Little Smarty Pants

The reason for this blog is so family can check in and see what we (mostly the boys!!) are up to (and for "trips down memory lane in the future, after the blog book is published).   I realized that in the last few months, I haven't updated (er "bragged in a biased motherly fashion" - lol) about Ramsey's accomplishments and milestones.

Ramsey has been involved in speech therapy with Amy (his awesome speech therapist) for about a year.  It's been a slower road, but every new accomplishment, from his first bit of sign language ("more"), his first "real word", to his two-word requests, is celebrated!   Amy is a super fun gal and Ramsey has always responded well to her.   Our new goals and primary focus is to get Ramsey to use three word requests and phrases.

The newer model of speech therapy (implemented in the last few weeks) now has the parent or caregiver act as the primary therapist and Amy will ask questions, serve as guidance, and give helpful tips for teaching the child.  It's been an easy transition since I've watched Amy's form of teaching and been directly involved in weekly play/therapy.

Ramsey is really talking up a storm (and parroting everything we say) and is starting to like to chat on the phone.   His favorite things to say/do:  Read Star Wars books and say all of the characters' names, tell MaMa and DaDa what to do (example: while jumping on the couch cushions on the floor, he points to the cushions and says MaMa and DaDa, telling us "hey guys, get down here and jump with me!"), and count.

He can count to 15 (maybe more, I haven't pushed it), but his "F" and "TH" sounds are still a work-in-progress (normal, by Amy's standpoint, and sounds we shouldn't "expect" until he's four).   He walks around counting EVERYTHING (pictures of animals/characters in his books, the spindles in the banister, his blocks, pieces of food, pillows... you name it).

Earlier this month, he started occupational therapy as well.  Karen is the wonderful occupational therapist who comes to our home once a week for an hour.
Karen works with Ramsey by utilizing sensory toys and activities, plus other fun things that further develop his fine motor skills.

Below, we're playing with shaving foam at the kitchen table.   He wasn't sure what to think of it and showed great disdain for it at first, but we slowly eased him to where he would place his Star Wars toys and cars in it, bang and roll them around it in, allowing for the foam to be on his hands and arms, and let loose and have fun.   We still have yet to get him to go wild and completely smash his hands directly into the shaving foam.  (This sensitivity to this smooth tangible textured goo is apparently why he never went bananas to make a huge mess out of his cake on his first birthday!)

The other day during OT, I was a bit blown away (and so were Karen and my Mom).  We were on the floor playing with a Magna-Doodle, drawing pictures of shapes and different sizes of the shapes.  He's known his shapes and colors for well over a year, but it was more of an instructional learning play to reinforce his direction-taking ("put your toy in the 'little' circle", etc).  I decided to write numbers into the shapes to test him.  He named every number I asked him, which I didn't name in numerical order; just randomly.   A+, kiddo!  Then, I decided to start writing letters (again, randomly).  I thought it'd be tricky for him, with the "J's", "Z's", "H's", "Q"etc.  But, he nailed every single one and was saying their names (as well as he can).   This may be braggy, but I was so proud of him!   Toddlers' brains are little sponges indeed.  Wowser!

Since then, we've been "testing him" further with his letters and numbers.  I have a sneaking suspicion that he may be an early reader!

Freshman Football: A Short Season

Connor's played in three games so far as a freshman football player.   He's #30, sixth from the left.   Stats: 5'7"  135#     Primary Role: Wide Receiver

Unfortunately, those three games will be the only games he'll have under his belt this year.
In this play (from last Friday's game), he was blocking and collided with a lineman.  He's on the right-hand part of the screen and is doubled over at the end of the play.   A painful injury!!

End result:

A broken wrist.  He'll have to wear this non-plaster cast for the next three weeks.  It'll take an additional three weeks to fully heal.   Poor kid!
But, he will still practice with his football squad, completing conditioning training and learning plays.  He will not participate in weight-lifting or get in the thick of man-to-man practice.

I didn't even get a close-up picture of him suited up in his football gear this year.   :-(

"Fun Facts" (er, not-so-fun?!):  This is the third time Connor has broken his right wrist.
And, in the same game, one of Connor's teammates also broke his wrist.  

Our Freshman

Ten years pass so quickly!

From Connor's "First Day of Preschool"....

To his "First Day of High School"!    He's a little taller now; his head exceeds the height of the wheel well!  

Connor started school on Tuesday, officially a Freshman at Central.   He's bummed that his summer vacation is officially over.  But, he's opening a new chapter of his life and will have many new experiences in high school!
And here, his Ping Pong pics already came back!   What a change from 20+ years ago; we had to wait WEEKS to get them!    Isn't he a cutie?  :-)

Another County Fair

Alas, it was that time of year again; mid-August... county fair time.
Years ago, when I was in 4-H showing cattle, it was a big event; lots of work, lots of fun, and lots of cattle show events to conquer.  :-)

It is now a nice family trip to town, to eat fried cheese balls and corn dogs, walk around the midway, look at exhibits, and see all of the animals.  Now, I am merely a spectator.

We went to the fair mid-morning and walked through the midway first, which was not yet open.  Ramsey isn't ready for rides yet, so that was a non-issue.  He enjoyed looking at all of the games with stuffed animals for prizes, jumping over large cables that crossed the pathways, and looking at  the colorful carnival rides.

We veered to the livestock area and started out in the Bunny Barn, as that is typically high on Ramsey's list of favorites.

 He needed a closer look at the furry little fellas!

Then, we headed off to the see the Shetland ponies.  A local horse rancher gives rides every year.

 One of the ponies had a baby, a small cream-colored foal.  She was precious!  And, apparently very hot... given the fact that she was panting quite a bit.

 Based on Ramsey's reaction, he's not quite ready for a pony ride.  Next year!!!

 And, onto the goats.  The goats were Ramsey's all-time favorite last year.

 And, they were his favorite again this year.  We half expected one of the little guys to give a nip at Ramsey's finger, but they didn't.

 He wanted to pet every... single... goat.

We had to drag him out of the goat barn; he did NOT want to leave!  

 We then walked to the barn that housed the dairy cattle and the show ring.  At the time, the open class beef heifer show was going on.  I remember those days!!  At least they had a nice cool day for the showmen and the cattle.

I had walked away for a few minutes.  When I came back, this was Ramsey's expression.  I had never seen this one before!  Apparently one of the dairy cows had let out a very loud bellow.  It scared the dickens out of Ramsey and he freaked...out.  Eric had calmed him down, but it took a few minutes to get this look off his face.  Poor kid!!   I thought it was precious, so I snapped a picture. 

Knowing the fish would cheer him up, we went into the exhibit hall, straight to the US Fish & Wildlife fish tank.  Eric propped him up on the wheel well of the flat bed that the tank was sitting on.  He was entranced and sat there so nicely checking out all of the fish; various species of bass, carp, bluegill, northern, perch, walleye, etc.  He sat.

 And... he sat....  "We need to get one of these at home," we thought!   

Maybe we'll get our little 20-gallon fish tank out of storage and fired up again.  Maybe.  :-)

We checked out the bald eagle and animal pelts at the refuge table.

We walked the booths a bit more (after joking around, decided not to get a picture with the Trump cardboard cut-out - lol), got some yummy fair food, then decided it was time to go home.  Ramsey had about had enough by then.
So, another county fair has come and gone and we'll look forward to the next one.

New Guy Behind the Wheel

I'm going to admit... I was frightened, nay SCARED... at the thought of this....  lol.

Connor, now 14, and having passed Driver's Ed, can drive (with another licensed driver).
Mom and Eric had both ridden with him, but as of yet, I had not!

Connor and I took a drive to Aberdeen to fiddle around and get some ice cream.
When I was buckling up, I remember thinking,  "This kid's growing up!  Yay!  And... this kid is GROWING UP.  So sad!"  It was bittersweet.

Connor did well on the way in.  He's got "some work" to do, driving in town and such, but we'll keep working with him.  :-)

He's had a car for a few months now.  In October, it will be legal for him to drive by himself, from dawn until dusk.  When he's 16, he can legally drive by himself, anytime.

Still... I can't believe it.  He's old enough... to drive!   Saying "time flies" all the time is really getting to be a theme around here!!

Let the High School Football Begin!

It was an EARLY morning for Eric and Connor; they were both up at 5:30 AM.   Connor had to be at football practice at 6:30 at the high school!

There are three divisions for football at Central; Freshman Football, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Connor, of course, is starting out in the first division, where he will learn higher-level routes, tactics, and be trained much harder.   They will have weight-lifting as a group every Tuesday at 6:30 AM.   Typical practices are daily for 2-3 hours (depending on the day).   Then, games are every Thursday in September and October.    He definitely has a grueling schedule!    I'm looking forward to going to his first game... as a high-schooler!

 I was not actually at the practice, but I did manage to snag a few pics from another source.  :-)

First Time on Play Set

Yes, so tons of blood, sweat, and tears (literally, all three of those came into play! lol) went into the production of Ramsey's play set.

Even though it wasn't QUITE finished on Saturday (we still needed to push the pea rock onto the pad and level it), we decided to let Ramsey see it and play on it.

When he first saw it, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree!  There was so much to see; swings, a slide, a tunnel, a climbing wall... and a big pile of pea rock!

When Ramsey first "tried out" the play set when it was in town at its former home (a few months ago), he didn't know how to use the rock wall or the climber to get to the tower; we had to help him.  Knowing this, I had planned to build a "normal" set of steps for him.

Eric first veered Ramsey to the climbing wall.  He showed him how to monkey his way to get to the tower, spotting him.   We may wait until he's a little bit bigger to show him how to use the rope with the climbing wall.

 He was sure using his little muscles, finagling his way to the top!

Ta-Da!  He made it!

 Then, he blasted through the tunnel.

And down the slide, he went!

After the first time, it was all Ramsey... no help from either of us!  I was amazed at how this kid could climb!  Eric said he knew he'd be able to figure it out quickly.  lol

 Around and around he went, climbing, crawling, sliding, then running back for more... over and over..!  He started to look like a little master, maneuvering his way up and through the course.

 He was so proud of himself!  And... so were we!! 

He had to add in some King of the Mountain time on the pea gravel pile.  He had so much fun climbing up to the top, then tumbling, scooting, and sliding down the hill.

By the way, he was fine - cried for about a second (after he bonked his head).

Oh wait... he found some sticks.

Then, back to the play set for more climbing, swinging, and sliding!  Since he's doing so well without the steps, I may just take a break and not bother making them.  I will, however, add a fireman's pole in its place (just next to the slide)!  That'll probably be a "next year" project.

Yup, there's that big blup of spilled stain I was telling you about... Yeesh.

 

After all of the playtime in the rock pile and on the play set, little Doodlebug needed a bath (the second one of the day!).    

After all of the hard work getting this project completed, it was well worth it.  :-)