and, we have a walker!

We continued the physical therapy weekly up to 2 weeks ago. Honestly, prior to that appointment Eric and I had doubts about whether PT was helping, or time was, but we could see slow and steady progress. On Sept 8th, the daycare teachers said Tyler had taken 5-6 steps 3 times that day. Friday, the 9th, he took steps on his own and got up to 11! That weekend he did take some steps at home but not anywhere near 11. Grammy Kay watched him Saturday night for us so we could go out and celebrate our anniversary, and she worked with him too. Then that next week he was walking all over the place! He still prefers to crawl, or knee-walk, even 2 weeks later, but he's getting more and more steady every day with walking. He's also learned how to stand up without pulling up on anything.

Apparently that is all they were waiting for at daycare to move him to the next room. He moves to 1b (same schedule, different teachers) on Oct 3rd. They started keeping the tables & chairs out all the time (they used to bring them out for meals/snacks only), and Tyler loves to sit in a chair during the day.

Speaking of moves, I have a new role at work and start in that role tomorrow! I am going from being a people manager to being a project manager. I have been a team manager for 6+ years now so it is time. My work will be demanding in a different way, and my schedule will be much more flexible. I'm very excited about the new adventure!

Tyler had his 18-month appointment in early September. Everything went well, and as expected he did not like the shots. As a matter of fact, he told them "bye bye" rather insistently, through tears. As far as his growth, he is on track, right around where he normally is. He was ahead in his communication skills and on the late end with walking (technically he would still be 'normal' up to 19.5 months since he was 6 weeks early).

We've continued the Gymboree Play & Music classes and have fallen into a habit of going to Bob Evans for breakfast after. He seems to enjoy breakfast there (a pancake) and eats more and more each time. Usually by the time we get home after that he's ready for a nap, although this past week he was snoozing before we got to Bob Evans, so he was up for going to a couple of stores and then came home to nap. We have a couple more classes and will probably not renew after that.

So now we'll be working on his continued progress on walking, towards running, and then it'll be on to our next milestone.

Flying Summer!

This summer has flown by! It's been a good summer overall. A few updates for you:

- there is something in the water and many, many of my friends/coworkers are pregnant. I am not drinking said water, but I am over the moon happy for each and every one!!

- We started a fish tank. We started with a few fish, one had babies, several unfortunately didn't make it, and now we just have the 3 fish babies. Our tank's chemistry is off so we are treating that and hoping to be able to add more fish soon.

- Tyler loves to watch the fish in the tank.

- He also has several books that he loves to look thru. He will point to something and want you to say what it is. If you don't say it, he points more insistently and makes noises at you. It's very cute. He also will point to the right thing if you ask him, for example, "where's the zebra?". Such a smart boy!

- We're continuing physical therapy for his walking, and he is making progress each and every week. He will now walk holding one hand, so now we're working on balance and freestanding. I know everyone says we'll wish he wasn't walking soon, but I am more than ready for that challenge right now.

- He still loves his daycare. They've had a few more teacher changes and he's adapted to each one with no problems. The way he eats now you would never know eating was an issue (so I know in a few months we'll be saying the same thing about walking).

- We went to Texas for vacation a week or so ago. We were able to meet up with many of my friends (Andy, Aaron & Christina & family, Pam & John & Kathryn & the rest of the Frisco crew, Heather & Bill & family, Shannon & Arline & family) plus saw may parents many times. We stayed at the Southlake Hilton which was a great venue. Tyler also got his first balloon, and his second one when the first burst. He was great on the flights thanks to the fact that Eric loaded the whole first season of Bubble Guppies on his iPad. When it came time to get off the plane Tyler would say "bye bye" to anyone who's eye he could catch. Very cute.

- Tyler had a stomach bug this past weekend, but it must have been a 24-hour one because it was gone pretty quickly.

- He will also tell you when he's hungry, signs "more" all the time", gives high fives, dances, blows kisses and will "raise the roof" (you have to see that one)

Bullets again! What we've been up to!

- We did end up up for Gymboree class and Tyler really enjoys it! The class is on Saturdays and not too far from home.

- Tyler had to attend his first funeral last week, for his great-grandfather Clyde Gray. He was very good for the whirlwind trip to Richmond & back, and he was great with his Grammy Kay.

- Knock wood, he's been healthy even with his umpteen teeth coming in!

- We saw a Physical Therapist this past week for consultation on his walking (or, more correctly, not walking). We had noticed that his feet turning in seem to hamper his walking, and the PT agreed with us. We are going to start with new shoes and exercises at home and go back to PT in a week.

- Tyler loves Bubble Guppies (on Nick)! We have several episodes recorded and each and every time we put on on he gets really excited.

- He's getting more and more words now....very exciting to watch him process when we ask him something!

Ear Infection again!?!?!

So Tyler was on antibiotics (Augmentin) for 10 days and that cleared up his ear infections from the last post. For about 3 days. Sigh.

We went in for our 2-week check up on the ears last Wednesday. Dr. Gessner looked at both ears and said they were clear. HOORAY, right!?!?

Thursday night he was feeling warm so we took his temperature - fever. Other than that virus he had at the beginning of April the only reason he gets a fever is ear infection. We kept him home from daycare Friday and kept him on tylenol for the fever. We called the pediatrician Friday evening and she said it would be best to get him in to their office in the morning so we did. One ear was clear but his right ear was a mess. Now we're on another, stronger antibiotic (Omnicef) and hopefully that will do the trick. I really want one of those ear scopes myself so I can check him!!

The meds seem to have helped so I think we're on the mend. At least I hope so!

I am a Terrible Mom!

So yeah, teething? Could be, but the main reason he was so fussy was an ear infection in BOTH EARS!! :(

We went to his 15-month appt a week ago yesterday, and everything went great - except the ear infection thing. He had goop in his eyes too, so we asked the pediatrician about that. Turns out the ears + eye goop = one feisty infection that has to be treated by Augmentin. We just finished that and I think it did the trick. But now, I'm not so confident....good thing we have the follow-up appt next week!

I felt terrible about the ear thing. Glad he seems no worse for the wear!

In other news, daycare is going well. They have water days on Fridays and he *really* enjoys that. He's been eating well - generally not a huge fan of pasta but today he wanted some of my spaghetti and seemed to like it so maybe we're getting over that.

We also took him to a class at Gymboree Play & Music. Very similar to Little Gym, but he seemed to like it more - not sure if he was just in a better mood or what. They offer a 10-class deal and we're going to sign up for that this coming weekend. He seemed to enjoy crawling around and meeting the other kids. Fun fun!

Day 1 in the Toddler Room

Today was Tyler's first full day in the Toddler room and it went pretty well. His teachers don't get in until 9 so I drop him off to the floaters, but that works out ok and I like the floaters a lot. I mentioned to one of them that we had a hat for him to wear outside and they remembered to get it for him when they went out to play. Drop off is a lot more busy in the Toddler room, so it consequently is a faster process than what we're used to.

He didn't eat well today but that's because he's not a huge fan of pasta and they had Mac & Cheese. They generally don't have something else - because they want them to eat what's offered - and since Tyler eats the snacks well we are ok with it. Soon he will realize that he's gotta eat. And until then we know he'll eat when he gets home (and he sure did today). The teacher also remarked that if they are hungry they won't sleep, and he napped GREAT today.

He knows several of the kids in this room from when they were in the infant program together. His journal has some really cute pictures of him and those kids, including one of him and another girl holding hands at lunch!!

Funny stories from today:

- He and his buddy Tristan know each other and hang out a lot. Apparently today they were outside and he crawled over to Tristan (who is walking) and didn't like that Tristan was standing up and he wasn't, so he went and got one of the walking toys so he could stand too. Smart kid!

- he napped great today, like I mentioned. He's been sleeping on a cot the last 3 days of last week and transitioned fine to it (helps that we have one at home). Today he was snoozing and Tristan came over and woke him up. We saw that last week on the video last week too, made us giggle!

- Then he and Tristan were seated for snacktime. They were sitting across from each other at a rectangular table, just the 2 of them. Reminded me of 2 old men sitting at a table about to play checkers; too funny!

We also had a great holiday weekend, except Tyler was teething. He seriously has a mouth full of teeth! He had a slight fever, was drooling all over the place, chewed his fingers and pulled on his ears. Caused some teary crying episodes but once we broke out the Orajel swabs all was well.

Tomorrow morning is our 15 month appt!

Sent from Mary's iPad

Latest Feeding Therapy and more updates

We had what was probably our last (or maybe 2nd-to-last) feeding therapy appt yesterday. As always we bring food that he does well with and food that he doesn't do so well with. However, he was very interested in eating all of it, proving Mom & Dad wrong once again....Anyway, he was slow to learn to chew really well but has totally gotten the hang of that and chews great now. The Feeding Therapist was very impressed with his progress, gave us a few recommendations, and said we don't need to go back again unless we just want to check in with her in 6-8 weeks.

Tyler's been doing great on the eating front. This week they are having him in the Toddler Room 2 hours per day, including lunchtime, and he's eating like a champ. Today they had chicken nuggets (which are tough for him since he's a slow chewer), but he ate enough. Monday he ate 1.5 of the cornbread muffins at breakfast and 2 servings of lunch (chicken stir-fry). We were amazed.

Daycare has officially set his transition day to the Toddler Room as 5/31. YAY! He's not walking yet but I would not be surprised if he's walking relatively soon after the transition since most of the kids over there are walking.

Tyler got his first haircut on Mother's Day. We went over to Snip-It's in Brier Creek, and it's totally kid-centric. The only thing Tyler fussed about was the cape they tried to put on him so we went without that and it went fine. We had the big camera and video to record the moment, and they gave us a clipping of his hair. Got some great photos too.

We also got him bigger shoes this past weekend - kiddos feet are growing slowly but surely. We had a coupon so we ended up getting him 2 pairs, so he's ready for any occaision now.

And did i mention that we are now a bottle-free household? So glad not to have to wash those Doc Brown bottles with a gazillion parts each. Sippy cups go in the dishwasher.

And as a mom of a reflux-y baby, it's so nice to do his laundry every week or so! For a while there we were doing it daily, so this is a much needed change.

And those are all the updates I can think of for now......

Sent from Mary's iPad