Dean at One Year Four Months
Sunday, September 20th, 2011
Can you believe that my son is in the 90th percentile for height? He is a big, big, boy. Those throwback genes are working wonders! Our blue-eyed giant with feet like bricks and hands like paddles. He's already busting out of 18 month clothes and we have to get his shoes from expensive Stride Rite because they are one of the few stores that carry extra wide. And, what an appetite! It won't be long before we buy everything in bulk from Costco so we won't go broke feeding him. Although he still won't eat meat or eggs or bananas, he's been able to maintain his adorably chunky thighs. I squeeze them any chance I can.
Dean is still not talking much (really, at all). I just don't think he hears all that well. We went to an ENT specialist and they felt he had a lot of fluid in his ears. That and the multiple ear infections he suffered last winter have convinced us to go with ear tubes. I feel that his inability to hear may be affecting his vocabulary. He still doesn't respond when I call his name let alone simple commands. I have been trying to get him to speak simple words but to no avail. He won't even do "Mama" all that frequently. Poor guy. He does enjoy being read and sung, too. And, he loves music....although not music class. He doesn't want to sit still or dance along. My busy bee has the itch to explore. That boy is off and running as soon as they start the first song....
Dean has gotten slightly better at swim lessons. He won't buck and scream as much. He is almost on par with his classmates who are all at least four months younger than him. But, he can backfloat like a pro. Almost no assistance is needed. I think he is getting used to the idea of learning to swim.
We've been taking Dean to the pool with us. He is not to fond of his floaty raft (hand me down from Sasha) but enjoy being swirled around by Daddy. He also like to play on the steps but we have to watch him like a hawk because he will step off for no reason. Our son has no sense of danger.
Dean and Sasha don't play together yet but he is very interested in what she'd doing. If she has a toy, he wants it. He'll just grab it from her and if she tries to wrestle it back, he screams and cries. It doesn't matter if we have two of the same toy, he wants THAT one. And, vice versa. Sasha isn't fabulous about sharing with her baby brother but she's getting better (well, if she's in a good mood). I am usually much harder on her because she understands better. Boy, I see a lot of screaming and fighting in the future (especially when he gets closer to her in size). Dean also believes that he should eat any of the delectables that Sasha consumes. I still am keeping him away from candy and chocolate but have given up on smoothie crushers and yogurt squishers. I just try not to look at the sugar content. Dean has already been introduced to more sweets at this age (Sasha has a tendency to shove her leftover cookie or treat into her brother's mouth when she's done) much to my dismay. At least he still eats his vegetables, right?
Sasha at Four Years and Three Months
Tuesday, September 8th, 2011
Sasha has started her second year of preschool. The 4's class kids seem so much bigger than the 3's. Was she that tiny last year? On the first day, Sasha lined up outside her new classroom with such confidence and equanimity. No tears or clinginess (although there wasn't any the previous year either). Half her classmates are the same including her best buddy (they held hands all the way in). Our daughter seems to like her new teachers and they appear fabulous. There are a lot more rules to follow which appeals to Sasha although she did get in trouble the first week. She and her BF decided to ignore the teacher's instruction. It resulted in a timeout which scared my little girl. Needless to say, it hasn't happened since. I think the instructors are cracking the whip the first few weeks so that they are better able to instill order. Good for 'em. They've got a few boys who are quite the handful.
They have Sasha writing her letters which she had previously refused to do. I am so glad as I worried about this quirk. She'll read but she wouldn't even attempt to write her name. It was so weird especially as she she loves to draw and color.
Sasha rarely dresses up unless she has a playdate over and then it's the first thing they do. I love to see her shlep around in one of her cheap, glittery spangly costumes. The girls will put on a performance that is invariably filled with screams, giggles, and crazed dancing. Their shows very rarely have a plot that is easy to follow. Yet, I love them.
This month we have had a bunch of playdates. I think even though Sasha was in camp, she reall misses the one-on-one play time with her buddies. It definitely gives me a break from playing Barbie or babydolls. There have been quite a few birthday parties, too. Active ones which are great for wearing out little hyper girls.
The weather has remained hideously hot. Almost everyday after Sasha's nap, we usually go swimming. If there are no other kids for her to play with, she will go diving for her fairies or play "swim instructor". Her pupils are invariably horrid (spitting, kicking, and name-calling) so she spends most of her time screaming at them and "dragging" them to their parents. Sound travels and I am a little worried about what our neighbors must think. Especially as I am usually forced to play a role. We have coerced Dads to grill on occasion. Swimming and eating roasted corn is one of the best ways to pass the late afternoon/ early evening.
Jimmy and Sasha are up to their usual father-daughter antics. A week ago, she finagled her beloved pops into taking her to Chompie's for dinner. She came back with a hugely expensive Elmo cupcake (see above pic). I freaked out that he would spend so much money on high fructose corn syrup and dye. After I was through squawking, he explained that he had gotten it free. Free? Yeah, apparently the waitress slipped it into a bag for him. Weird that she would give him such a nice treat. UNTIL I realized that he had not worn his wedding ring to the restaurant. I am sure the waitress saw a very handsome man taking his adorable daughter out to dinner on a Friday night (divorced-daddy-has-custody-night) and decided to try to catch this hunk with the lure of delicious treat! When I pointed this out to my hubby, he didn't even bother to look chagrined. Hey, he got something FREE! Anway, the waitress better back off because Dr. Rubin belongs to us. 95% to Sasha and 5% to me!
