CRM is an Amazing Kid!

What a change six months can have in a child's temperament and development.  CRM is turning out to be a really great little man.  I was wondering how he would turn out after all the hitting, pushing, biting, and all other 'ing words he shouldn't have been doing.  After trying out timeouts, a swat here and there, and raising my voice, I had had enough.  The solution?  It was so simple it's embarrassing, I turned the TV off for most of the day.  Now it's usually on during transition times: wake up, before nap and bedtime.  I've been using this strategy now for three weeks or so, and it is like night and day in my house.  The stress level went down, the kids are happier, there is less physical outbursts, and they get along much better.  OMM no longer shudders at the thought of his brother coming near him.  CRM still does things he shouldn't, he's only two and a half, but the TV had a tremendous impact on the way he behaved.  I never occurred to me it would since I don't have violent/angry shows on.  And, I am so thankful I didn't hit and scream my way to force the change.


So, here are the reasons CRM is such a fantastic kid:
- says I "yuv you mom: all the time, unprompted
- gives hugs with a squeeze, and sound effects
- says "nigh nigh mom"
- gives OMM hugs and kisses, especially when OMM is upset
- shares his toys (most of the time)
- trades pacifiers in the morning so OMM won't be too mad
- has helped feed his brother when I'm busy and can't get to him right away
- gives OMM water if he needs it
- listens pretty well now, and doesn't run into roads
- is just about through the temper tantrum stage, he may have two a week if that
- follows directions


I could go on and on, but you get the point.  He is a fantastic two and half year old and I'm having a blast watching and learning from him!

We Have A Walker!

OMM is walking full time now! He took his first steps three weeks ago and hardly crawls anymore. OMM is also climbing, on any thing he can get his legs up on. So far he's got onto the coffee table, into the toy box, up on a child's chair, and even managed get on top of the baby walker we have. CRM takes after Husband's side of family, OMM mine. Boy do we have our hands full with these two!

CRM continues to improve since his surgery. We notice differences almost daily. The biggest so far has to be the improvement in his night time sleep. I had NO idea toddlers should sleep through the night. Honestly, CRM was waking three to four times a night and I'd have to go downstairs to find pacifiers and tuck him back in. Since the surgery he's waking up once a night every third night or so!!! I am consistently getting a five hour stretch of sleep in each night. And of course CRM is "speaking" more. He has "conversations" and is repeating everything we're saying, something he never did. It's been great. And, he doesn't mind having to wear ear plugs, which I thought was going to be a struggle.

Roller Coaster Ride - Gumba Update

Where's Gumba!

My precious first born has us on a roller coaster ride. It seems that he sleeps well for several weeks, then the next couple he doesn't. We are currently plummeting to our deaths. Gumba has been waking several times in the night to fuss loudly for no apparent reason, then starts my day at 5am. I say mine because let's be honest, Daddy's don't just jump out of bed that early in the morning, or at least Gumba's doesn't. This morning Husband got home from work at 9am and said good morning to Gumba and I, and I informed him it's actually our afternoon already. The last several days Gumba has fussed during his second nap as well, but it seems today he may have fallen asleep...keep your fingers crossed!

He are several cute things Gumba is doing now, all of which I think are indicators that he doesn't have autism. For those who know me well, I am a pessimist at heart, so this whole autism thing has been on my mind a lot:

- Comes to me, turns around, and then sits in my lap! It is one of the more precious things.

- Lets me read books to him! From beginning to end!

- Will go up to the dogs and gently lay his head on them to snuggle. Dogs don't appreciate this too much, but we're working with them.

- Laughs when we, or people on TV laugh (yeah, he's picking up social cues!)

- Smiles at me while I'm nursing him down for bedtime

- Started to bounce on the changing table when he's standing, and I'm holding him

- Likes to be tickled

- Understands "I'm going to get you" and crawls away, really fast

- Will rarely take two steps towards me when not holding onto furniture. This walking thing is taking way longer then I thought it would.

- Still gets very excited when I come home from work

Oh My Gosh

You will never ever believe what Gumba can do! Nope, sorry, walking is not the right answer. On his first birthday he started "pumping" in his swing! Can you believe that? At one years old he can swing by himself! I am imagining all of the jealous mommies at the park that watch as I get to swing while Gumba is swinging, and there they are pushing their three year olds!!! Hahahahaha.

Also, last night for the first time, Gumba started to go down the stairs backwards! This is sooo exciting for me. He's been crawling up great for the past month, and now tries to launch himself onto the stairs so he can practice. However, we've had an issue with him wanting to go down head first. The stubborn little butt only got frustrated when we showed him differently. Then last night it happened, as he was crawling up the stairs, he paused, put his foot back down, then repeated! Then I stood there for five minutes as he went up and down. So needless to say, I watch and wait patiently (yeah right!) and he "masters" this new skill.

Sad Sad Day

Gumba is now 10 months old! And not much has changed, although he is much more capable pulling himself up on things and getting down. I've let him climb up the stairs a few times and no ragging on me about that. We have stairs, the kids' gotta learn, better when I'm there. This month also marks the most unfortunate of unfortunate days for me. Gumba is now taking one bottle of formula a day when I'm at work. Very sad. I'm remaining upbeat though. Not too many working moms make it to 10 months without formula so I'm very lucky. Gumba doesn't mind either way, food is food. Speaking of food, we've added a few new items to his menu. He now enjoys the taste of blueberry, nectarine, and mango! Also he gets cheese which he loves. However this can be expected because both Husband and I LOVE cheese. And today he tried yogurt for the first time! Since avocados are out because of his intolerance to them I started to look at other high fat/calorie foods that are good for him, hence the cheese and yogurt.

There have been several requests from Granny and Grandpa for pictures and video. Gumba can now reach the top of the table. Yikes!

A Glimpse

I saw a glimpse of my future today, scary. I watched Gumba crawl around the house for an hour. He was busy checking out everything. Up, down, up, down, up down. To the oven, up, down, up down. To the table, up, down, up down. To the china cabinet, up, down, up, down. Panting loudly as he went. Proud of how much he's able to do. Not wanting to be held, wants his own space. As I watched him crawl I realized that in a short while this was only going to get harder once he starts to walk. Gumba will move so much faster, which means I'll have to be much more diligent. I can't believe how big he is, how grown up he already seems, and he's only nine and half months old. This too doesn't even seem possible. How is it that a year has almost passed?

Nine Months Old

Gumba just recently turned nine months old and to celebrate I'll give a run down of how busy he (we) was (were).

- Started to get first tooth. He's been working on this for several weeks and it's only a third of the way in!

- Pulling himself up on everything.

- This quickly manifested into Gumba having to figure out how to get down from everything.

- Walking along furniture. Still not his favorite though.

- Just started to wave! It's pretty cute, he stretches out his arm and then looks at his hand as it moves. Yesterday in JoAnn's he way wooing the ladies.

- Eating oatmeal. I made this amazing blueberry sauce that I can't wait to give with the oatmeal. I'm totally excited.

- Found out he's a little behind developmentally. I guess if you don't clap or wave to your child they don't learn it. So, we're practicing.

- Had his first official illness, and ear infection. Thankfully it's cleared up. I'm back to getting (better?) sleep. Husband and I were taking turns sleeping with Gumba during naps and bedtime. By the end of it all I was pretty wiped out. Now he's back to sleeping on his own.

I'm sure I've missed something. But there's most of it anyway. Next I'll post about Husband and I's month. Everything that could have gone wrong did.

- Oh, let's not forget about Gumba's baptism with his cousin. The visiting priest was awesome and grabbed the two of them and started walking around church. I don't have any pictures, my parents have them all. Both sets of grandparents were able to be there, and Gumba's godparents were visiting from San Diego. Afterwards we had a barbeque at our house were 19 immediate family members (from McGilvary side) were here. That doesn't include everyone by the way.

First Tooth!

Gumba is getting his first tooth! I've felt around his precious little mouth every morning for a couple of months, and finally I left something sharp! Granted it's barley there, but I'm counting it. Husband and I had no idea when to expect this little jewel, he comes from a lineage of early teethers, I from late. Gumba came out right in the middle. His cousin who is roughly the same age already has six to put it in perspective. When the tooth has grown enough I'll try to get a "toothy" smile so you all can see.

Bumps and Bruises and Bawling Oh My

Now that Gumba is pulling himself up we've run into the tricky issue of balance, and holding on to things so we don't hit our head on the hardwood floors. Gumba only wants to stand now which is great if you don't mind a little bit crying. Turns out balance and holding on to something sturdy isn't innate. We have ourselves a baby that has bruises all over his head and has had countless consoling with mommy. He also moves so quickly now while on the floor he spins himself into sharp cornors. Grandma learned that first hand when Gumba hit is head on the TV stand and ended up with a big goose egg on his head. Her guilt was tempered with the fact that the previous day he had rolled over on the changing table, pushed himself up, then rolled onto his face, leaving a bruise on his cheek on my watch. Husband will get his chance to chase his son around the house tomorrow. So far he's been lucky to get out of it.