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... 
Sewing 100
That's right! It is the class before sewing 101!
My dad, Lanette, and brothers gave me a Brother CS6000i for my birthday this year. Yay!!! I got it out of the box, and set up right away... only one problem... I had NO materials and supplies I needed! Kind of like getting a new car, but no keys - you want to test drive it right then but you can't!!! So, after a trip to Hancock in Charleston with my mom, I was loaded up on every needle, thread, fabric, pattern, etc. that I needed to get started. It is pretty annoying that the closest fabric stores we have are in Beaufort and Savannah, but I've got PLENTY to keep me busy for a while!
I rushed downstairs on Saturday night after Grady went to bed and cut out a floor pillow for Grady's playroom. I cut it out, pinned it, threaded the machine, and sewed and stuffed it in less than an hour!! Woohoo! Not bad for a first timer I'd say... he likes it!
15 Month Checkup
Grady is a peanut! He is in the 10th percentile for everything, except his head (50th). I think it is funny that his height is in the 1oth % because everyone always says how tall he is!!
By the way, the scale says 21 lbs 5 oz, which is one ounce less than last week (sigh).
He got three shots today, and a finger prick. They tested his blood and cholesterol and discovered he is slightly anemic. No big surprise there... he never eats meat except chicken nuggets (that's an old post!). So, we went to publix and got lots of iron rich foods to see if we can get that iron level up. Say a prayer for no fevers from the shots. I'm hopeful because he didn't have to get DTAP this time.
Happy Fourth of July!
Snack before the show...
We weren't sure whether Grady was going to make it to see fireworks this year since he was up very late the night before coming home from Atlanta. Luckily, he took a quick nap around 7, and was ready to go for the big show! We went to a great spot to watch the Colleton River fireworks over the water, and even got to watch with our friends, the Trawicks, and Miss Jen and Mr. Chez. Grady especially loved "talking" with Miss Jen about the first fireworks that peeked over the trees from Shelter Cove.
The show begins...
When the fireworks first started, Grady wasn't quite sure what to think. This was his first show, because last year he was only 3 months old, and fast asleep. He started shaking just a little bit, and let out a few cries. After about 3 minutes, he was laughing and "Ooohing" along with the crowd. He even clapped at the end!!! I guess we'll have to squeeze in a few Shelter Cove shows before the end of the summer.
We weren't sure whether Grady was going to make it to see fireworks this year since he was up very late the night before coming home from Atlanta. Luckily, he took a quick nap around 7, and was ready to go for the big show! We went to a great spot to watch the Colleton River fireworks over the water, and even got to watch with our friends, the Trawicks, and Miss Jen and Mr. Chez. Grady especially loved "talking" with Miss Jen about the first fireworks that peeked over the trees from Shelter Cove.
The show begins...
When the fireworks first started, Grady wasn't quite sure what to think. This was his first show, because last year he was only 3 months old, and fast asleep. He started shaking just a little bit, and let out a few cries. After about 3 minutes, he was laughing and "Ooohing" along with the crowd. He even clapped at the end!!! I guess we'll have to squeeze in a few Shelter Cove shows before the end of the summer.
A special thank you to everyone in our military, past and present, and their spouses and children who are the behind the scenes heros at home!
An Atlanta Getaway
This past weekend, we decided to go on a last minute getaway to Atlanta. It was a quick trip, but we packed a lot in!!! Grady's favorite was definitely the aquarium, where he called all the fish "Bird." So adorable, I was tempted to not correct him!
First stop, the zoo...
And then on to the aquarium...
And finally the Coke Museum...
Tips for any other families planning to go to Atlanta anytime soon:
1) A friend told me to get to the aquarium first thing in the morning. BOY was she right! It gets packed quick! Start with the Ocean Voyager area because that is where the whale sharks, and the biggest tanks are. Your kids will be at the peak of their interest, and this area was very crowded by the time we got there.
2) Skip the Coke Museum (GASP!!!), or leave the kids with someone else. This might be interesting for an older child, but it was less than exciting for Grady. Plus, you have to wait in long lines outside (HOTlanta), and participate in a guided tour for the first half hour. Not ideal for a toddler who wants to go where he pleases, when he pleases. Although he did enjoy taste testing the different Powerade flavors at the end because Mommy wouldn't let him have soda! :)
3) We opted for a nicer hotel downtown so that we would be close to everything. Next time, we will stay a little further out so that we have easier access to family friendly restaurants, and won't have to pay the $21/day parking fee. Downtown would be great for couples though! Go with the Marriott over the Hilton. We were jealous!!!
First stop, the zoo...
And then on to the aquarium...
And finally the Coke Museum...
Tips for any other families planning to go to Atlanta anytime soon:
1) A friend told me to get to the aquarium first thing in the morning. BOY was she right! It gets packed quick! Start with the Ocean Voyager area because that is where the whale sharks, and the biggest tanks are. Your kids will be at the peak of their interest, and this area was very crowded by the time we got there.
2) Skip the Coke Museum (GASP!!!), or leave the kids with someone else. This might be interesting for an older child, but it was less than exciting for Grady. Plus, you have to wait in long lines outside (HOTlanta), and participate in a guided tour for the first half hour. Not ideal for a toddler who wants to go where he pleases, when he pleases. Although he did enjoy taste testing the different Powerade flavors at the end because Mommy wouldn't let him have soda! :)
3) We opted for a nicer hotel downtown so that we would be close to everything. Next time, we will stay a little further out so that we have easier access to family friendly restaurants, and won't have to pay the $21/day parking fee. Downtown would be great for couples though! Go with the Marriott over the Hilton. We were jealous!!!
Chicken Nuggets, Please!
What to feed a picky eater? If Grady could ask, he'd say "Chicken Nuggets, please!" They are his favorite food at the moment.
He likes almost everything he tries.... the problem is, I can't get him to try anything new! Put it in a squeeze tube like Plum's baby food, and he'd eat anything, but a sliced carrot or spaghetti on his high chair tray... forget it. Usually what I do when I want him to try something new is wait until he's definitely hungry, and then put only that one food on his tray. Usually one of two things happens... 1) he uses his arm to sweep it all off of his tray (and then goes to time out!), or 2) he just sits and stares at it, and doesn't eat it at all.
Any suggestions? I don't want him to be a french fry, chicken nugget eater!
He likes almost everything he tries.... the problem is, I can't get him to try anything new! Put it in a squeeze tube like Plum's baby food, and he'd eat anything, but a sliced carrot or spaghetti on his high chair tray... forget it. Usually what I do when I want him to try something new is wait until he's definitely hungry, and then put only that one food on his tray. Usually one of two things happens... 1) he uses his arm to sweep it all off of his tray (and then goes to time out!), or 2) he just sits and stares at it, and doesn't eat it at all.
Any suggestions? I don't want him to be a french fry, chicken nugget eater!
Diagnosis: Asthma
This spring, Grady was diagnosed with asthma. This past winter, he had severe bronchitis, and later in the spring, he developed pneumonia after an ear infection. Basically, whenever Grady gets the slightest touch of a cold or infection, he starts to cough and wheeze. Quickly it turns into a very rattly cough, and you can hear every breath he takes. The scary part is that it is just so hard for him to breathe that his whole chest moves up and down like he's panting. We were two panicking parents!
So, after rushing him to the doctor over and over for antibiotic shots, steroid shots, nebulizer treatments, we finally have a controller medication that seems to be helping deter some of the chronic wheezing. Every night, we sit with Grady while he watches Yo Gabba Gabba and do a nebulizer treatment of Pulmicort. It is a steroid that is (hopefully) strenghthening his airways so that they don't get inflamed as easily. If he is having trouble wheezing or coughing, we do Albuterol through the nebulizer about every 4 hours.
Today, Grady is getting over a cold and we've been having to nebulize him more often the past few days. He is to the point that he sits so still, and will even put the face mask on with the elastic so that he can dance to Yo Gabba while he nebulizes. HUGE improvement over the screaming, flailing arms, mommy restraining treatments we used to have to endure. That seriously broke my heart.
The pediatrician says this may be a condition that Grady eventually grows out of. I hope so, but for now, I am being very proactive about staying on top of his treatments so that we limit his wheezing days as much as possible.
So, after rushing him to the doctor over and over for antibiotic shots, steroid shots, nebulizer treatments, we finally have a controller medication that seems to be helping deter some of the chronic wheezing. Every night, we sit with Grady while he watches Yo Gabba Gabba and do a nebulizer treatment of Pulmicort. It is a steroid that is (hopefully) strenghthening his airways so that they don't get inflamed as easily. If he is having trouble wheezing or coughing, we do Albuterol through the nebulizer about every 4 hours.
Today, Grady is getting over a cold and we've been having to nebulize him more often the past few days. He is to the point that he sits so still, and will even put the face mask on with the elastic so that he can dance to Yo Gabba while he nebulizes. HUGE improvement over the screaming, flailing arms, mommy restraining treatments we used to have to endure. That seriously broke my heart.
The pediatrician says this may be a condition that Grady eventually grows out of. I hope so, but for now, I am being very proactive about staying on top of his treatments so that we limit his wheezing days as much as possible.
Summer Time
I am SO excited to have a few weeks off to spend with my little man (in between classes and school blog posts, and summer institute). I want him all to myself just for a minute!!!! Grady is getting really good with consistently going "pee pee" on the potty whenever he sits down on it, so we are going to continue working on it this summer. I even bought him some big boy undies to wear around the house. The hardest part is that he's not old enough to communicate to me when he has to go. So, we have two potties.... one upstairs, one downstairs. I'm hoping that he will start going to them when he needs to potty. We'll see. The good news is I have NO expectations of him being potty trained any time soon. So, there will be no disappointment if he doesn't have a summer epiphany. But, I think it is pretty cool that he likes to use his potty, and that he knows how to!
Now, if we could just get rid of that paci once and for all....
Now, if we could just get rid of that paci once and for all....
Updating the Blog!
Ok, I am really going to try to get back into the swing of things....
I've got to do better with this whole blogging thing because it is the easiest way to keep up with Grady's milestones, and update you on what's going on with us!
So, what's going on with us? Well....
I've got to do better with this whole blogging thing because it is the easiest way to keep up with Grady's milestones, and update you on what's going on with us!
So, what's going on with us? Well....
- I started my masters this spring with USC. I know, but it is free so, what can I say?!
- Grady is a walking, talking bundle of energy! Too bad that whole "Chasing your baby around is all the exercise you'll need" hasn't worked out for me yet. Still waiting...
- Eric is working hard and enjoying his bottle digging hobby with a new Savannah group. They keep him busier than I'd like, of course!
- Grady has been sick for a while with some respiratory stuff which has now led to an asthma diagnosis. We are still learning about it, but hopeful he'll grow out of it eventually.
That's it in a nutshell! Balance, and scheduling is certainly the hardest part of our family dynamic right now. Full time teacher, mommy and student is a lot harder than I thought, but hey, I'll be done in May of '13, right? .... ugggghhh....
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