Monday, March 31, 2008

I've Been Banned from Daycare

We had a nice weekend. Well, I did anyway. Ken took care of Kieran while I ran around and did some shopping, got my nails done, etc. It was weird and nice to have a bit of time to myself. I definitely find that grocery shopping is much easier without Kieran in tow - but not half as entertaining.

Unfortunately as Kieran got very riled up, he began to bite. Me. And Ken. So far today he hasn't done anything at daycare, but we'll see. I riled him up good by stopping by to see him and he BAWLED when I had to go. Erica told me that she was going to have to ban me (she was joking - sort of). I don't blame her. I peeked in and he was sobbing in her arms - it was VERY hard to leave after that. But I know about 5 minutes after I was gone he was laughing and playing again.

Bad news for Kieran - Carolyn will be moving to the next room shortly. I asked if Kieran would follow and was told that it's really more of a numbers thing. That they either needed space in the Infant II room or are trying to even out the number of kids in Infant II and Pre-Toddlers (next room). Anyway, we'll see how both he and Carolyn function. He's more of a room flirt now that there are more girls around.

That's about all my news right now. He's just loving the dancing and I'm hoping that maybe tonight or tomorrow night we'll get new photos (I know, been promising those FOREVER). I've got book club tonight and a dinner out on Wednesday - wow, I'm doing good with this me-time thing :-). Love to all, will blog again soon.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Newsletter

Have some stuff to blog about but I wanted to do this, partially to see if it works.

Gauvey Newsletter for 2007

Monday, March 24, 2008

Quick Photos



Some good shots from Saturday night dinner at the Helmand in Baltimore. It's an Afghani restaurant. Kieran enjoyed the bread, but the meat was a little too spicy for him.

Here's the whole gang. And one of the birthday girl and her date. She looks really good for 29, don't you think? (OK, I'll fess up - only because I'm danged impressed - she's 90).

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Slow Mouth

Kieran's had no incidents this week of biting at daycare. When I spoke with Nikki about it on Monday she said he had "slow mouth" which meant that he was thinking about it before he actually bit anyone. A big improvement. It allows for easier intervention from the staff.

He's still biting me periodically, but much much less and I get "slow mouth" too. What it looks like is he slowly moves toward your arm/hand/finger with his mouth open, making his intent perfectly clear. It's really funny, unless you don't stop him in time.

Graham Cracker Lady
On a separate note, I have become the bad influence mom. There's a baby in Infant II with Kieran who's mom is having a hard time getting the kid to continue to eat baby food, but doesn't know what to feed him. She did at least move to cereal bars this week but the kid loves the graham crackers that I give to Kieran as his pre-breakfast snack. He and Kieran have been sharing them for about 2 weeks now. Ken is horrified - how would I feel if I found out another mom was secretly giving Kieran food? (He's right, I'd be ticked at first, but then I'd go out and buy whatever it is that he liked.)

Anyway, now the kid is refusing to eat whatever is given to him, instead waiting for the Graham Cracker Lady to appear with her morning bounty. Good thing they're fairly inexpensive. I think that Chrissy is planning to talk with the mom today because they said that next week Ben would have to share with Kieran his own graham crackers.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Ah - Living for the Weekend

Kieran was sick all weekend. With a high fever and pooping issues (first he couldn't, then he could.. a little too well). So, we had kranky boy all weekend. When the fever finally broke on Sunday afternoon he was so excited he raced around the living room. And bit me, then laughed.

Yeah, back to that. After a full week of doing well at daycare he was very aggressive on Sunday. I warned daycare about it today, but we'll see.

Not much else is new. He's working on speaking (I think) but we still don't really have words. We have "Mamamamama" and "Dadadadada" in association with me and Ken, but nothing much else. He understands a lot - I swear the kid knows his colors already - but he's not saying anything yet.

OK, back to work. I got some really cute photos this weekend and I think we can post them tomorrow night.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Checkups and Checkins

I'm losing my mind. Slowly but surely. I read in someone else's blog about missing an 18 month appointment and her kid having to get double shots because of it. And I read in someone else's blog about a 15th month appointment. Made me realize I hadn't scheduled Kieran's 18 month appointment which I thought was his next one.

Well, goes to prove what I know. He needs a 15 month appointment. Then I'm on the phone with the woman and I'm thinking that he's just turning 15 months next week. DUH, now that I'm blogging about it I realize that he's only turning 14 months on the 17th and I have to now call them back to reschedule the 15 month checkup. BAH.

My mother-in-law is heading to town (I hope) during Memorial Day Weekend. I know she's going to be bowled over by how cute and fun our little man is... and how tantrum-ful. Though since she's a Grandma, she's allowed to spoil him... just not too much, OK Deb? Anyway, I got a notice from the Picture People, which I still want to do and am thinking that this will be something we do when Debbie is in town so she can be in the picture with us.

He's having a good week so far at daycare. I get bum-rushed when I pick him up every night, so that's pretty cool. He's also not fighting his shoes in the morning so much, even if he still takes them off on the way home. Last night I put him down and realize he only has one shoe on. I asked Ken to check my car on his way back in from walking Ochi. Sure enough, there it was. Little stinker.

Okay. Love to all, photos soon.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A Minor Rant

A few things bugging me today...

First, we accidentally left my car unlocked this past weekend. A few things were stolen but nothing I'm really going to miss (maybe my winter jacket) but it's irritating that people feel free to avail themselves of things that don't belong to them. It's frustrating and upsetting that this happens regularly. At least my car wasn't busted open and it wasn't one of the many, many times I left my cell phone in the car overnight. So, there's that.

Next, we had a toy phone. The Bright Lights Phone by Vtech. Kieran dropped it one day and it stopped working. It was a great diaper bag toy and I was disappointed that it broke. So I called them, thinking maybe we could get it fixed. They had me try one thing (take the batteries out, flick the on/off switch multiple times) which didn't work, so I called customer service. We've had the phone for probably 5-6 months and Kieran dropped it. Apparently both of these statements null the warranty. Quite frustrating. I understand that dropped toys cannot always be replaced but it's a freaking BABY TOY and should be able to withstand some dropping. I'll give them that they at least offered that if I sent the toy in they'd replace it for 50% off. Since the toy cost about $15, by sending it in and buying the 50% off one, I'd be right back up to full price. No deal.

OK, those are my rants. Do you have one?

Monday, March 10, 2008

Teeth are For...

Kieran still seems to think they are for biting and his tantrums have increased to sulking. This morning he wanted me to open his pop beads right before we left. I told him no and he pitched a fit, then pretty much sulked all the way to daycare. I couldn't coax a smile out of that kid for the life of me. Once he was there, he was still kinda ticked at me, but in a better mood (I guess the distraction of food helps).

Anyway, we began reading Teeth are Not for Biting and No Biting! this weekend. So far it's not sinking in but we persist. He even bit Ken on Sunday, something he doesn't often do. He seems to ask forgiveness after awhile and I will say he seemed to do it less on Sunday after a day of "No Biting!" from me on Saturday. Then again, maybe that's why he bit Ken (in his mind he was OK since he wasn't biting me).

On the very cool front, I definitely have gotten "Mama" out of him. He even did it this morning when babbling to himself. I think it was a request and he was very happy to see me when I went to his room this morning. He self-regulated for daylight savings time - refusing to nap on Saturday and then falling asleep at 6 pm (what would then be 7 pm the next day). He was right on schedule yesterday, going to bed at 7. Our kid is amazing.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Good With Children

No, not me, Kieran. This morning we walked into Infant I and there was a new baby who just started. She was hanging out in the bouncy seat. This is actually Kieran's old bouncy seat the one he couldn't have been bothered less about. Now, when he sees it with another kid in it, he's all over it.

Miss Chrissy was worried because, as she put it, "this one's a screamer" and it doesn't take much to set her off. So, when Kieran made a beeline for her in the bouncy seat, Chrissy was worried. But she should have just counted on his good flirt genes to win the day. While he rocked the baby by pushing on the bouncy seat, and played peek-a-boo a bit, the infant was entranced. She even nearly smiled (she's only 2 1/2 months old). Made me think that Ken & I should get on this adopting thing before he starts to think of babies as challenges for our attention.

Oh well. I was just so amused at how well he did, how well this baby did. Hopefully we'll have another good day on our hands.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Can I Get a WHOO HOO!!!

His hearing tested just fine today. Though they warned me not to get too excited because hearing can fluctuate day to day. There is definitely still fluid behind the eardrums but the infection is gone. So a very good news day on the ear front. We will cancel the surgery we had set for the 3rd and schedule another hearing test in about a month. If his hearing continues to test fine, there is no real need for the tubes. The ear specialist suggested that his ears may dry out as the weather warms up. We'll see.

Anyway - on the biting front, he's doing it more and thinking it's funny. I'm getting frustrated but trying to be consistent. I learned the sign for "no" today at daycare so we can be doing the same thing at home. He was in a good mood all morning with me, slept on the way to the doctor's office (he woke up at 4:30 am - thanks Ken!) and played while we were there.

That's it, gotta get to work. I've been out a lot for events and for doctor's appointments and am therefore behind on a few projects. Love to all, thanks for all the good thoughts and wishes. More photos (and hopefully a video of him feeding himself with a spoon) coming soon.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

More Biting

We're getting some books. He's getting worse, not better. Hearing test is tomorrow, surgery is scheduled for April 3. If they determine he doesn't need it before then, we can cancel.

That's about all that's new. I'm still trying to kick this cold and having trouble sleeping (hence not much posting). I'll blog about our hearing stuff tomorrow.