December 9, 2010
B-Boy goes home sick… for the first time
This week started with four kids in B-Boy’s class going home with a bad cough and a fever. A fifth child had the cough without fever, and that child was B-Boy.
He has felt lousy. Coughing himself awake at night, bad sniffles, and general uncomfortableness has been the norm for him this week. Each day, we would check his temperature, which was normal. So, he would go to daycare where he can run around and play knowing he would be happier there than at home.
Today, he did not eat much for breakfast. (Not a good sign for a kid who eats so well.) When I dropped him off, I told his teacher to call me if he seemed miserable, and I would take him home. At 11am, I got the call. He was running a fever of 100.2 under his arm. At 100 degrees, kids have to go home.
And, since he has to be fever free for 24 hours, he will stay home tomorrow too. I was thinking about this yesterday, and realized he has NEVER been sent home for being sick. He has been sent to the doctor to be checked, but was always cleared to go back. This is a first. I just hope he feels better soon. Poor boy!
When we got home, B-Boy ate a decent lunch of comfort foods (yes, Teriyaki Tofu was on the menu!) and then I put him to sleep. He has been sleeping since one… I have baked chicken in the oven, and am going to go saute some eggplant for him after I post this. A boy should have his favorites when he doesn’t feel well, don’t you think?
December 8, 2010
Happy Birthday Grandpa Gator!
Today is my Dad’s birthday.
To celebrate, B-Boy wanted you to hear a story for the day.
December 5, 2010
B-Boy goes to a concert for Lunch Money
Today I took B-Boy to a concert at the Carrboro Arts Center. Carrboro is right next to Chapel Hill and is about an hour and a half from our house. The center is a wonderful place for kids of all ages to play, and had a great big room with a tall stage and lights.
The concert started at 11, and we arrived about ten minutes before it started. Neb had to study for his final next week, and this was the perfect opportunity for us to give him some study time while we had some fun.
We were going to hear a band that plays kids music that adults like to listen to. I heard them on an NPR program and one of their songs made me giggle. The band is called Lunch Money and the song that made me giggle was about a Cookie As Big As Your Head. How could you not like that?
I searched the web and found out that they were from South Carolina, and would be playing in Carrboro today. We made the journey easily. Once we arrived, we sat down on the second row. B-Boy ate has granola bar while we waited. He looked around in wide-eyed wonder taking it all in.
The stage was large, and there were lots of rows of seats, some down on the floor in front of the stage. The area in front of the stage had a padded foam mat and was used for the kids to dance on. The bands’ instruments were waiting for them and included several guitars, a set of drums and a trombone.
B-Boy sported a cute shirt with a drum set on it. There was a pocket on his chest that looked like he had a set of drum sticks in it. We both agreed that he was dressed appropriately!
The band took the stage, and started to play. Their music was catchy and fun and they did a great job engaging the kids. They asked questions and incorporated the answers into their songs. B-Boy sat on my lap the entire time and had a blast. (I think that is a first, he usually wants out of my lap as soon as he sits in it!) We danced and wiggled in our seat- we jumped up and down and in one of the songs (called I want a dog) even barked and howled during the song.
B-Boy did really well… and did not cry a bit. He even got to meet the band members after the show and get a photo with the lead singer.
After the show, we headed home and had lunch followed by a REALLY big nap. Yes, we all took one. And when we woke up, it was SNOWING! It was a light dusting that did stick to the ground. It was very pretty, but not enough to play in. I think the band sang the snow here, what do you think?
Molars
I don’t know exactly when they arrived. His teachers told me a few weeks ago that they thought they felt some coming in, but B-Boy has 2…. count them…. 2 molar teeth!
In true son of Nebeli fashion, B-Boy sported his first year molars in symmetrical fashion. Both came in at the same time and are the same size, one on each side of his mouth.
I noticed them last night while playing a fun game of Tickle B-Boy And Make Him Laugh. I was playing with his tummy making Zerbert noises. (Those of you who watched The Cosby Show know that is simply putting my mouth on his belly and blowing air out. The noise that is produced sounds like he is passing really loud gas. B-Boy loves it, and laughs a hearty giggle each time.) As I zerberted him, he opened his mouth and gave a hearty laugh- and then I saw them! Two white, gleaming teeth in the place where gums had been previously! The gums are still there, but you should see the teeth! I called Neb over and showed him. We were both very excited.
So for those of you keeping score, that is is ten teeth. Six on top and four on the bottom.
I am starting to think his bark is not going to be worse than his bite for long at this rate!
December 3, 2010
Bye-Bye Infant Class!
I cannot state how much we adore his infant class teachers. They have taught him and us so much. He learned how to drink from a cup because of them. He learned how to eat solids picking them up with his fingers. He had fun getting pushed in a cart, and pushing his friend in the same cart. He was loved, and hugged and sung to happily.
His teachers are like family. They spent so much time with him, and know him like the back of their hand. They helped us diagnose that he was still having issues with lactose. They gave advice when we asked for it, and were never judgmental. They were open to our unique foods, and thus, B-Boy was too.
He had a blast in the new room, and I think he will be fine. I am not so sure I will!
I snapped a picture of B-Boy at the end of the day with one of his new teachers. I now pick him up from a different part of the building (keeping him separated from his old teachers). They call it the Toddler Gym, and there is tons of cool things to climb on and ride in there. He was really happy! We shall see how it goes tomorrow, as he starts the day in his new class.
That’s all for now. I’m off to find a Kleenex, this post has me a bit teary-eyed. Sniff sniff.
December 2, 2010
Recognition
Yesterday, B-Boy did something new.
I was taking him to daycare in the morning. We drove into the entrance to my work and turned onto the road in front of his daycare.
As we neared the corner of the daycare building , B-Boy looked out of the window. He then did something he had yet done. He laughed and started wiggling in his car seat. Why? Because he knew where he was, and what the building was… it was the place where he goes and has FUN!
This was notable because he had not been so aware of his surroundings before. He had recognized the daycare previously, but only when we got to the door. He would smile and start to rock- happy to go to daycare to play.
So this was new… and exciting! B-Boy is becoming more aware, more curious, and is processing information like crazy. It is fun to watch, and I am happy that I was paying attention!
December 1, 2010
A cute little fireman
B-Boy is moving to a new classroom this week. They are transitioning him incrementally, taking him for a few hours at first and each day keeping him longer. He is loving the time in the new room, and today stayed until after lunch. Tomorrow, he will stay through nap time before returning to his previous room.
He is ready to move up, and all of us know it. I am sad to say goodbye to his room and his teachers, but I think that they may miss him more! So, I thought it would be nice to dress him up extra cute for his last few days in the room, just for them. A way to remember him, so to speak.
When I dropped him off today, they loved his outfit. How could you not love a cute little fireman? One of the teachers took some photos, but B-Boy kept trying to grab the camera.
I snapped some photos tonight so you could see it too. Enjoy!
The meaning of GA!
More and more, B-Boy says GA! It means many things, as I have reported previously. Mostly it means- you take this, and goodbye.
But for the past few days, it has meant something else. But before I tell you what that means, let me back up. We have a door-less cart in the kitchen that we primarily reserve for B-Boy. We stock the bottom shelf with things that would be interesting to him, but not cause too much harm or worry. Things that are there currently include reusable water bottles, the water bottles lids which are great fun to play with, a remote for the Roomba and his bottles of his favorite snacks- which are puffs. The puffs containers are filled to different levels, and make a great sound when shaken. The water bottles are various shapes and sizes; several bottles are metal and a few are plastic. Some have a hard texture, and others are soft. The water bottles are also fun to put things in, his pacifier is a big favorite- and then he can play can I get this out of the bottle?
Two days ago, I added to the items on B-Boy’s shelf. Another favorite treat for B-Boy are Apple Cinnamon wagon wheels made by Gerber. They are nice to hold, crunchy without being hard, and large enough to keep him munching happily for a while. The container also makes great noise when shaken, as the top is made of rubber and the bottom is made of metal. The container is a short, fat cylinder that is large but manageable for B-Boy.
Now back to the story and why I think GA! has another meaning.
The other night, B-Boy finished his dinner, and then it was time to play. He quickly found the cylinder of wagon wheels and picked it up. He palmed the container, and crawled into the living room where I was sitting on the floor. He got to my lap, and sat down. He looked up at me with his big blue eyes, lifted the container and said “GA!“.
At first I thought he wanted me to shake it to make a fun noise.Um, no.
Then I thought, “Does he want a wheel? Is he trying to ask me to give him one?” So, I opened the lid and turned the container toward him. He then reached in, selected one, put it in his mouth and CRUNCH! A few moments later, it was gone.
“GA!“, he said.
“Another one?“, I said and offered the container to him. Another was selected and consumed, followed by another.
Then last night, he did it again with the container of O’s and also the puffs. He has mastered the new meaning of GA! and also that he can ask for what he wants. This realization is HUGE.
I think this is coming because he sees the other kids in the new class ask for things and get them. We shall see. I am enjoying the progression, and hope you are too!
November 28, 2010
No more Bottles for B-Boy
I waited to share this news with you to be sure that it was working.
At the time of our 11 month meeting with his teachers, B-Boy was getting two bottles a day. The first was in the morning when he woke. The second was in the evening, right before bed. At daycare, he drinks from a cup.
At the meeting, his teacher mentioned that since he was drinking so well from the cup that we should go ahead and stop the bottles. We immediately stopped the morning one. I missed the morning cuddle, but B-Boy seemed to make that transition pretty well, consuming many a pancake instead.
He remained getting one bottle a day, right before bed for two reasons. First, I really enjoyed the last moment of cuddle time with him. It was the one time of the day that B-Boy would get snuggley and we would have some quality time together. Second, I had several business trips in October and November. I didn’t want Neb to have to deal with the transition or any possible negative repercussions, with me out of town, so we decided to wait.
Last weekend, we decided it was time to stop the bottle. I admit, I thought it would be a difficult process. Thankfully, I was wrong. On Friday, I gave him a bath, got him dressed, read him a story and gave him a pacifier. I neared the crib and baby boy leaned toward it, clearly ready to go to sleep. I obliged and put him in… B-Boy grasped the extra pacifiers in the crib and proceeded to fall fast asleep.
He has done this every night for the past 9 days. We got lucky, he made the trasition really easy for us. His teachers were right, he was ready to get off the bottle.
We also stopped the Soy formula, and started him on Lactose-free milk (Lactaid). He is making that transition really well too. We have struggled with his milk allergy, and have had to go back to the Soy Formula several times. If the Lactaid doesn’t agree with him we will try Soy milk. Fingers crossed that this goes as well as the transition off the bottle!
Another milestone he passed? At daycare, they were finally able to turn his crib around so that one side is open. That did not go so well the last time, but last week they tried again. One day, he was misbehaving (a sure sign he is tired!) and so his teacher opened the door to the classroom so he could go back inside. He crawled to his crib, put his pacifier in his mouth, crawled in and lay down to take a nap. He has slept with one wall open ever since. YAY! That should make the transition to the cot a lot easier in his new class room.
The last item we will need to transition off will be the pacifier. I don’t think any of us are ready for that, and daycare has said we should target around 18 months of age to have him stop using it. Yikes. I trust their advice, they have guided us well up to this point. It will be here before we know it, but I for one don’t want to rush that one.
November 26, 2010
Walk, Do Not Run
This week, B-Boy has been walking like CRAZY .
He is walking longer, stronger and more frequently. He has gone from walking with 4 steps, to 8 steps, to 22 steps… to too many steps to count!
As the week progressed, his balance got better and he started pivoting on his feet to turn. Then came pulling up to take off walking. He started with getting help from us, to pulling up on chairs, to now getting up on his own with nothing around. He will squat to pick something up and then POP!, up he goes. Or, if he falls, will get on all fours with his feet flat on the floor. Then, POP!, up he goes.
He is so proud of himself too. He gets a huge smile on his face and makes a noise HA! that lets you know how pleased he is with himself. Of course, every time I took out the video camera, he would immediately fall down and start crawling. I don’t think he wants you to see his new trick!
But rest assured, people have seen it, and he showed off while GranE was here. I hope to get some footage for you soon.
The Nebelito Gazette 