Several times recently, when daddy is working on projects and using tools, Andrew asks him, "Daddy, are you being Bob the Builder?" Saturday June 23rd, Aaron Lovett and Papa came to help Ted and me install what we could of our kitchen cabinets. Andrew desperately wanted to help. Papa let him use the shop vac to clean up some cuttings. I was showing him how to use the torpedo level to check and see if boxes were level (and he got the hang of it rather quickly!) And when he brought his toy drill out, ready to work, he showed it to Aaron, pointed to himself and said, "I'm being Bob the Builder!"
He is finally able to get his own shorts on by himself.
He is also going through a phase of wanting his privacy. He goes back and forth with that one. Sometimes he'll ask me to come sit with him or help him, and other times I'm locked out. At Kingdom Hall, he doesn't let me in. He runs to the bathroom stall and closes the door before I can get there. Then he pushes the step stool over, climbs on, drops his pants and underwear and goes. Sometimes he'll let me in to help him get his pants back up all the way and tuck in his shirt.
The other evening he seemed to have a runny nose and I asked him if he needed to go blow his nose. He didn't even hesitate, leaped out of his chair and was gone before I had a chance to react. I caught up to him as he was tearing some toilet paper off the roll to blow into.
It was last Wednesday night too that he read an entire scripture as his answer (I think it was 3-4 lines long). I think a quarter of the congregation came up to him afterward to tell him what good reading he did and that they understood what he was saying. I found that rather impressive since he added a few words here and there too.
He also is adept at using a key in a lock. We can hand him the house key and he can unlock the front door all by himself. He puts the key in, turns it, opens the door, then turns the key again and pulls it out.
Monday he did really well at school. We got there later than usual and he said he wanted to eat breakfast again, so we did. Got back to his class when they were having morning snack so he obviously didn't need any. But it does seem that if I sit and eat breakfast with him at school - he has a better day.
Though on Monday during lunch, he apparently needed to go pee. He tried to get up and was asked why he was getting up. His reply was, "I need to get up." But the teacher told him to sit back down. So he ended up wetting himself. I guess they talked about it afterward so hopefully he'll know next time to just say he needs to go potty, rather than say he needs to get up. Poor kid.
It also appears that they are not putting him in pull ups for naptime. He has had no accidents during naptime. I haven't tried to put him in regular underwear for naps at home, but I suppose I could since he's usually dry!
He is finally starting to read books all on his own too. I
think outside of school, Monday was the first day I saw him climb up in
a chair at home and read books.
Tuesday he did something I thought was impressive. He was going poo on the potty all by himself, he didn't want me in there. He wipes himself (though not well, he does try) and flushes and washes his hands. Today his step stool wasn't at the sink. So he turned over a small bucket and used that as a step. He still couldn't reach the water, so what does he do? He climbs the vanity! He called for me after he was done washing his hands - and I come in to find him sitting bare bottomed on the edge of the sink, with his feet in the sink. How he actually got up there without calamity, I'm not sure. I'm impressed though at his self-sufficiency. He'll get his own water, cereal and snacks sometimes too.
We have been out of yogurt for a few days. I picked up more while he was at school on Monday. Tuesday morning I was out in the garden when he came running out the door, "Mommy! We have yogurt!!" He had left the fridge wide open to come and tell me that. He also ate three yogurts during the day too.
He is still very much interested in trains. He walks around the house going chuga chuga WooWoo! And the woo woo part is probably accurate in the pitch of a real train, but he does it loud enough too that it hurts my ears! Right now we have three thomas the train tracks on the floor in the office and he likes sitting and playing with all of them every day.
Wednesday morning he was up even earlier than usual.. before 6. I'm guessing it's because he needed to go potty. He's been waking up dry more often than wet, and this morning he was dry. Anyway, he hardly touched his yogurt, didn't want any milk. Both of which is unusual. When he was sitting on the potty he told me he wanted to go to school today. !?! That he has fun at school and he has fun at home and he has fun at Dollywood. Then he asks, "Is mommy fun?" I say, "I dont know, is she?" He says, "No" with a big smile on his face. I smile back and he laughs and says, "yes, Mommy is fun! And Andrew is fun too." I laugh and say, "Yes, Andrew is fun." He finishes up and when he was all done washing hands and leaving the bathroom he turns and says, "and it's okay to miss mommy." (This poor kid thinks waaay too much, just like his mommy!) That Llama Misses Mama book definitely helped!
He was ready for school an entire hour before usual. So off we went. No one was in the classroom when we put his stuff in the cubby. We went back out to the breakfast area where there was English Muffins, eggs, ham, cereals, fruits, etc. I offered him eggs and English Muffins. He said, "No thank you. I'd like cereal." Then he pointed to the big clear bin of fruit loops. "You want those, do you? Well, they have lots of food coloring in them and I'd rather you eat something else." So he got an English Muffin and gave me a whipped butter spread (with just as much junk as the cereal i'm sure) and strawberry jam to spread on it. He ate half of his half, and a few bites of egg, and a little bit of apple juice all while asking me what everyone else's name is, and watching other kids eat (and not eat). I had to keep reminding him to chew. Finally he announced he was all done.
We go into the classroom and I stuck around so I could get confirmation from the teachers that they haven't been putting him in pull ups. I was there just long enough for him to get weepy and cling to my legs. Then the teacher said the magic words. "We're going to play baseball later today." That was music to my ears. This day, I had put him in a shirt that says Baseball Home Run on it and we talked about it before putting it on him. He asked me if he'd get to play baseball and I really didn't know. He got SO excited to hear that he'd get to play, and his excitement grew as the teacher told him about hitting the ball and running the bases. He barely even glanced at me when I got in his peripheral vision to say bye! lol
Thursday afternoon we had to return some cabinets to Lowe's. I stayed in the truck with Andrew while daddy went in. Andrew begged to be unbuckled so he could sit up front. He crawls into the driver seat and pretends to drive. Then he says, "Mommy, let's drive somewhere."
Me: "no, we're not driving anywhere. We're waiting for daddy."
"No! Pretend! Let's pretend drive somewhere."
"Oh, okay. Where do you want to go?"
"To California!"
"What are you going to do in California?"
Very enthusastically he says, "See Grandma and Grandpa!"
"Okay. Let's go see Grandma and Grandpa." He gets all buckled in and pretends to drive. "We're here!" He gets unbuckled, sees a man and a woman coming out of Lowes. He stands up and leans out the window, "Hi! Hi Grandpa!" the man never heard him. Then he turns to the woman, "Hi! Hi Grandma!" She turns and flashes a slight smile as Andrew gets back in the seat. "Okay, let's drive someplace else."
"Okay, where do you want to go?"
"To Tennessee."
"Who are you going to see in Tennessee?"
"Westin."
"Westin doesn't live in Tennessee anymore, they moved to Ohio."
"Okay, let's go to Ohio." We drive to Ohio and he again leans out the window when we get there and he yells, "Westin! Hi Westin! Hi!!" and he turns and says, "Westin was in Westin's car!"
"Okay, where do you want to go next?"
"To California."
"To California? We already went to California. Who are you going to see this time?"
"Grandma and Grandpa again."
"Okay!" So we go to California. And back to Tennessee.
Then he climbs over to my side to look out my window and he sees all the baby pools stacked outside. "Mommy, are those pools for Andrew?" I explained that they were there for people to buy and that he didn't need one. He said, "Because those are for babies." Me, "Well, no, they're not just for babies, but you don't need one because you already have one at home." He said, "oh."
Friday morning I was up before him, and still the first words from his mouth were the same as always. "Where did daddy go?" I explain every morning how daddy has to go to work.
He perked up and ate some yogurt and cereal while I let him watch part of a preschool video. A little later he asks, "Am I going to preschool today?" ... "Yes you are! And you're going to have so much fun because today is water play! You'll get to play in the sprinkler!" ... "Play in the sprinkler outside the back door?"... "No, the sprinkler at school!" ... "I don't want to cry." ... "Honey, it's okay." "Daddy will come get me." ... "yes he will..." No tears today! and not once did he tell me he didn't want to go!! He got dressed just fine, told me he wanted to carry his bag himself, and marched to the door before I had my shoes on! On the way in to school he was happy, smiling, skipping a little bit. He got shy when the lady behind the front desk said hi to him, and then a little bit when we opened his classroom door and the teachers spoke to him. I had shared the pictures of him making the cookies and the teacher asked Andrew if he enjoyed making the cookies. He launched right into conversation and I'm not sure he even noticed me kiss his hand and say goodbye!
Saturday, we headed out the door early and went out in service with Nana and Papa. On the way, I told him the story of Noah and the Ark. Even at the end of the day he was able to tell me who Noah was, that the Ark is a big big boat, that Noah put a bunch of animals on it. I imagine the point of the lesson will come later. I also started teaching him the song I learned with the books of the Bible in order. We only looped the first few books for a few minutes. Late in the afternoon, he was pushing a wooden train around the billiard table and I realized I was also hearing him singing "Genesis Exodus Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy" over and over again!! I can't believe he remembered that much!
Anyway, out in service, Papa's first call was on an older couple. Andrew took their invitation to the convention and read the title to them, and the entire scripture cited on the front. He did such a good job! I think I only corrected one word!
After service, and a nap in Nana and Papa's bed, he ran around in his underwear (it was 90-94 degrees inside and hotter outside!) playing with toys until he got to go swimming in the hottub with Nana and again later with Papa. Then he helped Papa water the garden. Papa and Andrew got into a water war a few times, spraying each other with the hoses. When he was all done, Andrew tried to hose himself off. He was so cute. He took one shoe off and washed his feet with the hose. He noticed he had dirt on his thighs and was struggling to get the hose to cooperate so he could wash that off too.
Once in bed at home, he was singing to himself, "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy." a few times before falling asleep.
He is such a good boy.. I just love him!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Week 3
Andrew survived week 3 of preschool. I wasn't sure I would though. The drama this kid spills out every morning was getting unbearable. Fake tears and real tears, following me around all morning long chanting "I dont want to go to school" and offering to go back to bed, to eat more breakfast - anything, to just stay home with mommy. Then he'd start crying that daddy wasn't home and daddy needed to come get him now. I'd explain that daddy had to go to work (over and over and over again) so he'd beg to go to Nissan to see daddy. Then it'd be time to go to school. More tears and complaining all the way in to school. We'd get to the classroom, and he'd try to keep it together but try to fall apart at the same time. It made my stomach turn, I felt so guilty leaving him, and I'd leave absolutely depressed and questioning my entire life.
Wednesday we went in the classroom, put his stuff in his cubby and then I asked him if he'd like to eat breakfast with mommy. He said yes, so we left the classroom and went to the dining area and had bagels with cream cheese and strawberry jam, fresh strawberries, melon, and banana. He really enjoyed that. Once we were done, I walked him back to class, barely set foot in the room and waved to him saying, "I love you, see you later!" and just turned and left. I couldn't bear watching his face get sad. I was depressed all day. He was proud to bring home with him a jar he had filled with flour, sugar, chocolate chips and m&m's to make cookies with. He wanted to make them as soon as he got home. I told him we'd make them Thursday.
So Thursday comes - and he hasn't forgotten about the cookies. We went out in the ministry work for the morning and he enjoyed knocking on all the doors and ringing doorbells, and walking with one foot on the sidewalk and the other foot in grass, or balancing along curbsides. Then after nap, I got everything set up for him to make the cookies. I couldn't find any of the cookie/baking sheets so we had to use mini-muffin tins, but they came out nicely and he is proud of them.
Friday was much better. A break-through finally. We cuddled in bed first thing in the morning. Then got ready for school. Put his things in his cubby. Went and had pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast together. He was happy. He skipped and hopped back to the classroom, but got melancholy when we reached the door. We go in and he stares at me and starts to cry. I give him a big cheery hug and then remember he told me he needed to potty. I said, "Oh! You need to potty, I forgot." The teacher immediately said, "I'll take him.. let's go!" as she took his hand. That was my exit.
On the webcam - he looked happy all day. It was the first time I'd seen him really play with the other kids. Crawling and wiggling on the floor, playing with all of the toys and puzzles, reading books with other kids ... all day he was interacting. He didn't take a nap, but he did stay on his cot the full two hours and just wiggled a bit. The teacher said there were no tears at all in the morning and he did great and was playful finally. She was very impressed that he knew ALL the shapes, colors, letters, and numbers that she asked about in their circle time.
Friday on the way home, they passed by a Family Fun Fest going on in front of Lowes. Andrew got excited to see the fire trucks with their lights on so daddy decided to stop. He got to sit in a helicoptor, touch the trucks, and bounce in a bounce house. Lots of fun!
He was happy to come home (he LOVES riding in Daddy's truck) and absolutely delightful all evening.
Outside of school... one day he was sitting on the floor playing with his trains. He put all of them together and had them rumble down the track and said, "Mommy! It's just like a roller coaster!"
Later I heard him say, "Do you want to go to Joy's house.... Okay! ... Here we are!" as he moved a train to a different place. Then he said, "Do you want to go to Lauren's house and see Lauren?... okay! .... here we are!" as he moved it to yet another place.
Last Sunday there was a going-away party for the Perry family at the park. Andrew of course enjoyed playing with all the other kids, on the playground and in the grass throwing frisbees and balls. Someone brought those punching balloons and gave one to him. He just tossed it around like a ball or kicked it around. At one point he was playing with another little boy his size. It was Andrew's turn to kick it and he ran, went to kick, ended up stepping on the balloon which rolled under him and he landed flat on his back popping the balloon. Everyone heard it, but not everyone knew it was a balloon popping. Of course the tears were quite dramatic as he's running to me for comfort and chanting "the balloon broke!" Poor kid wasn't hurt and wasn't embarrassed, he was upset that he popped the balloon!
Later in the afternoon he tried to sit on the side of the picnic table, scooted back too far and fell through and hit his head on the underside of the frame. Then he was down in the dry creek bed playing with another boy who accidentally hit him across the forehead with a stick. Andrew cried a little bit and then took another stick and gently hit the other boy back. I made him apologize and then we went and talked about it privately. He did pretty well give all the craziness going on around him.
On Tuesday he got to go to his very first pool party. It was the first time he's actually been invited to do anything with a group of other kids. The 10 year old boy in our congregation insisted that Andrew be invited. And Andrew LOVED it! At first he was timid about the water and didn't want to get in at all. I told him he could stay on the steps and still get wet, that he was okay. So he played on the steps a bit. Eventually I got him to let me take him further into the water. Then someone offered him a life vest. He didn't like it but seemed to do okay with it. He really wanted the squirty toys other kids had. But they kept taking them away from him. Eventually he was jumping off the side of the pool and having me or our friend Michelle catch him and swim with him. Then right before dinner, we'd taken the vest off, and he'd barely wait for me to get in place. He was running and just plunging into the deep end. As more kids crowded the pool I had to start yelling for him to wait as I tried to maneuver to the deep end to be there to catch him. I'd make him swim all the way back to the steps, "row your arms and kick your feet." This kid does NOT float. I dont know how he'll ever learn to swim.. lol. He has the idea down, but he doesn't even remotely float so his doggy paddle just isn't enough yet. Anyway - he had a blast.
We love that he is a thinker. We can ask him a question and he'll give such interesting answers.. or he'll say, "uhm, I guess I don't know!" He still asks us for everyone's name and what ever object is called. Then he'll follow daddy around all excited, "daddy! are you going to use the Miter saw? Daddy? Daddy, are you going to use the Miter saw?" And he'll keep asking until you give him an answer. And we still get the, "are we almost there? are we there yet? where are we going?" And he knows the answer to all of those. If you ask him - he tells you correctly.
Wednesday we went in the classroom, put his stuff in his cubby and then I asked him if he'd like to eat breakfast with mommy. He said yes, so we left the classroom and went to the dining area and had bagels with cream cheese and strawberry jam, fresh strawberries, melon, and banana. He really enjoyed that. Once we were done, I walked him back to class, barely set foot in the room and waved to him saying, "I love you, see you later!" and just turned and left. I couldn't bear watching his face get sad. I was depressed all day. He was proud to bring home with him a jar he had filled with flour, sugar, chocolate chips and m&m's to make cookies with. He wanted to make them as soon as he got home. I told him we'd make them Thursday.
So Thursday comes - and he hasn't forgotten about the cookies. We went out in the ministry work for the morning and he enjoyed knocking on all the doors and ringing doorbells, and walking with one foot on the sidewalk and the other foot in grass, or balancing along curbsides. Then after nap, I got everything set up for him to make the cookies. I couldn't find any of the cookie/baking sheets so we had to use mini-muffin tins, but they came out nicely and he is proud of them.
Friday was much better. A break-through finally. We cuddled in bed first thing in the morning. Then got ready for school. Put his things in his cubby. Went and had pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast together. He was happy. He skipped and hopped back to the classroom, but got melancholy when we reached the door. We go in and he stares at me and starts to cry. I give him a big cheery hug and then remember he told me he needed to potty. I said, "Oh! You need to potty, I forgot." The teacher immediately said, "I'll take him.. let's go!" as she took his hand. That was my exit.
On the webcam - he looked happy all day. It was the first time I'd seen him really play with the other kids. Crawling and wiggling on the floor, playing with all of the toys and puzzles, reading books with other kids ... all day he was interacting. He didn't take a nap, but he did stay on his cot the full two hours and just wiggled a bit. The teacher said there were no tears at all in the morning and he did great and was playful finally. She was very impressed that he knew ALL the shapes, colors, letters, and numbers that she asked about in their circle time.
Friday on the way home, they passed by a Family Fun Fest going on in front of Lowes. Andrew got excited to see the fire trucks with their lights on so daddy decided to stop. He got to sit in a helicoptor, touch the trucks, and bounce in a bounce house. Lots of fun!
He was happy to come home (he LOVES riding in Daddy's truck) and absolutely delightful all evening.
Outside of school... one day he was sitting on the floor playing with his trains. He put all of them together and had them rumble down the track and said, "Mommy! It's just like a roller coaster!"
Later I heard him say, "Do you want to go to Joy's house.... Okay! ... Here we are!" as he moved a train to a different place. Then he said, "Do you want to go to Lauren's house and see Lauren?... okay! .... here we are!" as he moved it to yet another place.
Last Sunday there was a going-away party for the Perry family at the park. Andrew of course enjoyed playing with all the other kids, on the playground and in the grass throwing frisbees and balls. Someone brought those punching balloons and gave one to him. He just tossed it around like a ball or kicked it around. At one point he was playing with another little boy his size. It was Andrew's turn to kick it and he ran, went to kick, ended up stepping on the balloon which rolled under him and he landed flat on his back popping the balloon. Everyone heard it, but not everyone knew it was a balloon popping. Of course the tears were quite dramatic as he's running to me for comfort and chanting "the balloon broke!" Poor kid wasn't hurt and wasn't embarrassed, he was upset that he popped the balloon!
Later in the afternoon he tried to sit on the side of the picnic table, scooted back too far and fell through and hit his head on the underside of the frame. Then he was down in the dry creek bed playing with another boy who accidentally hit him across the forehead with a stick. Andrew cried a little bit and then took another stick and gently hit the other boy back. I made him apologize and then we went and talked about it privately. He did pretty well give all the craziness going on around him.
On Tuesday he got to go to his very first pool party. It was the first time he's actually been invited to do anything with a group of other kids. The 10 year old boy in our congregation insisted that Andrew be invited. And Andrew LOVED it! At first he was timid about the water and didn't want to get in at all. I told him he could stay on the steps and still get wet, that he was okay. So he played on the steps a bit. Eventually I got him to let me take him further into the water. Then someone offered him a life vest. He didn't like it but seemed to do okay with it. He really wanted the squirty toys other kids had. But they kept taking them away from him. Eventually he was jumping off the side of the pool and having me or our friend Michelle catch him and swim with him. Then right before dinner, we'd taken the vest off, and he'd barely wait for me to get in place. He was running and just plunging into the deep end. As more kids crowded the pool I had to start yelling for him to wait as I tried to maneuver to the deep end to be there to catch him. I'd make him swim all the way back to the steps, "row your arms and kick your feet." This kid does NOT float. I dont know how he'll ever learn to swim.. lol. He has the idea down, but he doesn't even remotely float so his doggy paddle just isn't enough yet. Anyway - he had a blast.
We love that he is a thinker. We can ask him a question and he'll give such interesting answers.. or he'll say, "uhm, I guess I don't know!" He still asks us for everyone's name and what ever object is called. Then he'll follow daddy around all excited, "daddy! are you going to use the Miter saw? Daddy? Daddy, are you going to use the Miter saw?" And he'll keep asking until you give him an answer. And we still get the, "are we almost there? are we there yet? where are we going?" And he knows the answer to all of those. If you ask him - he tells you correctly.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Missing Mommy and Daddy
Thursday, daddy was home sick. To help keep the house quiet I took Andrew outside. In the driveway, Andrew was riding his tricylce around. I see him slow down next to daddy's Nissan truck. He puts his feet on the ground to come to a stop. I hear him say, "Honk at daddy's truck" as he reaches to ding the bell on the tricycle. He turns to me with a big smile and says, "Mommy, I honked at daddy's truck!" I told him, "I heard!" and smiled back. Then he slowly pedaled himself a little further and parked in front of the Toyota truck. He "honked" his little bell again and told me he honked at daddy's tire. Then he kept on pedaling around the driveway.
Friday it was off to school again. As we were walking in, he was smiling and skipping so I thought maybe today would be different. We get in the classroom and about a minute later he starts crying. Both teachers try to engage him in cheerful conversation, and I immediately start assigning him things to do. The teachers were trying to clean up the mess kids had already made, so I got Andrew to help. We did it together. All the while he's crying, "I dont want to go to preschool. I want to go home." Then he starts telling me "I want to go to a different preschool" We talk and reason things out and I take him potty and we talk about the things he's afraid of. One of the things is that he's afraid mommy wont come back to get him. I remind him of the Llama Llama Misses Mama book and how "little Llama was scared of the same thing and yet what happened? Mama Llama came back and took little Llama home. I PROMISE Mommy and Daddy will always come get you and take you home." "Okay mommy" he says trying to be strong and not cry. He cries again that he wants to go home when we come out of the bathroom. I tell him to go line up at the wall to wash hands and get ready for snack like the rest of the kids. He started to go and I scooted out the door.
I picked him up early Friday... around 2:30. He was so surprised to see both mommy and daddy (sick but feeling much better) and there were no tears, just a little whimpering. The teacher told us that it's been getting better and better each day. That he cheers up pretty quickly. Friday they talked about family relationships (because of Fathers day) and he did tear up a little bit during that time. She said she could tell he thinks about us a lot during the day, and periodically he'll ask for his blanket and go sit in the book corner by himself for a while. She said it's really good that he knows he can do that, and that it's good for him to do that too. And when he's ready, he joins the other kids playing again. He didn't eat any snack or lunch today, but did take a good nap.
Friday it was off to school again. As we were walking in, he was smiling and skipping so I thought maybe today would be different. We get in the classroom and about a minute later he starts crying. Both teachers try to engage him in cheerful conversation, and I immediately start assigning him things to do. The teachers were trying to clean up the mess kids had already made, so I got Andrew to help. We did it together. All the while he's crying, "I dont want to go to preschool. I want to go home." Then he starts telling me "I want to go to a different preschool" We talk and reason things out and I take him potty and we talk about the things he's afraid of. One of the things is that he's afraid mommy wont come back to get him. I remind him of the Llama Llama Misses Mama book and how "little Llama was scared of the same thing and yet what happened? Mama Llama came back and took little Llama home. I PROMISE Mommy and Daddy will always come get you and take you home." "Okay mommy" he says trying to be strong and not cry. He cries again that he wants to go home when we come out of the bathroom. I tell him to go line up at the wall to wash hands and get ready for snack like the rest of the kids. He started to go and I scooted out the door.
I picked him up early Friday... around 2:30. He was so surprised to see both mommy and daddy (sick but feeling much better) and there were no tears, just a little whimpering. The teacher told us that it's been getting better and better each day. That he cheers up pretty quickly. Friday they talked about family relationships (because of Fathers day) and he did tear up a little bit during that time. She said she could tell he thinks about us a lot during the day, and periodically he'll ask for his blanket and go sit in the book corner by himself for a while. She said it's really good that he knows he can do that, and that it's good for him to do that too. And when he's ready, he joins the other kids playing again. He didn't eat any snack or lunch today, but did take a good nap.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Bubbles!
he thinks "potty train" is a real train
he says Enchilada "enchil-aye-luh" (like the ending of delilah)
He out of the blue announced to me last weekend that "Amigo means friend. Amigos means friends in Spanish!" Then I told him that amiga was a friend who is a girl. He spent that entire day talking about the differences in those words.
Monday evening I asked him a question and he answered with "Si" which is yes in Spanish. He had such a big smile on his face when he saw that I understood him. (man am I in for it! he's too smart already!!)
Tuesday morning a man came to start installing our new kitchen cabinets. As he was sorting the boxes, I mentioned to Andrew that Nana would be here soon. He told the man that his Nana was coming. Gary asked Andrew, "Oh, is your grandma coming today?" Andrew replies, "No. Grandma lives in California." Then he told Andrew that he used to live in New Jersey. I told Andrew that New Jersey was near New York on his map. Andrew then said, "Mommy and Daddy and Andrew live in Tennessee." Gary said, "I live in Tennessee too." Andrew replied, "Man lives in New York." I reminded Andrew that Gary lived near New York, in New Jersey. The man did have a NY hat on and showed Andrew his hat and that it represented a football team. He asked Andrew if he liked football. Andrew enthusiastically said, "Yes!" then added "I like basketball." LOL
And oh boy! When Jim the garbage man showed up!! Andrew went running outside shouting to Gary the installation guy, "Man! The garbage truck is here!!" "Hi Jim!! Jim is here! The garbage truck is here!" (you could see the delight on Jim's face too!) So we went out and watched the garbage man Jim load our garbage can on the truck and dump it. He brought the garbage can back and put it close to Andrew who then tipped it and steered it back to the house.
I think it was Tuesday morning while I was getting him dressed into play clothes that Andrew stroked my hair and then looked in my face and said, "Mommy, you're so beautiful. You're so beautiful Mommy."
Tuesday was also the first day I think I've ever let him have bubbles to blow! The school gave him a welcome back and inside was a nice bottle of bubbles with a big wand. I wanted to get some pictures of his first time playing with bubbles, but I didn't really have much time. He did wait for me to get the camera, but they're not great pictures. He did love them!
Tuesday afternoon, he didn't want to nap in his bed. I had to sleep on the floor in his room a few nights ago and the makeshift bed was still there. When he woke up at 4:49am Tuesday morning and I sent him back to bed, he wanted to sleep in the makeshift one on the floor. I let him, and he slept til 7am! So at nap, when he insisted on sleeping in it again, I decided to let him try it out. He woke up about 40 minutes later acting scared but I'm pretty sure he wasn't even awake. I told him to lie back down and he went right back to sleep and took a nice long nap.
Wednesday: Another day for preschool. I didn't tell Andrew he was going to school. We sat and had breakfast of zucchini bread and cereal together and chatted a bit. Of course, when it was time to get dressed, he started figuring things out. "Mommy, I don't want to go to school." I told him that it was okay that he didn't want to go to school, and we don't always want to go to work either. He said he'd go back to bed and sleep more if he didn't have to go to school. I finally sat down with him and held him tight. I told him that we did not send him to school because he was in trouble. School is not a place of time-out. We send him to school because he is a good good boy and we thought he'd have a lot more fun getting to learn about more things while playing with other kids his size. I told him he is very brave to go be at school all day without mommy, and that he is a very good boy and I am proud of him. Then I suggested that we all get to go to dinner tonight together and spend some time as a family. He smiled at the idea. I asked him where he wanted to eat dinner and he said Amigos. I reminded him of all the options he had and he changed his mind to Olive Garden. So I told him, when daddy picks him up from school, we'll all go eat at Olive Garden together. That gave him something to look forward to. Still, all the way to school he told me he didn't want to go. All the way into the classroom. I stopped outside and picked him up so he could peer through the windows of his class. I asked him about what he saw - pointing out the other children playing with toys, asking him which toys he liked to play with, etc. Finally we went in and he threw his arms around me asking to be picked up. I put my hands on either side of his face and made him look at mine: "Andrew, you are a very good boy. A very good boy. I love you and I will see you later today." He started crying and I picked him up. The teacher came to offer to take him and he yelled "Don't touch me!!" So I set him down and said, "I love you! I'll see you later!" in the happiest voice I could find with a big smile on my face, and I turned and left.
He didn't have a good appetite (saving up for dinner!) but he took a good nap. He was a good helper after nap too. I saw him take his blanket and set it on the floor, then he started trying to get the bed sheet off the cot. He tipped the cot on its side to get the sheet off and another little girl came to help him. Then they carried the cot off together to where the teacher was. Then he took his sheets to the teacher for her to put away. I saw him give her a high-five and then he was off to play.
He did get a little weepy when daddy arrived to get him, but not as bad as the last time. I was waiting for them at Olive Garden and he was a happy little boy, and delighted to see me too. He ate a great dinner - almost the entire bowl of chicken gnocchi soup and some salad and a breadstick.
He had trouble deciding if he wanted to go home with daddy or to Target with mommy. He finally opted to go to Target. We had to buy more of his favorite yogurt, and I needed to buy him his own towel for Friday's water play at school. Then I remembered Ted wanted me to go ahead and buy a sheet set for his toddler bed. I tried to give Andrew an option between a plain ordinary sheet set and one with the Cars theme on it but he freaked out on me and kept saying, "No sheets! Put them back! No sheets for the bed. Put them back!" I finally just picked the ordinary one since it was cheaper and tossed them in the cart. Throughout the entire store he was telling me no sheets, to leave them at the store and not take them home. Even after we got home he told me he didn't want sheets.
At home, he ate a yogurt and watched a video and then it was time to brush teeth and go to bed. Almost all of the jammies he has are getting too small or too short, and all of them were waiting to be washed. I picked out a footed jammy from his closet that is 4T and he complained that he didn't want to wear them. Thankfully I found a clean pj shirt and grabbed a pair of pants that I didn't know if they were clean or dirty - but it made him happy and agreeable.
he says Enchilada "enchil-aye-luh" (like the ending of delilah)
He out of the blue announced to me last weekend that "Amigo means friend. Amigos means friends in Spanish!" Then I told him that amiga was a friend who is a girl. He spent that entire day talking about the differences in those words.
Monday evening I asked him a question and he answered with "Si" which is yes in Spanish. He had such a big smile on his face when he saw that I understood him. (man am I in for it! he's too smart already!!)
Tuesday morning a man came to start installing our new kitchen cabinets. As he was sorting the boxes, I mentioned to Andrew that Nana would be here soon. He told the man that his Nana was coming. Gary asked Andrew, "Oh, is your grandma coming today?" Andrew replies, "No. Grandma lives in California." Then he told Andrew that he used to live in New Jersey. I told Andrew that New Jersey was near New York on his map. Andrew then said, "Mommy and Daddy and Andrew live in Tennessee." Gary said, "I live in Tennessee too." Andrew replied, "Man lives in New York." I reminded Andrew that Gary lived near New York, in New Jersey. The man did have a NY hat on and showed Andrew his hat and that it represented a football team. He asked Andrew if he liked football. Andrew enthusiastically said, "Yes!" then added "I like basketball." LOL
And oh boy! When Jim the garbage man showed up!! Andrew went running outside shouting to Gary the installation guy, "Man! The garbage truck is here!!" "Hi Jim!! Jim is here! The garbage truck is here!" (you could see the delight on Jim's face too!) So we went out and watched the garbage man Jim load our garbage can on the truck and dump it. He brought the garbage can back and put it close to Andrew who then tipped it and steered it back to the house.
I think it was Tuesday morning while I was getting him dressed into play clothes that Andrew stroked my hair and then looked in my face and said, "Mommy, you're so beautiful. You're so beautiful Mommy."
Tuesday was also the first day I think I've ever let him have bubbles to blow! The school gave him a welcome back and inside was a nice bottle of bubbles with a big wand. I wanted to get some pictures of his first time playing with bubbles, but I didn't really have much time. He did wait for me to get the camera, but they're not great pictures. He did love them!
Tuesday afternoon, he didn't want to nap in his bed. I had to sleep on the floor in his room a few nights ago and the makeshift bed was still there. When he woke up at 4:49am Tuesday morning and I sent him back to bed, he wanted to sleep in the makeshift one on the floor. I let him, and he slept til 7am! So at nap, when he insisted on sleeping in it again, I decided to let him try it out. He woke up about 40 minutes later acting scared but I'm pretty sure he wasn't even awake. I told him to lie back down and he went right back to sleep and took a nice long nap.
Wednesday: Another day for preschool. I didn't tell Andrew he was going to school. We sat and had breakfast of zucchini bread and cereal together and chatted a bit. Of course, when it was time to get dressed, he started figuring things out. "Mommy, I don't want to go to school." I told him that it was okay that he didn't want to go to school, and we don't always want to go to work either. He said he'd go back to bed and sleep more if he didn't have to go to school. I finally sat down with him and held him tight. I told him that we did not send him to school because he was in trouble. School is not a place of time-out. We send him to school because he is a good good boy and we thought he'd have a lot more fun getting to learn about more things while playing with other kids his size. I told him he is very brave to go be at school all day without mommy, and that he is a very good boy and I am proud of him. Then I suggested that we all get to go to dinner tonight together and spend some time as a family. He smiled at the idea. I asked him where he wanted to eat dinner and he said Amigos. I reminded him of all the options he had and he changed his mind to Olive Garden. So I told him, when daddy picks him up from school, we'll all go eat at Olive Garden together. That gave him something to look forward to. Still, all the way to school he told me he didn't want to go. All the way into the classroom. I stopped outside and picked him up so he could peer through the windows of his class. I asked him about what he saw - pointing out the other children playing with toys, asking him which toys he liked to play with, etc. Finally we went in and he threw his arms around me asking to be picked up. I put my hands on either side of his face and made him look at mine: "Andrew, you are a very good boy. A very good boy. I love you and I will see you later today." He started crying and I picked him up. The teacher came to offer to take him and he yelled "Don't touch me!!" So I set him down and said, "I love you! I'll see you later!" in the happiest voice I could find with a big smile on my face, and I turned and left.
He didn't have a good appetite (saving up for dinner!) but he took a good nap. He was a good helper after nap too. I saw him take his blanket and set it on the floor, then he started trying to get the bed sheet off the cot. He tipped the cot on its side to get the sheet off and another little girl came to help him. Then they carried the cot off together to where the teacher was. Then he took his sheets to the teacher for her to put away. I saw him give her a high-five and then he was off to play.
He did get a little weepy when daddy arrived to get him, but not as bad as the last time. I was waiting for them at Olive Garden and he was a happy little boy, and delighted to see me too. He ate a great dinner - almost the entire bowl of chicken gnocchi soup and some salad and a breadstick.
He had trouble deciding if he wanted to go home with daddy or to Target with mommy. He finally opted to go to Target. We had to buy more of his favorite yogurt, and I needed to buy him his own towel for Friday's water play at school. Then I remembered Ted wanted me to go ahead and buy a sheet set for his toddler bed. I tried to give Andrew an option between a plain ordinary sheet set and one with the Cars theme on it but he freaked out on me and kept saying, "No sheets! Put them back! No sheets for the bed. Put them back!" I finally just picked the ordinary one since it was cheaper and tossed them in the cart. Throughout the entire store he was telling me no sheets, to leave them at the store and not take them home. Even after we got home he told me he didn't want sheets.
At home, he ate a yogurt and watched a video and then it was time to brush teeth and go to bed. Almost all of the jammies he has are getting too small or too short, and all of them were waiting to be washed. I picked out a footed jammy from his closet that is 4T and he complained that he didn't want to wear them. Thankfully I found a clean pj shirt and grabbed a pair of pants that I didn't know if they were clean or dirty - but it made him happy and agreeable.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Preschool - Day 3
Preschool - Day 3... since we missed last Friday, Monday was his third day for school. I didn't tell him about school at all in the morning. "Mommy, let me watch a video.. puhleese?" he asks as I'm getting his morning yogurt opened. I wasn't going to consent, but decided since we'd had a rough weekend and nothing has felt normal or routine here since vacation (remodeling), that getting to watch a video while eating his breakfast was the closest to a normal routine I could give him right now. I think he needs that. So I turned it to channel 8 and let him watch whatever happened to be on. (Cat in the Hat I think)
I told him he had to eat his yogurt or I would turn the tv off, and then I continued to get things organized and ready for going to school. I didn't tell him he was going to school until he was getting dressed. Then he started getting whiny.
He didn't fight me much and got in the car just fine.. but all along was pleading and trying to bargain with me to let him stay home. He offered to eat more breakfast, he offered to help me work. He didn't care that there'd be no tv or videos. He just wanted to be home with me. I told him over and over that I had to work and school was the best place to make sure he was cared for.
Once we arrive at school (still pleading) he seemed like he was doing okay. He got quieter and quieter as we approached the classroom. I let him open the door and I started swapping out last weeks sheets with clean ones. Then it started. He burst into tears and threw his arms around my neck and clung to me as tight as he could. I couldn't even turn my head to talk his direction. I had to peel him off of me. I told him that all the other kids were there without their mommy and daddy - and every day, their parent comes to get them. That they are safe and the teachers would take good care of them. I promised he'd see me later. I took him potty and got him all settled in his chair ready for snack time (it was 9am already) and introduced him to the girls at his table. I explained to the girls that he was new to school and suggested that they help him feel welcome and help him adjust. (one of those girls patted him on the back when he started crying again.. which happens next.) I stand up to go and he leaps out of his chair and clings to my legs begging me to stay or take him home. I finally just have to put him in the arms of one of the teachers, tell him I love him and I'd see him later, and leave. The look on his red sobbing face was complete betrayal and hurt. I felt awful, but I know it will take him some time to adjust and realize that we WILL come get him.
I had to stop at the bank on the way home, and once I got to my computer - he was not crying, and was involved in whatever activities they had going on. I didn't watch him too much since I had a ton of work to do. I couldn't see him when they were sitting at the tables, and I couldn't figure out where he was sleeping at nap time. After nap, I saw him being a good helper, taking his sheets off his cot, taking the cot to the teacher, then taking the blankets and sheets to the teacher to put away.
Later in the afternoon, when I knew Ted was on his way to get him.. Andrew seemed to be having a blast. There was one teacher sitting on the floor in the middle of the mat, and then all the children and the other teacher were dancing around in a circle acting like different animals. Then one of the dad's came to get another child. At that point, I could tell Andrew was checking out. He started watching the door waiting for his daddy to show up. The other children were still dancing, and Andrew went and sat in a chair and stared at the door. Then he got up and went to his cubby and got his favorite blanket, then went back to the chair. Then he piddled a bit at a table by the chair. I wasn't watching when daddy did show up, but apparently Andrew burst into tears. I'm sure it was the built up emotional stress he'd carried all day trying to be strong and brave - finally he was able to relax and be certain - there was his daddy! Everything was okay.
I came to the truck when they pulled in the driveway. The first words from his mouth were, "I don't want to go to preschool." Ted said, "ten minutes ago, he did." So I guess Andrew's working on that guilt trip for me. lol He tried to get whiny and testy, but was in much better spirits after dinner. We read some books and cuddled in the chair, and he very agreeably went to bed a happy little boy.
I told him he had to eat his yogurt or I would turn the tv off, and then I continued to get things organized and ready for going to school. I didn't tell him he was going to school until he was getting dressed. Then he started getting whiny.
He didn't fight me much and got in the car just fine.. but all along was pleading and trying to bargain with me to let him stay home. He offered to eat more breakfast, he offered to help me work. He didn't care that there'd be no tv or videos. He just wanted to be home with me. I told him over and over that I had to work and school was the best place to make sure he was cared for.
Once we arrive at school (still pleading) he seemed like he was doing okay. He got quieter and quieter as we approached the classroom. I let him open the door and I started swapping out last weeks sheets with clean ones. Then it started. He burst into tears and threw his arms around my neck and clung to me as tight as he could. I couldn't even turn my head to talk his direction. I had to peel him off of me. I told him that all the other kids were there without their mommy and daddy - and every day, their parent comes to get them. That they are safe and the teachers would take good care of them. I promised he'd see me later. I took him potty and got him all settled in his chair ready for snack time (it was 9am already) and introduced him to the girls at his table. I explained to the girls that he was new to school and suggested that they help him feel welcome and help him adjust. (one of those girls patted him on the back when he started crying again.. which happens next.) I stand up to go and he leaps out of his chair and clings to my legs begging me to stay or take him home. I finally just have to put him in the arms of one of the teachers, tell him I love him and I'd see him later, and leave. The look on his red sobbing face was complete betrayal and hurt. I felt awful, but I know it will take him some time to adjust and realize that we WILL come get him.
I had to stop at the bank on the way home, and once I got to my computer - he was not crying, and was involved in whatever activities they had going on. I didn't watch him too much since I had a ton of work to do. I couldn't see him when they were sitting at the tables, and I couldn't figure out where he was sleeping at nap time. After nap, I saw him being a good helper, taking his sheets off his cot, taking the cot to the teacher, then taking the blankets and sheets to the teacher to put away.
Later in the afternoon, when I knew Ted was on his way to get him.. Andrew seemed to be having a blast. There was one teacher sitting on the floor in the middle of the mat, and then all the children and the other teacher were dancing around in a circle acting like different animals. Then one of the dad's came to get another child. At that point, I could tell Andrew was checking out. He started watching the door waiting for his daddy to show up. The other children were still dancing, and Andrew went and sat in a chair and stared at the door. Then he got up and went to his cubby and got his favorite blanket, then went back to the chair. Then he piddled a bit at a table by the chair. I wasn't watching when daddy did show up, but apparently Andrew burst into tears. I'm sure it was the built up emotional stress he'd carried all day trying to be strong and brave - finally he was able to relax and be certain - there was his daddy! Everything was okay.
I came to the truck when they pulled in the driveway. The first words from his mouth were, "I don't want to go to preschool." Ted said, "ten minutes ago, he did." So I guess Andrew's working on that guilt trip for me. lol He tried to get whiny and testy, but was in much better spirits after dinner. We read some books and cuddled in the chair, and he very agreeably went to bed a happy little boy.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Preschool - week 1
Monday, June 4th, was the big day. I was excited for Andrew when I woke up, because I knew he was looking forward to going to school. For days I'd been telling him when he goes to school he has to listen to the teacher and do what she says, and that mommy and daddy won't be there with him. It seemed like an eternity to get him to eat his yogurt so we could get him dressed and out the door. I got him there around 8:15 and got him all checked in. They went ahead and moved him up to the 3 year old class. Originally they were going to keep him in the upper twos even though I'd explained to them that he already knew everything they were teaching in there - that all he'd learn is following routine. So I'm glad for him to be in the 3 year old class already. And he did just fine with doing what he was told and following the instructions on his first day. He told daddy he made a new friend named Carly.
We decided to pay their astronomical fee to have webcam access so I can see his classroom, his enrichment area, and the playground. I was glad to know he was playing well, napping, and having a good time - but the cameras are so bad and so small, that half the time I had trouble figuring out where he was and what he was doing. At nap time, I wondered if they'd figure out to give him his white swaddle blanket he loves so much. Sure enough, they didn't. I saw all the other children wiggling in their cots and Andrew sitting up watching the teacher sweep the room. Finally I saw him get up and go speak to her. They went to his cubby, and she reached into his backpack and pulled out the white blanket. Andrew went back to his cot, laid down, wiggled just a little bit and I thought fell fast asleep. (the teacher told me later he only slept for 30 minutes, just laid there awake most of the time.) I was so proud of him for telling his teacher what he needed! He was the last one to wake up. I saw one of the other little girls take the white blanket from his arms and then spread it out over him. Then she went around and did that to another little person. Then when everyone else was up, she went over and stroked his head or something. I saw him start moving a little bit after that, but it took the Teacher waking him up the rest of the way to get him up. Then he just squatted on the floor and stared for a while. I think he was still in a daze and not sure what was going on.
I did send him in pull-ups for his first day since I didn't know how comfortable he'd be asking these ladies for help on the first day. I told them that at home and everywhere else, I have him in big boy underwear. The teacher told me whenever I was ready - to just send him in his underwear. Monday morning I had asked Andrew "do you want to wear pull-ups or underwear to school today?" His reply, "I'll wear pull-ups today. Underwear tomorrow." Okay. He went potty for them just fine. Yeay!
They said he ate most of his snacks and lunch, and played well. That he LOVED playing soccer outside. I was watching him after 4pm for a few minutes and it looked like he was starting to disconnect from everything going on. To me, he almost looked like he was starting to wonder if he'd been left there. Then I saw him go up to a teacher and just stand there. She moved across the room and he followed standing behind her. Eventually I guess he finally spoke to her and she turned around. Then I see her take his hand and they walked out the door! I switched camera views and they went to a water fountain and then that is when daddy walked into view! Ted scooped him up and held him and rocked him and followed back into the classroom. They told him that it seemed like Andrew was starting to get "sniffley" about ten minutes before dad showed up. So I was probably right, and he was tired from napping well. Andrew just melted into daddy's shoulder. Though, Ted said when he was loading Andrew up in the truck, that Andrew asked to stay. So that's good.
He came home in good humor and was pleased to see me when I opened the front door for them.
Tuesday morning he got up at 6am and Ted put him back to bed. About 10 minutes later he got back up and with a smile and a hop said, "I want to go to school!" Sorry buddy - not today.. tomorrow.
I didn't have any particular plans for our first Tuesday-mommy-day. Our new kitchen cabinets were delivered in boxes early in the morning. Our glass shower door was installed in the morning too. I've been battling with migraines, sensitivity to light and sounds, pretty much since I got hit in the face with the frisbee. My mom and some friends convinced me I should go to the doctor. Of course Andrew wanted to come. He wanted "to take a deep bref for the doctor." In the waiting room he kept telling everyone that he was sick and he was hurt and needed to take a deep breath for the doctor. If you asked him where he hurt - it was his head, then his chin, then his knee, then his ankle. After I was done being examined, Andrew wanted to get up on the table. I offered it to him and then he was too scared to. So I asked him if he'd like mommy to pretend she was his doctor. He liked that idea and hopped up on the table. I made sure his knees still work and that he could wiggle his toes. But when I checked to make sure he had a belly-button the doctor came back. Andrew immediately said, "no!" and wanted off the table. He wasn't taking any chances of having the doctor touch him!
We went to cracker barrel for lunch and came home for a much needed nap.
Wednesday was day 2 of preschool. Andrew was up super early and I told him when he finished his yogurt we could get dressed and go to school. When I got to the classroom, no one was there. (i think they were all someplace else because one teacher and 4 little girls showed up all at the same time later.) I hung out with Andrew as he showed me the toys he liked to play with. We played with a little roadway mat on the floor, setting up wooden road signs and driving cars. He was having a great time... then the girls showed up. He immediately jumped in my lap and was fighting back tears. Two girls came over to talk to me and then Andrew burst into tears. "I dont want to stay at school, I want to go home!" I cuddled and hugged him and we talked about it. I told him he was brave staying at school without mommy, and that he'd have so much fun. He perked up a little bit but was still emotional. So I told him to go to my purse and find a white envelope and open it. Inside it was the card of last years family photos. He got so excited and was showing it off to the girls. Then I told him to show it to his teachers (they asked for a family photo and that's all I had!). He broke down crying two more times telling me he wanted to go home. Finally the teacher asked if he'd like to help her mix paints and he was interested enough to let me leave.
He did fine. He is so obedient and well behaved there. He "sits on the letter Q" when they all come to the rug/mat for instruction. I dont know if he chose that letter or was told - but that is what he told me and sure enough, that is his spot that he claims each time they are on the mat. He was a good helper after snacktime, clearing plates off the table that other kids left behind.
They had some "Fish guy" come to the school. It was in a classroom I didn't have webcam access to so I didn't see it. According to a friend who works there on Wednesdays, he got to touch a starfish and kept raising his hand to ask questions (which really came out as statements instead.) The friend is in a different congregation from us but knows who Andrew is. She sat near him and at one point leaned over and said, "Jehovah made that." She said he got a big grin on his face and said, "Yep!" I can't get Andrew to tell me anything about his day at school. I asked him what he ate at school and the only thing he'll tell me about is Apple juice. Obviously, a novelty to him since everything he's ever had has been severely diluted and has had green superfood powders in too.
Anyway.. they have enrichment class from 3:30-4 so I decided to show up a little before 4 hoping to get a peek at the Kid Fit fitness activities for Wednesday. The were tossing balls, shaking moraccas, and prancing like different animals around the room and having to 'freeze' randomly. He was enjoying it but when he saw me he came running with a huge smile on his face and threw his arms around me. He said he wanted to go home. I told him he could stay and finish class and to go play. He did but kept a close eye on me. A few minutes later he decided he really did not want to be there anymore so I consented and we left before Kid Fit was over.
The teacher told me he took a good nap, was a great helper, and that he was overall happy. He was still in the same underwear and shorts that he went in - so I'm guessing there were no accidents. He was in a different shirt. She told me that he got that wet. Andrew told me he got paint on his shirt and had to take it off. So I'm guessing the teacher washed the paint out and thats why the shirt was wet. Who knows. Overall - good day.
Thursday he was in good spirits. He had a meltdown moment this morning. He has asked me for help and then after I helped him, he decided he should have done it by himself and got mad at me.
He didn't sleep well Thursday night. (i dont think he's been sleeping well at all this week but I'm too tired to recall for sure what happens each night.)
Friday morning, he came in my room when he woke up. I asked him if he was ready to go to preschool. Then in a voice that was obviously him trying to stay strong and not cry, he says, "I don't want to go to preschool today." I told him he'd have fun because he gets to wear his swim suit and play in water today at school. "No, I don't want to go to preschool. I want to stay home." I said, "okay" just to not get him upset. We went about our regular morning routine of getting him fed and organized - with the intention of sending him to school anyway. As the morning progressed though.. he just looked like he didn't feel well. He felt warm and had a low grade fever. So, now I couldn't send him to school. I was so glad my photoshoot had rescheduled. I pretty much let him lie on the couch and watch educational programs. He didn't even watch some of them.. just laid there. I couldn't get him to eat.. he didn't like anything I gave him to drink. And on top of that - I ended up needing to babysit the Perry girls for a couple of hours. (They all got dressed up in my studio and made Jade and Andrew get married.) He did enjoy playing with them and seemed to do okay for the most part. Then he took a three hour nap. He still felt warm, still wouldn't eat much or drink much.
Saturday morning, he woke up feeling warm and with a low grade fever, but obviously feeling better than Friday. We still gave him a laid back easy day. I had to work in the morning, then could help Ted continue ripping out the old kitchen cabinets. Then we went to help another couple move some machinery into a moving truck. There Andrew enjoyed walking up and down the ramp, and playing in the grass, etc. It was good for him to be out.
Sunday was miserable. Andrew had me up 4-5 times overnight, and then I had trouble sleeping and was awake early. He was completely disagreeable about everything. If he asked for something, then he didn't want it if I gave it to him. He was upset with me that I wouldn't let him watch a video. He didn't want to eat his yogurt after he asked for it. Eventually I got it in him. The entire day it seemed like he fought us. He wanted his shoes off. He got one off by himself but couldn't get the other. He didn't want help. He'd say he needed help but didn't want me to help. I finally had to anyway which of course resulted in tears. At nap I asked him to please turn on his fan and he said no and crawled into bed, and then got mad at me when I turned the fan on because he wanted to do it. Then he pushed and kicked me away after I tucked him in. Then he didn't stay asleep either - woke up crying for me, but then wanted me to go away. After nap, I needed to get him dressed to go to a grand-baby shower for a friend. He didn't want me to look at him or talk to him. He only wanted to talk to daddy. I was sitting on the floor in his room picking out books he was too old for that we could pass on to the grandmother to have at her house when her grandbaby came to visit from out of town. If I looked at him he'd scowl at me and say, "No. Mommy - you look at the books." If I asked him if he wanted to go to the party (or anything else) I only got a negative response. If daddy asked the same question, he got a positive one. Everything conflicted. But after the party, he still fought both of us about eating or doing anything else. overall - just not a pleasant day for anybody.
We decided to pay their astronomical fee to have webcam access so I can see his classroom, his enrichment area, and the playground. I was glad to know he was playing well, napping, and having a good time - but the cameras are so bad and so small, that half the time I had trouble figuring out where he was and what he was doing. At nap time, I wondered if they'd figure out to give him his white swaddle blanket he loves so much. Sure enough, they didn't. I saw all the other children wiggling in their cots and Andrew sitting up watching the teacher sweep the room. Finally I saw him get up and go speak to her. They went to his cubby, and she reached into his backpack and pulled out the white blanket. Andrew went back to his cot, laid down, wiggled just a little bit and I thought fell fast asleep. (the teacher told me later he only slept for 30 minutes, just laid there awake most of the time.) I was so proud of him for telling his teacher what he needed! He was the last one to wake up. I saw one of the other little girls take the white blanket from his arms and then spread it out over him. Then she went around and did that to another little person. Then when everyone else was up, she went over and stroked his head or something. I saw him start moving a little bit after that, but it took the Teacher waking him up the rest of the way to get him up. Then he just squatted on the floor and stared for a while. I think he was still in a daze and not sure what was going on.
I did send him in pull-ups for his first day since I didn't know how comfortable he'd be asking these ladies for help on the first day. I told them that at home and everywhere else, I have him in big boy underwear. The teacher told me whenever I was ready - to just send him in his underwear. Monday morning I had asked Andrew "do you want to wear pull-ups or underwear to school today?" His reply, "I'll wear pull-ups today. Underwear tomorrow." Okay. He went potty for them just fine. Yeay!
They said he ate most of his snacks and lunch, and played well. That he LOVED playing soccer outside. I was watching him after 4pm for a few minutes and it looked like he was starting to disconnect from everything going on. To me, he almost looked like he was starting to wonder if he'd been left there. Then I saw him go up to a teacher and just stand there. She moved across the room and he followed standing behind her. Eventually I guess he finally spoke to her and she turned around. Then I see her take his hand and they walked out the door! I switched camera views and they went to a water fountain and then that is when daddy walked into view! Ted scooped him up and held him and rocked him and followed back into the classroom. They told him that it seemed like Andrew was starting to get "sniffley" about ten minutes before dad showed up. So I was probably right, and he was tired from napping well. Andrew just melted into daddy's shoulder. Though, Ted said when he was loading Andrew up in the truck, that Andrew asked to stay. So that's good.
He came home in good humor and was pleased to see me when I opened the front door for them.
Tuesday morning he got up at 6am and Ted put him back to bed. About 10 minutes later he got back up and with a smile and a hop said, "I want to go to school!" Sorry buddy - not today.. tomorrow.
I didn't have any particular plans for our first Tuesday-mommy-day. Our new kitchen cabinets were delivered in boxes early in the morning. Our glass shower door was installed in the morning too. I've been battling with migraines, sensitivity to light and sounds, pretty much since I got hit in the face with the frisbee. My mom and some friends convinced me I should go to the doctor. Of course Andrew wanted to come. He wanted "to take a deep bref for the doctor." In the waiting room he kept telling everyone that he was sick and he was hurt and needed to take a deep breath for the doctor. If you asked him where he hurt - it was his head, then his chin, then his knee, then his ankle. After I was done being examined, Andrew wanted to get up on the table. I offered it to him and then he was too scared to. So I asked him if he'd like mommy to pretend she was his doctor. He liked that idea and hopped up on the table. I made sure his knees still work and that he could wiggle his toes. But when I checked to make sure he had a belly-button the doctor came back. Andrew immediately said, "no!" and wanted off the table. He wasn't taking any chances of having the doctor touch him!
We went to cracker barrel for lunch and came home for a much needed nap.
Wednesday was day 2 of preschool. Andrew was up super early and I told him when he finished his yogurt we could get dressed and go to school. When I got to the classroom, no one was there. (i think they were all someplace else because one teacher and 4 little girls showed up all at the same time later.) I hung out with Andrew as he showed me the toys he liked to play with. We played with a little roadway mat on the floor, setting up wooden road signs and driving cars. He was having a great time... then the girls showed up. He immediately jumped in my lap and was fighting back tears. Two girls came over to talk to me and then Andrew burst into tears. "I dont want to stay at school, I want to go home!" I cuddled and hugged him and we talked about it. I told him he was brave staying at school without mommy, and that he'd have so much fun. He perked up a little bit but was still emotional. So I told him to go to my purse and find a white envelope and open it. Inside it was the card of last years family photos. He got so excited and was showing it off to the girls. Then I told him to show it to his teachers (they asked for a family photo and that's all I had!). He broke down crying two more times telling me he wanted to go home. Finally the teacher asked if he'd like to help her mix paints and he was interested enough to let me leave.
He did fine. He is so obedient and well behaved there. He "sits on the letter Q" when they all come to the rug/mat for instruction. I dont know if he chose that letter or was told - but that is what he told me and sure enough, that is his spot that he claims each time they are on the mat. He was a good helper after snacktime, clearing plates off the table that other kids left behind.
They had some "Fish guy" come to the school. It was in a classroom I didn't have webcam access to so I didn't see it. According to a friend who works there on Wednesdays, he got to touch a starfish and kept raising his hand to ask questions (which really came out as statements instead.) The friend is in a different congregation from us but knows who Andrew is. She sat near him and at one point leaned over and said, "Jehovah made that." She said he got a big grin on his face and said, "Yep!" I can't get Andrew to tell me anything about his day at school. I asked him what he ate at school and the only thing he'll tell me about is Apple juice. Obviously, a novelty to him since everything he's ever had has been severely diluted and has had green superfood powders in too.
Anyway.. they have enrichment class from 3:30-4 so I decided to show up a little before 4 hoping to get a peek at the Kid Fit fitness activities for Wednesday. The were tossing balls, shaking moraccas, and prancing like different animals around the room and having to 'freeze' randomly. He was enjoying it but when he saw me he came running with a huge smile on his face and threw his arms around me. He said he wanted to go home. I told him he could stay and finish class and to go play. He did but kept a close eye on me. A few minutes later he decided he really did not want to be there anymore so I consented and we left before Kid Fit was over.
The teacher told me he took a good nap, was a great helper, and that he was overall happy. He was still in the same underwear and shorts that he went in - so I'm guessing there were no accidents. He was in a different shirt. She told me that he got that wet. Andrew told me he got paint on his shirt and had to take it off. So I'm guessing the teacher washed the paint out and thats why the shirt was wet. Who knows. Overall - good day.
Thursday he was in good spirits. He had a meltdown moment this morning. He has asked me for help and then after I helped him, he decided he should have done it by himself and got mad at me.
He didn't sleep well Thursday night. (i dont think he's been sleeping well at all this week but I'm too tired to recall for sure what happens each night.)
Friday morning, he came in my room when he woke up. I asked him if he was ready to go to preschool. Then in a voice that was obviously him trying to stay strong and not cry, he says, "I don't want to go to preschool today." I told him he'd have fun because he gets to wear his swim suit and play in water today at school. "No, I don't want to go to preschool. I want to stay home." I said, "okay" just to not get him upset. We went about our regular morning routine of getting him fed and organized - with the intention of sending him to school anyway. As the morning progressed though.. he just looked like he didn't feel well. He felt warm and had a low grade fever. So, now I couldn't send him to school. I was so glad my photoshoot had rescheduled. I pretty much let him lie on the couch and watch educational programs. He didn't even watch some of them.. just laid there. I couldn't get him to eat.. he didn't like anything I gave him to drink. And on top of that - I ended up needing to babysit the Perry girls for a couple of hours. (They all got dressed up in my studio and made Jade and Andrew get married.) He did enjoy playing with them and seemed to do okay for the most part. Then he took a three hour nap. He still felt warm, still wouldn't eat much or drink much.
Saturday morning, he woke up feeling warm and with a low grade fever, but obviously feeling better than Friday. We still gave him a laid back easy day. I had to work in the morning, then could help Ted continue ripping out the old kitchen cabinets. Then we went to help another couple move some machinery into a moving truck. There Andrew enjoyed walking up and down the ramp, and playing in the grass, etc. It was good for him to be out.
Sunday was miserable. Andrew had me up 4-5 times overnight, and then I had trouble sleeping and was awake early. He was completely disagreeable about everything. If he asked for something, then he didn't want it if I gave it to him. He was upset with me that I wouldn't let him watch a video. He didn't want to eat his yogurt after he asked for it. Eventually I got it in him. The entire day it seemed like he fought us. He wanted his shoes off. He got one off by himself but couldn't get the other. He didn't want help. He'd say he needed help but didn't want me to help. I finally had to anyway which of course resulted in tears. At nap I asked him to please turn on his fan and he said no and crawled into bed, and then got mad at me when I turned the fan on because he wanted to do it. Then he pushed and kicked me away after I tucked him in. Then he didn't stay asleep either - woke up crying for me, but then wanted me to go away. After nap, I needed to get him dressed to go to a grand-baby shower for a friend. He didn't want me to look at him or talk to him. He only wanted to talk to daddy. I was sitting on the floor in his room picking out books he was too old for that we could pass on to the grandmother to have at her house when her grandbaby came to visit from out of town. If I looked at him he'd scowl at me and say, "No. Mommy - you look at the books." If I asked him if he wanted to go to the party (or anything else) I only got a negative response. If daddy asked the same question, he got a positive one. Everything conflicted. But after the party, he still fought both of us about eating or doing anything else. overall - just not a pleasant day for anybody.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Dollywood and Splash Country
So, Friday night, May 25th, we packed up the car and left for East Tennessee. We stopped about halfway to spend the night and break up the drive. Saturday we only had another two hours to go and arrived at Dollywood. Andrew has been looking forward to this trip for weeks! I even had to print out a calendar for the month of May and cross off days as we counted down to departure. Anyway - we got no sleep at the hotel that Friday night and went straight to Dollywood when we arrived in town. We got a few hours of kid-friendly play in. We just stuck to the main kid area and let him ride those as much as he wanted. It was busy and he had to do a lot more waiting than last year. I ran out of steam around 2:30, we left the park around 3:30 and checked into our resort hotel just after 4. (traffic was a nightmare!) The resort is super nice and we set andrews little tent on the floor in our bedroom. Sunday we got a late start because we actually all slept in!
We hit up Dollywood again Sunday. We skipped the main kid section first and hit all the little ones that are spread around the park, as well as the boat ride we could all ride together. He also enjoyed a ropes obstacle course while daddy rode a new roller coaster. We did finish up our day at the main kid area before heading to eat and the hotel.
Monday we hit up the water park and it's a pleasant surprise to discover its not over chlorinated like the ones in nashville! woohoo! We started off in a little kiddy area that was very pleasant. Lots to climb on and lots of different ways to get sprayed by water works, and two slides. He went down the slide with daddy once, and then wanted to go by himself. Then when I took him on the second slide, he wanted to go by himself but the lifeguard said he might be too little so I went just a foot behind him. I'm so glad I did! Even though Ted was at the bottom (operating a camera though, not on catch duty), when Andrew went off the end of the slide, it appears as though he didn't put his feet down. It felt like forever before I got there even though it was just a few seconds. He went under and didn't come back up, so I came off the slide and scooped him up. He was fine, told me, "It's okay! in a slightly panicked voice." It was a good cautionary reminder for him to be careful with water - and he was cautious after that in a good way. I'd say there were two highlights to today: 1) we were walking down a path to see what else the park had to offer and Andrew was just singing a song of his own. we get close to the next kiddy area and you could tell when Andrew noticed it. He stopped singing, big inhale of excitement and yelled, "I want to ride on THAT!!" It was basically a huge fire-house themed playground with water spraying and squirting everywhere. a little overwhelming actually but he enjoyed it. 2) we introduced him to the wave pool. He did not like the waves as much as I thought he would. His reaction... grabbing every inner-tube he could and bringing it ashore. He tried picking up two at a time and almost started crying panicking "daddy! help me!" ... he was trying to save the tubes from the waves! He'd get some up on shore and then yell, "oh no! and run back in to save more." We decided it might be best to go back to a kiddy land so as not to let him get too stressed out trying to save the tubes.
We did ride a raft ride together. We had to climb a high tower of steps and wait for a while. There were a couple of teenagers in front of us in line. Andrew often wants to know people's names and my reply lately has been, 'you ask. just say excuse me, what's your name?' This time Andrew grabbed my hand and said, "mommy, can I ask 'excuse me what's your name to her?'" I told him to go ahead but he got too bashful. Not that she'd have heard him anyway, he was soft spoken and it's hard to hear there. Eventually it was our turn. The raft didn't really slosh from side to side much, nor did it spin though the guy who pushed us down made it spin at first, but it did go fast! I ended up facing backwards the entire time so I couldn't really see what was coming, I didn't like it. Ted and Andrew enjoyed it.
Tuesday we went to the water park expecting to only be there for two hours since the storm system was supposed to roll in at 12:30. It didn't roll in until 2:30 and even then it was pretty much just rain - but we were spent by then anyway. The park wasn't very busy so we didn't have to wait long for things. We started off in the nice kiddy area and I hung out with Andrew while Ted went and did the adult rides. Andrew got cranky so I asked him if he needed to eat and all he wanted was a biscuit. Of course, all that we could find would be hamburgers or chicken tenders. He ate a few fries and a couple of bites of chicken and that did help him perk up a bit. Then he wanted to go to the wave pool. It was hard getting him out of that. I realized there is a section off to the side where the waves aren't overwhelming and he really enjoyed them then. He did try to save a couple of tubes but that was short lived. I sat in one and he tried to drag me out of the water too. He had fun, and one of the onsite photographers was in the pool and got a cute picture of him which of course i had to buy because who knows what we were getting with our camera. He smiled for that lady! When we finally got him out of the wave pool, we stopped at the bathroom before heading to some rides. There were about ten kids in the bathroom at that time and I got so overwhelmed. We went potty and then he actually for the first time ever wanted to use the hand dryer without being scared of it! I explained how it worked and got his hands dry, and then we started to walk out. I guess he never heard me and stayed in and was using the towel dispenser to get a paper towel. There were kids everywhere, inside and out. I called and called and got no response and finally went back in and yanked his arm and pulled him out of the bathroom. That resulted in a near meltdown and he picked up the stroller and tipped it over which of course made things worse. I apologized and asked if I had scared him. He said yes and I apologized again over and over and explained that I was overwhelmed by all the people in there and it smelled like chemicals.. I just needed out and needed him to listen. He said, "okay." I felt bad and needed a few minutes to regroup myself. Ted was seeming to lose it too.
Anyway, we worked our way over to a raft ride we could do together. We climbed up to the top and waited our turn. This raft ride was longer than the other one in the park, more turns and more sliding up the side of the tube too! I think I screamed twice! Andrew LOVED it and wanted to ride it again and again. I was a bit dizzy from the first run, so I let the guys go with other people two more times. Each time Andrew had a big smile on his face. He told me later that was his favorite ride.
After the raft ride we went to the overwhelming kiddy area. Andrew was having fun and when Ted needed a break I tried to step in. I followed Andrew up one set of stairs and had so much water dumped on my head by people above operating buckets and hoses that I couldn't even see. So I marched back down and out and hoped Andrew would do okay until Ted could get back. A few minutes later I ended up with a bloody nose. Obviously that place and I did not mix. I think after that we went back to the less overwhelming area and let Andrew play until it started to drizzle. He was finally willing to go down the water slides by himself again. Our new system was to have me go a couple of feet before him down the slide so I could just turn around and catch him when he got to the bottom. He loved that. The clouds moved in and it started to sprinkle so we decided to leave. I'm glad we left when we did because when we got back to the hotel it really started raining with a little thunder and lightning too.
I got a little too much sun on my tummy on Tuesday. I put some aloe and manuka honey on it and was sitting on the couch in the hotel. Andrew picked up a souvenir plate and asked what it was. Stupidly, we told him it was a frisbee (which it is but they used it as a plate first.) A minute later I was hit in the face with it being thrown as a frisbee. He was only about 4 feet away from me and it hit rather forcefully right across my eyes and nose. My glasses probably saved me from more damage but it definitely caused a lot of pain and days later it still hurts to touch anywhere around my nose, nevermind blow it or wipe it or try to put sunscreen on it. It swelled just a little bit but no major bruising - probably also thanks to the glasses taking the first impact. I just have a red line across it.
Wednesday we wanted a leisurely day. We tried to find the playground at the hotel and missed the path because Andrew wanted to talk to the guy emptying trash into the bin and we ended up walking around the entire place without finding it. Then we ate breakfast at a local diner, went to a couple of local shops and then came home for a nap. One of the shops we went to was a tool accessory store. Andrew was asking what each tool was. Once he asked what the drill bits were and a man answered him. Then Andrew proceeded to tell the man what you use drill bits for! That they go in a drill and you put a hole in the wall and then you can put a screw in the wall. It was interesting hearing him tell the man so enthusiastically.
Afterward we went to Dollywood. Three hours to closing. We primarily stayed at the kid carnival area where he could ride the busy bees, ducks, pigs, elephants, and a roller coaster, etc. After riding the roller coaster, they got off and Andrew started to follow Ted to the exit. Then Ted looked back around and Andrew was reaching across a ten foot drop to feel the wheels on the roller coaster! Eeks! The guys did get into the spinning tea cups for the first time which he actually enjoyed. He rode the cars a few times and we rode the river raft. We were going to get a painting made from all of our handprints but it was 18 minutes before park closing and she was supposed to start cleaning up in two minutes. So we went and finished at the cars. He rode once with Ted and then when I got in line with him... the cars broke down. The got it fixed and went ahead and let us ride, and two thirds of the way through our car stopped again. This time they made everyone get out of the cars and collected us all together and led us out. Then instead of waiting in the crazy long line for the tram, we decided to walk the mile to the car. I think we still beat the tram. As soon as I buckle Andrew in his seat, though, he announces he needs to pee. Ted said I couldn't let him pee in the parking lot so he had to cork it. He did try.. but by the time we got out of the park he was getting distressed and started crying. That escalated into wailing. I told him as soon as we could get off the main road, he could pee and just to hang on, he was doing a good job. It sounded like he was in pain trying to hold it. The first road we saw we pulled off and I leaped out of the car and unbuckled him and dropped his shorts and he peed and peed and peed and peed and peed out the door into the grass. He obviously felt so much better and was all calm again. Except now he was asking, "are we going home? are we going to the hotel? are we going to eat? .... " he was so worried about what we were doing next. It didn't matter what we told him he didn't stop asking. We went to dinner and didn't get him to bed until after 9. (and he still got up at 6!)
Thursday we had a leisurely morning. He watched Bob the Builder and we hung out in the hotel room. I tried to get some extra sleep. Around 11:30 we got him to go down for a nap so we can have a full afternoon of play. We went to the water park for a while. He stayed in the little kiddy area for a while before asking to "go see the waves." He hung out there for a few rounds of waves. As soon as I dared get in thigh deep with my camera, the battery died. Then we worked our way over to the big tube ride. I wasn't feeling well so just those two went.. over and over and over again. Andrew LOVED that ride. Then he saw the slides to other rides and really wanted to ride those but he wasn't near tall enough. We talked him into leaving Splash Country to go to Dollywood where we could do the hand print painting and get something to eat.
we wait for a while for our turn to do the hand prints, then walk clear to the other side of the park to try out a new pizza place that had good reviews (not sure why - it was disgusting!) we stopped once to go potty, look inside a woodworking shop, and then for daddy to try out a game. It was one of those games where you use a mallet to hit a big button and see how strong you are. He almost made it to the top, 91 out of 100... then the guy saw Andrew and gave andrew a prize anyway. Andrew really wanted a turn so the guy gave him an inflatable hammer and Andrew took it and started hitting the button with it and watching to see if any of the lights light up on the game. So we now have an inflated hammer with scooby doo on it. :-P
Friday we were beat. The people staying upstairs from us come in late and bang around so much, it's impossible to sleep for a while. Then Andrew has been getting up once a night to go potty. This morning he was up at 2:30 to pee, then woke me up a few minutes later to tell me he forgot to wash his hands. I couldn't go back to sleep after that - and it's been a whole week with very little sleep. He woke up grouchy too so we just went to breakfast, hit a few shops, and went to the hotel for a nap. He woke up disagreeable from that too. So... we're packing it up to head home. We're done with this vacation.
We hit up Dollywood again Sunday. We skipped the main kid section first and hit all the little ones that are spread around the park, as well as the boat ride we could all ride together. He also enjoyed a ropes obstacle course while daddy rode a new roller coaster. We did finish up our day at the main kid area before heading to eat and the hotel.
Monday we hit up the water park and it's a pleasant surprise to discover its not over chlorinated like the ones in nashville! woohoo! We started off in a little kiddy area that was very pleasant. Lots to climb on and lots of different ways to get sprayed by water works, and two slides. He went down the slide with daddy once, and then wanted to go by himself. Then when I took him on the second slide, he wanted to go by himself but the lifeguard said he might be too little so I went just a foot behind him. I'm so glad I did! Even though Ted was at the bottom (operating a camera though, not on catch duty), when Andrew went off the end of the slide, it appears as though he didn't put his feet down. It felt like forever before I got there even though it was just a few seconds. He went under and didn't come back up, so I came off the slide and scooped him up. He was fine, told me, "It's okay! in a slightly panicked voice." It was a good cautionary reminder for him to be careful with water - and he was cautious after that in a good way. I'd say there were two highlights to today: 1) we were walking down a path to see what else the park had to offer and Andrew was just singing a song of his own. we get close to the next kiddy area and you could tell when Andrew noticed it. He stopped singing, big inhale of excitement and yelled, "I want to ride on THAT!!" It was basically a huge fire-house themed playground with water spraying and squirting everywhere. a little overwhelming actually but he enjoyed it. 2) we introduced him to the wave pool. He did not like the waves as much as I thought he would. His reaction... grabbing every inner-tube he could and bringing it ashore. He tried picking up two at a time and almost started crying panicking "daddy! help me!" ... he was trying to save the tubes from the waves! He'd get some up on shore and then yell, "oh no! and run back in to save more." We decided it might be best to go back to a kiddy land so as not to let him get too stressed out trying to save the tubes.
We did ride a raft ride together. We had to climb a high tower of steps and wait for a while. There were a couple of teenagers in front of us in line. Andrew often wants to know people's names and my reply lately has been, 'you ask. just say excuse me, what's your name?' This time Andrew grabbed my hand and said, "mommy, can I ask 'excuse me what's your name to her?'" I told him to go ahead but he got too bashful. Not that she'd have heard him anyway, he was soft spoken and it's hard to hear there. Eventually it was our turn. The raft didn't really slosh from side to side much, nor did it spin though the guy who pushed us down made it spin at first, but it did go fast! I ended up facing backwards the entire time so I couldn't really see what was coming, I didn't like it. Ted and Andrew enjoyed it.
Tuesday we went to the water park expecting to only be there for two hours since the storm system was supposed to roll in at 12:30. It didn't roll in until 2:30 and even then it was pretty much just rain - but we were spent by then anyway. The park wasn't very busy so we didn't have to wait long for things. We started off in the nice kiddy area and I hung out with Andrew while Ted went and did the adult rides. Andrew got cranky so I asked him if he needed to eat and all he wanted was a biscuit. Of course, all that we could find would be hamburgers or chicken tenders. He ate a few fries and a couple of bites of chicken and that did help him perk up a bit. Then he wanted to go to the wave pool. It was hard getting him out of that. I realized there is a section off to the side where the waves aren't overwhelming and he really enjoyed them then. He did try to save a couple of tubes but that was short lived. I sat in one and he tried to drag me out of the water too. He had fun, and one of the onsite photographers was in the pool and got a cute picture of him which of course i had to buy because who knows what we were getting with our camera. He smiled for that lady! When we finally got him out of the wave pool, we stopped at the bathroom before heading to some rides. There were about ten kids in the bathroom at that time and I got so overwhelmed. We went potty and then he actually for the first time ever wanted to use the hand dryer without being scared of it! I explained how it worked and got his hands dry, and then we started to walk out. I guess he never heard me and stayed in and was using the towel dispenser to get a paper towel. There were kids everywhere, inside and out. I called and called and got no response and finally went back in and yanked his arm and pulled him out of the bathroom. That resulted in a near meltdown and he picked up the stroller and tipped it over which of course made things worse. I apologized and asked if I had scared him. He said yes and I apologized again over and over and explained that I was overwhelmed by all the people in there and it smelled like chemicals.. I just needed out and needed him to listen. He said, "okay." I felt bad and needed a few minutes to regroup myself. Ted was seeming to lose it too.
Anyway, we worked our way over to a raft ride we could do together. We climbed up to the top and waited our turn. This raft ride was longer than the other one in the park, more turns and more sliding up the side of the tube too! I think I screamed twice! Andrew LOVED it and wanted to ride it again and again. I was a bit dizzy from the first run, so I let the guys go with other people two more times. Each time Andrew had a big smile on his face. He told me later that was his favorite ride.
After the raft ride we went to the overwhelming kiddy area. Andrew was having fun and when Ted needed a break I tried to step in. I followed Andrew up one set of stairs and had so much water dumped on my head by people above operating buckets and hoses that I couldn't even see. So I marched back down and out and hoped Andrew would do okay until Ted could get back. A few minutes later I ended up with a bloody nose. Obviously that place and I did not mix. I think after that we went back to the less overwhelming area and let Andrew play until it started to drizzle. He was finally willing to go down the water slides by himself again. Our new system was to have me go a couple of feet before him down the slide so I could just turn around and catch him when he got to the bottom. He loved that. The clouds moved in and it started to sprinkle so we decided to leave. I'm glad we left when we did because when we got back to the hotel it really started raining with a little thunder and lightning too.
I got a little too much sun on my tummy on Tuesday. I put some aloe and manuka honey on it and was sitting on the couch in the hotel. Andrew picked up a souvenir plate and asked what it was. Stupidly, we told him it was a frisbee (which it is but they used it as a plate first.) A minute later I was hit in the face with it being thrown as a frisbee. He was only about 4 feet away from me and it hit rather forcefully right across my eyes and nose. My glasses probably saved me from more damage but it definitely caused a lot of pain and days later it still hurts to touch anywhere around my nose, nevermind blow it or wipe it or try to put sunscreen on it. It swelled just a little bit but no major bruising - probably also thanks to the glasses taking the first impact. I just have a red line across it.
Wednesday we wanted a leisurely day. We tried to find the playground at the hotel and missed the path because Andrew wanted to talk to the guy emptying trash into the bin and we ended up walking around the entire place without finding it. Then we ate breakfast at a local diner, went to a couple of local shops and then came home for a nap. One of the shops we went to was a tool accessory store. Andrew was asking what each tool was. Once he asked what the drill bits were and a man answered him. Then Andrew proceeded to tell the man what you use drill bits for! That they go in a drill and you put a hole in the wall and then you can put a screw in the wall. It was interesting hearing him tell the man so enthusiastically.
Afterward we went to Dollywood. Three hours to closing. We primarily stayed at the kid carnival area where he could ride the busy bees, ducks, pigs, elephants, and a roller coaster, etc. After riding the roller coaster, they got off and Andrew started to follow Ted to the exit. Then Ted looked back around and Andrew was reaching across a ten foot drop to feel the wheels on the roller coaster! Eeks! The guys did get into the spinning tea cups for the first time which he actually enjoyed. He rode the cars a few times and we rode the river raft. We were going to get a painting made from all of our handprints but it was 18 minutes before park closing and she was supposed to start cleaning up in two minutes. So we went and finished at the cars. He rode once with Ted and then when I got in line with him... the cars broke down. The got it fixed and went ahead and let us ride, and two thirds of the way through our car stopped again. This time they made everyone get out of the cars and collected us all together and led us out. Then instead of waiting in the crazy long line for the tram, we decided to walk the mile to the car. I think we still beat the tram. As soon as I buckle Andrew in his seat, though, he announces he needs to pee. Ted said I couldn't let him pee in the parking lot so he had to cork it. He did try.. but by the time we got out of the park he was getting distressed and started crying. That escalated into wailing. I told him as soon as we could get off the main road, he could pee and just to hang on, he was doing a good job. It sounded like he was in pain trying to hold it. The first road we saw we pulled off and I leaped out of the car and unbuckled him and dropped his shorts and he peed and peed and peed and peed and peed out the door into the grass. He obviously felt so much better and was all calm again. Except now he was asking, "are we going home? are we going to the hotel? are we going to eat? .... " he was so worried about what we were doing next. It didn't matter what we told him he didn't stop asking. We went to dinner and didn't get him to bed until after 9. (and he still got up at 6!)
Thursday we had a leisurely morning. He watched Bob the Builder and we hung out in the hotel room. I tried to get some extra sleep. Around 11:30 we got him to go down for a nap so we can have a full afternoon of play. We went to the water park for a while. He stayed in the little kiddy area for a while before asking to "go see the waves." He hung out there for a few rounds of waves. As soon as I dared get in thigh deep with my camera, the battery died. Then we worked our way over to the big tube ride. I wasn't feeling well so just those two went.. over and over and over again. Andrew LOVED that ride. Then he saw the slides to other rides and really wanted to ride those but he wasn't near tall enough. We talked him into leaving Splash Country to go to Dollywood where we could do the hand print painting and get something to eat.
we wait for a while for our turn to do the hand prints, then walk clear to the other side of the park to try out a new pizza place that had good reviews (not sure why - it was disgusting!) we stopped once to go potty, look inside a woodworking shop, and then for daddy to try out a game. It was one of those games where you use a mallet to hit a big button and see how strong you are. He almost made it to the top, 91 out of 100... then the guy saw Andrew and gave andrew a prize anyway. Andrew really wanted a turn so the guy gave him an inflatable hammer and Andrew took it and started hitting the button with it and watching to see if any of the lights light up on the game. So we now have an inflated hammer with scooby doo on it. :-P
Friday we were beat. The people staying upstairs from us come in late and bang around so much, it's impossible to sleep for a while. Then Andrew has been getting up once a night to go potty. This morning he was up at 2:30 to pee, then woke me up a few minutes later to tell me he forgot to wash his hands. I couldn't go back to sleep after that - and it's been a whole week with very little sleep. He woke up grouchy too so we just went to breakfast, hit a few shops, and went to the hotel for a nap. He woke up disagreeable from that too. So... we're packing it up to head home. We're done with this vacation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)