I suppose no one said it would be easy.

Dylan is finally starting to talk. Instead of taking him to EI (Early Intervention) or anything like that, I decided to see what I could teach him on my own. I boxed up all the baby toys (which are still sitting in his room in a box, lol) and bought wooden puzzles with numbers and shapes, flashcards, computer programs, wooden blocks with letters and numbers, even refrigerator magnets, and have scoured the internet for good websites.

Starfall.com seems to be working the best. We go through the ABC's and now he can recognize letters of the alphabet (about five or six of them, so it's a good start) and has even started saying the words they represent. I have been home with him a lot this past month, so I've been working with integrating different words and sounds into all the playtime.

It's taken considerate effort, but I'm pleased to say that I'm starting to see visible results. "Apple" is his newest word, and when we were at the hotel last week he kept pointing at the ceiling fan, and trying to say "fan" when I would tell him what it is.

We'll get there. I just have to remember not to worry. He was always so far ahead mechanically that I didn't pay attention to the lack of trying to say sounds or words until I looked at his 2 yr sheet from the Pedi's office and saw that he "should" have about 20 words or so.

He's also started that babbling where no one really knows quite what he's saying (not even me and I can decipher the difference between the similar noises he makes for shoe and...giraffe...)

Anyway, I know that boys can start to talk later than girls, and that kids start talking at different rates, and all that- it's just a sigh of relief that he's finally started. I'm sure that quite soon I'll be wishing for it to stop. lol!!

Today

Happy Birthday to my mum.

I love her very much, even though we don't really seem to agree on anything. I know she loves me very much too, and I'm quite thankful to have a mum who cares about her children- and grandchildren- as much as she does! 

I love you mommy!! Happy Birthday!

The Outer Banks

I was invited by some relatives to the outer banks for a couple of days. So I packed up Dylan and myself, and made the five (!) hour car ride to Duck, N.C.

Here are a few of the pictures, it's just gorgeous there. (Almost) worth the car ride. Dylan LOVED the water, learned a few new words, and is (thankfully) completely exhausted and will probably go to bed early tonight. We had a great time!! The only bummer was that I missed the exit to visit my cousins in Rocky Mount on the way back, so I suppose I'll have to plan another trip! Gosh darn it! :)

Bear with me.

Please bear with me while my blog is under construction.

Why I don't (and won't) spank my child.

I have entered the "terrible twos" with Dylan, and although it is at times tempting, here is why I don't and won't spank my child:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/T062100.asp

I haven't figured out much else, but I do appreciate the Dr. Sears website. Even though I am not a supporter of big families, I find the information they give useful, logical, and it makes those "I don't think I can do this" feeling go away.

By the way...

He turned two on July 4th! I didn't do a party or anything- he won't remember it and I'd rather do things up when he can have the memories. Anyway, I did get him his own Nemo cake (was going to get a Cars cake but Super Target didn't have Cars)

Here's a couple pictures of his birthday. He wouldn't get his hands messy- insisted that we give him a fork to eat his cake with! It was too funny.

My little cutie in black and white

This was from last night- he loves jumping on my bed!