Griffith working on his strap and thinking things over.Sunday, August 19, 2007
Allan working on his swing strap.
I am going to patent a toy that is just that strappy material. Both of the boys find it irresistible.
What happens when it gets quiet...
Daddy and Big Al were chilling in the living room, when Dad realized that he hadn't heard Griffith for a few minutes.
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.
Friday, August 10, 2007
It has been a busy week. Good but busy. Dad has been working late most nights and has taken the camera. The combination equals no update on the blog. We'll try to rectify that this weekend.
Allan had a good session with Miss Edie on Tuesday. She's delighted with how much progress he has made with his eating and responsiveness. He clearly pays attention to her, if she is doing anything of interest. This week she was -- he liked every toy she brought and both he and Griffith were amazed by her blowing bubbles. (When she asked me if they liked bubbles, I had to tell her that I didn't know. We hadn't ever blown bubbles. I felt like the biggest slacker mom in the world. What kind of mom doesn't blow bubbles????) Although we have been telling her all along that Allan does what Allan elects to do, she wasn't so sure -- hemight not be able to understand or respond. Now she knows he can, but does not always choose to do so. He's not (overtly) rude about it -- he just turns his head and sticks his thumb in his mouth and waits for her to do something, well, interesting. (Griffith spends the entire time desperately trying to get in the middle of whatever. Can.Not.Stand.It.)
As it happens, Griffith is going to get his own time with Miss Edie. She's left a spot in her schedule for him so (we hope) to get him started down the road to eating like a big boy soon. He did eat some roasted garlic and olive oil couscous the other night and a fair amount of mashed potatoes with lots of butter the next night. Maybe he just sees no point in eating bland things. We have to kick it up a notch to engage his attention.
Allan went back this morning to have his eye examined. It still looks good. No scar tissue has developed and the pupil has remained open. The pressure in it is excellent. We are discontinuing some of his eyedrops and going back in a month to see how things look then. Big Al also had his hearing checked (again) today. Although there had been some concern initially that he was practically deaf in his left ear, he ain't. His hearing is within the normal range for adults (much less one year-olds). Once again, Allan does (and hears) what he wants to and, if he isn't interested, you are not going to get a response out of him. Apparently after a few rounds of turning his head left and right to the beeps and whistles, he decided that was for the birds and (you guessed it) started sucking his thumb. From that point on, he would only turn his head when the tech addressed him directly. Whatever else you want to say about him, Allan knows his own mind.
Hope to have some new photos and tales of adventure for you come Monday. Have a good weekend!
Allan had a good session with Miss Edie on Tuesday. She's delighted with how much progress he has made with his eating and responsiveness. He clearly pays attention to her, if she is doing anything of interest. This week she was -- he liked every toy she brought and both he and Griffith were amazed by her blowing bubbles. (When she asked me if they liked bubbles, I had to tell her that I didn't know. We hadn't ever blown bubbles. I felt like the biggest slacker mom in the world. What kind of mom doesn't blow bubbles????) Although we have been telling her all along that Allan does what Allan elects to do, she wasn't so sure -- hemight not be able to understand or respond. Now she knows he can, but does not always choose to do so. He's not (overtly) rude about it -- he just turns his head and sticks his thumb in his mouth and waits for her to do something, well, interesting. (Griffith spends the entire time desperately trying to get in the middle of whatever. Can.Not.Stand.It.)
As it happens, Griffith is going to get his own time with Miss Edie. She's left a spot in her schedule for him so (we hope) to get him started down the road to eating like a big boy soon. He did eat some roasted garlic and olive oil couscous the other night and a fair amount of mashed potatoes with lots of butter the next night. Maybe he just sees no point in eating bland things. We have to kick it up a notch to engage his attention.
Allan went back this morning to have his eye examined. It still looks good. No scar tissue has developed and the pupil has remained open. The pressure in it is excellent. We are discontinuing some of his eyedrops and going back in a month to see how things look then. Big Al also had his hearing checked (again) today. Although there had been some concern initially that he was practically deaf in his left ear, he ain't. His hearing is within the normal range for adults (much less one year-olds). Once again, Allan does (and hears) what he wants to and, if he isn't interested, you are not going to get a response out of him. Apparently after a few rounds of turning his head left and right to the beeps and whistles, he decided that was for the birds and (you guessed it) started sucking his thumb. From that point on, he would only turn his head when the tech addressed him directly. Whatever else you want to say about him, Allan knows his own mind.
Hope to have some new photos and tales of adventure for you come Monday. Have a good weekend!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Allan in his new high chair
Big Al is so strong and full of beans these days that we have had to graduate to the big boy high chair.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Causing a commotion
That's what Allan is doing right now. Dad has taken Mr. It Is a Pleasure to Put Him to Bed upstairs (and has had to return for a refill on the bottle -- don't ask how the breaking him is going - so far, we are the ones who have broken.) Allan has been rejuvenated by his bath and the fact that the house is cool and dark. He's ready to roll. He keeps slamming the coins in to his piggy bank. Without Griffith to swoop in and take over the project, Allan has time to do has he pleases. He pleases to hit the coins -- in his own sweet time.
Mom left the card reader at work so no new photos until tomorrow. I'm just going to buy another to keep at home to avoid the hassle.
Friday we took the boys out to the pizza place to celebrate Alice's birthday. The boys were fabulous, naturally. We tried both of them in the wooden booster seats provided by the restaurant. Griff did just fine, but Allan is just that much smaller that he was a bit a wobbly.
(big yawn from Allan who has setled in for a snuggle and songs of praise - We Love You, Allan and You Are My Sunshine, over and over again. Meanwhile I think I can still hear Mr. It Is a Pleasure howling like a banshee.)
Anyway, the whole family went to the pizza place, we plunked Allan down in his seat and he got a look of complete and utter irritation and consternation. As Alice says, he has about 30 different versions of "what in the hell are you doing" (she added, unnecessarily, I think, "just like his mother.") At any rate, we got his own booster seat and that still didn't suit. Turns out that Big Al is just as nosy as his brother these days and didn't want to be facing away from the majority of the restaurant. Just so soon as his dad picked him up and held him so that he could swivel around and see what was going on, he was fine. The only other problem that we had was that Allan is like a little pot-belly stove. He throws off heat like you would not believe. Now, the A/C in the restaurant made it pretty pleasant, but it was 90-ish and humid outside and they had open flames going inside, so Big Al was the last thing that you needed laying on your shoulder. Alice was in a flop sweat before long and so was Mom. By the time we hit home, I was drenched! While we were at the pizza place, some friends who have a little boy the boys' age came over. When they left, Connor waved bye-bye and, to our astonishment, Griff waved right back! We've been trying to get him to do it for weeks, but the little devil wouldn't do it (and he hasn't done it since) but he clearly knew what he was about.
Every night is the same, though. Jay has put masking tape over the vent next to him and sleeps under an extra quilt. Griffith sleeps in a fleece sleep sack and a blanket. He gets chill-bumps whenever you change his diaper. Allan, on the other hand, spends as much time as necessary kicking off even the lightest of blankets and I am under a sheet with my feet hanging out, trying to catch a breeze from the fan.
Saturday morning Jay started making some headway on his "honey do" list while the boys and I ran to the Farmer's Market and got corn and squash and zucchini and cucumbers. It was hotter than I realized and, by the time (well before 11) we got back, it was in the mid-80's and very humid. We had a little lunch (very little, in the case of Griffith) and then (blessedly) they both fell asleep for about 2 hours. Then they took a dip in the wading pool and got baths in anticipation of the arrival of Evan. Mom and Dad had to go to a wedding, Miranda had two weddings to sing in, and so Evan (her husband) came to hang out and do guy things -- watch ESPN and Spike TV and roughhouse. Griff had taken about 6 steps unassisted but Evan got him up to about 10. He's still pretty wary about it and would prefer to hold on, however lightly, to your hand, but some times forgets to be cautious and heads out.
Today was a good day. Jay took off to golf and the boys got up about 7 or so. It was rainy and hot so we couldn't take a walk or run or really get out and do anything. Griff decided that it was a perfect day to sleep in and dozed off at about 9:30, followed shortly by Big Al, followed shortly by Mom. We got about 2 hours in and were all the better for it. Dad didn't get quite so lucky. By the time he got home the fellas were ready to roll. That's the price you pay for trying to be Tiger Woods.
Allan has gotten so full of beans and spunk and whatever else that he can't be trusted in the booster seat on the table so we had to get him a real high chair, just like Griffith's. Not that either of them uses them to eat. We just use them as a method of confinement really.
All three fellas are upstairs. Time to join them. There should be pictures tomorrow, provided I can find the reader.
Mom left the card reader at work so no new photos until tomorrow. I'm just going to buy another to keep at home to avoid the hassle.
Friday we took the boys out to the pizza place to celebrate Alice's birthday. The boys were fabulous, naturally. We tried both of them in the wooden booster seats provided by the restaurant. Griff did just fine, but Allan is just that much smaller that he was a bit a wobbly.
(big yawn from Allan who has setled in for a snuggle and songs of praise - We Love You, Allan and You Are My Sunshine, over and over again. Meanwhile I think I can still hear Mr. It Is a Pleasure howling like a banshee.)
Anyway, the whole family went to the pizza place, we plunked Allan down in his seat and he got a look of complete and utter irritation and consternation. As Alice says, he has about 30 different versions of "what in the hell are you doing" (she added, unnecessarily, I think, "just like his mother.") At any rate, we got his own booster seat and that still didn't suit. Turns out that Big Al is just as nosy as his brother these days and didn't want to be facing away from the majority of the restaurant. Just so soon as his dad picked him up and held him so that he could swivel around and see what was going on, he was fine. The only other problem that we had was that Allan is like a little pot-belly stove. He throws off heat like you would not believe. Now, the A/C in the restaurant made it pretty pleasant, but it was 90-ish and humid outside and they had open flames going inside, so Big Al was the last thing that you needed laying on your shoulder. Alice was in a flop sweat before long and so was Mom. By the time we hit home, I was drenched! While we were at the pizza place, some friends who have a little boy the boys' age came over. When they left, Connor waved bye-bye and, to our astonishment, Griff waved right back! We've been trying to get him to do it for weeks, but the little devil wouldn't do it (and he hasn't done it since) but he clearly knew what he was about.
Every night is the same, though. Jay has put masking tape over the vent next to him and sleeps under an extra quilt. Griffith sleeps in a fleece sleep sack and a blanket. He gets chill-bumps whenever you change his diaper. Allan, on the other hand, spends as much time as necessary kicking off even the lightest of blankets and I am under a sheet with my feet hanging out, trying to catch a breeze from the fan.
Saturday morning Jay started making some headway on his "honey do" list while the boys and I ran to the Farmer's Market and got corn and squash and zucchini and cucumbers. It was hotter than I realized and, by the time (well before 11) we got back, it was in the mid-80's and very humid. We had a little lunch (very little, in the case of Griffith) and then (blessedly) they both fell asleep for about 2 hours. Then they took a dip in the wading pool and got baths in anticipation of the arrival of Evan. Mom and Dad had to go to a wedding, Miranda had two weddings to sing in, and so Evan (her husband) came to hang out and do guy things -- watch ESPN and Spike TV and roughhouse. Griff had taken about 6 steps unassisted but Evan got him up to about 10. He's still pretty wary about it and would prefer to hold on, however lightly, to your hand, but some times forgets to be cautious and heads out.
Today was a good day. Jay took off to golf and the boys got up about 7 or so. It was rainy and hot so we couldn't take a walk or run or really get out and do anything. Griff decided that it was a perfect day to sleep in and dozed off at about 9:30, followed shortly by Big Al, followed shortly by Mom. We got about 2 hours in and were all the better for it. Dad didn't get quite so lucky. By the time he got home the fellas were ready to roll. That's the price you pay for trying to be Tiger Woods.
Allan has gotten so full of beans and spunk and whatever else that he can't be trusted in the booster seat on the table so we had to get him a real high chair, just like Griffith's. Not that either of them uses them to eat. We just use them as a method of confinement really.
All three fellas are upstairs. Time to join them. There should be pictures tomorrow, provided I can find the reader.
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