A Few Steps Forward

A few steps forward:

**Ashlyn is walking!! She is 19 1/2 months now and has been exploring her new skill. (She can walk straight too, unlike the video where she just wanted to walk in circles). We are excited to celebrate this milestone with Ashlyn and the older sisters are so proud of her!

**She also went back to her specialist (the doctor that diagnosed her with Global Developmental Delays) and he said she has progressed two months in development! She is now at a 11/12 month level. We also celebrate this, as she is making progress with her development!

**She is really starting to exercise her language and baby babble. It is too darn cute to hear her try to repeat sounds. I am still waiting to hear "mama."

A few steps back:

**Ashlyn's strabismus (eye crossing) has reappeared so she is back on eye drops to help correct the problem.

**One of her doctors also found some deformity in her toes. We are not sure at this time about this new found issue. It could correct itself, or not.

**Despite Ashlyn's progress, three out of three of her doctors still have some concerns so they are recommending her to get an MRI. Ashlyn favors her left side, which just could mean she is a lefty or there is more of an underlying problem. The doctors want to see if she had a stroke, either in the womb or after delivery. They want to make sure there was not a brain hemorrhage. She is scheduled to get her MRI next week. Am I scared? A little. Am I worried? A little.

Her little cutie patootie smile and expressions keep us upbeat, and we are grateful for her progress thus far! Ashlyn is such a blessing to our family!

Parent Reflexes

I don't think I am alone in saying that my heart jumps a little when.....

I am changing a dirty diaper and the Velcro on the diaper gets stuck on the kid's sock and then the kid won't stay still while the dirty diaper is flying around still stuck to their sock!!! This calls for quick parent reflexes!

The Bathroom

I found myself saying this sentence today:

"Yes, I am in here, and no you cannot come in."

Then all I had to do was ignore the knock, knock, knock, mommmm, knock, knock, knock, mommmmm, knock, knock, knock, knock, mommmmmm, knock, knock, knock, mommmmm, knock, mommmm, knock, KNOCK, KNOCK, MOMMMM!!

Tales from the Garbage Pail

It is never good when Ashlyn's sweet curiosity leads her the garbage. There is just something about "what's in here?" that gets the best of every child, and Ashlyn is not exempt.

Now that Ashlyn is tall enough (on her tip toes) to reach the kitchen trash can, she enjoys exploring this area a few times a day.

First I hear Ashlyn crawling on the tile floor, pound, pound, pound, pound, making her way to her new found love.

But then I hear this, "Mmmmm."

Then you will hear me running across the tile floor and raising my voice, "Oh Ashlyn! Gross!"

Rice Krispie Treats

What you won't find in this blog post is a fun, new Rice Krispie Treat recipe or me examining the lack of nutritional value in this "All American" dessert.

What you will find in this blog post is me challenging the directions on the recipe card. At the end of the traditional Rice Krispie Treat recipe, it reads: COOL, CUT, AND ENJOY.

Why do they have to cool? And why do you need to cut them?!

MY NEW RECIPE:

Get a spoon, scoop directly from the warm bowl, AND ENJOY!

Charades

The two older girls have created a charade-like game that they love playing with each other. One of the girls sits on the striped kitchen rug while the other runs through the living room and back around with some sort of animal motion that the other has to guess.

It is fun to watch them play together and they will only play while I am making dinner or washing the dishes so I usually join in their fun.

In most cases, I can guess the animal, but sometimes not so much.

We couldn't guess Ambria's animal only because she forgot the name of it. Nice.

We couldn't guess Mariah's animal because she was a SLOTH! Oh crap, how am I supposed to guess sloth?!!

Belly Laugh

I think it is pretty safe to say that the sound of a child belly laughing is contagious. Even if you hear someone else's child belly laughing, you laugh, I laugh, we all laugh.

Laughter is contagious.

Sometimes child laughter doesn't make sense. Sometimes it does. Either way, it is still funny.

Sometimes child laughter contains toots. Which brings about more laughter.

Sometimes kids get the hiccups when they laugh.

Sometimes kids get the hiccups and burp while laughing.

And then sometimes, (as in Ashlyn's case this week), kids will laugh so hard that they get the hiccups and burp and then VOMITS!

Oh dear. Laugh+ hiccup + burp = vomit.

Gross but still funny.

We laughed.

The Magic Word

Ashlyn's doctors and therapists have recommended teaching her some basic sign language. She knows the signs for please, thank you, more, all done, and eat and it has really helped her to communicate a little.

Here's the thing, since learning the sign for 'please' Ashlyn does it ALL the time. She thinks it truly is a magic word and if she does it, she gets EVERYTHING she asks for. She is learning the hard way that she cannot have everything she wants and asks for, even if she says 'please.'

Crayons

There is just something about brand new, sharp crayons that shouts, "come color with me!"

I love new crayons! You know the ones that aren't all dull or broken or half eaten. I used to have a box of crayons just for myself that stayed nice and sharp, but the girls found them.

It is the little things in life...

Go buy yourself a box of new crayons and you will see what I mean. :)