Etta's Journal

New Family Blog!!

Momma started a blog. It's still a baby blog, but it's gonna grow up and be a big blog soon. Hope you follow us on over!

http://growingupwenzler.blogspot.com/

February

For such a short month, February sure was PACKED with stuff! So, sit back because this is a LONG update!

Lots of snow and lots of visitors. After Nana V left toward the end of January, Aunt Deanne came up for a week and a half and left on the 10th. Lito and Lita arrived on the 11th and stayed until the 23rd, and Tia Juana and Tio Ed came for a long weekend from the 12th until the 15th.

I had such a great time getting to know Aunt D better! She was so silly and her puppy, Karma, was just my size, but she was a little bit more wiggly than my dogs. Aunt D always seems to teach me something when I see her (last time it was to stick out my tongue) and this time she taught me to cover my mouth when I laugh. All of the grown-ups think it's pretty cute.

The first weekend that Lito/Lita and Tia Juana/Tio Ed were here, we went to Lynchburg and had lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. I was a PILL!!! I didn't take a nap on the way out there like Momma had hoped, so by the time the lunch bell rang at Bobo's I was DONE! So, Daddy and Momma took turns eating while the other one walked around with me. I liked exploring that place (inside and out), but Momma and I missed singing “Happy Birthday” to Lita when they served dessert. :( After lunch, I got to kick back and relax in my stroller while the grown-ups walked around the little square in downtown Lynchburg. I was BEYOND sleepy by the time everyone was ready to go over and take the tour of the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Daddy and I dropped everyone off at the distillery and then he drove me around the block and I passed out. Then Daddy parked and we both napped while Momma, Lito, Lita, Joanie, and Eddie took the tour. I was in a MUCH better mood when they came back to the car!
The next weekend the weather teased us with a little taste of what Spring may have to offer in a few weeks. We went to The Country Music Hall of Fame and had lunch at Demos' one day and the next day we had a picnic at Henry Horton State Park by the Duck River.

I'll be 21 months old on Monday (March 1st)! Today, I weigh 20lbs 3oz and I'm 2' 5” tall. I get to say “tall” instead of “long” because I am DEFINITELY a vertical human now. I have LOTS of teeth now! I'm cutting all four of my first year molars right now. They make me pretty fussy at times and have been waking me up at night some. Poor me! Good thing I LOVE taking Tylenol!

On Thursday, I had my appointment with audiology. No one was really concerned about my ability to hear, but this has been something that we've been doing since my stay in the NICU. They checked my hearing while I was in the NICU after I was born and it was fine, but the doctors at the Down syndrome Clinic wanted to run a more extensive hearing screen as protocol for children with Ds. I was about 2 months old when we went for the first time to the Bill Wilkerson Center to be tested. At the time, I was still so little that they were only able to get one of the two portions of the test completed. So I went back 6 months later. This time was similar to the first. They got one reading, but (as an 8 month old) I wasn't really too cooperative for the behavioral portion (turning my head toward sounds). SO, I had to go back six months later. This time I was 14 months old and I was able to do the behavioral portion of the test, but I WOULD NOT let them put the little things in my ears to get the other portion of the test done. When I say “would not”, I mean screaming, fighting, thrashing, and twisting. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, we had to go back six months later (yesterday). This time I was 20 months old. I ROCKED the behavioral portion of the test and, while I didn't LOVE the part where they put that thingie in my ear, I was easily distracted with bubbles and books so I rocked THAT portion of the test too! WHOO HOO!! My hearing is perfect and they don't need to see me for another year!

Today (Friday) I had an appointment with Endocrinology. Remember back in December when I told you that I stopped taking my thyroid meds and my pediatrician did a blood draw and my labs looked great without any synthroid in my system? Wellll.... I still needed to see the Endocrinologist who apparently never got the lab results from back in December (even though Momma called the pediatrician's office on Tuesday to make sure they were sent over). It didn't really matter, she wanted to draw labs again today anyway (ACK!!). She said that if my labs look good, then I won't need to go back for another year. We'll probably get the results on Monday or so.


So, what else is new?

Ummm.. lets see.... I HAVE SAID MY FIRST WORD!!!!!!!!

Two weeks ago I was having morning snuggle time in bed with Momma and Daddy and when I got wiggly, Daddy put me down on the floor. Momma and Daddy both leaned over the bed and said “bye bye” and then I poked my little hand up, waved it, and said “bye bye”. Momma looked at Daddy and said, “did that just happen?!?!” Well, it turns out it DID happen and I keep doing it! I don't always do it when prompted, but I DO use it appropriately. When I leave someplace or when someone leaves a room, I will (sometimes) wave and say “bye bye”

THEN, yesterday when Momma got me out of my highchair after lunch, she signed and said “all done” like she does every time she gets me out of the highchair. When she put me on the floor she said and signed it again and I REPEATED her!! I signed AND SAID, “All Done”!!!!

We have video of me saying these words, the “bye bye” videos are better than the “all done” ones, but you'll get the idea!

Physical Development:

I walk and walk and walk. In fact, I'm trying to run. I mean, I think I'm running REALLY fast, but.. well... you know...

I throw balls to people with some aim and sometimes kick them. My PT, Mrs. Sandra, is very happy with my progress. In fact, if she re-tested me, I probably wouldn't qualify for PT at all right now. So, I go once a month to show off and she gives Momma homework for the month. Right now, I'm supposed to be practicing stepping OVER things, reaching up for things (let me tell you, this is NO problem now. Momma and Daddy have had to start making sure they stop placing things on the edge of the counters) and walking on uneven surfaces (like grass, or mulch).

Occupational Development:

My OT, Mrs. Shelby, swears that I am stacking blocks, but Momma has yet to see this at home. I am putting things ON other things though and that is the general concept. I also like to put things IN. IN buckets or baskets, IN the tub, IN the toilet! Haha... Daddy made Momma fish those toys out even though I did it on HIS watch! OUT is kinda a big deal too. Mostly, it's throwing my toys OUT of the tub. I'm beginning to enjoy making my own masterpieces with crayons and markers. Markers are a little easier to use because they don't require much pressure to make the mark. I like to try to do things after watching someone else do it. Like, trying to dip the bubble wand into the bottle of bubbles or trying to brush my own teeth or trying to use a fork to feed myself. Which, by the way, I can do. I'm just not allowed to do it much because I will ALWAYS throw the fork on the floor after I take the bite and then the fork is dirty. **sigh**

Speech/ Language:

As you saw earlier, I have started saying a couple of words! I also wanted to mention that everyone is starting to see a huge leap in my receptive language skills. I'm beginning to understand what people are telling me or directing me to do!! I LOVE books! I love looking at books and having books read to me. I will walk over to you, hand you a book and then sit in your lap so you can read to me.

Food/Eating:

I have become a little picky lately. Ferris LOVES that I've become fickle and Momma loves that Ferris helps clean up the floor after I throw food. One of my (new) favorite foods is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. MMMmmm.... Also, since those molars are starting to cut through, I've started chewing better which means I can eat foods that are a little tougher and a little crunchier.

We're all looking forward to a big play date tomorrow with some of my friends (who also happen to have Ds). Then, we're all looking forward to having NOTHING planned for the rest of the weekend!

Are you still here? That was LONG! I'll try not to let so much time pass before my next update!

SNOW!

We were seriously snowed/iced in this weekend! We don't get much snow around here. Usually it is just one or two inches of snow each season and it almost always melts off the next day. It all started Friday around 10:30am when the snow began POURING from the sky. Silly Daddy went to work about 9:00, even though the weather people told him it was going to snow a lot. He wasn't at work long! Around 11:30, he caled Momma and told her he was on his way. It took Daddy longer to get home than expected, but he made it in one piece. He said that the roads were already pretty slick and that the car behind him on the interstate lost control and spun off the road (no serious injury involved). As the day went on, the snow kept falling. By the time I woke up from my nap and had a snack, there was a nice thick layer of snow on the ground (about 2ish inches at the time).

Momma got me all bundled up and Daddy got out his old sled and we went outside to play in the snow. There is a video of my reaction. It was really hard to walk in the snow and I tripped easily. Whenever I fell down, I wasn't sure how to get back up, so I just kind of stayed there until someone rescued me. Daddy sat me on his sled and I stayed there. So, he pulled and I LOVED it!!! There was nothing holding me on the sled (straps/buckles), I just sat there like a big girl as Daddy pulled me all around the neighborhood. We didn't stay out for too long because it was COLD and the fluffy snow that was falling from the sky was changing over to sleet.

We heard on the news that night that there were A LOT of car accidents and many of the roads had to be shut down because of slick conditions and because of accidents. Good thing Momma and I went to the grocery store on Thursday! We didn't need to get out of the house for anything!

The next morning (Saturday), we woke to a winter wonderland. It was SO pretty! Except, when we went outside to play in the fluffy snow, we found out that there was a layer of ice sitting on top of it! It was SUPER slick and I'm so light that I was able to crawl/walk on it without breaking through. Momma was dissapointed that this meant no snowman and no snow angels... but I was able to go for another sled ride! Daddy loved pulling me and I loved going along for the ride! Daddy took me out twice yesterday. Once in the morning and again after my nap. In the afternoon, after I came back inside to warm up, Daddy had fun sledding down the (iced over) street. A few of our neighbors even joined him.

Today, the suns rays started melting some of the ice/snow. I was able to go for one last sled ride this morning with Daddy. Then, Daddy attempted to shovel some of the snow (ice) from our driveway. It proved to be a very difficult task and he gave up. There is still A LOT of snow and ice out on the grass and streets. All of the ice that melted today, will re-freeze tonight making the morning commute tough or impossible for some. Daddy is planning on going in to work a little late tomorrow so that the ice will have a chance to melt a little. My therapy has been cancelled because it's pretty early and the roads will still be frozen. When we feel that the roads are safe enough, Grandmomma is going to come down and play with me tomorrow so that Momma can go to Birmingham to pick up Aunt Deanne!! I'm really excited about seeing her tomorrow!

Sorry I've been a slacker lately! Momma had a big boo boo so I had been spending a lot of time with my Nana V and my Grandmomma over the last few weeks. It was fun getting to know them better! Nana V came up on January 3rd and stayed with us all the way until this last Tuesday (the 19th) and then my Grandmomma came over Tues, Wed, and Thurs to play with me and help Momma out for the rest of the week. Momma is feeling SO much better now! She can pick me up and even snuggle me some (as long as I'm not too wiggly). She is so thankful for all of the love and support (and flowers and dinners) from all of our family and friends!

My physical development has BOOMED! I am walking all the time now (very rarely will I crawl)! I can stand myself up (without needing to pull-up on something). I am squatting and picking up toys and standing straight up from that crouch position. I can throw a ball, though my aim is a little off ;) and Momma SWEARS she heard me say "ball" twice this week.

I can point out your nose and your mouth and I'm really close to being able to point out your eye. I am giving kisses, but they are usually on your leg or arm. I will kiss Daddy on his cheek, but am stingy with cheek kisses for Momma. :(

I make specific sounds to get attention and Momma can usually tell what my little noises mean. I am signing "more" more often and will sign "all done" when I'm frustrated. I have started making the SADDEST looking pout face when my feelings are hurt or when I am actually hurt (like when I stuck my hand on the space heater for half a second last week- I was fine, but I sure did make the SADDEST pout).

Momma and Grandmomma took me to a playdate on Tuesday at my friend Delaney's house. A LOT of my friends were there and I had a ton of fun playing with the little toy guitar and climbing all over the the plastic cube thingie that had a slide on it. I also managed to pull some hair while we were there. No playdate would be complete without a *little* hair tug from me ;)

I am looking forward to having Aunt Deanne come visit for a bunch of days in early February and then Lito and Lita are coming on the 11th and staying for LOTS of days, AND Tia Juanita and Tio Ed are coming on the 12th and staying for that weekend. Momma's gonna be busy washing the guest bed sheets, but it will be SO worth it! I can't wait for all of my visitors!

On a sad note, sort of, Momma got an email a couple of weeks ago from the aboutmybaby website that said that they are shutting down in a couple of months!! GAH!!! Momma's doing some research and looking around for a new place to host our family website. So, keep an eye out for a new website announcement in the near future!