Swimming lesson

Colton really loves the water. I really want him to learn how to swim. We live in FL so there is water EVERYWHERE.

We don't have a big pool, so I took him to the city pool on Saturday morning. I figured it was HOT and it would probably be crowded, but would still be worth the $2 a person to get in and try to get Colton more comfortable with swimming.

We were the only ones there!! We had an entire olympic size pool to ourselves (there were 3 lifeguards there as well!!)

Colton floated along and I was trying to teach him to kick his feet and go under water. He was just so excited and kept smiling and laughing that he was taking in a lot of water. He didn't seem to mind though. I had him jumping off the sides and I would "dunk" him now and then. I am just not sure how the specifics of "teaching" him to swim. Does anyone have any experince with this that they would like to share?

Super busy

We have been SUPER busy this week at work. We have getting "inspected" on Monday for our accrediation and everyone is stressed out and working hard to get everything done. Normally our sample come in around 10:00 and I have the morning to catch up on blogging, but this past week I have been busy from the moment I get here. Once Monday and Tuesday go by we can all relax and get to normal.
We have HUGE tree come down in our backyard on Tuesday. I went outside to get something out of the car before work and Maddie went out in the fenced part of the yard and was barking her head off. I looked back there and there a big cherry laurel that had taken the fence down and was laying across the yard. Thankfully it only took down one section of fence and because the tree was so big, Maddie couldn't get out of the yard. We have two acres, but only a small portion of it is fenced and she has a dog door that leads out to it. I called my insurance company and had someone come out and remove the tree and today they are coming out to give me an estimate on getting the fence fixed.
Hoping to take Colton to the pool tomorrow. There is a public pool that is open tomorrow and I really want to take him in the morning. He loves water so much and I would like to try and teach him to swim. I have swimmies and his vest with the floats inside. He seems to prefer the swimmies.
Other than that, not much going on this weekend.

Hump day

Well half the week has now passed. For some reason this week has been exceptionally slow. I guess compared to last week with all the appointments and time-off, this week has been dragging.
Nothing to exciting planned for the weekend. I need to take Colton get to another haircut soon--maybe not this weekend though. It has been about 4 weeks since his last one. That boy's hair grows fast!!
My sister-in-law's sister-in-law (how confusing is that statement?!) had a doctor's appointment yesterday and they could not detect a heartbeat. They think the heartbeat stopped last week sometime, though I am not sure how that hey can tell that. She was(is) 8 weeks pregnant. I guess some decisions have to made now how to proceeded--either go ahead with the "pregnancy" and have a natural miscarriage or have a D&C. They are having a tough time making that call so please say a little prayer for them. I guess I took my pregnancy with Colton for granted. It was very easy and I had very little discomfort or problems. I did get such a rush every time I heard his heartbeat though. It still amazes me that a person was growing inside me!!!

Summer in FL

Man has it been HOT here this past couple days. Yes this is Florida and it is June, but it has been 100 degrees ambient with a heat index of 110 degrees. It is almost too hot to take Colton outside during the day. I try and get him out early in the morning, but even lately it has been in the 80s by 10:00. We go outside and play after dinner and by 30 minutes later, his little hair is stuck to head and soaking wet. He doe shave quite a nice little tan though. I keep SPF 50 on him if we are outside, but he is still got some little tan lines. Saturday was the Wild Blackberry Festival and I was looking forward to going and getting some blackberries. The blueberry festival was the weekend before last, but I prefer blackberries. Since this is Florida, we have blackberries growing wild everywhere. I used to be riding the horses and stop to pick some along the arena line and eat them right off the bush. Rattlesnakes seem to really like the bushes as well!!! We went to the tent to get some at the festival and they said that they would be there in about an hour. We thought that they would be coming from a local farm around here--NOPE--they came in a plastic container that you get at the grocery store and they were from CA. They literally were the brand that you get at Publix. I was very disappointed.

It will be a slow week for us this week compared to our busy last week. No appointments and nowhere that we plan on going. This Saturday we might go to Sams!! LOL

EI meeting

So this week was Colton's EI evaluation. One lady came on Tuesday for his "meet and greet". That went well. She asked questions and wanted to know specifically what my concerns were. I told her that my concerns were his lack of speech and his biting. She observed him and told us that he seemed fine to her, but since I requested it, she would arrange for an evaluation with a specialist and an occupational therapist. The appointment was this morning and he passed with flying colors. All my concerns were for nothing. They seemed to think that he might actually be gifted based on the criteria that they test for. Yes he doesn't say the words, but his cognitive reasoning and thinking was off the charts for his age. They tested him all the way up to two and he exceeded those expectations. They said he was very advanced in his gross motor and fine motor skills. They were even surprised a couple times by what he could do or interrupt. They were not worried about his talking at all. They pretty much said that boys talk later than girls and that he was too busy to pay attention when we say words to him. We have to try and work on making him watch our mouths and pay attention to our voices when talking to him. As you can tell, I was a very proud mommy!!! I was very happy with my little man today.

18 month check-up

The "sign" shot!!
On his actual "half birthday". He was eating a Nutella sandwich, which he REALLY enjoys.

After his appointment, we decided to take him to the Jax Zoo. We took him last August, but he was still to small to really take it in.
At the zoo looking at the elephants. He really liked their trunks.
On the train with me. He was too interested in everything around him to look at the camera. We saw a lot of different animals, but I think his favorite was actually a HUGE (like 20 foot) rock python. It was moving around the enclosure and came over to the glass and was "feeling" everything with it's tongue.
He favorite part of the zoo. They have a water play area for the kids. You just have to remember to have a swim diaper and a bathing suit. They have different animals that squirt and you can sit on. He made a couple little friends while and there was NO BITING!!! I was very proud. He did hug one little baby with his mouth open, but he didn't bite. We are still really struggling with the biting. Everyone says it is a phase and he will grow out of it, but I am beginning to think they are wrong. I have been doing a lot of research and reading why kids bite and he doesn't fall into most categories. I will just have to dig a little deeper.

All in in all it was a great day. I love spending time with my little guy outside. He can burn off energy and I can get a tan!!!

18 months old

Today by little BABY is 18 months old. I will take his picture with his "info" sign after his appointment on Wednesday. We actually are going to zoo that day after his appointment so I can get some good shots there as well.

I don't know why that seems like such a big number to me. It is just one more month older, but to me, it sounds like such a big deal. Maybe because he ACTUALLY made it to a year and a half!!! Last night he almost didn't make it. Mom was leaving our house and Colton was outside with us saying goodbye. Well I walked around the sidewalk and he started running towards Grammy's car. Well she was backing up and obviously can't see this little 33 inch child behind her car. I started hollering "STOP STOP STOP" and she did only about 1 inch from him!! It was a scary moment but all turned out good (thank God!!).

I have really been frustrated with him these last couple days as well. His biting is out of control. Everyone says it is just a phase and he will grow out of it--WHEN?!?!?! Mom was over on Friday night and she was holding him and he bit her on the leg. It left a pretty good bruise. I told him "No biting" and sat him in time-out. Then he was playing with me and bit me. Again I said "NO BITING" and I popped him and put him in time-out. Saturday I was carrying him to change his diaper and he bit me on the shoulder. I actually bit him back and said "NO BITING". He cried, I felt awful, and of course it did no good. He is getting really bad and I am losing all patience with him. He has his EI "meet and greet" tomorrow so I guess I can ask her as well. I have TRIED EVERYTHING and nothing is working. I think he is defective and I need a refund!!!

ALOHA FRIDAY

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So here on Fridays we're taking it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’m asking a simple question for you to answer & nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the very friendly place of Islandlife808.com. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends and find new followers!

My question is: How did your husband propose?

My husband was going to be going to Afghanistan to be working for a private company for a year and when he got back, we were going to get married. Well he only lasted 21 days there (long story short--he was scared and homesick, but didn't want to admit it!!!) So we are sitting on the couch one night and he said "are you going to marry me or what?" I know, I know--how romantic!!! He spent the money he was supposed to use to buy the ring on a gun, so I had to wait a couple more weeks to get my ring.

Slow Thrusday

For some reason, this week has really drug on. You would think that since Monday was a holiday, it would have gone a little faster, but no such luck. I can't believe my "little baby" will be 18 months old on Monday. As the old cliche goes "My how times flies by." Once you become a parent (or maybe just an adult) time does seem to pass much more quickly (contrary to the title of this post!! LOL). I remember as a child thinking how slow time passed and how it seemed summer lasted forever. Now I look back on certain events and think "holy cow that was 5 (or 10 or 15) years ago."

Next week will be somewhat of a busy one. Monday of course will be slow--we are REALLY slow on Mondays. Tuesday, Colton has his "meet and greet" with EI. I am still not sure if he needs it or not, but I thought it would be good to get an "outside"opinion. It can't really hurt anyway. I think he is pretty smart in logic and cause and effect type of situations. He has great hand and eye coordination and I don't think he is developmentally slow--he just doesn't talk. He says a couple words, but I know he should be saying more. Yes, every child is different and they all develop and do things on their own time, but I still just want to get that second opinion. He can recognize certain things, stacks coasters (he prefers those to blocks!!), says about 6 or 7 animal sounds, says about 7 words and can follow direction. You know that mothers always worry about their kids.

Back from long weekend

We had been chatting about trucks and birds and he got REALLY quiet.
About 5 minutes after the first picture.
This is the way the poor boy looked form about half of of our ride--20 minutes or so. I know that cannot be comfortable!!! I felt so bad for him. It has a screen that is usually pulled over it in the front as well, but it was so warm (at 9:30 AM) that I wanted him to get the breeze on him. I guess it was very relaxing sitting in his little cart.

We haven't had an official holiday since January, so it was nice to have off during the week and not have to use leave. My aunt came over yesterday on her way back home to Destin and we put together a gazebo that my parents have bought. It definitely took 4 people and my dad needed all the help he could get to prevent the gazebo from becoming tiny pieces strewn about the front yard. It is a good size space, but I really don't know when they will use it. It is too hot right now to sit outside and there are mosquitoes by the 100s out there in that area. Maybe when it cools down this fall they can get some use out of it.