Yesterday Wren saw the pediatrician for his 15 month check-up and shots. He is quite scared of the pediatrician's office and cries and clings to me as soon as the nurse enters.
The appointment was pretty straightforward. Wren's stats are:
Weight: 23 lbs 9 ounces (35th percentile)
Height: 32 1/4 inches (90th percentile)
Head: 19 1/4 inches (85th percentile)
Although he has not gained a great deal of weight, Wren has managed to maintain his weight relative to the 35th percentile and his length and head have grown which satisfied our pediatrician that he is eating ok. We are still trying to encourage him to be a bit more enthusiastic about non-sugary food. He would each chocolate and donuts all day if I let him.
Wren is doing fine developmentally although he is speaking a bit less than she expected - I think I said he knows 10-20 words but that includes animal sounds. He is not a big talker in English although he speaks constantly in his own language of inflection and sign.
These are the words I can remember. Joshua can add more later. According to an online reference "The child’s vocabulary is constantly expanding and she will first learn those words that are most relevant in order to control and relate to her environment". These words give you a glimpse into the world Wren seeks to control.
Signs:
Milk
All done
Up
No
Waving
Words
Up
All done
Hi
'ello
Bye bye
Ma ma
Da Dai
'ice (dice)
'ight (light)
'ent (tent)
'ut (shut)
No no no (with wagging finger)
'ish (fish)
'rost (frost)
uh oh
hut hut (breathy = hot)
sounds
Vroom vroom
Moo
Oo oo (owl)
oof oof (dog)
'isss 'issss (snake)
rahr (bear)
He is doing well physically. He can almost run, can climb the ladder into the fort on his own (oops - must make sure the ladder is never left up), drink from a cup with some sloshing, eat with a spoon with lots of spilling and pick up anything he wants to eat and many things we don't want him to eat (like cat food). He can reach to the countertop with tippy toes and fingers and easily climbs onto chairs and from their to the table. He goes up and down stairs at speed and has started to try and step down small steps and to walk up steep hills and run down them repeatedly. These steep inclines are his latest fascination.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Frost, the president and the J-word
Frost and I have some of our best conversations in the car. This morning, driving to school, he asked:
"How old do you have to be to vote in the election?"
I replied that I thought you had to be eighteen.
"That's not fair!" he said. "Everyone should be able to vote."
"Who would you vote for?" I asked.
"Probably Obama."
"Why?"
"No reason really."
"Well," I said (wearing my Clever Parenting hat) "that's probably why you have to be 18 to vote - you need to have a reason why you are voting for a president."
"Hmmm" said Frost. Then there was a pause. "Actually, I do have a reason. All my friends and my family are voting for Obama and I like to be part of my friends and family so I would vote for him to be part of it."
"Uh huh" I said. "That's a good reason for a kid but its better if you know something about the candidates and decide what you like and don't like about them."
"Oh!" Frost sounded pleased. "Actually, I do have some reason thats presidental. HILLARY WANTS WAR! Obama doesn't want war. That is why I would vote for Obama!"
"Why do you think Hillary wants war?"
"I dunno. I heard it somewhere. Maybe Fred told me. Or Alex. Hillary is being the J-word!"
Me: "The J-word?"
Frost: "You know, the J-word"
Me: "No, I don't know. What's the J word?"
Frost whispers so Wren can't hear: "Jerk"
Me: "Oh, jerk."
[long pause while parenting responses are considered]
Me: I don't think Hillary Clinton or Obama are being jerks really, they would both be good presidents. Its just a competition about who might be president right now so people say good and bad things about each candidate to try and persuade you they are right.
[long pause as we drive around Greenlake]
Frost: Why can grownups say the J-word but kids can't? Why can grown-ups swear and kids can't?
Me: Well, no-one should swear really. They should try and use words to describe what they mean but you can't really tell grownups what to do so sometimes they are a bit lazy and just use a swear word instead of explaining their feelings. But nobody should swear so grownups ask kids not to. Also, some people get angry with kids and grownups if they swear and think you are not such a nice person.
Frost: 'Cos when Joshua was talking about Hillary he said she was being the J-word!
"How old do you have to be to vote in the election?"
I replied that I thought you had to be eighteen.
"That's not fair!" he said. "Everyone should be able to vote."
"Who would you vote for?" I asked.
"Probably Obama."
"Why?"
"No reason really."
"Well," I said (wearing my Clever Parenting hat) "that's probably why you have to be 18 to vote - you need to have a reason why you are voting for a president."
"Hmmm" said Frost. Then there was a pause. "Actually, I do have a reason. All my friends and my family are voting for Obama and I like to be part of my friends and family so I would vote for him to be part of it."
"Uh huh" I said. "That's a good reason for a kid but its better if you know something about the candidates and decide what you like and don't like about them."
"Oh!" Frost sounded pleased. "Actually, I do have some reason thats presidental. HILLARY WANTS WAR! Obama doesn't want war. That is why I would vote for Obama!"
"Why do you think Hillary wants war?"
"I dunno. I heard it somewhere. Maybe Fred told me. Or Alex. Hillary is being the J-word!"
Me: "The J-word?"
Frost: "You know, the J-word"
Me: "No, I don't know. What's the J word?"
Frost whispers so Wren can't hear: "Jerk"
Me: "Oh, jerk."
[long pause while parenting responses are considered]
Me: I don't think Hillary Clinton or Obama are being jerks really, they would both be good presidents. Its just a competition about who might be president right now so people say good and bad things about each candidate to try and persuade you they are right.
[long pause as we drive around Greenlake]
Frost: Why can grownups say the J-word but kids can't? Why can grown-ups swear and kids can't?
Me: Well, no-one should swear really. They should try and use words to describe what they mean but you can't really tell grownups what to do so sometimes they are a bit lazy and just use a swear word instead of explaining their feelings. But nobody should swear so grownups ask kids not to. Also, some people get angry with kids and grownups if they swear and think you are not such a nice person.
Frost: 'Cos when Joshua was talking about Hillary he said she was being the J-word!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Another good sleep
The noise of global stock markets crashing overnight did not stop Wren having a good night's sleep. His new, and welcome, habit is this:
8.15pm Bed
3.15am Nurse
6am Nurse and put Mum to sleep next to me
7.30am Wake
Yes, 7.30am again. I am very happy and well rested although the morning rush is a bit insane. I think he may wake a bit before 3am but we do not go in and help so he is having to go back to sleep.
He is all better and we are hoping for no more diseasles for a while.
Frost is really enjoying playing Stratego and Wren is wanting to be UP UP UP. He says "up, out and down" to emphasise his needs.
8.15pm Bed
3.15am Nurse
6am Nurse and put Mum to sleep next to me
7.30am Wake
Yes, 7.30am again. I am very happy and well rested although the morning rush is a bit insane. I think he may wake a bit before 3am but we do not go in and help so he is having to go back to sleep.
He is all better and we are hoping for no more diseasles for a while.
Frost is really enjoying playing Stratego and Wren is wanting to be UP UP UP. He says "up, out and down" to emphasise his needs.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Fattening up
Wren is much better today and has been fever free for 48 hours. He has recently developed a fine red rash on his torso which I was told indicates the breakdown of a virus (a toxin?) so he is probably over whatever it was.
He is also eating very well. Today he fed himself yoghurt for the first time and ate one and a half tubs at lunch. He also ate plenty of fruit, hamburger bun, milkshake and whatever else was offered to him.
Here is a picture taken within the past few weeks which shows how much plumper his cheeks are.
I have also included a picture of Wren and I because I so seldom have nice shots of myself.
The Minivan cont...
This afternoon we went out to the Kia Dealership and test drove a Kia Sedona. We were really pleased with it although Frost and Joshua said it should have only a 4 and half star security rating because he caught his finger in the rear window catch when he tried to open it.
We are going to return on Wednesday and see what we can get for our car as a trade-in.
New Doors for Mum
These are the pictures of the new sliding doors recently installed in the back wall of the kitchen living area. We are very pleased with all the light and are learning to avoid tumbling downstairs. There is no deck yet but we are getting a quote and consult on the 26th.
The cats miss their catdoor and have made muddy paw marks on the door from scraping the glass to get let in.
The cats miss their catdoor and have made muddy paw marks on the door from scraping the glass to get let in.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hair up his wazzoo
I have just thrown a sock and a dishcloth in the general direction of the kitchen. This is not an angry gesture, they were left over from the laundry. Its just that I am so tired I can't be bothered to move my body from this propped up position on my stool.
Wren has no fever today! That is the fabulous news. However, something is still bugging him. As I have learned to say in the US of A "he has a hair up his arse". Being age appropriate I could update the saying to "he has a bug in his diaper" or "a blockage in his bottle" or "he's trying to shove the cube in the round hole." You get the idea. He uses his shrill shout often
He also seems to have some pain or discomfit when nursing. He is usually very happy to nurse and wants to nurse much more often since he became sick. However, after a few sucks he often starts screaming and arching his back. I have considered these option but none makes sense all the time:
1) Not enough milk (but at times there is a ton and he does it)
2) Sore throat (but I have offered water and he doesn't scream)
3) Sore sucking (mouth?)
4) Sore tummy? (seems too soon after trying to nurse)
Perhaps it is a few of these factors at different times and he can't tell me any other way.
Anyway, thanks for your concern. He is doing better. Last night was better and I hope tomorrow will be too. Still, I am very tired from carrying him around and catering to his every whim under threat of screeching. This afternoon Frost came home from school with a bleeding graze which needed tending. As soon as I paid attention to Frost Wren started whimpering and then yelling. I put him in the crib and shut the door.
There was a tangible sense of relief (outside the door) while I bathed, treated and bandaged Frost's hand. Then it was back to the monkey who was yelling. Thing was, he was exhausted but resisted all attempts to get a second nap in. He will have been up for 7 hours straight by bedtime.
I guess it was another one of those days.
Wren has no fever today! That is the fabulous news. However, something is still bugging him. As I have learned to say in the US of A "he has a hair up his arse". Being age appropriate I could update the saying to "he has a bug in his diaper" or "a blockage in his bottle" or "he's trying to shove the cube in the round hole." You get the idea. He uses his shrill shout often
He also seems to have some pain or discomfit when nursing. He is usually very happy to nurse and wants to nurse much more often since he became sick. However, after a few sucks he often starts screaming and arching his back. I have considered these option but none makes sense all the time:
1) Not enough milk (but at times there is a ton and he does it)
2) Sore throat (but I have offered water and he doesn't scream)
3) Sore sucking (mouth?)
4) Sore tummy? (seems too soon after trying to nurse)
Perhaps it is a few of these factors at different times and he can't tell me any other way.
Anyway, thanks for your concern. He is doing better. Last night was better and I hope tomorrow will be too. Still, I am very tired from carrying him around and catering to his every whim under threat of screeching. This afternoon Frost came home from school with a bleeding graze which needed tending. As soon as I paid attention to Frost Wren started whimpering and then yelling. I put him in the crib and shut the door.
There was a tangible sense of relief (outside the door) while I bathed, treated and bandaged Frost's hand. Then it was back to the monkey who was yelling. Thing was, he was exhausted but resisted all attempts to get a second nap in. He will have been up for 7 hours straight by bedtime.
I guess it was another one of those days.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Fever day 3
Today was the third day of Wren's fever. It was a negligible fever and I did not give him Tylenol until bedtime but he still had long periods of being cranky and dissatisfied with life. He let me know about it.
The day began at 6am when he woke, obviously exhausted (less than 9 hours sleep since he and I were up for 90 minutes around 3-4.30am). Josh and I couldn't get him back to sleep and Josh later suggested he had a sore throat.
We had some fun times - stopping in the park in the sun for a while on the way home from buying milk at PCC, picking those tiny white daisies that are springing up from nowhere in the lawns, chasing the cats, poking the butter with our fingers (well, that was Wren) and ending with a long bath of chasing the dodecahedron dice underwater.
Still, I am hoping for a normal day and - more importantly - a restful night to restore my equanimity and youthful (sic) enthusiasm.
The day began at 6am when he woke, obviously exhausted (less than 9 hours sleep since he and I were up for 90 minutes around 3-4.30am). Josh and I couldn't get him back to sleep and Josh later suggested he had a sore throat.
We had some fun times - stopping in the park in the sun for a while on the way home from buying milk at PCC, picking those tiny white daisies that are springing up from nowhere in the lawns, chasing the cats, poking the butter with our fingers (well, that was Wren) and ending with a long bath of chasing the dodecahedron dice underwater.
Still, I am hoping for a normal day and - more importantly - a restful night to restore my equanimity and youthful (sic) enthusiasm.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Today's Frostism
As Frost was getting changed for bed I noticed he was wearing more than one pair of underpants. I asked him about it. He said:
"Yesterday I put on two pairs of underpants by mistake so that gave me the idea and so today I wore three pairs of underpants."
Its true. He was wearing three pairs of underpants.
Joshua nodded. He get that Frost thought it was fun. Frost was coy and pleased.
I don't get it. Underwear did not become fun for me until my late twenties.
"Yesterday I put on two pairs of underpants by mistake so that gave me the idea and so today I wore three pairs of underpants."
Its true. He was wearing three pairs of underpants.
Joshua nodded. He get that Frost thought it was fun. Frost was coy and pleased.
I don't get it. Underwear did not become fun for me until my late twenties.
The minivan debate
Joshua and I are in the semi-final stages of changing our car lineup. To recap, we are now the happy drivers of a 2002 Subaru Outback wagon. It has leather seats that can be heated and makes happy little vrooming sounds when you shift the seats. It has space for 5 people and a lot of room in back to store and carry your mess.
Shawn and Sarah Break Rank
A while back, a couple whom we thought were the right sort of people [yes, Shawn and Sarah] bought a Eurovan. We rationalized it at the time as being ok because it was a EUROVAN and they are not minivans, not really.
But the seed was sown. The wedge was driven into our social circle. We now knew a few people mover drivers personally.
We could just ride the bus
Fast forward to the past few months of knuckle breaking buckling and toys lost in the tight crack between the carseat and the seatbelt clasps, of playdates forgone and carpools that are full before we even take a breath, of school trip driving miscalculations in which kids are shuffled at the last minute.
"You can only take one extra kid? Not two?"
I confess, to my shame.
The Decision
So, after some stewing, much denial and futile analysis of miles per gallon we are planning to trade the wagon in for a minivan. Yes, you heard right, a m-i-n-i-van. The models we are looking at are a Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona and a (Toyota) Sienna. Today, I have a Subaru loan car while the outback is in service. We considered the crossover SUVs but neither of us loves SUVs to begin with and if you are going to move kids you have to love the sliding door.
So, here are the issues:
1) We have been a one car family till now. We would like to continue this way but if I start work we will probably need access to a second car. We don't want to commit all our driving to a vehicle that is not a hybrid and has a high gas consumption. Unfortunately, none of the minivans is a hybrid. All have lousy fuel consumption. Our idea is to buy or lease a second car which is a hybrid or otherwise very fuel efficient vehicle. That way we can do our one-child or child-free driving in the small car and the mass transport driving in the bus.
2) We don't want to be minivan drivers. Well, we could stick with a wagon (friends have the volvo with the 7 seat factor package) and its nice. But Frost gets carsick and is not so good going backwards. If we were going on vacation with another person we couldn't really put them in the trunk with the luggage and it doesn't solve the problem of not really being able to get three carseats across a bucket seat without lots of misery. What is wrong with minivans? They are just uncool.
The Coollessness of minivans
What is it about minivans that make them seems so blah? That makes me want to get a tattoo and drink gin and tonics at noon?
I guess at this point in my life I don't spend a lot of energy on coolness but minivans speak to me about more than struggling to be special. They smack of conformity and are designed giving low priority to style and high priority to groceries and kids backpacks. On the upside they are as practical as fat pants and cotton undies.
This blogger with the same idea showed me that being dragged into mini-vanning, seduced by its amenity, is not uncommon:
And so it goes, on this continuing journey with another "I never thought I'd own a minivan" purchase, that I come to you today with yet another tale of woe as the sad owner (once again...) of a minivan.
You know, people judge you. They look at you differently when you drive a minivan. Owners of SUV's have that - -I don't know - - false sense of bravado. Many of you reading this may, and probably do, own an SUV, and I don't fault you for that. I really don't.
Initially, we too, thought we might purchase one of those fancy new-fangled crossovers OR perhaps, a mid-sized SUV. Then again, upon closer evaluation, we determined that they really weren't for us. They just didn't make economical or environmental sense for our family. We couldn't bring ourselves to buy one. Big gas guzzlers, far more expensive pricetag, and frankly, not as comfortable of a ride, with less legroom in the front and back (we're tall...). Plus, they don't hold as much luggage. We just couldn't justify either one for our family. So, what were left with?
The dreaded - - minivan.
Shawn and Sarah Break Rank
A while back, a couple whom we thought were the right sort of people [yes, Shawn and Sarah] bought a Eurovan. We rationalized it at the time as being ok because it was a EUROVAN and they are not minivans, not really.
But the seed was sown. The wedge was driven into our social circle. We now knew a few people mover drivers personally.
We could just ride the bus
Fast forward to the past few months of knuckle breaking buckling and toys lost in the tight crack between the carseat and the seatbelt clasps, of playdates forgone and carpools that are full before we even take a breath, of school trip driving miscalculations in which kids are shuffled at the last minute.
"You can only take one extra kid? Not two?"
I confess, to my shame.
The Decision
So, after some stewing, much denial and futile analysis of miles per gallon we are planning to trade the wagon in for a minivan. Yes, you heard right, a m-i-n-i-van. The models we are looking at are a Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona and a (Toyota) Sienna. Today, I have a Subaru loan car while the outback is in service. We considered the crossover SUVs but neither of us loves SUVs to begin with and if you are going to move kids you have to love the sliding door.
So, here are the issues:
1) We have been a one car family till now. We would like to continue this way but if I start work we will probably need access to a second car. We don't want to commit all our driving to a vehicle that is not a hybrid and has a high gas consumption. Unfortunately, none of the minivans is a hybrid. All have lousy fuel consumption. Our idea is to buy or lease a second car which is a hybrid or otherwise very fuel efficient vehicle. That way we can do our one-child or child-free driving in the small car and the mass transport driving in the bus.
2) We don't want to be minivan drivers. Well, we could stick with a wagon (friends have the volvo with the 7 seat factor package) and its nice. But Frost gets carsick and is not so good going backwards. If we were going on vacation with another person we couldn't really put them in the trunk with the luggage and it doesn't solve the problem of not really being able to get three carseats across a bucket seat without lots of misery. What is wrong with minivans? They are just uncool.
The Coollessness of minivans
What is it about minivans that make them seems so blah? That makes me want to get a tattoo and drink gin and tonics at noon?
I guess at this point in my life I don't spend a lot of energy on coolness but minivans speak to me about more than struggling to be special. They smack of conformity and are designed giving low priority to style and high priority to groceries and kids backpacks. On the upside they are as practical as fat pants and cotton undies.
This blogger with the same idea showed me that being dragged into mini-vanning, seduced by its amenity, is not uncommon:
And so it goes, on this continuing journey with another "I never thought I'd own a minivan" purchase, that I come to you today with yet another tale of woe as the sad owner (once again...) of a minivan.
You know, people judge you. They look at you differently when you drive a minivan. Owners of SUV's have that - -I don't know - - false sense of bravado. Many of you reading this may, and probably do, own an SUV, and I don't fault you for that. I really don't.
Initially, we too, thought we might purchase one of those fancy new-fangled crossovers OR perhaps, a mid-sized SUV. Then again, upon closer evaluation, we determined that they really weren't for us. They just didn't make economical or environmental sense for our family. We couldn't bring ourselves to buy one. Big gas guzzlers, far more expensive pricetag, and frankly, not as comfortable of a ride, with less legroom in the front and back (we're tall...). Plus, they don't hold as much luggage. We just couldn't justify either one for our family. So, what were left with?
The dreaded - - minivan.
We are going to test drive an Odyssey and Sedona this weekend.
Wren Update
Wren is still feverish. Better this afternoon but then back up to 103 this evening. He is asleep with Tylenol. If he is still feverish tomorrow afternoon I will take him to the ped on Thursday morning - all that stuff about myocarditis and 3 days of fever...
Here he is at Izzy's birthday party. Thanks for the picture Wyndi.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Wren is sick
Wren woke slept lightly for a lot of the night and when I went in at 4am I found he had a fairly noticeable fever. I gave him Tylenol and he slept until 7.40am! This was fairly late even for our daylight savings morning and I think it was because he slept so badly and felt sick.
When he got up this morning he had a bad head cold and sneezing. His fever had gone in the early morning but came back before lunch and has remained at around 101-102 (I guess) until now, despite Tylenol.
He is not acting very ill - still running around and playing for short periods - but has a short attention span and likes to nurse a lot and be carried.
He has not lost his appetite and guzzled a tub of yoghurt at snacktime and chewed satsumas, goldfish and pears for lunch.
I hope he recovers soon and this doesn't become a family thing.
When he got up this morning he had a bad head cold and sneezing. His fever had gone in the early morning but came back before lunch and has remained at around 101-102 (I guess) until now, despite Tylenol.
He is not acting very ill - still running around and playing for short periods - but has a short attention span and likes to nurse a lot and be carried.
He has not lost his appetite and guzzled a tub of yoghurt at snacktime and chewed satsumas, goldfish and pears for lunch.
I hope he recovers soon and this doesn't become a family thing.
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