Camping

A few weeks ago, we went on our annual camping trip with our Sunday School class. It is always a ton of fun, but I was a little nervous about camping with a baby. We did do this camping trip when Ryan was about the same age, but I ended up coming home early with Ryan because he didn't sleep. Nicholas is a camping champ! He slept great both nights and even napped okay. I had forgotten to have him take a few naps in the pack and play before we left, so this trip was the first time he slept in the pack and play too.
Ryan had a blast riding his bike, riding a borrowed scooter and playing on the slip and slide. And for the first year, Ryan was independent enough for us to sit down and not have to be right there with him every minute. It was a great time--can't wait for next year!

The Dictionary According to Ryan

Here are some of the words Ryan mixes up--and it is so cute, I hate to correct him!

A base (like on a baseball field)--a basement
A mitt--a mitten
Hot cocoa--Hot Coconut
Pinecone--Pineapple

Brothers

Swimming.....or not swimming in our case

This week, we started swimming lessons. First, I need to preface this by saying that Ryan loves to swim. He has loved swimming every time we have gone and is not afraid of the water.
However, Ryan is absolutely refusing to get in the water for swimming lessons. He is excited to go every day, he talks about what he is going to do, but then will not get in. We have tried bribing him, just putting him in kicking and screaming, talking about it, getting there early to watch first, time out, you name it.
Ryan is the kind of child who does things on his time, his terms and you can't push him. Well, you can try to push him...hasn't worked for me yet. Hmm....who does this sound like?? Yes, he does get this from me.
Bill Cosby talks about the "mother's curse." The old "I hope when you grow up you get a child exactly like you?" Well, it worked. I talked with my mom and apparently I also refused to get in the water for swimming lessons. For an entire summer.
Note to reader--I apologized to both my parents today for being such a pain in the neck. Funny, they seem to find the entire situation with Ryan to be pretty comical. In fact, my dad couldn't stop laughing.
We will see how the next 6 lessons go. After talking with my parents, I'm not optimistic. But Ryan did scream a little less today when I put him in the pool. And he didn't scream quite as long after he got out (30 seconds later). Progress....not perfection.

He is on a roll....

Okay--more Ryan quotes!

--The other day, I was sitting with Nicholas on my lap. And Nicholas (very noisily) fills his diaper. Ryan turns around and asks, "Mommy, was that you or Nicholas?" Are you serious???

--We were driving and Ryan was talking about when he grows up. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up. He thinks for a second, then says, "I just don't know yet Mommy. Right now, I'm just growing and growing."

--Ryan loves to talk about huge things that are very "bigantic."

--Today at dinner, I was telling Jamie something and he said that it was hilarious. Ryan starts laughing and saying how hilarious it was. I asked him if he thought it was funny and Ryan said that he thought it was hilarious too. Then he says, "What are we talking about?"

Stress

I know that I have a lot to be thankful for--Nicholas is healthy and a happy, beautiful baby. But with the issues with his arm, have come things that I wasn't prepared for.
I feel like I don't "play" with him, like I played with Ryan. Yes, we play and do tummy time and do the same things that I did with Ryan. But, I feel like I'm doing these things for his therapy and I'm constantly watching his movements to see if they are "normal" or if he is progressing the way he should. Every time he hits the fish in his gym, I'm watching the way he moves his arm; trying to see if both arms are moving the same and checking the position of his hand. I'm not playing with him and just enjoying my baby--I'm playing with him, analyzing his movements and hoping that he is going to be okay and that his arm will recover completely.
I don't know how parents with special needs children do it--constantly questioning if every thing your child does is "normal." Nicholas' issue is minor, but it still comes with stress and baggage. It is hard not to compare your child to others and every baby is different, so it is also a pretty fruitless exercise. I just don't want to look back and feel like I "missed" this stage because all I didn't take the time to enjoy Nicholas for who he is, rather than focus on what he can or can't do.

Ryan-isms

Three year olds are highly entertaining--at least at my house! Ryan has been saying some funny stuff lately and I have to get it documented before I forget! We were looking back at some home videos the other day from when Ryan was about 18 months. I had totally forgotten what he used to say and sound like. Then we found some video from this past December, and it is amazing at how much he has changed in 6 months. He says words more clearly and now says sounds that he couldn't say 6 months ago. I think that once they start talking, you miss the subtle changes in their language development until you really look back. (Okay--that was a little rabbit trail, but I'll get to the quotes!)

--Today, Nicholas was making his baby noises and Ryan said, "Mommy, Nicholas is making noises for Jesus up in Heaven!" Then, he had to pray to let God know that Nicholas was making noises for Jesus.

--Ryan loves hot chocolate, but he calls it "Hot Coconut." :)

--Ryan can eat spaghetti like no kid I have ever seen. He loves it...especially the "Mara-aira" sauce.

--Sassy little turkey told me the other day, "No mommy, I'm talking, look at my eyes." He also has said, "Listen to my words Mommy." And then, we had the "do we discipline? moment when Ryan said, "Daddy, I just want you to stop bossing me around." (We did have a talk about that one!)