Bringing Home Bryant: March 2013

This past month has been all about transitioning to a big boy, mentally and physically. Bryant has had awesome growth this month and for that we are incredibly thankful. We have also been in the midst of potty training, fun stuff. I think Bryant was more ready than I was. I also got the girls involved by bribing them with chocolate every time they got him to go potty. Amazing what chocolate will do as a motivator for everyone around here except Bryant. Finally two weeks ago I pulled up all the rugs in the house and Bryant went bare bottom for three days. The first day he had 3 accidents and after that it started to click. Now he goes in the Elmo potty by himself as long as he has "Roar" pants (aka Lion King underwear) or is bare bottom. However, the minute I put a pull- up on him or we leave the house it seems the potty training goes down the drain. He knows he can "tee tee" in the pull-ups. Soon we are going to all big boy underwear. I have to say he has done much better than I ever thought. It is very difficult though because we are always on the go and he is scared of any potty but Elmo. His heiny is so small he is afraid he might get flushed. I think he might be right.

My peanut is not so much of a peanut any more. Bryant has had some awesome growth in the past month. It has been great to see. A little over three and a half months after surgery and G-tube he has gained 4 lbs, 5-6cm in height and 1.5 cm in head circumference. Today in his big boy underwear he weight 23 lbs 11oz. He is 84cm in height. He has finally got some meat on him. He is even starting to get some love handles. Best of all we have finally made it to the growth chart after being so far off for so long. He is in the 3rd percentile for weight, height and head circumference. I never thought we would make it to the chart. This is truly a blessing and an answer to many prayers over the past year. Bryant is eating a little better than last month and he has decreased the amount of gagging and food aversion. We are heading in the right direction as far as his oral intake goes. Progress is slow but still heading in the right direction.

Bryant has done really well this month in terms of development, He can sing his ABC's and recognize some letters, count to 20. He knows his full name, how old he is and where he lives. He is using more complex sentences that include I, me and you and started using words ending in "ing." These are all goals set by his speech therapist that he has met. He still loves music and sings quite a bit. He is on a "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and a "baa baa black sheep" kick right now. We have also seen some 2 year old behavior recently. He got in trouble at school for pinching a child. But he turned around and pinched himself. Not sure how to analyze that one. I call it being 2.

I think I jinxed myself after my last post about our lives being calm. A week later I got the flu. It took me down for 7 days. Luckily, thanks to lots of Tamiflu the rest of the crew didn't get it. I don't think I will brag anymore when my life is calm.

Sara Kathryn is finishing up gymnastic season soon with her state meet in a few weeks. She and I recently attended a Secret Keeper Girl event at our church in which we had a blast. She is an amazing girl growing up too fast. I want her to grow up loving God and herself. This event fostered that relationship with God and strengthened our Mother/Daughter bond. So happy to spend time with my incredible daughter. In addition she is trying to learn some Russian and has a new app on her Kindle fire. So she tries to learn a word or phrase and then goes to Bryant and asks if he remembers this. He stares at her like she is crazy.

Macie is starting soccer next week. She is so fired up. Jeff is coaching her team again. We have a lot of the same kids so it should be a great season. She recently took her matryoshka dolls to school for show and tell. She told the class that her Mommy and Daddy got them from a place called Russia. One of the children asked what Russia was. Her response was "it is a place where they talk different and you get baby brothers." I think she may have even added a "duh" at the end. Everybody knows that right? I love how kids simplify things. My Macie always has a way with words. Whatever she is thinking rolls right off her tongue. A friend who kept Macie said once that if everyone were as honest as she was then the world would be a better place. I have to agree.

Amelia has been loving her new gymnastics class. She thinks she is one of the big girls now. She may try to play on the soccer team if Daddy will let her. She is going to go to a few practices and we will see how she does. She is so small and younger than the rest of the kids but she still wants to play. She also had Cat in the Hat come to her school last week for Dr Seuss's birthday. She doesn't do characters but she was excited about it. Even if she stayed 8 feet away. Bryant and Amelia has been arguing back and forth a lot more lately. I think he is finally tired of her bossing him around. On the one hand she is super protective of him but she can also be a little bossy. He stands up for himself a lot more but we can't seem to figure out why he still agrees to put on the pink leotard, hair bow and tutu. One thing Jeff really wishes he would say no too.

We are ready for spring around here. After this weekend I think we all have spring fever. It can't come soon enough.