Princess Tea Party

When getting ready for this tea party Dani threw a huge tantrum because I was making her wear jeans. She was so loud, she set off the doorbell in the back of the house multiple times. When she realized she was wearing a matching shirt to her cousins, she started to get over the frustration of having to wear jeans. It really helped that Aunt Carey took them to play in the leaves outside.


Each of the girls had a wand and glass slipper at their place setting.

Bippity Boppity Boo!

Each girl had her own tea pot filled with pink lemonade. They turned the lid over to let the servers know it needed to be refilled.

They had a yummy looking lunch with a butterfly cut sandwich with a flower on top.

The table also included a couple princess games, tic tac toe and bingo.

Ice Cream was served in a tea cup for dessert.
At first Dani tried using a spoonBut she would only lick the ice cream off, and refused to put the whole spoon in her mouth.Eventually she got tired of using a spoon and decided to go directly for the scoop with her tongue.After dessert, the girls made princess bracelets.
Though the beads kept rolling off the table, the girls eventually completed their pretty bracelets to wear home.

We had lots of fun at the tea party

Smiling after our fun Girls day out
Dani had so much fun being with her cousins that she asked if she could wear her shirt that matched the cousins the next day, even if it meant she had to wear jeans.

3 Months

We were out of town for James' 3 month birthday and I didn't feel like bringing the large monkey with me just to take one picture. So here is a picture on his birthday without the large monkey.

And here is a picture when we returned to show how much he has grown.

Dani still loves to have her picture taken with her brother.
James is still developing well. This month he has developed mostly social and verbal skills. He was very cuddly and interactive when visiting Nana and Papa. I loved showing off his smile which came so easily. He also laughs a lot more and his ticklish spot is becoming more sensitive. He uses a variety of vowel sounds, initiates conversations, and takes turns talking.

He is extremely expressive when talking. If he is hungry, he will often talk to me with a sad face and a sad tone. At times his bottom lip comes out, but he's not crying he's just telling me his sad story. Other times he will smile and talk mixing up some of his "statements" with chuckles. Sometimes he seems quite serious as he tries to say different sounds.

James has started grabbing more often. He likes to grab my hair already and reaches for toys quite regularly. When I feed him he likes to rub my hands or try and hold the bottle himself. He can sit with support, but does not like being in the bumbo for more than a few seconds. He also doesn't like to be on the floor, but prefers being in his bouncer since this allows for better interaction. This month I've not been as good at putting him on his tummy on the floor. I will need to give him more floor time to work out his arms when they are not in restraints.

This month his sleep has not been as good as it was earlier. He prefers being held and with people. He has been spoiled and I've slept with him on the couch for many nights. If he wakes up and doesn't see me, he will yell (not cry or scream, just yell "aaa!" loudly). I was a lot more disciplined with Dani's sleep than I am with James'. With his surgery coming up soon, it's hard to be motivated to work on getting him to sleep alone. Perhaps in a few months I'll try more.

Since we visited doctors weekly this month, here is my monthly medical update. This month has been a lot more relaxing than the last since we have seemed to get good news from the doctors. Though the Neuro, ENT and Plastic Surgeons don't agree on when to fix his meningocele, at least three of the four Surgeons he has seen feel STRONGLY (and I felt this way all along) that he does not need a cranial bi-partition to move his eyes closer together. One less risky surgery!!! They have ordered more imaging studies to come to a consensus on what to do with the meningocele. We hope to do these at the same time as his first surgery which is less than 2 weeks away. After seeing Genetics there are no obvious genetic links, though they did suggest some tests to rule out a few things. They were pretty impressed at his communication skills since he was obviously trying to talk to them while they were assessing him. James will be having his first surgery in less than 2 weeks. He will have his lip repaired, his ears will get tubes, he will have another hearing test to see if he has any hearing in his right ear after the tubes and he will have another MRI and a CT scan. It will be a full day. I hope everything goes smoothly and quickly. Any prayers given on his behalf are appreciated.

I caught it!

This afternoon I recorded James' talking. He is getting much better at the tit for tat conversations and even squeals a few times. Here is a short clip with a small laugh that I caught on tape. It's only the third time he has laughed while awake and is kind of quick, but I'm sure they will become more frequent and obvious as he gets older. He really liked talking to the camera, so I'll have to do this more.

Halloween 2010

A Pirate Says "Argh!"

Story

Here is another favorite video of mine. I just love watching Dani play. Here she is creating her own story to "read" to Bolt. Notice how Bolt is carefully placed on a pillow. She LOVES her stuffed "sweet puppy".

It's already started; asking for presents I'm not able to get her yet. A couple weeks ago I asked Dani what she wanted for Christmas, she responded "A Puppy". Too bad she'll have to wait AT LEAST until we have a house and maybe even longer due to allergies and the work load of a puppy. She might not be too disappointed though, I'm not exactly sure if she meant a real puppy or was just referring to the toy puppy in a magazine. I'll have to ask again later.

Smiles

This is my favorite video right now. I can't help but smile.

As you can see, James LOVES kisses! I need to repeat this video with someone else holding the camera. Also of note, on Tuesday James laughed for the first time. Though he has been laughing in his sleep for months, this was his first laugh while awake. I'm anxious to get his laugh on video tape some day.

Creativity

Though I have had lots of posts about James and his development, I've also been enjoying watching Dani grow and develop her personality. She LOVES to play and is quite creative. Though she LOVES toys, she often takes every day items and pretend they are toys. Here is a small sample of what Dani has done over the last few months. Please know that these are her creations not prompted or demonstrated by me.

She has cared for her brother.

She has dressed up

sometimes in normal dress up clothes with new special shoes
Sometimes in favorite new dresses

Sometimes in her own "princess dresses"

My high heels are her "glass slippers"Some days she prefers not to get dressed at all. Though this is because her nightgown is like a "pretty dress"

She also loves to make pattern ("paduwin") necklacesIt is not uncommon for me to be cooking dinner only to have a super hero run into the room exclaiming "Don't worry Mom! I'll save you!"

She has made "carpet angels"

This was her "instructions" which she requested that we take everywhere (the store, restaurants etc). I just didn't feel like toting it around.

Since James came along, her "purse" has been a favorite toy to grab while I am occupied.

While at a restaurant the other day she picked up her knife and fork to show Dad how to play a violin. She stuck it under her chin like that without any instructions. I think she learned this from Elmo on Sesame Street.

Dani has been fighting naps for a while and since James came, I've not been feeling up to the fight. We've come to a compromise. She can stay on the couch and watch my shows with me if she tries to go to sleep and take a nap on the couch. The great thing is there is little set up and no complaining because she doesn't have to nap in her room. I just have to leave the TV on or she will wake up to tell me it turned off.

Over all she is a very sweet, helpful, and obedient little girl.

Two Months Old

2 months

Weight: 12 lb

Length: 23.5 inches

Other than the MRI, James has not had any doctor appointments this month. I've been grateful for a few weeks of no new problem to add to my list. Even if it is just ignorant bliss, it is still a nice break. I have also had a lot fewer tears and feel like I'm getting a little bit of a grasp on what we will face. I sure hope to keep it that way for a little while.

I thought that I would be less excited about my second child's developmental milestones. With our situation, however, it has turned out to be opposite of what I expected. I am obsessed with every little milestone he makes. Seeing him progress really lights up my day.

Here are a few things he has been doing this month:

• Swings his arms and legs to hit dangling toys.
  
  

• Vocalizes mood. Happy coos when I give him attention, and sad cues/pouts after he has been crying and is picked up.
  
  

• Grabs on to my pump tubing and once he even disconnected the tubing while I was pumping. Though not likely purposeful, it seemed like a very coordinated reach, grab and pull from the hand furthest away from the pump.

• Either holds onto my hand or "holds" his bottle while being fed.

• Visually tracks things and people well.

• Smiles spontaneously at me. Even if I'm sad these smiles are contagious!
  
  

• When I sing to his good ear, he will turn his head so he can see me.

• Unfortunately, he likes TV like his big sister. Though he at least prefers talking or playing to TV.
  
  

• Has started to REALLY fight sleep and gets quite grumpy when he needs sleep. Does not know how to fall asleep on his own yet.

• Does not like to be alone for more than a few seconds. He will calm down if I am in his view, but fuss loudly if he can't see me.

• Attempts to suck the fingers on his right hand when he doesn't have his pacifier.

• Holds his head up at 45 degrees when on his tummy.
  
  

• His head is quite steady when held in a sitting position.

• He is able to bear weight on his legs.

Dani also enjoys playing with James, even if he doesn't respond much yet. She loves to put baby toys in his hands and help him shake them. She likes to read with him, watch him on the couch, keep him company when I have to get something, sing to him, pat his hair, talk with him about how cute he is, and bounce him in his bouncer. She is the sweetest big sister I could imagine. She is so enthusiastic about everything and always upbeat and happy. I can't help but smile when I think of my sweet kids.