Where to begin? Well, I’m freshly showered thanks to Cole. He just puked his entire dinner plus a bottle all over me. I swear his gag reflex is SOOOOO strong. Must be why he’s afraid to swallow food. He doesn’t like puking (either does Mommy if any one’s asking). So how’s the feeding therapy going? Well….I canceled the Phoenix Children’s Hospital feeding therapy. I know I said I was going to do it a long time ago, but strangely I felt so guilty I kept going until yesterday. I talked to our speech therapist who was Cole’s old feeding therapist and she is going to do another hour a week in our house (convenient) and try to work with him. She is even able to come during our normal morning snack time. Yippee! Hope she like Backyardigans because believe it or not…I think we’re actually starting to watch TV. Backyardigans seems to hold their attention and they have cute songs (except the surfer episode!). The bad thing about going back to our old feeding therapist is that she was out of ideas for Cole last time we used her. But at least we have somebody working with him and I’m not torturing the other two kids by dragging them to all these appts. And I don’t have the guilt of stopping therapy.
Speaking of not going to appts….we had one today for Paige for her psych issues. I was going to cancel this anyways because I don’t feel she is anything but a normal toddler, but I thought if we were up and willing we’d give it one more shot. Well, we had a great nap today for all three kids and completely missed it. Whoops. I don’t think Paige has psych issues anyways. Sure she knows how to manipulate us and she probably has issues with trust. But once you get on her good side or don’t let her control her environment, she’s an angel. And no, we’re no better with her sleeping. She is still sleeping with Daddy and is waking up even earlier now to run into his room with a big smile on her face and her arms outstretched as if to say “Daddy…how can you sleep without me? I’m here now…all is well”. Naptimes are 50/50 with her going down without a fight. Yesterday she screamed and refused to get into her bed and ended up passing out on the floor by the closet. Today she smiled and laid her head on her pillow and drifted off.
Drew is no longer a happy-go-lucky kid. Well 99% the time he is. But don’t take a toy from him or put him down when he wants to be held. He has learned how to throw a tantrum. It’s crazy! He throws himself back and screams and kicks. My problem is that when the other kids take a toy from him and he throws a fit…do I give him back the toy? Isn’t that promoting the tantrum? But on the other hand, it’s totally not fair to him that the other kids take his toys. And they do it a lot. And isn’t this early for him to be tantruming? I don’t remember the other two doing it this early, but maybe they were delayed in that area…or Drew has been watching and learning. Either way it’s rough. He also is pulling up to stand on EVERYTHING. Which is dangerous and he gets hurt a lot now. Another development with him which is absolutely fabulous is he has learned to drink from a sippy cup well. I was so afraid that he wouldn’t know how to drink from a cup or bottle since he has only had boob for the last 5 months. And yes…I’m counting down the weeks til we are done breastfeeding–twelve weeks. I loved breastfeeding and plan to write a post dedicated to the beauty of breastfeeding…but with the teeth, and twisting of the other nipple during feeding…I’m ready to be done with it.
Another development: We are working on identifying colors and I think Paige is getting it. Both her and Cole are masters of puzzles and shape sorters now. Paige loves to read books and will bring books she wants you to read. Cole is building up his vocabulary and is experimenting with repeating words I say. It’s very exciting. They’re growing up so fast!!!
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Not sure I can offer much but on the subject of toy stealing… I’ve always been told the best thing is to distract. So, don’t necessarily give the toy back (rewarding his behavior) but don’t punish him by ignoring him either, since it wasn’t his fault. If it’s possible (and you’re not tied up with the other two!) I think distracting him with a different toy, or a tickle, or a game may help.
I don’t envy you with three little monkeys under three… you’re doing an amazing job, much better than I could!
My little Sylvie, who is just a few days older than Drew, has also started having little tantrums, usually throwing herself backwards very dangerously! Has she no concern for what is behind her? She does this a lot after waking up in the middle of the night…I don’t know how many times I’ve almost dropped her after one of her episodes. I’m pretty sure it’s normal, though like you, I don’t remember my other two doing this. But in my case, I’ve had a number of years to forget (her brother and sister are 8 and 10 years older). Oh and the biting…she’ll smile and bite me when she’s done nursing. I know I’m supposed to pull her in closer when she does that so she opens her mouth to breathe, but of course I yell (darn it hurts!) and that makes her smile more. Mom is so funny!
That’s a tough one. I would give his toy back. It might indirectly drop the idea in their heads not to do that to him- which is good social skills for upcoming preschool. After all, it’s not as if Drew can calmly say, “Um Mommy, could I please have that toy back?” It’s tough to be the baby- and it’s good to let him have a voice.
When he has the words and throws a tantrum- well, that’s a different story.
I started reading your blog not long after Paige and Cole were born. Laura had told me about y’all so I started reading, just following how the kids were doing. I’ve been fascinated with the stories of all y’all have gone through! Your patience is really what gets me.
I was 21 and 23 when Austin and Ryan were born. He was sooooooo easy and she… wasn’t (that’s putting it mildly!). She started throwing temper tantrums that sound alot like Drew’s, so I don’t think its really a big deal.
That being said, being one of three kids can be tough. I’m a middle child and I SWORE I’d never, ever have 3 kids. I had two, then had a hysterectomy at 25 (I was serious!!!). Then, when they were 8 and 10 Kyra came into my life. I saw many of the same issues arise between my three that were just like with my brother, sister and I.
I guess having three kids creates certain issues. Especially as close in age as they all are. It eventually passes… mostly.
I really think the two of you are doing remarkably and I wish you well. If I would have been as patient as the two of you are… OMG it would have been soooooo much smoother!
Congratulations on the sippy cup. My 14 month old won’t take a sippy cup. He’ll take water from a cup with a pop-up straw, but that’s not really teaching him to drink from a cup. Milk has to be from a bottle. Good for Drew!