Christmas Traveling

I don’t know about all of you, but we’ve been on a road a lot this Christmas Season.  I think we are finally home for the rest of the holidays, and it feels good.  When you travel with small kids, it seems like there is so much stress instead of the joy that their should be this time of year. 

We packed up our Suburban with all the kids stuff; two pack and plays, two booster seats, 4 suitcases, an air-mattress, pillows, blankets, large cooler, heater, presents, and of course all the hunting gear my husband brought along.  Plus toys to keep the kids happy and many other small items.  So our Suburban was EXTREMELY packed and we’re driving down the road….and Luke gets bored.  I’m playing Robin Hood in their DVD player, but he is losing interest.  So what does Luke do? 

He decided to attack the DVD player.  You see the DVD player we have for the car has two screens that attach with Velcro straps to the headrests.  Luke starts kicking his feet against my seat, so of course I turn around and tell him to “stop” and hold his feet for a while.  Well that stopped him for a few minutes before he started kicking the seat again.  This time after a little bit in my peripheral vision I see the cord move that goes to the DVD player.  So I turn around and see that somehow Luke got a hold of the DVD cord.  So I tell him “no” and take the cord away.

Once again this worked for a little while, and then he started kicking again and I once again see the cord moving, so I turn around and low and behold Luke had somehow used the cord to get the entire DVD screen in his lap.  Of course he started laughing when I turned around…like he was saying “Hah…see what I did mommy?” 

So after taking back the screen and putting it back on the headrest, I finally got some “mommy smarts” and took off Luke’s shoes and braces (since they give him an additional inch or two in height).  That did stop Luke from kicking my seat and DVD player, so he was no longer able to get the DVD screen. 

Only now he was so bored he took off his socks and then started sucking on his toes…specifically his big toe!  I guess that is one advantage to his flexibility!!

The whole DVD, toe thing happened when we did two grandparent trips back to back.  After that we came home for a day and then left again for great-grandma’s house.  This time we didn’t need to take as much stuff, so I packed it all into our car.  We were also able to take our smaller cooler, which fits perfectly between the two car seats in the back seat.

On this trip, because they had a new prop…when Luke got bored he started playing with the handle of the cooler.  He pushed it towards his sister and then his sister would push it back.  Of course they both laughed and thought this was the funniest thing in the world!  At least they were entertained and happy.

Of course after a while, Luke got bored of that and started kicking his feet again and tried getting the DVD screen again.  This time mommy got smart early and took off Luke’s shoes and braces right away.  On this trip, for some reason Luke couldn’t get his socks off…so instead of chewing on his big toe he had to settle for chewing on his socks.

Santa!

Well in Luke’s 3 years he has never met Santa.  This year Santa came to Luke’s school for their “Family Fun Day”, which took place right before their Christmas Break.  I took Luke and his baby sister in and thankfully the staff helped me out with my baby girl so that I could focus on Luke.

We went to a trough and got some “Magic Reindeer Food”, which we put out on Christmas Eve for Santa’s reindeer. After all the reindeer have a lot of ground to cover on Christmas Eve, they need to keep their energy up. After that we decorated a sugar cookie together, and as much as Luke wanted to eat it…mommy had to do it instead.  It was such a hard task, eating such a sweet tasting treat.

 Then it was time to finally see Santa.  One of Luke’s new classmates saved us a spot in line, since it was so long.  I’ve learned that when I take Luke anywhere in his walker you can only get him to stay still for a few minutes at a time.  So while Luke’s friend kept his place in line and Luke and I did laps with his walker until it was his turn to see Santa.  When there were only two kids in front of Luke, we claimed our spot in the line.

Keeping Luke still for even two kids was pretty hard.  He kept nodding his head and rocking his body, like he was saying “come on….let’s go”.  We need to work on his patience.

I was afraid Luke might be scared of Santa, but sure enough he was happier than ever.  Santa even showed him pictures of his reindeer and Luke looked and smiled like he knew what Santa was saying.  At the end of that time Luke had met a new friend.

Now after taking a picture with just Luke and Santa, we had to take one with baby sister as well.  She wasn’t so sure about this white haired guy with the funny red suit.  She stuck her bottom lip out and looked at him, like she was afraid to turn her back because who knew what he would do to her.

Who's first?

Our baby girl has really been imitating her big brother.  She’ll start dropping food on the floor to see my reaction and she’ll even open and shut doors just like Luke.  When I say open and shut…it is more like a fast partial shutting and then an almost slam open…the result being a BIG BANG into the wall. 

In fact the other day she was in the bathroom while I was getting Luke out of the tub, and she was opening and shutting the door.  According to Luke she must have been doing it just like he would, since he found it really funny.  Luke was laughing so hard I had to fight him to keep him on his feet so I could dry him off from his bath.  Silly little girl!!  Of course when Luke started laughing so did our baby girl.  Who knew that opening and shutting doors could be so funny!

Anyway, our baby girl is also learning how to do some sign language from her big brother.  Just last week I was feeding Luke and our baby girl their lunch.  I asked if Luke wanted more and when he showed me he wanted more by clapping his hands, our baby girl decided that she wasn't about to be outdone and she clapped her hands at the same time!  So when you have two kids and they both want more at the same time…what do you do?  Who should I feed first, they are obviously both still hungry.  Well, I just continued to take turns feeding them…one bite for Luke…one bite for our baby girl…they didn’t really like that.  We’re going to have to work on that patience.

Out!....no....In!

I’ve shared before that our baby girl likes to climb into the Step 2 wagon we have and how much Luke loves to use that same wagon to load up all his toys to take various places throughout the house.  Well last week both kids wanted to do their “favorite” thing at the same time.  The result was pretty funny to watch.

Faith would start to take toys out of the wagon, so that there would be room for her to climb inside it.  Then Luke would start putting everything she took out back in the wagon…after all that is where they belong...right? 

After a little while our baby girl gave up trying to empty the wagon and just decided to climb in anyway.  Move over toy,s our baby girl is coming in!

Then once she was in the wagon she started picking up toys and dropping them out of the wagon….and of course Luke started putting them back in.  They didn’t scream at each other…or even talk to each other…they just proceeded to empty and fill up the wagon at the same time!!  Silly kids

Do the "Scoot...Scoot"

For some reason Luke has had this fascination with scooting across the floor in the kitchen.  Our kitchen floor is tile, so it can be slick when in your socks, or in Luke’s case…in any pants he is wearing.  He loves to sit in the “W” position, with his legs forming a “W” and his butt on the floor…then he scoots backwards.  Sometimes he just does this a little bit, other days he’ll do it for 10 minutes straight…scooting backwards and when he gets blocked by something, like a chair or refrigerator….he’ll crawl forward and then assumes the “scooting position” again…and off he goes scooting backwards!

It is one of the funniest things I’ve seen him do.  I’ve never mentioned it before because I thought it needed a video.  I finally got this “perfect” video yesterday.  So if you want to watch Luke do the “Scoot…Scoot” you can watch below.  Enjoy!

You're kidding, right?

Ok so today’s little story is more of a telling of an unbelievable moment.  This moment took place when I took Luke in for his 3 year checkup to his Pediatrician.  To completely understand my frustrations and unbelief I have to back up a little. 

The day I took Luke in was also his first day of Early Childhood at the school.  As any parent out there knows, the first days of school or preschool are exhausting for your kids.  Well, with Luke he gets tired just walking around for 30 minutes…so you can imagine how tired he was after his first day.  Our appointment was at 1:15pm, so not long after having lunch we headed off for our Doctor appointment.  Luke was fussy and tired all through lunch, and then while waiting at the doctor’s office he became even more fussy.

Not only did I have a fussy child on my hands, but also our baby girl…who became restless at the doctor’s office as well. We also had Luke’s new walker, which he is still trying to figure out how to maneuver well…especially if I have his brakes on…which I did since I was carrying my baby girl.   I definitely had my hands full.

When we were finally shown an exam room to wait for the doctor and after answering all the nurses questions….we waited only 5 minutes or so and heard a knock.  I thought, “thank the Lord, we’ll be out of here soon”.  When the door opened it was not our normal Pediatrician, but a resident.  So then I thought, “Lord help this go quickly”. 

I’ve met my share of residents and I’m a pretty patient person, so I understand the need for the resident to come in and ask all his questions about Luke and such.  I was more than happy to answer the questions….but I couldn’t believe how little this resident knew.  And I don’t mean about Luke, but in general.

One of the first questions he asked me was, “That’s a nice stroller, does Luke like it.”   Since I didn’t have a stroller with me, it took me a minute to realize he was talking about the walker.  When it downed on me that was what he was talking about… I couldn’t believe what he said ….he had do be kidding me...even my husband knows the difference…and that says a lot.

When I was quiet for a while he said, “that is what is it called right?  A stroller.”….I just tried not to laugh or cry….and said “actually it is a walker….and yes he likes it”. 

That was just the beginning of a long period of questions, and repeating things I said about Luke..more than once.  Needless to say my patience was wearing very thin.  I was very grateful when his regular Pediatrician finally came in…such a relief!!  But, by the time we got out of there it was 2:30pm….and then after all of that….when I finally got both kids in their car seats, I realized I forgot all the paperwork I needed signed for the school!!!  I wasn’t about to take both kids back inside.  So…I pulled the car around to where the Valet parking was and asked the attendant to watch the kids while I ran inside. 

I had just talked to this guy and he offered to go get my car, plus I could see the car from the doctor’s office, so I felt ok about leaving the kids.  But, when I got inside…the paperwork wasn’t done like it was supposed to be…so it was at least 10 minutes before I left the office again!!  EERRRR!!!  I was not a happy camper…and neither was Luke at this point…he was more than ready for his nap!! 

We did survive the day…but Luke was more than a little cranky the rest of the day…even after his nap.  Just another “fun filled day”.

Tree Barricade!

I finally got our Christmas tree up last weekend.  I like to do it right after Thanksgiving so I can enjoy it longer.  But, when I had family over the weekend before Thanksgiving to celebrate our baby girl’s birthday and then we had Thanksgiving the following weekend and then the weekend after that we had family over again to celebrate Luke’s birthday, I decided I better wait.  So it is finally up!  I think my husband could easily go the whole Christmas season without the tree up, but for me it just doesn’t’ seem like Christmas unless there is a Christmas tree!

I wanted to share the technique I have perfected in the last three years, in order to protect my “precious tree”.  I debated with myself whether to even try to put it up this year since our baby girls is climbing and into everything.  She is also stubborn; if she sees something she wants she doesn’t stop till she gets it!  You can see where a beautiful lit up Christmas tree might be a problem.

Well I decided I would try what I have done the last two years that worked with Luke, and so far….8 days and counting…the tree still stands and the kids have left it alone!

What do I do?  First I have never put the tree up with my kids around.  I figure when they are old enough to understand what is going on and are to a point where they actually do what I tell them, I will let them help me decorate the tree.  For now, I put it up and decorate it when the kids are down for naps.  Then when they get up it is just another part of the living room.  Nothing too special. 

But, the second thing I do to ensure the tree stays safe is to put up a “tree barricade”.  First I put the tree in a corner of our living room…that way two sides of the tree have a wall to protect it.  Then I have the couch on another side…which only leaves one side that needs “protection”.  So that side of the tree gets my “barricade”…barricade of toys that is.  I find the biggest toys we have and line them up in front of the tree….so when the kids go towards the tree they’ll see the toys and get distracted and forget about the tree.  So far it has worked. 

It has worked well with Luke for two years, but I wasn’t so sure about our sneaky baby girl.  But so far, so good.  Let’s hope it stays that way!

Wake Up Brother!!

Luke still needs his naps.  Some days he goes right down and will sleep for 3.5 hours and wake up all on his own.  Other days he plays for an hour and then sleeps for 2 hours and wakes up on his own.  Then there are other days where whether or not Luke falls asleep right away or he plays for a while first, he just doesn’t want to wake up.  I’ve learned in the last 3 years that if he doesn’t wake up “happy” he will stay in a bad mood the rest of the day.  But, I have a firm rule that at 5:30pm if he isn’t up…he needs to get up.

In order to make sure he wakes up “happy”, I always open his door, turn on the hall and closet light and then just keep making noise throughout the house.  Eventually Luke usually wakes himself up and starts kicking and laughing.  That is the sign it is ok to get him up.

Well the last couple weeks this routine has been interrupted by Luke’s little sister.  She has caught on quickly to the whole “wake up routine”, and she has decided to help.  I’m sure you can imagine what I am about to tell you. 

When I have to “wake up” Luke from his naps, I do what I normally do; open the door turn on the closet light….and then I leave.  Well, little sister has decided that isn’t enough.  Once I leave the room, she may not wait or she may wait about 5 minutes and then she crawls into her brother’s room, stands up at the crib rails, and proceeds to say “dada AAHH….dada…baba…lala..” and so on.  It almost sounds like a song sometimes.  She has done this at least four times now, and I think Luke is starting to get used to it.

When she first did this, I laughed so hard.  Then I heard Luke start screaming…he didn’t like his “serenade” by his little sister, he just wanted to be left alone.  The poor guy.  That little sister is just so mean!!

1st Day of Early Childhood

This past Monday was Luke’s first day of Early Childhood.  For those of you who have never heard of this, it is a lot like preschool…only it is 5 days a week for 2.5 hours a day.  He is able to learn from other kids, get used to a school setting, and also get all his therapy (PT, OT and Speech).

His first day was rough on Luke.  It started out with Luke having to wake up a little earlier than usual, which he did fine with.  Then when it came time to eat breakfast, his usual banana and two eggs, he didn’t want to eat anything.  It was almost like he was as nervous as his mommy!  I did get him to eat about 10 crackers, so at least he had something in his stomach. 

Then at school, all the kids wanted Luke to come over and play right away.  The teacher had to tell them more than once that he would come over after his mommy left.  It turned out that Luke didn’t eat his snack that day either.  Since I wasn’t there, I’m assuming Luke’s curiosity got the best of him and he was too interested in what all the other kids were doing at that time.

Luke did however get to try a new assistive device for speech.  It is a large button that you can program with whatever word you want, and you can also put a picture on it.  The first day it was already programmed with his name!!  So during the circle time when all the other kids said their names, Luke was able to push his button device to say his name!  So cool!! 

When I picked him up he was happy.  That soon ended.  Once I got home and brought him inside I put him down and he started crying.  I had to leave him and go back to the car to get his sister as well as all our stuff.  When I got back, Luke had his legs in a “W” position and was lying on his back screaming and rubbing his eyes.  I finally got him to stop screaming by giving him some juice. But Luke continued to be fussy and rubbed his eyes throughout lunch. I would have laid him down for an early nap, but the day wasn’t over.  We still had his 3 year check up with his Pediatrician at 1pm.

By the time we got home it was close to 3pm.  Needless to say Luke was extremely tired.  Even so he fought sleep.  Poor little guy. 

Now after three days of school, I can say this is getting better.  He isn’t as tired, but he is still upset at first when we get home.  Whether that is because he is tired, hungry, or just because he missed his mommy…I’m not sure.  I suppose in time we’ll figure that out.

Toy sharing?

Luke is learning to play with his sister.  Some days he does well, while other days he acts like a bully and won’t let his sister do anything.  One day I had both diaper bags by the door, all packed and ready to go and Luke goes over to his sister’s bag and pulls out her bottle.  Then he decides to be nice and hands it over to his sister.  He even let her play with it, and didn’t try to take it back (like he usually does).  I thought that was a very nice “big brother” thing to do.

Some days he isn’t so nice, another day our baby girl had a hold of one of those stacking rings.  Luke came over and took it right out of her hands.  Then later that day our baby girl was playing with the same ring, and when Luke came over to take it she held on for dear life.  She had an “iron grip” and did not let go. Luke just kept trying to get it, but in the end his sister had the better hold on the ring.  She wasn’t about to let her brother take that toy.

Since that day Luke has gotten more inventive with how he goes after the toys.  It is like he waits for the right opportunity, when his sister doesn’t have such a good hold on the toy. 

Just last night Luke got a hold of our cordless phone and was playing with it.  Our baby girl somehow got the phone from Luke, but then Luke took it right back.  Of course Luke’s sister wouldn’t stand for that, so she screamed as loud as possible…to bring in reinforcements, otherwise known as “mommy”.  When mommy gave her the phone, she stopped screaming but then Luke (who was not about to give up the phone) reached over and took the phone again.  Which then led to sister crying loud again for someone to help her…again. 

After laughing, I simply took the phone away.  After all if they can’t share, they shouldn’t have it to begin with.  Maybe one day they’ll learn….I can always hope.

Tag Team

The last couple months our baby girl has really started imitating our Luke.  They often try playing together.  Many times Luke plays the “bully” and pushes his sister around.  But, sometimes it seems like they plan it and team up against their momma.

One day I was cleaning up the kitchen and I heard the kids laughing, so I went to check on what they were doing.  There was Luke standing up at the Little Tykes kitchen and our baby girl standing on top of the fisher price singing chair, which was right next to the Little Tykes kitchen.  I was confused as to why they were doing that and why it was funny, and then our baby girl reached up and I looked on top of the Little Tykes kitchen.  Low and behold, there was our cordless phone!  They were working together to try and reach it, those silly munchkins!!

Their tag teaming didn’t stop there.  No, this week they are at it again.  You see, I keep my alarm clock on the floor under my side of the bed.  It is one of those that has one battery and is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.  Luke has always been fascinated with it, trying to get it and take it places.  In the last few months our baby girl also seems to be drawn to it, like a magnet. 

Well, about a week ago I woke up at 7am to my alarm going off.  I know I didn’t set it, and couldn’t figure it out…then I remembered the kids were playing with it the day before.  The munchkins set my alarm!! 

Then last night I was cleaning the kitchen, again, and I hear “beepbeep…beepbeep”.  Yep, they did it again…the only reason I heard my alarm go off was because I had it laying on the hutch; which is where I put it when I took it away from the kids the day before.  Silly kids!!

Flying

I’ve mentioned before how his current PT is always trying to challenge Luke to the next level.  Well, a few weeks ago she got out a new swing to try with Luke.  They have various swings that are unlike what most people use.  You won’t see these hanging from any tress in the neighbor’s yard.  Many of them are a flat shape like a rectangle, square or triangle that are covered with carpet.  Then they hang suspended by one rope attached to a pulley that is attached to a chain or another rope that goes to the ceiling.  The larger swings have two ropes and two pulleys.

Anyway, this new swing was not like the others.  This one was shaped like a boat, it even had a “sail” attached to one strap to make it look like a sailboat.  The bottom wasn’t the usual firm board; instead it was a soft mesh material.  This swing also hung by only one rope.  The combination of the floor, shape and having only one rope, created quite a challenge for Luke.  He was leaning this way and that holding on for “dear life”.  They started out with Luke holding on to the side, and then he held the straps that were part of the boat.  He didn’t really like the experience at first.  After a while he warmed up to it, and then of course the PT had to challenge him more by having him try to stand up inside the boat.  He really didn’t like that idea.  When the time was up for that activity he was definitely ready to get out.  I’m not sure “sailing” will be his life’s ambition.