So I had my first Teacher/Parent meeting with Logan's preschool. I met with his small group teacher, Ms. Elaine (I'm going to refer to all of them as Ms.). They learn things like how to cut along the lines, trace letters, counting, recognizing letters, shapes & sounding words (to name a few).
Logan is doing well... "When he wants to" she added with a little smile. She said "I think when he wants to, he does a really good job" She handed me some papers with letters and color markers tracing the letters. And then she hands me another sheet with another letter and what Logan traced... along with scribbles on the page. She says that he's bright but his attention span is short and he gets easily distracted and will start to scribble.
She said he loves arts and crafts and showed me a duck he cut out and said he did an excellent job cutting along the lines. He recognizes his name and can spell and write his name.
He recognize different shapes and tries his best to draw them. He can count up tot 20 by himself ("impressive" she once wrote on his weekly updates). He recognizes and knows all the alphabets.
She adores his love for his little brother and how he watches out for him and is very protective of him. He tells the teachers if Connor is getting into things he shouldn't be. The other week Ms. Hennie tells me that he'll ask someone to wipe Connor's boogers or help find his shoes or socks if he doesn't have them on... it's so sweet.
She said she notices that he cries when he doesn't get things his way and he has a hard time expressing his feelings with words. He has had issues with writing on friend's journals. She thinks it's because he wants their attention and want to play with them but doesn't know how to use his words to express it.
I asked about his behavior because I know he's been more aggressive and emotional (even at home). She said he's never intentionally hurt anyone but would behave in a way that pushes his friends away even though he's trying to get their attention so he can play with them. He helps out a lot. He loves to clean up and help the teachers make meals and get mats out for nap time, clean sand off toys outside... etc.
She showed me a paper he had traced his hand to draw a glove because Ms. Elaine read them a "G" book and he said gloves started with a "G" when she asked the kids to draw something they learned from the book. He then ripped the paper and taped it back up. She laughed and said she didn't understand why he did that.
Overall he is doing well but she'd like to see improvement on how he holds his pens/pencils. I laughed because I've been having a hard time getting him to hold it right.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Dustin - 0-7 Months
Wow, it's true you have less time to track all the little milestones for your 3rd baby (or even 2nd) but I'm determined to stop what I'm doing and update my baby's milestones so far.
Dustin turned 7 months on March 5, 2015. I wrote about my final pregnancy and my labor story for Dustin... quite the experience too!
Let me start off with what's going on now. He's sitting. Well, sorta. I put soft things around him so he doesn't fall back. When he gets excited, he'll throw himself back and fall. He's good at sitting but will eventually tip to the side or forward onto his tummy.
It is unfair that I have not let him practice sitting or given him as much tummy time for him to build up his muscles. Why? His brothers, that's why. Particularly the one that is 18 months older, Connor. When we first brought him home, Connor loved to hold him (and still do) but now he'll stick his fingers in his mouth or push his head, shake his exersaucer... you name it... I'm afraid Connor will do it! So I hold him. I hold him a lot. And ever since I had Masttis, I've let him sleep with me... to nurse.
Now, he won't sleep through the night and when I walk away from him he will cry and scream bloody Mary as if I'm leaving him FOREVER. What's up with that? He's so clingy and needy all of a sudden. His eczema is still bad and he's drooling excessively. I see white on the bottom of his gums. I've been feeling it daily but nothing broke through yet.
Last night with a little nudge, he rolled over in bed. He was halfway there, I kinda helped a little :)
He's such a happy baby. He talk to him, he smiles, laughs and gets so excited. He's quite ticklish too... such a cute age. He loves to grab his feet while laying down. He also scratches his body whenever you gets the chance due to his eczema. Poor baby.
The babysitter said he's eating the Oatmeal but he won't eat at home. He turns his head from side to side while keeping his mouth shut. I trick him by making him laugh and "shoving" the spoon in but he'll spit it out. At least he still laughs about it. haha
August 26, 2014 - Plugged Tear Ducts. I used massage and breast milk as treatment. Eventually we got prescriptions.
August 27, 2014 - Nursing more often during the day. Sleeping 3-4 hours at night.
August 29, 2014 - First blow out (of many). FUN! Why do I keep track of this? I don't know lol
August 30, 2014 - Started nursing every 1-2 hours. Mommy is exhausted.
September 2, 2014 (1 Month) - 7lbs 8.5oz
He had his circumcision today. He didn't want to nurse for a long time. We waited until he was almost a month old because he was a preemie and the doctor recommended waiting. I never heard him cry this much before. It broke my heart. I even got so upset with Logan for mimicking him.
September 11, 2014 - Started gas drops because he's been tooting, grunting and spitting up a lot. Sleeps about 4 hours at night. Nurses around 2, 5/6AM
September 18, 2014 - Up to size 1 diaper. He's now chunky. It's so cute compared to him being tiny (5 lbs). Enjoys bath.
September 25, 2014 - Smiles when I kiss his cheeks ♥ Awe! Slept 5 hours (10:30-3:30)
September 26, 2014 - Slept 6 hours! (10:15-4:30)
September 28, 2014 - Less poop for some reason
October 3, 2014 - First vacation in Tahoe at a cabin. He had runny nose so I used breast milk and bulb to suck out the snots. I forgot the saline but figured breast milk is more organic/natural.
October 5, 2014 (2 Months) - 11.4 lbs 23.75 inches.
October 15, 2014 - He is nursing less frequent (maybe drawing more milk from me) & sleeping 6-7 hours! He started responding to noise and smiles at me around the 23rd. I started swaddling him at the end of the month again with regular blankets. He started getting plugged ducts again on the 29th. He likes his feet rubbed with oils.
October 31, 2014 - Sleeping 8 hours (9-5). yay!
November 5, 2014 (3 months)
November 18, 2014 - Laughed with daddy (as all the other babies did with daddy first!)
November 26, 2014 - He started playing with the toys on his bouncer. More like swatting it.
December 14, 2014 - He started to sit in the execersaucer (which went through all my other kids and other children who borrowed it). He would play with the toys. He also started to follow you as you walk by (watching you). Started using pacifiers. The other boys didn't. He started to sit for short stretches of time with support around mid-late December. He also tries to get up when I lay him down as if he's doing a sit-up.
First Christmas 2014
December 26, 2014 - Started getting rashes on his cheeks from excessively drooling plus eczema. It started to ooze and flare pretty bad.
January 2, 2015 - I returned to work after taking him to the doctor because his eczema flared so badly. His cheeks were oozing. He didn't take the bottle at the baby sitter's house. They spoon fed him milk and rice cereal (even though I asked them not to yet).
January 5, 2015 (5 months)
January 10, 2015 - Cries when I'm out of sight. Kinda rolled from tummy to side on bed. He tried the baby banana food on the 13th but did not like it.
Dustin turned 7 months on March 5, 2015. I wrote about my final pregnancy and my labor story for Dustin... quite the experience too!
Let me start off with what's going on now. He's sitting. Well, sorta. I put soft things around him so he doesn't fall back. When he gets excited, he'll throw himself back and fall. He's good at sitting but will eventually tip to the side or forward onto his tummy.
It is unfair that I have not let him practice sitting or given him as much tummy time for him to build up his muscles. Why? His brothers, that's why. Particularly the one that is 18 months older, Connor. When we first brought him home, Connor loved to hold him (and still do) but now he'll stick his fingers in his mouth or push his head, shake his exersaucer... you name it... I'm afraid Connor will do it! So I hold him. I hold him a lot. And ever since I had Masttis, I've let him sleep with me... to nurse.
Now, he won't sleep through the night and when I walk away from him he will cry and scream bloody Mary as if I'm leaving him FOREVER. What's up with that? He's so clingy and needy all of a sudden. His eczema is still bad and he's drooling excessively. I see white on the bottom of his gums. I've been feeling it daily but nothing broke through yet.
Last night with a little nudge, he rolled over in bed. He was halfway there, I kinda helped a little :)
He's such a happy baby. He talk to him, he smiles, laughs and gets so excited. He's quite ticklish too... such a cute age. He loves to grab his feet while laying down. He also scratches his body whenever you gets the chance due to his eczema. Poor baby.
The babysitter said he's eating the Oatmeal but he won't eat at home. He turns his head from side to side while keeping his mouth shut. I trick him by making him laugh and "shoving" the spoon in but he'll spit it out. At least he still laughs about it. haha
August 26, 2014 - Plugged Tear Ducts. I used massage and breast milk as treatment. Eventually we got prescriptions.
August 27, 2014 - Nursing more often during the day. Sleeping 3-4 hours at night.
August 29, 2014 - First blow out (of many). FUN! Why do I keep track of this? I don't know lol
August 30, 2014 - Started nursing every 1-2 hours. Mommy is exhausted.
September 2, 2014 (1 Month) - 7lbs 8.5oz
He had his circumcision today. He didn't want to nurse for a long time. We waited until he was almost a month old because he was a preemie and the doctor recommended waiting. I never heard him cry this much before. It broke my heart. I even got so upset with Logan for mimicking him.
September 11, 2014 - Started gas drops because he's been tooting, grunting and spitting up a lot. Sleeps about 4 hours at night. Nurses around 2, 5/6AM
September 18, 2014 - Up to size 1 diaper. He's now chunky. It's so cute compared to him being tiny (5 lbs). Enjoys bath.
September 25, 2014 - Smiles when I kiss his cheeks ♥ Awe! Slept 5 hours (10:30-3:30)
September 26, 2014 - Slept 6 hours! (10:15-4:30)
September 28, 2014 - Less poop for some reason
October 3, 2014 - First vacation in Tahoe at a cabin. He had runny nose so I used breast milk and bulb to suck out the snots. I forgot the saline but figured breast milk is more organic/natural.
 |
| Where Dustin slept. |
October 5, 2014 (2 Months) - 11.4 lbs 23.75 inches.
October 15, 2014 - He is nursing less frequent (maybe drawing more milk from me) & sleeping 6-7 hours! He started responding to noise and smiles at me around the 23rd. I started swaddling him at the end of the month again with regular blankets. He started getting plugged ducts again on the 29th. He likes his feet rubbed with oils.
October 31, 2014 - Sleeping 8 hours (9-5). yay!
November 5, 2014 (3 months)
November 18, 2014 - Laughed with daddy (as all the other babies did with daddy first!)
November 26, 2014 - He started playing with the toys on his bouncer. More like swatting it.
December 5, 2014 (4 months)
December 14, 2014 - He started to sit in the execersaucer (which went through all my other kids and other children who borrowed it). He would play with the toys. He also started to follow you as you walk by (watching you). Started using pacifiers. The other boys didn't. He started to sit for short stretches of time with support around mid-late December. He also tries to get up when I lay him down as if he's doing a sit-up.
First Christmas 2014
December 26, 2014 - Started getting rashes on his cheeks from excessively drooling plus eczema. It started to ooze and flare pretty bad.
January 2, 2015 - I returned to work after taking him to the doctor because his eczema flared so badly. His cheeks were oozing. He didn't take the bottle at the baby sitter's house. They spoon fed him milk and rice cereal (even though I asked them not to yet).
January 5, 2015 (5 months)
January 10, 2015 - Cries when I'm out of sight. Kinda rolled from tummy to side on bed. He tried the baby banana food on the 13th but did not like it.
Chinese New Year 2015
February 5, 2015 (6 months)
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Logan's Participation in Preschool
I have to say that there's maybe a little improvement to Logan's excitement about school. Okay, he's never excited about school. The other night, he came into my room at 4am and said he had a bad dream. I let him crawl into bed with Connor and I. I explained to him that it's okay to have bad dreams and it's only a dream. I asked him what the dream was about and he said "I dreamt about school. I don't want to go to school mommy" with that broken voice as if he's about to cry. I just said "awe, it's okay baby. School's not too bad. You have fun. Let's go back to sleep".
This is the first week his brother started school with him. I'm a little nervous because starting next week, they will be on a 5 day schedule. They are currently going to preschool 3x/week.
He's been asking me everyday if Connor can come back with him to preschool the next day (that's considered excitement, right?) :) The teachers have been saying that he's very over protective of his brother and shows him around the school. He said to me that he only likes Connor at School but doesn't like him at home. This was because I asked him why he picks on his brother at home. Little smarty pants said "there's kids at school but there's not kids at home so I don't like him. I only like him at school and take care of him from other mean kids" Sweet, I guess. Brothers will fight, right?
He got bit again yesterday at school (yes, again). I know that things like this will happen but he says to me this is why he doesn't like school. Other kids are mean to him. It breaks my heart. The thought of him feeling like people are mean to him. I can only protect him so much. As a mom, we want to protect our kids from harm physically and emotionally. Seriously, how am I going to survive when he's a teen?
I'm hoping things will get better now that Connor is with him.
This is the first week his brother started school with him. I'm a little nervous because starting next week, they will be on a 5 day schedule. They are currently going to preschool 3x/week.
He's been asking me everyday if Connor can come back with him to preschool the next day (that's considered excitement, right?) :) The teachers have been saying that he's very over protective of his brother and shows him around the school. He said to me that he only likes Connor at School but doesn't like him at home. This was because I asked him why he picks on his brother at home. Little smarty pants said "there's kids at school but there's not kids at home so I don't like him. I only like him at school and take care of him from other mean kids" Sweet, I guess. Brothers will fight, right?
He got bit again yesterday at school (yes, again). I know that things like this will happen but he says to me this is why he doesn't like school. Other kids are mean to him. It breaks my heart. The thought of him feeling like people are mean to him. I can only protect him so much. As a mom, we want to protect our kids from harm physically and emotionally. Seriously, how am I going to survive when he's a teen?
I'm hoping things will get better now that Connor is with him.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Connor's first day of preschool
We decided to put Connor in the same preschool as Logan and earlier than we did with Logan. We figured exposing him to social environment would be good. Having Logan at the school will help him adjust or help Logan (haha). Logan has been going for 2 months and still get teary-eyed when I leave.
UPDATE 3/5/15: It's he 3rd day and it seems Connor is doing great (hoping this lasts!) I stick around for a few minutes to get him to the table and eating breakfast before I leave so that he's preoccupied. I'll stop doing that once he gets that this is what his new routine is. Teachers say he's doing great. Getting along and explores.
I was so nervous driving to work (the preschool is in my bldg) that I felt a little sick to my stomach.
When we arrived, Connor was okay until I left for a second to another room to put away his diapers.
I decided to sit with them for breakfast. He was fine and ate his bagel and cream cheese. He looked around observing his surroundings. I gave him a kiss on the head and asked Logan to come to the window to wave goodbye to me (his usual). I let one of the teachers know I was leaving without announcing it to Connor. She sat down next to Connor & chatted with him.
I spent a good time watching the kids on the play ground from the 2nd floor of my building right above the school's play area. I didn't see either boys. When I got back to my desk, I just had to call to check in. They said Connor is doing great and that Logan has been showing him how the preschool worked (awe). They were inside taking photos for picture day (no wonder they weren't outside).
When I picked them up, they were playing together with the trains separate from the other kids. They both got up and ran to me for big hugs! Missed them! One of the teachers said Connor did great. "Logan is very protective of his little brother". She said Connor ate well and they both napped. Yay!
As we were walking back to my parking garage, logan said to me "Mommy, I kept an eye on Connor today. No one hit him, hurt him, or yelled at him". I smiled and said "You're such a good big brother."
UPDATE 3/5/15: It's he 3rd day and it seems Connor is doing great (hoping this lasts!) I stick around for a few minutes to get him to the table and eating breakfast before I leave so that he's preoccupied. I'll stop doing that once he gets that this is what his new routine is. Teachers say he's doing great. Getting along and explores.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Bottle feeding a breastfed baby
I feel lucky... lucky that my 3rd baby took the bottle easier than the first 2.
My first son did not like the bottle. I purchased so many different types of bottles that claim it's the closest to a mom's breast, etc. I had a supply issue so even when I supplemented, I used the SNS system. A lot of people have never heard of it. I only knew what it was because they recommended it. It's made by Medela. It's basically a bottle clipped to your shirt/bra (whatever) that has a thin tube taped to your nipple (yes! I said nipple). When baby nurses, baby also draws milk from the bottle through the tube. I recall having raw skin from all the taping. Wow, I do not miss that thing.
Anyway, I returned to work after 3 months. My baby refused the milk all day. If my mom got lucky, she could get him to drink some while rocking him in the bouncer chair. Most days, he'd refuse and waited until I got home. I would nurse just about every hour through the night. I started co-sleeping because I just couldn't deal with with working all day and having to get up every hour to go to his room to nurse.
With my 2nd baby, I tried to introduce the bottle before I went back to work. I did this weekly and it was such a battle. He was more willing to take it with me than daddy (which is opposite of whatever everyone else says...) but it was still a battle. He was a little better than my first once I went back to work full time. I stayed home for 3 months and then another 3 months part time.
With my 3rd baby, I didn't even try to introduce the bottle. He was born 6 weeks early and I wanted to spend my time off bonding and cuddling with my little baby. I didn't want to battle with bottles weekly. He took the pacifier early on. My first 2 would not take the pacifier. They were that picky. I was their pacifier! Anyway, I had several pacifiers and bought a few more for him to try... He seemed to really like the MAM brand. I'm not promoting this product or anything but I took some photos because I ended up buying so many of these just in case they go missing! I want to remember these moments...
I tried offering him other pacifiers but he knows it's not the MAM ones. So, as I prepared for returning to work after 4 months, I decided to see if they had MAM bottles. A quick search online and I found some at Walmart & Target. It's not too popular over here. I ordered a set from Target. In the meantime, I gave the babysitter the old bottles we used for the other boys. For that week that he was using it (because I was waiting for my order to arrive), he didn't take it so well. They had to spoon feed him the breast milk. The bottles came in that weekend and I gave it to the babysitter that next week. The result was that he loved the bottle. He took it with no issues! I don't know what it is about picky little babies, but I'm glad I found something that worked! I figured he'd like it since he's so particular about the pacifier. The nipple on the bottle is shaped like the pacifiers (kinda flat)....Yay!
My first son did not like the bottle. I purchased so many different types of bottles that claim it's the closest to a mom's breast, etc. I had a supply issue so even when I supplemented, I used the SNS system. A lot of people have never heard of it. I only knew what it was because they recommended it. It's made by Medela. It's basically a bottle clipped to your shirt/bra (whatever) that has a thin tube taped to your nipple (yes! I said nipple). When baby nurses, baby also draws milk from the bottle through the tube. I recall having raw skin from all the taping. Wow, I do not miss that thing.
Anyway, I returned to work after 3 months. My baby refused the milk all day. If my mom got lucky, she could get him to drink some while rocking him in the bouncer chair. Most days, he'd refuse and waited until I got home. I would nurse just about every hour through the night. I started co-sleeping because I just couldn't deal with with working all day and having to get up every hour to go to his room to nurse.
With my 2nd baby, I tried to introduce the bottle before I went back to work. I did this weekly and it was such a battle. He was more willing to take it with me than daddy (which is opposite of whatever everyone else says...) but it was still a battle. He was a little better than my first once I went back to work full time. I stayed home for 3 months and then another 3 months part time.
With my 3rd baby, I didn't even try to introduce the bottle. He was born 6 weeks early and I wanted to spend my time off bonding and cuddling with my little baby. I didn't want to battle with bottles weekly. He took the pacifier early on. My first 2 would not take the pacifier. They were that picky. I was their pacifier! Anyway, I had several pacifiers and bought a few more for him to try... He seemed to really like the MAM brand. I'm not promoting this product or anything but I took some photos because I ended up buying so many of these just in case they go missing! I want to remember these moments...
They come in these little plastic containers. I feel so silly for not knowing that you can sterilized the pacifiers in the containers. One day I was looking at the container & saw numbers and other things printed on it. It then all started to come to me (doh). I got so excited about my new discovery haha. It's the little things that sometimes makes me so giddy! haha
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