Showing posts with label Repeat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Repeat. Show all posts

March 29, 2009

DeJaVu


Photo: Another recent box creation that DH will be removing tonight. Only the boys could make it through the tunnel.

Sometimes I feel dejavu when seeing our little man revisit "stages" that our bigger boy has passed. The timing is off, sometimes he is well behind what I would expect for a almost three year old, but it makes sense given his family/orphanage history.

I forgot what it was like to try to cook, clean, walk, dance, etc with someone trying to stand on your feet or hold your knees together. DS2 has just learned to open the refrigerator door. So now exploration of "cold" has started including turning the fridge light on and off a thousand times until the buzzer to start sound. And yes, all glass items have moved to a hirer shelf in the fridge (a broken jar of relish looks pretty bizarre when mixed with mustard. It smells weird too. for about three days!)

Peek-a-boo is back in. It is more along the lines of "Where's my man?, Oh, THERE HE IS!!", to variations of "Where's the tissue? Oh, THERE IT IS!" and my personal favorite, "where is mommy's cell? Oh, THERE IT IS!, Now give it back." We are also starting to see the very beginning of hiding, like behind a door, box, wall, etc and jumping out and surprising me. Love that. Also along these lines, I think is the pretending to be asleep, and the great giggles as I wake him up.

Another favorite, is the I want to be like mommy routine. The sudden desire to try lip gloss, powder if I'm putting that on and the wearing of hear clips. This passed quickly with DS1 and I'm sure it will with DS2 as he has the older brother there to tell him "boys don't wear......" But I like seeing my boys in a necklace sporting lip gloss. Along these lines a funny thing happened a couple weeks ago at preschool. For two weeks, each day was assigned a color. Red, Blue, Green Yellow, Black, White, Brown, Orange, Pink and Rainbow. Each day I dressed DS1 in the appropriate color. But on Pink day, he had nothing. I tried to talk him into taking along one of my sweaters and just rolling up the sleeves, but no. Then my husband who takes him to school in the morning reported back that Pink day did not go as well as the others, none of the boys were wearing pink.

Last but least, I'm back to "The wheels on the bus" forty times a day. It is good as I think he likes it because he is finally able to say, or closely say, some of the words. He loves the horn goes "beep, beep, beep" but there is fondness for the babies go "wa, wa, wa" and the windows, "up and down" and the doors "open and close". However on this one, the older boy is clearly passed this stage so sometimes he suggests new actions, such as "the bears on the bus go Ra, Ra, Ra" or the "the wings on the bus take it high, high, high". Yeah, not sure where the imagination comes from, but I love to run with it.

Generally, it is heart warming to see the "repeats", to see the path again. It means he is on it, he is moving forward, he is taking strides everyday. I don't see the daily strides, I'm too close. I worry so much about his lack of language. But I see these steps toward growth, the path I'm more familiar with and I get a bit calmer, I know more growth is coming. He's on his path!

November 06, 2008

Second time around

Two things on my mind tonight; first there are many things which I'm getting to enjoy the second time around that I've forgotten, and second,  I'm also going away this weekend for the first time and I'm nervous about leaving the boys.

When DS2 joined us, I was at first overwhelmed by we were "going backwards" to forgotten territory; diapers, snot, drool, etc.  But recently I've started enjoying a few things as I get to visit them the second time.  

For example, in the morning, DS2 wants me to put make up on him too.  When we head out, he wants lip gloss too.  When I come home he hugs my knees together with all his strength, that almost knocks me over.  I love that now he is blowing kisses, and I had forgotten how wonderful it is to have a kiss blown at you unexpectedly.  

The other day DS2 kept closing the closet door every time I opened it.  DS1 commented, "he's closing it again mommie".  I mentioned, "When you were small you liked to do that too; open and close all the doors".  DS1 was a bit fascinated that DS2 is not just a pet, but doing things he's done.  I want more kids, but recognize I'm unlikely to have any more babies in the house after these two.   For now, the second time around on the good stuff gets savored.  

As I said, this weekend I'm going away.  Just one night, but for the first time ever, out of town with DH and no kids.  I've traveled for work, even for a full 4 nights, but the kids were with DH.  I worry in this scenario, but about the basics not big stuff; i.e., did he feed them food or just snacks?  DH and  I have had a night without DS1; leaving him at home with a sitter while we spent a romantic night/morning in a great NYC hotel.  But we were just a few minutes away by cab.  

This time, we are heading out to a cousin's wedding, leaving early Saturday and returning Sunday night.  We are flying; not a quick cab ride away.  

Yeah, I'm a bit stressed about it.  The boys are staying home.  My parents are coming over.  My parents are in their 70s and want to show me they can do it.  The boys have met them on many occasions, so I'm not worried there.  But what if DS2 goes into melt down?  What if DS1 shows them what a full blown 4 year old temper is?  What if my folks fall asleep while the kids are awake?  DH says they will be fine, but I think he's just excited to get away.

Oddly the two thoughts go hand in hand.  Maybe the second time around on taking care of my kids will be good for my folks.  Maybe they'll get to remember how fun and oddly surprising every moment is.  Maybe the boys are in enough of a routine, the boys will behave - yeah I know hopeful thinking - I think they are more likely to try to get away with stuff; i.e., yeah, mom lets us watch videos when it is still day light - NOT!  Maybe its good for the grandparents to remember how hard it is for 36 hours straight.  Then they won't think I'm crazy.

I don't know, but I would rather take the boys with me and leave DH with the grandparents.  Not true, I would rather take DH to a hotel in the city and leave the boys with the folks, just a cab ride away.  The other option is to take the boys and my parents to the wedding and leave my parents in the hotel with the kids - yeah, that makes no sense at all, financially as well as hassle-wise.  So, I'm off.  The folks are in.  DH is happy.  And no fresh post from me this weekend.  Sigh, I'll be away.