Spring Fever

While it would be disingenuous to bash the winter we had, it still makes for a long period of time where there is much more indoor time than outdoor.   Everyone has a case of cabin fever, so with the warmer weather we've had here since Sunday we have tried to get out as often as possible.

On Sunday, Val completed her Irish running series that was 3 miles one Sunday, 4 the next, and then 5 this past week.  She has been running all winter including races on New Years Day and Superbowl Sunday.   We also managed to get the kids out to the park for a while on Sunday and they loved using slides and Liam is quite the monkey climbing on everything.  It is amazing to see him use these 'big boy' toys as he really is getting big.

So what is new... well with Liam it is a bit of a mixed bag.  He is really active and loves to skate, but he is fighting us a lot when he does not get his way.   He used to be so cute and cooperative.  Now he is throwing tantrums, and cursing us out (not bad words, just "I don't love you", "you aren't nice").  Of course when he gets his way, he is as cute and fun as can be.  When he is in a good mode he is doing a decent job of counting, but has stalled on his alphabet.  He's been stuck on Q for about 3 months.  He is writing his name a lot and can use flash cards to identify a half-dozen letters too.  As for the skating and hockey, he just finished his last week after going for about 6 months.   For his age he is really good and that isn't just me saying that, we hear it every week from different parents there.   I fully assume it will all even out in time, it is just that he's been on skates for over a year now and also practices on rollerblades.

As for Quinn, he is fighting through a string of 4 teeth coming in around the same time. On top of it he has an ear infection (first since March 2011), so he has some legitimate reason for being fussy.   He is learning to communicate more and more -- he certainly understands much of what we are saying and can give very definitive Yes and No responses.  Sometimes though it is more like playing 100 questions as it is impossible to figure out why he is upset.   Before the teething (about 2 weeks ago) he had been doing excellent at school.  We had 3 solid weeks of really positive reports about him having good days.   And even today when I picked him up, he was having a lot of fun playing with his friends.

Speaking of school, we are planning to send Liam to Immaculate Conception School for PK4 next year.  A neighbor of ours is there now and likes it a lot.   We went to their open house a couple weeks back and really liked the teachers we met.  Hopefully it is a good fit for Liam.   He seems excited about it now, but I know he'll really miss everyone at Hilltop.  He's had such a good experience there and Quinn will be there for at least another year.   While the boys are 2 years apart, they are 3 by school definitions.  We are hoping to push Quinn up a year and figure we'll have a better chance of that at Immaculate than Lowell Public. 

Hopefully warmer weather will be here to stay.  We and the kids have had a few play dates this winter, but we'd really like to get outside and will soon get together with kids friends so that they can all burn energy together.  Oh yeah, Liam is going to try soccer this spring, so we'll see how that goes.

Quinn isn't all bad...

For the first time ever, we got a really good report on Quinn's day at school. Usually they politely say he had a good day, but it hasn't ever felt like daycare folks meant it. I actually imagine the teachers trying to convince the director to expell Quinn for being too emotional. During last couple weeks we've had some slightly warmer evaluation, but yesterday was off the charts. Whenever I pick the kids up I walk in to school with my apologies ready, so I was shocked when they said "Quinn was the best kid in class all day.". He does seem much happier going to school these days. It has taken quite a while, but he doesn't cry when we drop him off and seems to be having fun most days when we pick him up. It is nice to think he isn't making everyone around him miserable. In addition to emotional growth, he also is doing a little better with his communication. He certainly is following some instructions like "throw away xyz" or " go get". And tonight he was stacking blocks 6-8 tall. As for Liam, he started sleeping in a toddler bed on Monday. We have this in our bedroom, but at least he is out of our bed. He is doing ok, but it will take a while for him to get comfortable. No real guess as to when we'll be able to move his bed into another room. Oh well...at least Quinn is still loving nights in his crib.

Quinn Growing Up Too

We were at lunch last week and a person said that Quinn was quite independent.   I'm not sure how he could tell that in such short observation, but it is hard to argue.    And while Quinn's "independence" is a bit different than Liam's these days, I guess it is all relative.

Quinn likes things his way.  He doesn't have much tolerance for being told no and can throw one heck of a tantrum.  The biggest battle these days is about his darn bottle and the quest to transition him to a sippy cup. Somehow at school they seem to have moved him to a cup, but at home it is still not happening.  Perhaps we are too soft, but those fits are just too much to take after a while.

At lunch last week he was all smiles and happy because I let him stand on the chair while eating his hot dog and fries.   He felt like he was a 'normal' kid as he didn't have a high-chair or anything that would constrain his mobility.  He doesn't care that it wasn't the safest thing and most parents were probably cursing me -- especially when I left him there to go pick up food and drinks. 

Quinn contorts his body in all directions when he isn't happy and makes it very hard to hold him.  And when you give up and let him onto the floor he will just drop to his back.. slam his head on ground.. and roll around like a mad man.   It is a bit out of Poltergeist or maybe Exorcist.   It all seems a bit over the top to get milk in a bottle instead of a cup, but he seems to think it is worth it.

Communication is starting to appear for him and not always via tantrum.  Hopefully as this develops a bit more, we can avoid some of the battles.  Like Liam, we are trying to do some sign language with him and he is certainly getting it ---  I think we worked on "more" too much as he does that sign a lot and usually when he is trying to get a bottle.   Hopefully we can get him to recognize difference and start to do sign for "milk" when he wants a drink, "eat" when he is hungry, "more", and maybe even "thank you".   Seems a ways off now, but he is doing more and more of that.

He isn't talking per se, but he certainly makes sounds that are similar to those we'd make for things like "bye-bye".   He does a good job waving and even started to blow a kiss.   Speaking of kisses, this is something he is also starting to do and was making out with some toy last night (but that is a different story) -- he does a very open mouthed kiss, but it is very cute.   

As we get through Xmas, it has been very neat to see him light up when he sees Christmas lights like those on trees across the street.  He really seems to love them!  He also seems to know that Santa is a good guy and fixates on him whenever he appeared at mall, sidewalk, or on TV.   Funny how he can already sense that being friends with the jolly fat guy can pay huge dividends.

So while he is a challenge, he is certainly getting a bit easier to be around.  He still climbs a bit more than we'd like, but he is also more stable with it most of the time.   Unfortunately he still manages to take a couple tumbles when he (and I) get overconfident in his abilities. 

Independent Liam

Recently Liam has started to become a bit more independent with everything. And it is mostly good, but there is a sadness about him growing up. As I think I posted recently, he is at the perfect age and is just super lovable.

Normally he doesn't go to the next room without someone going with him. This week he has started to wander a bit more without dragging an adult with him. Yesterday I caught him upstairs when he thought everyone was downstairs. And today he went into kitchen by himself, pulled out some leftover chicken nuggets from the frige, grabbed a plate and cup, filled cup with water, made up the plate and even added appropriate amount of ketchup to his afternoon snack. I was amazed when I went looking for him and discovered this boy all independent.

His other funny thing is him asking for "privacy" when he uses the bathroom. Although we still get the joy of wiping....guess some more independence is desired by all.

On a sad note, today we had to euthanize our cat Lulu. We are sad and just need to find way to tell Liam.

Christmas

The boys had a fantastic Christmas and we all enjoyed seeing Santa through the eyes of a child.  Between Santa, Aunts and Uncles, Friends, and Grandparents these two boys opened enough gifts to start a day care facility.  Everyone is so thoughtful and generous -- these boys are truly blessed (and yes a bit spoiled too!).

We stayed home for Christmas Eve and Day which was so relaxing.  It was great to be in PJ's for 2 days without the challenge of travel.   Plus with the Sunday holiday, we also all had Monday together to hang out and play.  It really was a great family holiday weekend.

Fortunately we were able to coax a few visitors and had a nice dinner with Scanlon's on Friday night.  Then on Christmas Eve we had Nana and Grampy Conley come up and spend the night.

Quinn on Christmas Eve

Boys with Nana

Our family - We are so blessed!

On Christmas morning we discovered that Santa had arrived and had brought lots of toys for the boys.  Uncle Matt and Aunt Erin joined us for breakfast and some more unwrapping.

Christmas Loot --- kids must have been on the 'Good Boy' list.  Big OSU bean bag chair from Papa Tom; Santa brought Thomas Train table, Woody doll, a helicopter, and some clothes and toiletries; Grandparents McDonald sent boxes of trucks and a big ride around car in background. Nana and Grampy sent Toy Story Imaginix set.

On his own, Liam gathered his toys and surrounded himself.   The green frog is from Uncle Matt and Aunt Erin along with lots of other neat stuff.

Quinn loving his singing frog and monkey.   Is the frog staring at Quinn?

Kids were all wired so we couldn't get a "nice" photo -- but we got at least one shot with grandparents

It was a fabulous Christmas.  We are so lucky and blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Merry Christmas to all!