Today's Update, mid-day

Jack's moment: On Monday, Jack was in tears because he had submitted a bit to be written in an online story that's in a "game" I've asked him to play. We call it, "Are you smarter than a 10th grade ESL Student" and he reads a passage (same passage as my English Second Language learners) and takes the tests. He's right on par with the kids. He thought FOR SURE he'd get his piece of writing "published" and I didn't explain that it was a random, computer generated pick of the submissions. Anyway, he went to bed on Monday wanting to have a "real book" like that, so I spent time making the book. After I'd made the book special, I was so tired that I sat down to write in it; what I wrote is not just funny---it didn't make SENSE it was so garbled. You could tell that I was falling asleep as I wrote it because the handwriting would slant, and I'd write things like "of America" when it wasn't supposed to be there! I almost never cross anything out when writing, and yet, my handwriting was slanted... it would get tiny as my eyelids closed! Note to self: Don't write in journal for child after 1am. Don't do ANYTHING besides sleep after 1am. Jack is going to sleep over at Grandma Max's on Friday, and he has already packed his bag. It's sitting in the hallway ready to go at a moment's notice.

Xandri's moment: Xandri is very much in the "silly stage"---she gave a marvelously silly performance for her piano teacher. UGH. She is doing well in piano, and she does practice when asked, but this is when I can see the differences in ages/stages with her and Jack. Blissfully, they are not yet on the same page in the book, so I have 2 different lessons to work on, but she has very good musicality. Her position at the piano will improve, and she loves doing the exercises when it involves a Tinker Bell sticker--stickers are still her great reward. I will be registering her for Kindergarten as soon as I get one more piece of paper... She got her shots (she said she WAS shot).

Asa's moment: Asa loves the piano, too. He learned the piano teacher's name yesterday (it's Jubal Joslyn) and he marched around the house saying "Jooo-bull! one! two! Jooo-bull! one! two!" He can hardly WAIT to start piano, and he has figured out which fingers are 2, and he puts both of them on middle C and says, "one! two!" then he turns the pages in the book. Funny. He calls all his colors by the color of the cars in the Disney movie Cars. His favorite color is currently "McQUeen" (red). He can differentiate between Sally (a lighter blue) and Doc (a Royal blue). If you ask him what color something is, he'll usually say "Pooh-pull" as that is a cool word to say.

Max's Moment: Max has learned that his HANDS are a wonderful gift. He can pass his toys between his R hand and his L hand, and he now wants to chew on something whilst passing the toy. He prefers to chew the toy, but if it doesn't sit right, or he can't get it in his mouth, or it doesn't taste right, etc. he screams and screams. He likes to play the 2 binky game. One soother to chew on and one to pass from hand to hand. That game consumed most of our evening last night. He also jumped in how much he is eating: he's now gulping down almost 6 ounces of milk---and he's my first really ROUND baby. His grin lights up rooms, and he loves attention. He throws tantrums to get attention. Any attention is good attention; he stayed captivated at the baby shower I hosted on Saturday for hours because people were smiling and talking to him. When NOT being held, he is not as delightsome.

My class is back from their "Student Educational/Occupational Planning" meeting, so I must go

Oh, the Frustration!!

Max has moments when he's so frustrated because his skill hasn't caught up with his wants.
He can pass an object from hand t0 hand, but if he drops it, he screams, HOWLS, with frustration. He also knows to complain until he gets someone, anyone, to pick him up. It doesn't seem to matter who's attention it is, excepting Xandri. He knows he's not entirely safe with her!!


He wants to pass the toys hand to hand into his mouth---but he's not always successful, and he frustrates easily. He screams with it, even while he's still got the toy in his hand because it doesn't perform up to his expectation. He can't make it do what he wants, can't make it taste or feel like he wants it to. He is angry WITH THE TOY, even as he gnaws at parts of it. Someone needs to chill out!! It would be funny, if it weren't indicative of how he may react to not-getting-his-way for the rest of his life.

He does like stuffed animals. I never knew what they were good for, before this. I thought they were simply decorative. Imagine my surprise! His favorite object is currently a floppy bear dressed as a blue bunny, or an Eeyore. Both were gifts, and both are loved, so that's good, I guess. I'd be better if he wasn't acting so much like demon spawn.