Sammy's First Bike Ride

Having a couple of days of extraordinarily nice weather, I decided to pull out my bike and kiddie trailer for the first time since before I got pregnant with Sammy and go for a ride. After dropping Johnny off at school, I pumped up the tires and rode from home back to Johnny's school to see how long it would take to get there. My plan is to pick Johnny up from school with the bike trailer, but we'll have to see how my legs feel in a couple of hours. It's a short trip, a little under a mile, but it's been soooooooo long since my legs have done anything other than walk that they feel like tubes of jelly. The thought that both kids together equal more than 60% of my body weight makes my legs start to ache in anticipation, never mind the weight of the trailer itself.

Sammy seemed to enjoy his ride and by the time we got home (10 minutes each direction) he was zonked in the trailer. I took this photo through the trailer netting, thus the strange shadow pattern on his face.

Sammy's 15 Month Checkup

Well, Sammy appears to be healthy and developing right on schedule. He still seems to be focused on motor rather than verbal, as was Johnny. I asked to have his hearing tested, and the nurse tried for a long time but unfortunately couldn't complete the test. Sammy sat quietly like an angel for a long time, but after having the nurse try three different sized ear tips and pushing the machine deep into each ear at least 30 times, he decided he had enough and ceased to cooperate. So, we'll try again in 3 months at his next checkup. I'm not anxious about it, but for a variety of reasons I have wondered if his hearing isn't all there. Sammy can hear, I'm just not sure how well. Of course there is always the possibility that he can hear perfectly and he's just not listening ... gee imagine that in a toddler?! Anyway, we'll find out eventually.

My impression is that Sammy is a chubby little cheeseburger, however, his current weight says that isn't so! Sammy actually falls a little below the 50th percentile for weight, while his height is in the 75-90th percentile. As usual for the Klevenski boys, Sammy's head is in the 90th. This is about what I remember for Johnny's measurements ... tall and slender with a big head.

Love and Logic Child Labor

Johnny "See that spot right there Sams?"Look at that teamwork! (They were both balanced on one little stool)
Sammy loves to clean!Doing a thorough job - not bad for a 15 mo. old!

Okay, so I finished the Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood book a couple of nights ago, and was just tickled by one section I read about the benefit of chores for little kids. The authors of this book promote the idea that teaching kids from a very young age to do chores themselves will build their responsibility and self-esteem. Their formula is "struggle + encouragement from others + accomplishment = healthy self-concept."

So this is great news for me. For one, I don't have to do all the cleaning myself, for another I have a way to keep the kids busy and entertained inside the house, and finally, I get to build their self-esteem in the process and help them to become responsible people. Sweet! So, following their recommendation about giving choices and keeping it fun, Johnny and I got to work on a bunch of chores yesterday and today. It started out a little rough at first and I wasn't getting much cooperation, but ended up being a total blast for both of us. Johnny had so much fun yesterday using the vacuum hose to edge the entire downstairs, sweeping the floor, washing and squeegeeing our sliding glass door inside and out, and scrubbing the sink to a gleaming shine that he did NOT want to take a break to run to Walmart and pick up the photos we needed to complete his class project that was due today (printer's not working again ... aaacckk!). When we were at Walmart, Johnny kept asking "Mama, can we go home and do some more chores please?" LOL!!

So, today, they both got to join in on the chore fun and I got some great photos of both of them standing on a stool together with a bucket of water scrubbing the microwave inside and out. Johnny dusted the livingroom and then we all scrubbed the legs of the dining table and chairs (there was more thrown baby food on them than I care to admit). I even found baby food on the ceiling today. Johnny was never a food thrower, but Sammy's more physical like that in a lot of ways. That's a story for another post though. In the end, we all had fun, got fairly wet, and things got cleaned up pretty well ... eventually. But hey, we're building self-esteem here! :D Oh yeah, try to ignore the perpetually toy-covered floors in the background. It looks that way in about 5 minutes and I could spend the entire day following Sammy around putting up toys just to have him dump them all right back out. I think I put away the Tinker Toys and puzzles 10x each yesterday before it finally dawned on me to put them up where he can't reach them. Heh.

The Contents of My Purse Meme

Okay Teri ... here is my response to your tagging me to do the purse contents meme. First, I'll apologize for taking so long, the boys and I have been sick with the flu. Second, I'll apologize for the rushed nature of my post, but the house looks like it was shaken up like a snow globe and now that I'm feeling human again, I can only take a few minutes away from trying to clean up the wreckage.

Here goes:

1. Ivory metallic purse - very different from my typical black leather "hooker" purses (you know, the really small ones?). At least it still has studs and chains. ;)
   
2. Ivory metallic wallet, full of receipts - no photos (gasp!). I carry the kids around instead ;)
   
3. Sony Ericsson cellphone with camera - hubby wants to upgrade again
4. Carmex Lip Balm - the one thing I can't do without, but I'm not crazy about the brand
5. Lipstick - Maybelline Plum Wine
6. Lipliner - Covergirl Raisin
7. Glittery lipgloss - for special occasions, so yeah, I don't wear it very often
   
8. Pressed powder - Clinique Matte Neutral
9. Contact lens case
10. Pen from Vantus Energy (now defunct company, but great pen!)
11. Stamps - occasionally
12. Antibacterial Wetwipes - with two kids and crappy immune systems, I can't do without these
13. Papertowels - I never know what I'll need to wipe up with kiddos
14. Chewing gum (not pictured, but typically in one of the rather maternal looking pockets)
    

I always carry my keys in my pocket, creating a rather unattractive bulge, but if someone swipes my purse, at least I'll have a way to get home.

So, this concludes the contents of my purse. Now for some real giggles we could talk about the contents of the diaper bag! Just kidding. In a pinch, this purse does double duty as diaper bag and I attempt to shove in a diaper, a few wipes in a ziplock, a disposable bib, bag of crackers, plastic fork/spoon etc. Tre chic!

Thanks Teri for including me in on one of the little reindeer games. ;) Love ya!

The Big Boy Table

The boys do a lot of cuddling while they eat ... aww!"Hammy"
Starting a game of up/down? (Notice Johnny signing "down)
Sammy signing (sit) down

This little table was the greatest $5 purchase I've made in a while. The boys love it for painting, drawing and now eating together. Last night they ate tuna casserole together at this table and had a ball. Of course I had to thoroughly clean the table, the boys and the cabinet, but it was worth it to see the looks of glee from both boys from being able to eat together. Sammy is showing off his pearly whites and nice chomping molars while hamming for the camera. Sammy stood up on the bench a few times laughing and then sat down and signed (sit) down and clapped for himself. I was starting to think he was turning it into a game of standing up even though he knew that was against the rules, but since he only did it a few times I though that maybe he was just proud of himself for understanding the sit down sign and was showing off his skills to me. After the third stand, I was about to end the meal, but luckily he didn't do it again. I guess this doesn't follow the Love and Logic rules of "no warnings" but I wasn't convinced this was deliberate defiance. Besides, I think it would be better to ease into this new philosophy rather than suddenly overnight have a whole new set of unbending rules. Just my opinion.

My Parenting Book Pile ... So Far

This is for you MamaP ... I think this is a conspiracy to try to get me blogging about something other than snapshots of my kids. LOL ... just teasing! These are the books that I have bought about parenting. Sorry for no links or photos ... I ran out of time.

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood - Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years (Fay)
I read the first 100 pages of this in the last two days and love it. Basic concepts are to build the self-concept, share the control, provide a strong dose of empathy before delivering consequences and share the thinking. They lay out clear strategies for specific common problems which makes it very easy to apply. I used their principles for the last two days and have been amazed by the results. I have never heard so many unsolicited "I love yous" from Johnny and had so much eager cooperation! This book was recommended to me by my sister Amy and also highly recommended in the Christian marriage seminar Keith and I recently attended. When talking to Keith about one of the principles in this book and how we should approach one area differently with Johnny, I discovered that Keith had total buy in and wanted me to change my approach with him in the same way. So, not only can I improve my parenting, but how I interact with my spouse too!

Parenting With Love and Logic - Teaching Children Responsibility (Cline/Fay)
Like the version for early childhood, these books aim to teach us how to teach our children to make good choices and grow up to be responsible and independant rather than mindlessly obeying our every command and never learning to think for themselves. This version will be more useful when the kids are a little older. It is laid out in two sections, one to explain the philosophy, and the second with a bunch (41) of real life scenarios and how to handle them. I love the ease of application! I've read the first 100 pages of this one as well.

Baby Sign Language (Rosenberg) -
Just started this today (yeah, yeah, I realize I'm behind schedule on all of this). I had already taught Sammy how to sign to me that he's hungry, thirsty, all done or wants milk and to get/sit down which he's using very well. I didn't know any other signs, so it stopped there. Now armed with 60 signs, we'll surely be communicating better and alleviating frustration for both of us. Funny story, today Sammy kept signing milk to me after mama's tap was dry and so I tried giving him some watered down soy milk (he refuses to drink cow's milk) and discovered he totally loves it! Way to go Sams!

Setting Limits - How to Raise Responsible, Independent Children by Providing CLEAR Boundaries (MacKenzie)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.

What to Expect the Toddler Years
I read this trying to find some enlightenment about developmental stages, and found that while it does have some good information, it stops at 3 years of age. Great for Sammy, not so good for Johnny.

Touchpoints (Brazelton)
This book focuses on the touchpoints or stages of development from birth to three years and covers challenges and allies to development. Developmental stages are broken down by age and challenges are broken down by topic. Lots of useful stuff, but again it stops at age 3.

The Christian Family Answer Book (Yorkey)
I read the first 70 or so pages of this book and found it to be very helpful. So far it has covered Biblical views of family, discipline, how to become a listening parent, the great importance of physical contact, how children learn from our behavior modeling, family prayer and our role in our children's faith. I plan to finish reading this one as it has lots more practical, specific advice and even a chapter on fathers!

Siblings Without Rivalry (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended by our pediatrician when I asked him (almost in tears many months back) how to stop Johnny from hating Sammy and trying to hurt him. This is supposed to be a tried and true favorite. I read very little of this book, but did read about why it is not productive to draw comparisons between your children and how it fosters resentment (e.g. Sammy eats his vegetables, why can't you?). Anything you need to tell your child can be done so without comparing them to anyone else, most of all their sibling. I plan to read more of this, but since the boys are in a sweet, loving stage, this dropped down my priority list ... what? Who has time to read all of this stuff at once?

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Faber/Mazlish)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.

Bringing Up Boys (Dobson)
A good friend from church gave this to me shortly after Johnny was born and sadly I haven't read it yet. I love James Dobson and used to listen to his Focus On the Family broadcasts every morning on the local Christian radio station.

The New Dare to Discipline (Dobson)
I saw this in the half-priced bookstore the other day and figured why not add it to my ever growing pile of books I need to read.

Making Kids Mind Without Losing Yours (Leman)
Recommended in the Christian marriage seminar, haven't read it yet.

The Discipline Book - Everything You Need to Know to Have Better Behaved Children - From Birth to Age Ten (Sears)
Recommended to me by two friends. One said it was a good middle of the road approach - nothing too drastic in either direction.

To Train Up a Child (Pearl)
Recommended to me by one of my best friends from church and mom of four. I read this a long time ago and I appreciated the concept of a lot of this book, however, some parts were too harsh for my taste. Some of my friends hate this book - it is not for the faint of heart. It teaches among other things to set up training scenarios where you tempt your child with a forbidden situation and then train them not to do it. As with everything, this takes a time commitment and practice.

Einstein Never Used Flashcards - How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less (Hirsh-Pasek/Golinkoff)
Recommended to me by a friend when I was asking about books that would describe the intellectual and emotional stages of development by age.

I'd love to hear anyone else's recommendations or feedback on parenting books. We parents need all the help we can get ... at least this one does.

Houston Space Center

Johnny with R4 unit
Space Shuttle cockpitJohnny straining to lift an entire carHe did it!!

Keith took Johnny to the Houston Space Center today for the Labor Day weekend tribute to the Star Wars characters. They watched the first Star Wars movie this morning before going since Johnny hadn't seen it before. Not surprisingly, the Space Center was mobbed with people, but they had a great time. Sammy and I had a rather relaxing day of napping, going out to dinner and then to two bookstores where I bought 4 more parenting books. Now if I could only read all those books ... ;)