Are we ready for this?

I realize now that we almost have two kids I am going to have to start dedicating posts to baby #2. So... The countdown is officially on. I finished work last Friday and now I am enjoying 2 weeks vacation. The baby will be here in 15 days. EEEKKK!! Since starting vacation I've been trying to knock things off of my to-do list. Setting up the nursery, digging out the bottles, sterilizer, etc., stalking up on new born diapers and re-washing the itty-bitty newborn clothes. This time I am trying to be as much a minimalist as possible. I know the things we like to use - sleepers with zippers for example - so I'm not even getting the ones with buttons out. There are still things to do - pack the hospital bag, get my hair done - important things - but I should be able to get them done this week and then have next week to relax a bit before the world goes spinning off of it's axis. Oh... and we also have to decide on a name. Yep, another nameless baby about to enter the world.

Talking is overrated

When Lauren went to the doctor for her 18 month check up a month ago, the doctor was concerned that Lauren didn't have enough words in her vocabulary. Apparently at that age she should have 20-50 words and be beginning to string 2-3 words together into mini sentences. At that time Lauren had about 4-5 words that she was using regularly. As a result of that, today we took Lauren for a speech assessment. She is now 22 months (we were a few months late for the 18 month check up) and she really hasn't added many - or any - new words (depending on who you ask). The assessment today confirmed that she doesn't have enough words, but we still are not overly concerned. Lauren makes great eye contact, she interacts well, she tries to mimic sounds we make and most of all she's happy. The assessment confirmed what we had been suspecting, Lauren's biggest problem is her parents. We had no idea how to help her, or what we should/could be working on at this age. We also learned that we have to be more accepting of sounds as words. For example, yesterday she found a baby doll, and brought it over to me. I said "baby" and she said "ba ba". To me, ba ba and baby are not the same thing, but apparently to her it is, and to the lady doing to speech assessment, it was, so ba ba counts as a word! Who knew?! Also, because sounds are the gateway to making words, it is perfectly acceptable right now to just work on different sounds with her so we can lay the foundation for her to begin using them to make words. We left the appointment with some ideas for us to better teach her as we go forward. Speech Services Niagara is going to follow up with us in 6-8 months to re-evaluate her and see if she needs further help. The assessment lady told us that 40% of the kids who are where Lauren is now, turn out to be just fine at the next assessment date. Sadly, another large percentage of cases they see, are kids who turn four prior to their follow up, and are then just swept into the school system to be dealt with there. We were not concerned going in, and I don't think we are any more or less concerned now. I think this is just another example of "kids don't come with manuals." There is nothing wrong with Lauren, but there may be something a little 'off' about her parents.

Bad blogger, bad mommy, bad everything!

This blog is suffering, but it's not my fault. Really. The blog host site, or whatever it is called, has changed and I hate the new format. It's confusing to use and overall just a PIA so I've been avoiding posting. My parenting skills are also suffering. I am so tired and so huge and so hot that I am low on patience and even lower on energy. Poor Lauren is getting the shaft. She cries when it's time to come home from daycare. What kid cries when it's time to come HOME?! I keep promising her that in 3 months I will be a better, more fun mommy. I hope I am not lying. Add to the list, I am a horrible employee these days (only 5 work days left!!!) and an equally as horrible wife (sorry husband!). This is hard and I'm ready to be done. I'm not cut out for this.