Loud, Crazy, and Messy

 

Random pics from a couple crazy weeks!

 

She found the ink pad. She did some stamping and then, I can only imagine, buried her face in it.
She came to show me her artwork. Gorgeous isn't she?   Can I tell you how much I love stamp pads?    I really want to love them, and in theory they seem fun.  Only it mostly ends up like this, which doesn't seem like so much fun to this mom.   Of course she left her prints on the walls and doors and everywhere else she touched.   Its washable.   Good thing.

We started potty training.  We spent a few days like this.   Potty, Dora, repeat.  The good news if you wait till 3.5 years old to potty train your kid, turns out it goes very fast.   Granted her speech delay made potty training quite difficult in the past, which is why we put it off.  Until last couple weeks when I was just done and convinced her so was she. Now we are in Big Girl underwear.  Halleljuah!  Guess which character is plastered all over just about every pair?   Dora.  Dora, what would we do without you?

Some nights bedtime can be a lot of fun.   Dad is all about routine, no fussing, no screwing around, getting them to bed.   And me, well sometimes you just have to stir the pot a bit and raise a ruckus.   Its fun.   They are only young once and before we know it, they most definitely won't want us to put them to bed.  They won't want anything to do with us.   So until that moment....

I love getting a cute moment caught on camera. 

 

The game on on this night was put on your character towel and run around like crazy.   Makena had on the monster towel, and then would stop, point one finger in the air and scream "Super Why, to the rescue!!!"     I couldn't get enough of it.  It was so stinking cute.   We have made amazing progress with her speech delay in the last few months.  I soak moments like these up.  We worked hard for them.   She is quite the character and now we know what she has to say.

 

Dad came through with quite a bit of patience while the 'Super Why' game was going on.   His patience finally wore thin.  He wanted the girls in bed.   Its hard to get them to stop and focus on PJs after you've got them going.  Shocking, I know.   Mike got creative, trying to lure Makena to her bedroom saying he was going to put on her PJs.   Honestly, she didn't seem to care to much.   But it made for one great picture.   They did eventually go to bed.   They always do, whether its on Dad's expressway routine to bed, or Mom's raise some ruckus bedtime.  

Leavenworth

We took a trip to Leavenworth for the Ice Festival last weekend. It was gorgeous sunny and bitter cold. At least by our wimpy standards. We were bundled up and prepared.  It was great to getaway and do something different.  The girls behavior wasn't so great, but I guess that is par for the course sometimes.

 

Gorgeous and Cold

The sleigh ride was well, frigid.  I tried like hell to enjoy it but between Makena calling out for snacks, and Maddy buried between us....it was uncomfortable, frozen, and difficult.  I think it was about 16 degrees outside.    I kept thinking about back in the "old times" as Maddy likes to call them, how this mode of travel was normal.   Definitely tougher than us.  We lept out of that sled, ran to a tent for some hot cocoa, and then ran to the car to turn on the heater.   Next time I'll be checking weather forecast for temps, before making any reservations.

The girls buried themselves between us toward the end of the ride.  Bundled up with wool blankets and still frigid.

 A bit later we headed back into Leavenworth and went for a short dog-sled ride. Much warmer, quicker, and more smiles. A group does this every year, setting up a course right in a park in the town of Leavenworth. Some of these dogs have run the Iditarod, or so I heard someone say. The dogs loved it and once one would start howling, they all started howling. Dad and the girls had a good time too.

 

And then we had the inevitable meltdown that ended all smiles.   Makena threw down quite a screaming mess.   She was a bad combo of tired and hungry, and just done.   Michael threw her over his shoulder to get us out of the dog sled area, and I can promise you we were quite the scene.   Her meltdowns are loud and fierce, so we got lots of good looks.   I've learned to "put the blinders on" like my Mom use to say, and just deal with Makena.  We headed home a bit early after this mess.  Till our next weekend getaway...

She was screaming "Put Me Down, Put ME DOWN!!!"   

Sleigh Ride

Cousin Emily is in town for Christmas week.  We took a drive up to play in the snow yesterday at Happy Trails Horse Adventures.   Super fun.  Sleigh Rides, Sledding,  Warming tents.  Highly Recommended.    The girls loved it, minimal crying, lots of snow play.  You can pack in snacks and food to cook over fire/wood stove.    I hope it becomes a Christmas Eve tradition for us.

 Sleigh Rides

 

 Sledding

 "I do all by myself"

And then she crashed, face plant, all by herself too!   

 Huge Percheron Draft Horses.   Amazing, for the non-horse enthusiast who

doesn't get much time near them.

 

 Marshmallow Roasting

Warming tents for Snacks, drying gear, and taking a break

Santa

No tears, no crying, no drama.   Just a simple, easy visit to see Santa and chat about what kind of toys they hope Santa brings.   The girls were in awe of Santa, especially Makena.  Big eyes and a bit of shyness that melted away when Santa started talking about Barbie, Ponies, and all things Pink.  Santa knows.   The candy cane to follow helped a bit too.

Holiday Things

A few things we've been up to so far this Holiday Season....

 Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo.  Maddy loves this place.  

 Spendy to get in the door, but we had a good time.

Look, a good family photo!  These are rare.

 

 Christmas Tree hunting at Yakima Fruit Market.   Usually we head to a tree farm,

but this year we chose the simple route.  I went to this place as a kid to get trees with my Dad.  

I'll admit, it was much easier than the whole "u-cut" process,

which seems to be a fun family idea that never ends well.

 Tree decorated, House decorated, Lights on inside and out. 

Cat sweetly curled asleep on couch.  Done.

 

 The girls had their first "sleepover" in Maddy's bedroom.   Big Deal.  

And they only played for about an hour before I had to go up and threaten to put a

big ki-bosh on the sleepover, if they didn't shut their eyes.  

All tucked in and ready for sleep.....well until Mom closes the door.  Then back to their antics.

Holiday cookie decorating with some friends.  It was a sweet treat mess.

I caught Will lapping up that frosting, spoon after spoon.  I meant to tell his Mom, but got side-tracked....and before I knew it the bowl was empty.  Oops. Just a small sugar attack after that.

 

I don't see Santa

Every night with the girls we have a pretty strict routine about bedtime.  I had read books to Makena and was about to sing her a song, last part before lights out.   Lately, she is quite the funny little thing and her words coming out more and more are wonderful.  Here was our conversation:

Me:   Makena, which song would you like?  Frosty, Rudolph, Santa Claus, Jingle Bells?
Makena:   Santa Caus comin to our house.  Santa comin to our house.   Bring Dora Dollhouse and take.
Me:   Yes, Santa will come.  What is he bringing?
Makena:   Santa Caus bring Dora Dollhouse and take.  Take, Take, Take.
Me:   Pondering...   Cake??
Makena: YES.  TAKE!!!  (C is still a difficult sound for her)
Me:  I don't know if Santa brings Cake.
Makena:   Where is Santa?   (putting her hand above her eyes, lookout position scanning room)   I don't see Santa.  I don't see Santa.
Me: Santa is up at the North Pole making toys.  He'll be here in a couple weeks.
Makena:   I don't see Toys. I don't see Santa.
Me:  Okay, Makena.  What song do you want?
Makena:   Santa Claus.   (Followed later by Tinkle Tinkle Little Star....as sung by Makena)

This conversation cracked me up and made my soul leap a little.  Six months ago Makena was saying 4-5 words and mostly making the sound "du" or "du du" for everything.  Her progress is amazing.  She has worked hard and we have wonderful SLPs and a Preschool to give credit too. 

Christmas for me is done.  This is all we needed.

I'm sharing a video of Makena around the beginning of May.   We had a few simple words and was just starting to put two words together, still very much working on vowel sounds and consonants.   Today we are having conversations with four -five word sentences.   I watch her progress grow every day.   Its amazing.   Tomorrow I'll share a video of where were at now.

Preschool

 

September was back to school for the Potters, like so many other families.   Maddy will do another year of Preschool and start Kindergarten next year.  For Makena, it was her first day of preschool!   Both were excited and anxious to go, and I was more excited than both of them put together. 

 

Maddy first day back to Preschool. 

Relief for mom, and new activites for Maddy

Makena's First Day of Preschool

Listening carefully to Ms. Louise

Big Girl with her much loved Dora Backpack. 

Splash

In the hot days of August, we pulled out the pool for some summer fun.  I can tell you this is the best $20 or $30 I ever spent.  This day was worth it and much more.  The girls had the best time playing.   Just take a look.




Lining up to run and jump in the pool.

Makena was in attack mode with water guns.

Goggles on, nose plugged....DIVE!

Giggles, Giggles, and More Giggles.

The Lifeguards, otherwise known as Dads.  Aren't they the picture of fun?

And then Dad got in the mix.....Dad knows how to keep the giggles going.

Which quickly turned into a rousing game of Splash Maddy's Dad.

And more laughs and silliness

With an occasional swimsuit malfunction.

Tate broke out a few smiles....when he wasn't
overwhelmed by the splashing girls.

Best Friends.  Summer Fun. 
See you again next year!

Yah Mon

Makena recently started saying "Yes, Mom".   Only it really sounds like she just got off a long vacation from Jamaica and is practicing her Rastafarian Slang.    It sounds exactly like 'Yah mon'.  For Makena, this is all a really big deal.  Putting two words together and using them consistently is a big step.

Makena has Speech Apraxia.  She has a speech delay but its a bit more complicated.  We have been this journey with her speech for over a year.   Its heart-breaking, difficult, exhausting.   And now I am happy to say its also exciting, heart-warming, and bringing big smiles for our family as she is starting to make some huge progress.    Its a long journey with a lot of teeny tiny steps.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is the formal term.   In simple terms it really means the connections in the brain to formulate words are not there.   She understands everything we are telling her, follows directions and listens appropriately.  She knows what she wants to say, but she cannot make the words come out.   For Makena, we noticed she wasn't on track with her milestones for speech.  We had her evaluated at 21 months and they said, wait till she is two.  I heard many stories of 'late talkers' and at a certain age, the kid would just started talking in full sentences.  I had hopes this would happen, yet gut feeling said this was not to be.

Makena has to learn each individual sound.   Some compare it to a person who has had a stroke has to learn to talk all over again.  Makena cannot just mimic sounds, as most infants and toddlers do.  She will try but it comes out mostly as "du du" and not anything close to the word.    I'm learning more about Speech Therapy than I ever wanted to know.   

Sept 3rd, 2012 - I started this post a couple months ago and never finished it.  I just took a look at our blog and decided it was time for some updates.  In the few months since I've written this, Makena has exploded in language.  She is now putting three words together at times.   This is huge in our world.

From January of this year, its been quite a ride with Apraxia. You wonder if they'll ever talk. You lose track of milestones as she is so far behind kids her age, it doesn't matter anymore. Your normal status quo is a jigsaw puzzle each day of what Makena is trying to say.  Hearing new phrases like "Waaaiitt Mommy" is music to our ears.   Having simple conversations and hearing her respond back with words is pure bliss.

She is still very speech delayed, and will be in therapy for at least another year, possibly more.  However, we are on our way.  She is making enormous progress.   Go Makena!

We still have many sounds and words from her, which we cannot understand.  Lots of patience and reasoning on what she is trying to say.  With the age of 3 some huge tantrums, more than likely caused by communication frustrations.   Rightly so, I'd be mad and frustrated too.

The latest words

Dura (Dora)
Train Ride
Red Light
Green Light
Wait Mommy
Wait Daddy
Me too!
Sissy, Wait
Me Me (Mickey Mouse)

Baseball Interrupted

Pepe and Uncle Andy game over a couple weeks ago a Sunday night dinner.  The baseball game was on and this was the scene.    Mariners Game on the TV, mundane night, not much going on....

But before long, my little gremlins got something going. They discovered pillows of all shapes and sizes were alot of fun.  And before I knew it we had this...

Followed by more of it.   Because you know how kids work.  If you get a good laugh, well than you MUST keep going.  More pillow, more laughing, more giggling. 

Uncle Andy was not left out.  He might have got the worst of the new found pillow game.   And oh, it was a very fun game!

Pretty soon, there was no Uncle Andy left. Just legs.  He was officially lost to the pillows.

And Dad, sitting there so quietly at the other end of the couch.  Don't worry, the girls realized he was ready for his share as well.

And then they were done.  Baseball Interrupted.   Girls giggling,  Family laughing,  pillow chaos to be had.  Mission Complete.