Stuff

We had a speech eval yesterday for Zach. He babbles like crazy but he isn't really communicating like he should be doing. He is 18 months and still doesn't really use any word or sound on a regular basis. He is able to let us know what he wants, but it is through his actions instead of through verbal clues. I am also working on getting Zach tested for a firm diagnosis on sensory processing disorder. It seems so odd to WANT to have him have certain diagnosis but I have learned that having a black and white diagnosis enables you to get help that you may not be able to get otherwise. Not having a diagnosis doesn't make the issue goes away - it just makes it harder to get help when you need it.

Suzie is starting to act like a complete 3 year old. She is talking back, telling us no and telling fibs. I know fibs are lies but saying she is lying just seems harsh. Yesterday we told her she needed to put some toys back in the bag, she said "no, I am stil playing" told her again and she again told us no. So into time out she goes. You can imagine how tramatic it is for her to have to sit in the hallway - 12 feet away from us. Oh the drama! After the time out was over she, again, had to put the toys back. She was dawdling so I started counting to 3. Her response to me "No Mommy, stop counting!". She is SO serious when she says it and holds her hand out to make me stop. It is really hard to keep a straight face. I really think my mom and my daughter share the same personality.

My mom is coming to visit for a couple weeks and we pick her up at the airport tonight. I am so excited to see her! This will be the first Suzie birthday she will be here for and I can't wait! One nice thing about having guests visit, it makes you really clean. You can't hide the dead bodies in the guest room - you have to actually get rid of them.

Time for me to stop procrastinating and finish cleaning. Fun! 

frienimly

Growing up in a small town, most of my friends who had large extended families and many of their closest friends were relatives. I grew up with a small family and did not have extended family in the area. Many of my mom's friends were more like aunts to me rather than just my mom's friends.

Now that I am a mom, living in an area without a large extended family, I have learned exactly how much having friends who are like family, or frienimly, is precious.

While you can't choose your relatives, you can choose your friends. You can choose a friend who will be your rock when you need parenting advice. A friend who is single and remind you (fondly) of how much fun it can be to be single and carefree. A friend who is crazy, in a good way, and willing to go and do anything. Sometimes you can find one or two friends are are a bit of everything.

Last night I had 2 frienimlies over for apps and wine. I love when friends are familiar enough with your life that they can come in and just flow. You don't have to worry about anything being perfect, you can just relax and visit. I love my frienimly and I feel so blessed to have them in my life.

Good wine, good friends, good laughs. Does life get better?

Kitchen Improvements

David and I needed to get some work done in our kitchen. The faucet was leaking and needed to be replaced. Well we didn't want to put a pretty new faucet on an ugly old sink. We didn't want to put a pretty new sink and faucet on ugly counter tops. So we found a GREAT home maintenance contractor and we redid part of the kitchen!

Here are the before pictures:

And here are the during pictures

And the afters!

This little button is the neatest thing EVER - know what it is? A counter mounted garbage disposer switch! Our old switch was under the sink which wasn't great with kids.

So overall we LOVE the changes. Eventually we will need to get the entire kitchen upgraded but that it a few years off. 

Nakedness

The amount of nakedness in our house can be rather alarming at times. Suzie now dries herself off after a bath. She spreads the towel on the floor and rolls around on it. She also dries her hair herself.

Zachy has his own way of letting me know when he is done with bathtime. He simply climbs out of the tub. He is subtle like that.

Little perfect bodies - they are so innocent and just sweet. Now put some clothes on! Oh but wait - Suzie will do it "all by myself" until she can't and then the world is ending.

I bought Suzie some new books, books that I have fond memories of when I was little. Tonight we read 'The Little Engine The Could". I told Suzie that it was from Daddy and she quickly declared it to be her favorite book EVER!!

We also put a child proof door knob cover on the bathroom door. Luckily it is one that Suzie can get into bit Zachy can't. Yea for Amazon!!