Happy Meal (I know... that is the worst reward ever - Mom of the year, right here people).
Deep Breaths
Last night we took the paci away at bedtime. This of course is not the first time... Grady was paci free for about 2 months in October because I was ready to be rid of it as soon as he turned 6 months old. That was his longest break from it, and he's given it up for a few weeks here and there in between. Our biggest hurdles are long car trips, and keeping him occupied and happy when we go out to eat. The paci is such a quick, easy fix!
But, he's almost 16 months old and it has GOT to go!!!!! Last night it took him about an hour and a half to fall asleep through blood curling, can't catch your breath screams while I was rocking him. It was awful! We both needed to take some deep breaths and relax!!!
The only positive has been that his nap today went a little better. I think it only took about 30 minutes for him to fall asleep... I'm hoping that tonight will go easier than last night. Can't be worse, right?! Right?!?!
But, he's almost 16 months old and it has GOT to go!!!!! Last night it took him about an hour and a half to fall asleep through blood curling, can't catch your breath screams while I was rocking him. It was awful! We both needed to take some deep breaths and relax!!!
The only positive has been that his nap today went a little better. I think it only took about 30 minutes for him to fall asleep... I'm hoping that tonight will go easier than last night. Can't be worse, right?! Right?!?!
Chicken "Pops"
At Grady's 15 month appointment, he had a full battery of shots. I'm always a nervous wreck about these - not because of the actual needles (Grady does extremely well with them), but the after effects. Grady is what the nurse calls "hypersensitive" to them. Basically, if it has a side effect, he's probably going to show it. We know this well because of the awful injection spot reactions, and extreme fevers he's gotten in the past.
I was hopeful this round though, because the doctor said there were few side effects associated with the shots he was getting, other than maybe a slight fever a week later from the MMR one.
Fast forward 9 days. We are visiting my family in Raleigh. Grady starts to get some tiny red dots on his legs. Mosquito bites maybe? A few hours later... more spots on his legs, and a few on his back. A few hours later... the spots are spreading like wildfire all up and down his arms, legs, and back. By bedtime, he was beginning to get a couple on his face, and those tiny dots had turned into eraser and dime sized blisters. Awful! He had full blown chicken pox.
We called the nurse, and then the doctor called us as well, and both of them said this happens in less than 1% of kids (a lottery we weren't excited to win), and that there was nothing to do but give him oral Benadryl, epsom salt and baking soda baths, and cover the spots in Calamine lotion. Treat him as if he'd been exposed naturally, and it would be gone in 3-4 days.
After a tough Saturday and Sunday, he was on the mend by Monday. Tuesday I am happy to report that he is 99% spot free, and the only spot or two he still has are basically just left over irritated spots near his diaper that are healing. We are all thankful that it seems to have disappeared just as quickly as it appeared!
I was hopeful this round though, because the doctor said there were few side effects associated with the shots he was getting, other than maybe a slight fever a week later from the MMR one.
Fast forward 9 days. We are visiting my family in Raleigh. Grady starts to get some tiny red dots on his legs. Mosquito bites maybe? A few hours later... more spots on his legs, and a few on his back. A few hours later... the spots are spreading like wildfire all up and down his arms, legs, and back. By bedtime, he was beginning to get a couple on his face, and those tiny dots had turned into eraser and dime sized blisters. Awful! He had full blown chicken pox.
We called the nurse, and then the doctor called us as well, and both of them said this happens in less than 1% of kids (a lottery we weren't excited to win), and that there was nothing to do but give him oral Benadryl, epsom salt and baking soda baths, and cover the spots in Calamine lotion. Treat him as if he'd been exposed naturally, and it would be gone in 3-4 days.
After a tough Saturday and Sunday, he was on the mend by Monday. Tuesday I am happy to report that he is 99% spot free, and the only spot or two he still has are basically just left over irritated spots near his diaper that are healing. We are all thankful that it seems to have disappeared just as quickly as it appeared!
Food Wars... continued...
So my little picky eater has put up quite a battle in the week since we found out he was slightly anemic. Well, what do you know he hasn't even so much as licked any of the new foods I've given him, let alone put a whole piece in his mouth. On the menu for lunch today was ravioli. I've tried at least 5 times to get him to eat it with abolutely no results.
Today I got serious (as if I wasn't already), or maybe a little lucky. When I was dishing out his ravioli onto his highchair tray he took the fork away from me. Thankfully it was a baby fork, and thinking he might be onto something, I let him keep it. I grabbed a second fork, and put the rest on his plate. Within a few seconds he was stabbing away somewhat successfully. He is pretty good with a spoon, but usually not that great with the fork. Somehow he managed to get a piece of ravioli onto the fork, and then stuck it in his mouth! Voila! He loved it!
He messed around with stabbing the pieces and licking the sauce off the fork for a few minutes, but eventually just dropped the fork and started scarfing down the ravioli with his hands. HAHA! I feel like I just won a huge battle!
Maybe it was the *fun* of the fork, or maybe my luck just changed a bit today. Whatever... he ate it and even more importantly, he LOVED it!!!!! 
And then the clean up was even more fun...
Today I got serious (as if I wasn't already), or maybe a little lucky. When I was dishing out his ravioli onto his highchair tray he took the fork away from me. Thankfully it was a baby fork, and thinking he might be onto something, I let him keep it. I grabbed a second fork, and put the rest on his plate. Within a few seconds he was stabbing away somewhat successfully. He is pretty good with a spoon, but usually not that great with the fork. Somehow he managed to get a piece of ravioli onto the fork, and then stuck it in his mouth! Voila! He loved it!
He messed around with stabbing the pieces and licking the sauce off the fork for a few minutes, but eventually just dropped the fork and started scarfing down the ravioli with his hands. HAHA! I feel like I just won a huge battle!
Maybe it was the *fun* of the fork, or maybe my luck just changed a bit today. Whatever... he ate it and even more importantly, he LOVED it!!!!! 
And then the clean up was even more fun... 
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