Saturday, April 15, 2006

Easter Egg 2006




We did an Easter egg hunt in the back yard this morning. David wasn't sure what was going on at first, but quickly caught on!




He would not hold his basket, though, so MawMaw helped out. His basket is a fire truck!











After picking up all the eggs, David found his way to the big bucket of potting soil and proceeded to get filthy! But as always... he was having fun!

Our church didn't have an egg hunt, but we went to another church for their egg hunt. When we got there, they were not ready to get started, but they had an awesome preschool playground, so David was happily entertained. This thing he's sitting in below spun around like a sit & spin, but it was a rocket ship that 2 kids could ride!








Dad spun him around & David laughed & laughed. When he got up, he staggered around the playground, quite dizzy!














Finally the egg hunt began. Preschoolers started first. David picked up about 4 eggs before entering the sand box...









Looks like he is going to pick up that green egg, doesn't it? Actually, he was burying it. And the Easter egg hunt quickly turned into a sand box fest!






Friday, April 14, 2006

David's First Trip to the Zoo

MawMaw and Aunt Erin came to visit David for their Good Friday holiday. On Friday, David went on his first trip to the zoo!

Here Dad and David are looking at the monkeys swinging. David is wearing his monkey outfit, too!

Aunt Jana - Wish you had been there to defend yourself while Dad reminisced about trips to the zoo growing up!



Here was David's first view of the giraffes. I think by the smile on his face that he liked them! : )









David's hands down favorite animal was one of the elephants, though! I can't remember what her name was, but she's the second oldest African elephant in North America - and she had the wrinkles & gray eyelashes to show it! She was reaching out into the grass with her trunk to pick up little pieces of crackers and gather up bunches of hay. Every time she stretched it out, David got tickled!




Do you see it? Dad is explaining to David what a rattlesnake is & that he should watch out and never touch one!







This strange bird screamed very loudly like a little baby... and caused David to go hysterical, which only caused the bird to get louder & more baby-cry-like! Here is Dad carrying David away from the bird. Mom was soon required for comfort.

The aquarium building was much more peaceful. Click on the picture to view this one better - David is touching the glass with an alligator right there. Note the expression on Dad's face. I love this picture!


Guinea fowl ran wild all over the little zoo. I guessed for insect control. Aunt Erin pointed out this one in the flower bed to David & he wanted to get it! It didn't run, which is odd for a guinea, so I pulled him back thinking there might be a mad mama involved. Sure enough, Dad found a nest with eggs on the other side.

Mom will add more animal pictures later.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

ECI Update & NIGHT

Today we had the speech eval from ECI today. David does qualify for the program based on 3 or more months delay for his age. They weren't specific with how delayed they think he is.

Our coordinator also did more fine motor skill testing & wants to have the OT do an eval on him as well. The fine motor skills that he regularly does at home, he does well, but he had a hard time with her test objects - and he never stacks blocks. They don't like that. She said to see if I can get him to string Cheerios because that would help develop his fine motor skills.

The SLP wants to start therapy 2x week, starting with us & how we interact with him. She said we're making things to easy for him. I'll try to talk to the coordinator tomorrow & see what's next & when it will take place.

Tonight after brushing teeth, David & Mom went into the kitchen & I said, "Night, night, Dad!" Dad replied, "Night, night!" And David said, "Night!"

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

David Measures & Dad Climbs

David has this thing with tape measures... he likes them. As you can see here, he has pulled out the entire 100 feet of tape - rather quickly, I might add... first thing this morning!

And then he walked across the room, with a loop of tape around each foot, dragging a trail of tangled tape and other objects along behind him. And he looked awfully cute doing it, too! I couldn't help but laugh. Now, Mom gets to untangle it all & roll it back up before Dad gets back home!

I ended up just shutting the door to the office for most of the day because I didn't have time to mess with it & as long as he could see it, he wanted to play with it more.

Mom & David stopped by the fire station to pick up some info from the secretary after lunch. Two busses were parked in front of the building and kids were pouring out. We said hi to Dad then went into the office while he helped with the tour groups. In a few minutes another fireman came in to tell us that Dad was about to climb the ladder for the kids... the big ladder.



Up... up... up... he went!
75' up!

When he got to the top, he waved at the 80 kids, teachers & everyone else on the ground. The kids let out a loud cheer! I could hear David in my head, "See that fireman at the top of the ladder? That's my daddy!"


As he was coming back down, I tried to get David to look up, but he didn't until Dad got just above the cab. David started getting excited when he realized it was Dad! He ran over to him & gave him a bear hug!

Here is David helping Dad open the storage doors on the truck for the kids to look into.










And here is a distance shot so you can see the ladder fully extended. Click on any of the pictures to see them enlarged. Dad is standing at the base of the ladder in this picture. One group of kids is coming around the back of the truck.

In case you're wondering. Mom & David had no idea that this was going on, but like I tell Grandpa - be prepared! The camera was in the car, so I was able to run & get it in time to get the pictures. And yes, I was shaking! Shaking, holding David in one arm, trying to take pictures with the other hand! It's a wonder they turned out! : )

Monday, April 10, 2006

Find Your Wings

This is a new song that's out. I think it's for David:

Mark Harris - Find Your Wings
From the album The Line Between The Two

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow




Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings






May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories






Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings





It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly





Update: Here's a link I found where you can listen to the song: MARK HARRIS. This page will play a snippit in the flash intro, then you can click on "Download the full version" to play it on your own computer. You can also listen to an interview with Mark about the song. This did not work for me in Netscape, but I was able to listen to both with Explorer. Don't know the name, but do know the face? Mark is from the group 4HIM, one of the best groups in Christian music history, and currently on their farewell tour. (We're going to see them in May!)

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Water & Fish... Oil


Today was a beautiful day! We played in the back yard for quite a while. David played in the sprinkler again. The hose has a leak & this puddle formed. David enjoyed splashing in it... he's getting ready for the river! Notice the cute swim trunks!!!

You may remember David's 1st experience with a fish oil supplement. It was several months ago. He got into his dad's bag he takes to work. I thought I had picked everything up, but apparently a fish oil caplet was hidden somewhere. First & foremost, I am thankful that he didn't choke on it. The day after this happened (and I didn't know I had missed the fish oil) David smelled like dead fish - his breath, his diapers, and his general body scent. I racked my brain to figure out what I had fed him to make him smell so bad. (We'd had a previous incident where I fed him something that had a lot of garlic in it & he stunk the day after that, too.) Finally I found the empty caplet under the couch & realized that he had found it and sucked the oil out.

Well, a few weeks ago, someone in an email group asked if anyone had tried giving their late talker omega-3 supplements. There was not much discussion on the topic, so I started doing some research & found that some think it does indeed help boost mood, energy, concentration, learning ability, and positive behavior. I found a company called Nordic Naturals that made a strawberry flavored liquid that was recommended for age 1 & up. Dad & I agreed that it wouldn't hurt to try & see.

David started taking 1/2 teaspoon this past week on Wednesday, 4/5. I gave it in a medicine dropper & he acted like he liked the taste of it.

On Friday, 4/7, while putting on his shoes to go outside, with me repeating "shoe" David started saying "sh". He has done it every day since when we put on his shoes. He got frustrated trying to tell us that he wanted to swing & watch a movie. We finally figured out that he was trying to pull the swing out. Swinging & movies go hand-in-hand, so I looked up the sign for movie & showed it to him. He did it right back. He's never repeated a sign that quickly.

On Saturday, 4/8, I asked him if he wanted a cracker. He signed cookie & looked at the box of vanilla wafers. And has started using other signs more, too. He has started nodding yes to "do you want" questions. He has started pointing at objects in books.

Today - Sunday, 4/9, his Sunday school teacher commented that he actually interacted with the other kids. I didn't have much time to talk to her, because other parents were waiting, so I don't know how he interacted, but she noticed it & she usually says he played by himself the whole time. Then
we went to the fire station to see Dad. I always talk about going to see Dad at the fire station while we're in the car going there. As we're getting out of the car, I said as usual, "Here's the fire station, let's go find Dad." David started saying "fff, fff". I wonder if that was F for fire or F for find?

While there, we asked if he wanted to go see the fire truck. We waited briefly, then he went to the door that leads into the engine bay. After eating applesauce, I picked up the bowl & said, "all done". I usually make the sign while I say it, but didn't this time. David did it. First time for that one, too. Later in the car, he drank all his juice, dropped the cup, I said "Are you done?" and he signed "all done". I also waved my hands in the air talking about the pretty wispy clouds, and he did the same thing. I'm pretty sure he said "no" today, too, when I was calling him for a diaper change. He's never said that before, either.

Tonight while I was watching home makeover, he came in looked at the TV & signed "movie". I told him Mom was watching a movie now!

Coincidence or Omega-3? I don't know for *certain*, but I'm going to keep giving it to him.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

SPRING: The Season of Balloons

This morning we went to HEB and were greeted by the Easter bunny! David just stared at him, so Mom accepted the sucker on David's behalf. They were also giving away balloons! As we stood waiting our turn, David got upset by seeing two other kids get balloons before he did! Patience Little One... lest we start singing the song!!!



Here is David shoo-ing Tabi away from his balloon. (it's behind him)

Speaking of "sh" - yesterday while putting on David's shoes & Mom repeating the word "shoe," David started saying, "sh, sh"! Mom got excited & continued saying "shoe" and I think one time he got it out sounding more like the complete word. Again today the same thing happened, so he's learning "sh" for "shoe"!


A little static electricity is fun! Here's David with the balloon stuck on his head!



Click on this one to enlarge it & you can see the little hairs holding the balloon there!

The Pumpkin that Never Died

When I started blogging in October 2005, this is the display that sat on my front porch. Before the season ended, I added a couple more smaller pumpkins. But the important pumpkin can be seen here on the far right. Purchased at HEB and selected for it's beautiful color and shape, I was quite proud of this one!

Believe it or not, this is the SAME pumpkin - photo taken YESTERDAY!!! I still think it's a beautiful pumpkin, but if I'm going to try planting it's seeds, I had to give up and cut the thing! It's been sitting in the back yard since December because I didn't want people thinking I was leaving a fake pumpkin on my porch, nor did I want some yahoo to smash it. As I stick the butcher knife in to pull the top off, David started screaming at the top of his lungs! Guess he's grown to love the pumpkin, too!


This is the first time I've tried harvesting pumpkin seeds and will be my first attempt to grow them. If it fails, you can sure bet that I'll be pumpkin shopping at HEB again this year! (the others all came from the big box)

OK, forget trying to fix yesterday's post. It can't be done. So, here's the picture of yesterday's balloon that wouldn't load.

You're not going to see the cilantro. Looks like alfalfa sprouts.

trying again... yesterday's post

Mom got a hair cut at the mall yesterday, so David got a new balloon from Chick-fil-a. As we strolled out of the mall, he was grinning ear-to-ear holding the string (which was also tied to the stroller). David did a wonderful job sitting in the stroller while Mom got her hair cut! Tabi & her claws played with teh balloon this morning while David wasn't watching, so this one didn't last long.

Garden Update: Exciting garden developments while we were away

Cilantro sprouts were started inside to transplant into the herb garden. I may give some to a friend who usually has a garden, too.




And here is one of my bell peppers. There is a fading bloom near the top of the plant!






The most exciting thing in the garden right now is this! See the two spent blooms turned down? The one on the left has a teenie-tiny yellow pear tomato inside!!! Whoo-hoo!!!





Bad photo, but this sprout is where I put the lettuce seeds.






This photo shows 2 carrot sprouts.





And the mammoth sprout - yep, squash!






David checks things out, too.

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