Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Excellent boys
Allan had PT this morning. Miss Julie hadn't seen him for two weeks and she was VERY impressed with him. He is able to support himself in the crawling position and rock back-and-forth, preparing to move forward (you may recall that Griffith was stuck in neutral For.Ever. with the rocking). We practiced crawling with just a little help and he really was getting the hang of it. Even better, he was so pleased with himself that it was ridiculous. He doesn't crow like his brother, but gets this little smirk.
We are still working on how to get down into crawling position from sitting and how to get back to sitting from crawl, but he has the basic idea and just needs to figure out the details (the devil is in the details -- right now he tends to flop or face plant instead of lowering himself gracefully). We have a meeting next week of all of his therapists to review his plan of care and to develop goals going forward. In preparation for that, Julie has been reviewing her notes and says that in six months, Allan has made six months' worth of progress which is apparently pretty impressive. You hope to make some progress, but not necessarily progress equal to the time spent. Big Al is doing great, though, and you can tell that she is as delighted with him as if he were her own child.
Griffith was about not able to stand all the attention Allan was getting. He could not be distracted -- not by me, not by Flora, not by other toys. He wanted the zebra that Allan was playing with. Desperately. Squirmed. Kicked. Howled. Pounded his head in to the floor. Once PT was over, Julie was filling out paperwork, Allan was playing with someone else, and I released Griffith to roam at will. He immediately headed for the zebra, picked it up and waved it at Julie as if to say, got it. Single-minded determination. As you can see, he is applying this determination to scaling the baby gate in to the kitchen. He hasn't quite got it worked out yet, but he has the general idea -- pull yourself up, hook your toes in the gaps in the gate and push yourself up. He's going to vault over on to his hard little head before too long. I would like to say "that'll teach him" but I am pretty sure it won't.
We are still working on how to get down into crawling position from sitting and how to get back to sitting from crawl, but he has the basic idea and just needs to figure out the details (the devil is in the details -- right now he tends to flop or face plant instead of lowering himself gracefully). We have a meeting next week of all of his therapists to review his plan of care and to develop goals going forward. In preparation for that, Julie has been reviewing her notes and says that in six months, Allan has made six months' worth of progress which is apparently pretty impressive. You hope to make some progress, but not necessarily progress equal to the time spent. Big Al is doing great, though, and you can tell that she is as delighted with him as if he were her own child.
Griffith was about not able to stand all the attention Allan was getting. He could not be distracted -- not by me, not by Flora, not by other toys. He wanted the zebra that Allan was playing with. Desperately. Squirmed. Kicked. Howled. Pounded his head in to the floor. Once PT was over, Julie was filling out paperwork, Allan was playing with someone else, and I released Griffith to roam at will. He immediately headed for the zebra, picked it up and waved it at Julie as if to say, got it. Single-minded determination. As you can see, he is applying this determination to scaling the baby gate in to the kitchen. He hasn't quite got it worked out yet, but he has the general idea -- pull yourself up, hook your toes in the gaps in the gate and push yourself up. He's going to vault over on to his hard little head before too long. I would like to say "that'll teach him" but I am pretty sure it won't.
Getting a toe-hold
Not content to merely hang and dangle, Griffith is working on how to get a good toe-hold so that he can hoist himself up and over the gate.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Lots to see
As promised, many photos from this weekend.
We have been back "home" today for the O'Rourke family reunion. The boys did great -- slept most of the ride down and back. They were pretty good in church (Griffith did decide to run through all of his tricks -- snorting, making engine noises, laughing and blowing zerberts) and great for the dinner -- even if it was a little loud and crowded with all those fertile Irish. Griff was Mr. Gregarious and couldn't get enough of all of the activity. Allan, on the other hand, was a little overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by it and decided that the thousand-yard stare was his best defense. He and his cousin Bailey have that in common.
When not surrounded by hordes of unfamiliar people, Allan is more and more talkative and active. He is making lots of new sounds -- guh and kuh and something that Flora swears is Da-dee. He's getting better and better at defending himself against the attacks of his brother and regularly snatches things away from Griffith (usually immediately after Griff has taken it from him). He now has twelve teeth and has two more about to come through (that's three more than Griffith has). I'm going to have to look up how many baby teeth you are supposed to have. If he gets many more, he's going to have to start a second row -- isn't that what piranha have?
Griff is not a full-time walker yet, but he is up to nearly half time at least. The record of unassisted steps now stands at thirteen. He is proceeding immediately from walking to climbing, much to our dismay. Last night as we were trying to have dinner, Jay and I looked down to see Griffith clinging by his fingers (white-knuckled) to the table (like a mountain climber) with both legs wrapped around the table leg, trying to get a toe-hold to pull himself up. Great. Just great. And irritating. It isn't like he will actually EAT, so why is he so desperate to get up to the table? At this point, though, he is all boy and all toddler. We think of him as The Id -- all appetite, no conscience. He is getting better about sharing with his brother -- at least two or three times a week we will watch him actually give his brother a toy. This is usuallyfollowed by him whacking Allan in the face, but, still, babysteps. And Allan does tend to be a bit dramatic -- screaming like he's been scalded. Griffith now knows that is not going to end well for him and he spins and skeedaddles whenever Allan starts to howl. Griff is all like, what? I don't know what he's yelling about - - I wasn't anywhere near him.
We have been back "home" today for the O'Rourke family reunion. The boys did great -- slept most of the ride down and back. They were pretty good in church (Griffith did decide to run through all of his tricks -- snorting, making engine noises, laughing and blowing zerberts) and great for the dinner -- even if it was a little loud and crowded with all those fertile Irish. Griff was Mr. Gregarious and couldn't get enough of all of the activity. Allan, on the other hand, was a little overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by it and decided that the thousand-yard stare was his best defense. He and his cousin Bailey have that in common.
When not surrounded by hordes of unfamiliar people, Allan is more and more talkative and active. He is making lots of new sounds -- guh and kuh and something that Flora swears is Da-dee. He's getting better and better at defending himself against the attacks of his brother and regularly snatches things away from Griffith (usually immediately after Griff has taken it from him). He now has twelve teeth and has two more about to come through (that's three more than Griffith has). I'm going to have to look up how many baby teeth you are supposed to have. If he gets many more, he's going to have to start a second row -- isn't that what piranha have?
Griff is not a full-time walker yet, but he is up to nearly half time at least. The record of unassisted steps now stands at thirteen. He is proceeding immediately from walking to climbing, much to our dismay. Last night as we were trying to have dinner, Jay and I looked down to see Griffith clinging by his fingers (white-knuckled) to the table (like a mountain climber) with both legs wrapped around the table leg, trying to get a toe-hold to pull himself up. Great. Just great. And irritating. It isn't like he will actually EAT, so why is he so desperate to get up to the table? At this point, though, he is all boy and all toddler. We think of him as The Id -- all appetite, no conscience. He is getting better about sharing with his brother -- at least two or three times a week we will watch him actually give his brother a toy. This is usuallyfollowed by him whacking Allan in the face, but, still, babysteps. And Allan does tend to be a bit dramatic -- screaming like he's been scalded. Griffith now knows that is not going to end well for him and he spins and skeedaddles whenever Allan starts to howl. Griff is all like, what? I don't know what he's yelling about - - I wasn't anywhere near him.
Clouding up
We joke that both boys have a stiff-upper lip -- it is the trembling lower one that gets you. Allan ,clouding up.
Allan irritated that his brother is horning in
Allan was not at all in a sharing mood and is preparing to let everyone know about it.
In full cry
Isn't that the most pitiful thing you've ever seen? Even Griff looks a little distressed.
Are you ready to go?
Griff, ready to lead the way to the bathtub.
And, yes, we know that Allan's hair is quite long. Momma ain't going to cut it. She wants a little mop-top like Cousin Joseph.
Griffith - free-range baby
Yes, he is nearly feral, roaming the house in his altogether, but at least he has good oral hygiene.
Big smiles from Allan
Check out all of those teeth. Twelve now -- eight on the bottom and four on top. Two more are about through.
Allan, all full of it
Allan was having a big time bouncing on his Dad's chest. Griffith couldn't stand it and had to get in the middle of it all.
Wrestlemania 2007
Allan looks unsure -- Dad seems to be the target, but you never know when Griff is going to veer off in your direction. It pays to be vigilant.
Navigating the obstacle course
Griff still doesn't have his sea legs yet so getting across the floor can be a bit of a challenge. Having all that crap in the floor doesn't help either.
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