Summer Time!

Gosh, where do I begin? So much has happened since I last wrote in here - I can't believe that the last time I wrote in here was in March. Now that it's summer I am hopefully going to be better at documenting things, since I haven't been too great at keeping up with Paul's baby book. This blog has become pretty important in helping me remember things that I otherwise wouldn't remember....so I really need to do a better job of writing in here!

So let's start with Paul's development, since that was one of my major concerns in my last entry. One of the hardest things to do is not compare your child with other children of the same age - especially when he is in a daycare setting and when you're the nursery leader at church. I have really had to adjust my thinking and keep saying to myself that Paul has his own milestones and abilities which will develop at their own pace, and if he's a little slower in developing some things than other children, SO WHAT???? As long as he's healthy - and he is.....and as long as he's happy - which he definitely is - then that's all that matters. I love playing with him and listening to him talk and sing to himself - seems like everyday he is picking up a new word or letter or short phrase. Sometimes we can't understand him, but at least he's trying to say and do more.

He has been having play therapy 2x a week, and he loves Miss Ann and her toys! She comes to the house and also works with him at daycare for an hour. He was also scheduled to have speech therapy, but that has been more sporadic. Because the wonderful state of North Carolina is shooting itself in the foot by cutting some of these developmental programs to the point where parents are having to foot the bill for services now.....it's going to be even less than what it was. We will be discontinuing the play therapy....and while it will be sad for Paul not to see Ann (he's grown quite attached to her and her toys! :) ) I think the things they are working on are things that are less of a concern for me than the speech. He had his last meeting with Ann today - he's going to have it with someone else next week. Insurance should cover some of the speech therapy and so my goal is to have him go to speech once every two weeks - at least. We'll see. It really makes me angry that the state is cutting funds where they are the most important. There are so many children who need these services who come from families who simply just can't afford it - and when they don't get the help needed, it affects them as students later on in life.

Paul and I went to Great Wolf Lodge over spring break with Laura and Kai in April and had a really good time! The water park is wonderful - I almost would like to say that I like it more than the beach because you don't have to worry about the three S's: sand, salt, & sunburn. At that point, Paul's big thing was walking up and down stairs. I don't know how many times he wanted to climb the steps while water was being poured over his head by other kids shooting the water guns....did not bother him in the least. He does love to be in the water, so we're planning day trips to the beach and I'll also be taking him to swimming pools and whatever else I can find or do that involves water. :)

Yes - our baby is now officially 2 years old! And he IS a 2 year old - he knows how to "work it" with his pouty lower lip and stamps his feet if he doesn't get his way....but one thing I am thankful for is that he has a very short attention span and it is very easy to redirect him. His favorite word right now is "outside" and he will take my hand and lead me to the front door or the garage for me to take him. He loves to wander down our driveway and walk around the yard....and into other people's yards. He loves to go to our neighbor's little fountain that he has by his front porch and touch it....sometimes he tries to get IN it. He also has this thing with ditches - going up and down hills. Which doesn't bother me because it is helping him with his balance and developing the muscles in his legs. He also loves trains - especially Thomas! He absolutely loves the show and is completely mesmerized when an episode comes on! I enjoy watching the show myself. :)

This weekend we are going to take Paul to his first movie - "Cars 2". I think I'm going to drive separately because it truly is hard to know how he'll react to the whole experience. He could find the whole thing absolutely cool and sit and watch the movie like he watches TV at home, or it can be too much for him and he freaks out and I have to leave. I'll do what I have to do, but I hope that he'll be mesmerized by it.

Well, I guess that's it for now - I want to get this posted because I have started this waayyy too many times in the last week! To be continued!