Enough already!

Over the past few months we have had some concerns about Trent's speech. We were told by public health that we should consider speech therapy. Low and behold I filled out a mountain of paperwork about Trent and his birth, health, habits and history and still haven't heard a word back... Obviously at speech pathology they are good at studying and teaching the art of communication but not at executing communication themselves.

All in all I guess it didn't hurt my feelings all that much because I knew with time his speech should round itself out. I think I knew deep down in my Mothergut that Trent was just waiting for his own sweet time to start talking. I guess signing up for speech therapy was me second guessing myself. But with the slow process that it is I didn't want to not start the red tape and there actually be a problem then the proceedings would take even longer.

But I should trust my instincts more often than not I guess. Since his two year checkup at public health Trent's speech has blossomed and continues to do so. It really is one of those things that happens without even realizing it happened... you just realize one day that it happened and don't remember it actually occurring. It is just funny to now see him going through the phases of speech and all the steps you take to learn things. Some enunciation isn't that great and I am sure that Big Daddy and I will be translating for him for quite some time to come, but alas we are on our way.

I think the funniest thing about children learning how to speak is the humor that goes along with it. In some cases it is their use of the words...Correctly and incorrectly. In other cases it is the simple fact that they KNOW what they are saying and realize its funny, so it is like they are telling a joke. But I think the most amusing is the expression that they use on their faces and in their voices, and how they know to emphasize things... Like those all so special four letter words.

Trent's latest word is enough. When I am tickling him amidst his laughter he will look up at me and say "Mommy... Enough". Or when filling his milk glass and it is getting full "ENOUGH!" But I couldn't surpass a chuckle today when Trent was sitting on Big Daddy's knee. Big Daddy was marking some assignments for his professor while bouncing Trent on his lap and singing.... yes, singing and not all that in tune might I add. Trent sat there quietly for a few minutes and then looked up at Big Daddy and said "Daddy... Enough". The singing was a little too much for him I guess.

My other snicker was this morning I was upstairs and I heard Trent go into the kitchen, open the fridge (not uncommon...hence we usually lock the fridge) and then he hollers into it "bye bye supper" and slams the door. Why? Only Trent and God know. But it was funny.

I am just glad that we are on our way. I know in no time at all he will be rattling off words and sentences like he's done it all his life... until then I will try to relish in the stepping stones that get us there.

Growing Up

We are now into a bit of routine in life with glasses for Joseph. He dosen't seem to mind them and hasen't bucked wearing them much. I think it really helps that his friends at school earnestly like them.

So, after Joseph wearing the glasses for a few days I took the opportunity to enquire if Invisible Joseph also got glasses. For some odd reason Invisble Joseph does not wear glasses and he dosen't need them to see. I have come to the conclusion that Invisible Joseph is a mix between Joseph himself and his cousin Dylan. Sometimes Invisible Joseph does things that Joseph does, and other times he does things that Dylan has done.

However, with the glasses I think Joseph has now concluded that he infact can see better with them on. I left my glasses on the coffee table last night and in the morning I went to get them and they weren't there. I asked Big Daddy if he had moved them. Big Daddy was unaware of their disappearance. Joseph then sheepishly pulls the glasses off of his face and sets them on the table with a humble "I am sorry Mommy, here are your glasses." Big Daddy and I had a laugh and I asked Joseph why he was wearing my glasses. He thought they were his and wanted to watch TV. So he obviously can see the TV better with his glasses on. When Big Daddy handed Joseph the appropriate pair of eyewear he put them on and commented that "this is better".

Since Joseph is on the move more and more these days it is hard to get some good pictures of him. What a busy life a kindergartener has, play-dates, birthday parties, soccer, and swimming. Where does a guy find the time to sleep. I find more and more that he is home less and less. But here is the one photo I did get of Joseph en-glasses.


What ever happened to the low key days where we would lounge around and snuggle in our pj's all day? As much as I miss that life it is nice to see him growing up and really rounding out a life of his own. I guess it's true.... they really do grow up too fast.

For the love of the game

Tonight was Joseph's fourth soccer game of the season. Thus far he has accomplished two goals and two really nice assists. However, in under 6 soccer there is no score and no goalie so it is simply for skills and the fun of it all. But in the "fun of it all" the walls have to be dead. Which is about as exciting as watching paint dry. These kids are, you guessed it, under six years old and they haven't the depth in their skills or the ability to fully understand the concept of dead walls in indoor soccer. I realize the rule is for safety and to learn the game the new and improved way... personally I don't see what was wrong with the old way? We all survived a quality rebounded soccer ball off of the face, why change that now? I have to wonder what type of skills these kids are aquiring when it has pretty much become a game of someone stands out of bounds and kicks the ball in. But rules are rules, and soccer is now improved soccer. I guess by the time these kids are 18 they will have the skills to keep the ball off of the walls and will not have ever been any of the wiser.

Coming back to the fact that these kids are all 6 and under, they are now getting a little bored with soccer and the novelty and excitement has worn off for some. Their interest lies more in sitting and watching or playing on the stage, not playing soccer. But it was really nice to see that Joseph was still one of the kids who was out there whole heartedly and excited to see the outcome of the game and cheer on his pals. It made me proud to see that he isn't ready to throw in the towel or give up. For him, it is still fun... just what it should be.

Clearer Vision

Somedays in the shock of the moment life doesn't have much clarity. But if you sit back for a moment, drop your head between your legs, and take a few deep breaths to help avoid passing out, the fog will lift and you can see why things are as they are.

A few weeks ago Joseph had another check up at the orthopics center in the hospital. I guess each time we go I pray for a miracle and the Opthamologist is going to ring in praise that his eyes are perfect and vision is perfect and all the efforts put forth have been well worth it. It didn't really end that way..... Much to my dismay.

This particular Monday, I had to work so I coerced Big Daddy to haul both kids down to the hospital for Joseph's eye checkup. I get a phone call from him after its all done and his first words were "Joseph need glasses" haha huh? What? umm? haha? What?? WHAT? While shuffling around my desk for a paper bag to minimize my hyperventaltion I think my absorption of what Big Daddy was telling me was minimal. I was shocked to say the least. I shouldn't have been, but I was. I hang up the phone and try to have some composure as I continue to work. Glasses, huh? No big deal right? I have glasses, Big Daddy has glasses, all of our parents and grandparents wore glasses. *sigh* our poor kids never had any hope did they?

Once I took a moment to put it in perspective it wasn't that bad. I guess the person it should matter the most to is Joseph and how he feels about it, and he was excited to get glasses. Poor bugger doesn't know the half of it does he? But he was excited. So off we toddle to the optical place and get pair chosen, we learn it is 2 for 1 so we choose out a 2nd pair. It all seems practical for a five year old boy who enjoys wrestling to have a spare pair. Pair #1 is blue, Joseph has informed me that these are his school glasses. Pair #2 is silver, and as I was told they are for "Fancy Shmancy".

Joseph was excited to go to school and show all of his friends his glasses. The first day he wore them to school Big Daddy had dropped him off quite early. Joseph proceeded to stand by the door and greet each of his classmates that day, one by one. Most of them commented on the glasses and those who didn't he followed around asking "Do I look different?" until they noticed. His teacher could not contain her laughter, she said it was really funny and cute.

I guess in Kindergarten glasses don't have a bad stigma yet, which is a good thing for us in getting Joseph to wear them. On the other hand three of his friends parents have thanked me... Their son's are now asking for glasses. I guess it really is one of those things where the grass is always greener on the other side. Or maybe the picture just isn't clear yet so it just "appears" greener on the other side. A simple pair of glasses can sometimes offer a moment of clarity.