For more than a year (nearly two, I'd say), I wouldn't let Grant watch a lick of TV (barring the occasional PBS show on my Kindle while traveling). And I'm here to tell you: It's not an easy task with television literally everywhere you go. But the end result was a kid who is able to play independently with his trucks or books and be perfectly happy for quite awhile (like QUITE awhile people - it's amazing!) - not to mention the benefits set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics... And seriously, what is gained from having to shove the iPad in your kids face at a restaurant? Man, nothing is more irritating than seeing that. How about you just don't go? Or do like we do, and only go out to lunch if you're bringing the kid. I understand and agree that nobody at that restaurant wants to hear your kid screaming, but it's pretty sad to see them shoveling food absentmindedly in their face as they watch yet another epoisode of whatever the heck is playing. I digress... (Feel free to light up my email, friends, but you won't change my mind.)
Anyway, about 8 months ago we started letting G watch TV. Mostly because we had no other way to corral him any more while I showered and he'd sit on our bed and watch a PBS show while I got ready for the day. Worked like a charm! And bonus, his vocabulary skyrocketed (not convinced that the two are connected, but it happened, so I'll offer credit where it may be due).
So, he developed an affinity for Caillou, a bald Canadian 4-year old with the whiniest voice on the planet. Whatever, he liked it, it was pseudo-educational, fine. Until the day we saw the episode about the monster. I mean seriously, it's a kids show! Why on Gods green acres would it be necessary to make an episode about a thunderstorm, a monster (presumably in a tree) and Caillou needing to be so scared he hid in the closet? The point of the show was that monsters weren't outside, but that didn't stop my kid from latching on to the word, talking about monsters constantly and suddenly becoming afraid of the dark. I've spent WEEKS trying to explain that monsters aren't scary, that they're pretend and whatnot - to NO avail.
As you might have guessed, we broke up with Caillou.
Then Daniel Tiger, the cutest little cartoon spin-off of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood had to go and do an episode in which Daniel is afraid of a shadow. So then I had to spend another 2 weeks explaining why shadows are actually super awesome. He bit, at least, but seriously PBS?! You know little kids are watching. And while I've got you here, thanks for the goblin on SuperWhy the other day - which at least was mentioned in synopsis of the show.
So now we've broken up with TV almost completely, again. Which is fine, because G had another thing coming if he thought he was going to get to watch TV with the new baby in the room anyway. I've decided though that we'll do a family movie night on Saturdays, and even though Erik is away, G and I started this a few weeks ago with the Rugrats Movie. Not so surprisingly at this point, there were a few scary parts, but if G noticed them he didn't let on.
And my mom volunteered to send me all our old VHS movies from when we were kids, which I 'spose I'm going to have to preview for God-knows-what might send G into a tizzy. But even Nemo has a scary part (not that I was a kid when that came out...) and it's impossible to say what is going to alarm Little G.
Maybe I'm being overprotective, but it's not like TV brings much to the table anyway, so why should I spend 45 minutes each night discussing shadows and why monsters are only at Caillou's house? But honestly, PBS, lets reign ourseles in a little, shall we?
And if you have any movie recommendations, I'd love to hear them!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Delinquent Poster
I can't even think of an excuse.
Have I been creatively empty? No... Because I'm not that creative to begin with and somehow I've managed to post on a sort-of regular basis (okay, that's a stretch).
Have I been too busy to post? No... Well, maybe a little bit, but you'd think that would just add fuel to the blogging fire.
Have I been to busy hanging out with my husband in the evenings to post? No... He's in Thailand.
Oh, here's the answer. I'm at Pat and Ken's house. Land of sitting back and relaxing while "Grohma Pat" prepares meals, plays trucks and cleans up messy hands.
Seriously, do you know how much time a stay at home mom spends planning meals, cooking meals and cleaning up from said meals? Apparently it's all day because I'm swimming with free time now that none of those are on my to-do list. Not G though - he got oodles of new toys (to include a golf set - for which I immediately and publicly proclaimed no responsibly for broken windows), runs errands with Grandma, reads books with Papa and sometimes, if I'm lucky, he'll let me color with him in the evenings.
So here I lounge. I've shopped, I've dined, but I haven't cooked a thing. I hope that doesn't bother Pat... At least I started making my own coffee in the morning (she really used to do this for me until they got a Keurig!). ;)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
"Shwim Clash!"
Several weeks ago, G started attending some "Mommy and Me" swim classes at the Y (the Mommy and Me part is in quotations because, adorably, it's usually the dads who take the kids to class). The instructor sings songs and the kids bob in the water and learn to kick their legs and "scoop" their arms. G wasn't sure about it at first but has really grown to love it! He can even jump off the wall like a pro, now!
It was my original intention, since the classes were Erik's idea, that he be the parent that took G for the class on Saturdays, but given his hectic spring schedule we've ended up basically switching off each week. On Erik's weeks to swim though, I can't help but take my big camera in and clicking away. (Did I tell you my father-in-law upgraded his DSLR and gave me his old one? I could have cried!) Anyway, I sometimes wonder if other parents mind that I'm photographing their kid, but I guess it's no different than taking pictures at a school program. I 'spose I'll just keep shutterbugin' it until someone tells me I shouldn't.
So, without further ado - pictures from swim class! Or "shwim clash!" as G calls it!
It was my original intention, since the classes were Erik's idea, that he be the parent that took G for the class on Saturdays, but given his hectic spring schedule we've ended up basically switching off each week. On Erik's weeks to swim though, I can't help but take my big camera in and clicking away. (Did I tell you my father-in-law upgraded his DSLR and gave me his old one? I could have cried!) Anyway, I sometimes wonder if other parents mind that I'm photographing their kid, but I guess it's no different than taking pictures at a school program. I 'spose I'll just keep shutterbugin' it until someone tells me I shouldn't.
So, without further ado - pictures from swim class! Or "shwim clash!" as G calls it!
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| This is my favorite one - they have so much fun together!! (Notice the red marks around Erik's neck and back from where G hadn't been so sure about things earlier on in the class period.) |
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| They have the funniest facial expressions! |
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| If you tell G to close his mouth, he opens it as wide as he can. This is about as close-mouthed as he gets during class time. |
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| We parent by demonstration around here. :) |
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| I love this one too! Look how proud Erik looks! |
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Grammie's Visit
G absolutely adores all his grandparents, but I've always felt that he has a special bond with my mom. Even when he was teeny tiny and she'd come to Hawaii for a visit, he always seemed to know exactly who she was. She is the one who brought us home from the hospital after he was born and stayed with us, helping me with G while Erik was away for the first two weeks of G's life (don't get me started on the reason for this. The Army is *still* on my list for doing that to us.). She cooked for us, cleaned, snuggled, and when G would wake up in the middle of the night to nurse, my mom would then rock him back to sleep. She never batted an eyelash when I woke her up to rock him so I could get some rest. She was so happy to see him - even at 3AM! I've said it a thousand times - THAT is the best gift someone can give a mom with a newborn!
So my mom was here last week for a visit and I'm dead serious when I tell you that she only brought 2 outfits and some jammies because the rest of her suitcase was full of presents for the kids. Among other things, she brought G a cape and mask - and literally as soon as G got his "outfit" on, he took of running saying "zoom zoom!" and calling himself Superman. I have NO idea where he learned that, but I have to say - few things in the world are cuter than a little boy in a cape. I wish I had better pictures, but it's pretty much impossible to get good pictures of my sweet little moving target. Grant and Grammie played outside for hours each day, playing soccer, baseball, hockey, chalks, planes, trucks, running, walking and petting every dog that cruised past our house (G is on a first name basis with all of them).
Grammie (usually pronounced "Graw-mie," and occasionally still "Plane" since she comes on a plane) joined us for music class, where G was a little too excited and didn't want to participate because he preferred to sit with Grams. It was sweet, but a little irritating to mean old mom. And afterward, G batted his eyelashes and Grammie bought him a stuffed crab from a local department store. G calls it "Crabby" (he named it on his own!) and likes to take it everywhere. It's the first time he's really been attached to an animal, especially enough to give it a name. It's a cute crab, but a tiny bit creepy with his big eyes - and I think G notices it too, because he only gets to sleep in G's bed every couple of days. Otherwise, he has to spend the night tucked in on G's rocker.
Of course, after the visiting grandparent leaves there is a 2 week recovery period for G. He is so used to the grandparents jumping when he says jump that he is furious when Mom and Dad don't do the same. Erik and I call it "Grandparent Naughty," but we're happy they're all so much closer and can see him so often - so it's (mostly, haha!) worth it. Each time the grandparents leave, they all say they are in need of a vacation from their vacation - and I can absolutely understand why - Grant keeps them on their toes!
So my mom was here last week for a visit and I'm dead serious when I tell you that she only brought 2 outfits and some jammies because the rest of her suitcase was full of presents for the kids. Among other things, she brought G a cape and mask - and literally as soon as G got his "outfit" on, he took of running saying "zoom zoom!" and calling himself Superman. I have NO idea where he learned that, but I have to say - few things in the world are cuter than a little boy in a cape. I wish I had better pictures, but it's pretty much impossible to get good pictures of my sweet little moving target. Grant and Grammie played outside for hours each day, playing soccer, baseball, hockey, chalks, planes, trucks, running, walking and petting every dog that cruised past our house (G is on a first name basis with all of them).
Grammie (usually pronounced "Graw-mie," and occasionally still "Plane" since she comes on a plane) joined us for music class, where G was a little too excited and didn't want to participate because he preferred to sit with Grams. It was sweet, but a little irritating to mean old mom. And afterward, G batted his eyelashes and Grammie bought him a stuffed crab from a local department store. G calls it "Crabby" (he named it on his own!) and likes to take it everywhere. It's the first time he's really been attached to an animal, especially enough to give it a name. It's a cute crab, but a tiny bit creepy with his big eyes - and I think G notices it too, because he only gets to sleep in G's bed every couple of days. Otherwise, he has to spend the night tucked in on G's rocker.
Of course, after the visiting grandparent leaves there is a 2 week recovery period for G. He is so used to the grandparents jumping when he says jump that he is furious when Mom and Dad don't do the same. Erik and I call it "Grandparent Naughty," but we're happy they're all so much closer and can see him so often - so it's (mostly, haha!) worth it. Each time the grandparents leave, they all say they are in need of a vacation from their vacation - and I can absolutely understand why - Grant keeps them on their toes!
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| Big G and Little G |
Monday, May 27, 2013
Woah! An Update.
It has been awhile since I posted. Once again, we've had a slew of company and (somehow) my 2 year old has enough extra curricular activities that 2-3 mornings a week (mornings = blogging time) are eaten up at swim class, play group or music class.
Erik took off a few days ago for Kentucky and then in a few more days he'll be off to Thailand. He's taking some ROTC students from across the country to work for a few weeks at the Thai Military Academy (apparently you have to speak English to be in the Thai military). It's funny, of all the "exotic" places the Army has sent him, this is the first time I've ever really been jealous. Except for maybe his 3 hour layover in Ireland on his way home from his first tour in Afghanistan, but I 'spose the 16 months he had to spend in country before his 3 hour Irish-layover negate any fun that might have been had. I have a list of goals I hope to complete while he's gone, and the Army graciously extended his trip by a more days, so we'll see if I'm motivated enough to get them complete.
Over the last few weeks, I have grown increasingly concerned that G has the same heart condition as my mom (called Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome - which is an extra electrical system on the heart that sometimes causes it to beat incredibly fast. This is suspected to be the reason we occasionally see news reports of teenaged athletes dropping on playing fields and dying suddenly). Just some things he's said, some times I've felt his heart beating super hard for no reason, etc. made me worry and after speaking to my mom I decided to call the Pediatrician. Thankfully she took me seriously and sent him in for an EKG. We found out last Thursday that his EKG was "normal for age," and we are SUPER relieved. Though it's a pretty easy fix, it would have still been a heart surgery, it still would have put limitations on his life, and it still would have been scary, so we are thrilled that he's A-Okay! To be honest, I was pretty worried about not only the health aspect of this syndrome for G, but also the psychological aspect. Erik and I have absolutely NO intention of pushing the Army on any of our kids, but to have a Syndrome like WPW would have meant it was impossible for G. I think there is a heavy burden among military kids (especially boys) to follow in dad's footsteps, and I can imagine that the only heavier burden is *not* being able to. Anyway, we're incredibly relieved for many reasons.
I suppose this post is less exciting than others, since there is no comedic anecdote or real point to the post, but I have to get back in the swing of blogging the little things so I don't forget them! Point is: Don't everybody sign me up for BlogHer all at once or anything.
Erik took off a few days ago for Kentucky and then in a few more days he'll be off to Thailand. He's taking some ROTC students from across the country to work for a few weeks at the Thai Military Academy (apparently you have to speak English to be in the Thai military). It's funny, of all the "exotic" places the Army has sent him, this is the first time I've ever really been jealous. Except for maybe his 3 hour layover in Ireland on his way home from his first tour in Afghanistan, but I 'spose the 16 months he had to spend in country before his 3 hour Irish-layover negate any fun that might have been had. I have a list of goals I hope to complete while he's gone, and the Army graciously extended his trip by a more days, so we'll see if I'm motivated enough to get them complete.
Over the last few weeks, I have grown increasingly concerned that G has the same heart condition as my mom (called Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome - which is an extra electrical system on the heart that sometimes causes it to beat incredibly fast. This is suspected to be the reason we occasionally see news reports of teenaged athletes dropping on playing fields and dying suddenly). Just some things he's said, some times I've felt his heart beating super hard for no reason, etc. made me worry and after speaking to my mom I decided to call the Pediatrician. Thankfully she took me seriously and sent him in for an EKG. We found out last Thursday that his EKG was "normal for age," and we are SUPER relieved. Though it's a pretty easy fix, it would have still been a heart surgery, it still would have put limitations on his life, and it still would have been scary, so we are thrilled that he's A-Okay! To be honest, I was pretty worried about not only the health aspect of this syndrome for G, but also the psychological aspect. Erik and I have absolutely NO intention of pushing the Army on any of our kids, but to have a Syndrome like WPW would have meant it was impossible for G. I think there is a heavy burden among military kids (especially boys) to follow in dad's footsteps, and I can imagine that the only heavier burden is *not* being able to. Anyway, we're incredibly relieved for many reasons.
I suppose this post is less exciting than others, since there is no comedic anecdote or real point to the post, but I have to get back in the swing of blogging the little things so I don't forget them! Point is: Don't everybody sign me up for BlogHer all at once or anything.
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