Kondeens

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Flirting with Disaster

No bib, no high chair, blueberries in yogurt, still shaky with the spoon. Overall he did great and so did everything in his vicinity.

Abstract Art by Melina

A cat in upper right.

Self-portrait. Those spiny things at the end of her arms are hands.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

After the Fall

Melina warms up Max on her lap with a blanket. He fell into a stream hiking and went right to a bath.

Salamander Hunt

Snot, dirty hands, squirmy bugs...It's good to be 3 years old.

Melina knows grandpa would appreciate the salamander she found.

This salamander miraculously survived her clutches.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Big Boy Chair

He insists on eating at the table. No falls...yet.

Boy in the Box

If there is a container of any sort it must be tested for comfort.

After 16 months of showing no interest in saying a word Max decides it's time.

I just looked at this post and realized it came only a few days after the post below where I talk about him not having any words. It happened in the blink of an eye!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Sign Language Turns on Max

Max has hardly any words and resorts to crying, yelling, whining, hitting when he wants something. It is really frustrating for him. This is where sign language has been a huge help. We taught Max several signs so he has a way of speaking with his hands. It really works.

We were on a family outting when he started signing by stroking his hand on his cheek for his blankie and patting the palm of his hand on his mouth for his binkie, both of which we left at home. Thankfully we were on the way home so I reassured him (as much as I could) that he'll get them soon.

Not liking the response he reiterated his request...stroke stroke on cheek, pat pat on mouth. I reassured him again. Not the right answer. Harder strokes on cheek, harder pats on mouth now with some whining. Sorry, Max, they're at home. And again but this time a serious slap slap on face and slap slap on mouth as if "yelling" at us. That hurt so now he's crying. But he still wants his vices so slap slap, slap slap and even more crying.

This vicious cycle repeated itself all the way home while I, holding back laughter, tried to preoccupy his hands with the "If You're Happy Then You Know It Clap Your Hands" song. It was a long ride home.