Back...Again

I don't know why keeping up regularly with this blog is so hard for me lately.  I honestly haven't even been back to this page since my last post that I remember.  But I actually do enjoy blogging and I like getting the opportunity to write more often.  So, here I am, trying again.

I'm going to start with a question for other moms and dads.  The thing is, Elijah doesn't talk.  He has a few words he'll say, mostly ours and his grandparents' names, "Elmo," and "cookie."  Those are his big ones.  He also says "Thomas," and "tractor" with some frequency.  But we really have to work to get him to use any other words.

And the thing is, he is very smart and he can talk.  He can say "downstairs," and "window," and "light," and "in," and all kinds of things.  He just never does, unless we make him.  We've started really pushing him to use more words and most of the time it just frustrates him.

I came home from work the other morning and found he and Nathan sitting in the living room, both of them looking irritated.  Nathan told me they had had a 30 minute battle of wills because he asked Elijah to say "downstairs" after he woke up before they went down to breakfast.  And Elijah would. not. do. it.  Eventually Nathan just tried to get him to say any word, any word at all and the little guy still refused.

We talked to his pediatrician about it and he mentioned it might just be because Elijah is very mellow.  He doesn't feel like he needs to talk to get what he wants.

Every day I tell him that pointing and whining to get what he wants isn't cutting it anymore and he needs to start giving us words, and he just sits down and cries.  I feel terrible. 

If anyone has had a similar experience or has any advice or ideas I'd love to hear about it.

Techno guru

Nathan has always been our technology guy.  When we run into problems with the computers (we each have one, our marriage works better that way,) he's always the one who comes in and fixes it.  He wires and enables my parents' system of surround sound, and TV, Roku box, and DVD player.

But a few weeks ago, we wandered into uncharted territory for him.  Since my laptop is just about to separate permanently into two sections,  decided I wanted a new portable computer, I wanted a tablet.  The initial conversation went something like this:

Me: I want an iPad.
Nathan: Why?  (Nathan doesn't like tablets.)
Me: They are easier to Skype on and the laptop is just about dead anyway.
Nathan: Okay, let's look for a non-Apple product. (Nathan really doesn't like Apple.)

We looked at an Amazon Kindle, and a Google Nexus, but eventually settled on the Microsoft Surface RT.

I love it because it comes with a baby version of Windows and Microsoft Office and can actually function like a small laptop but looks and acts like a tablet.
Nathan has used it on a preliminary basis and these days I'm the one answering his questions about how to do things.  I kind of love that too!

The Great Dilemma

We've been really lucky so far to keep Elijah out of daycare.  Ever since I went back to work I've been on second shift and our dads who both work from home have been good enough to watch him for us.  It's been so nice knowing he's with family, well looked after, and loved.

It also created a pretty neat bond between him and the grandfathers.  Nathan's dad goes by "Pop Rice" with the grandkids and my dad is "Grandpa."  Elijah has tried to say those two words before most others.  He loves his grandmother's also, of course, but his grandfathers are his buddies.

We always knew we would not be able to impose on them forever, though.  And now my father-in-law is getting ready for planting season and my dad has his own things going on.  So it's time to start looking for daycare.  There are other reasons as well.  I try not to be, because everyone always says he'll do it when he wants, but I really am concerned about his not walking.  I'm hoping putting him with other kids closer to his age will encourage him to do what they are doing.

And I think he could use the socialization in general.  He needs to get to know other people than just Mama, Daddy, and his grandparents.

We are lucky that it won't be full time.  My 3-11 hours from Thursday to Monday mean he only has to be watched for about 3 hours 3 days a week.  Our parents, who actually do enjoy watching him, are going to alternate one day a week, so really, he only has to be in care two days a week.

Still, it bothers me to think of leaving him with someone who isn't family.  We don't know much about the world of day care.  What we do know is that we don't want him in a "center;" we'd rather he stayed with someone in a private residence who only watches a few other kids.  I thought about getting a babysitter or nanny to just come to our house, but then he wouldn't get the socialization.

Pray for us!