Apparently "no" is quite amusing for Layla. She definitely knows what the word means. However, it somehow evokes a feeling of joy in her when we say it. She thinks it's fun (a game?) when we pull her away from whatever she's doing. This can be quite frustrating.
Tonight there was an incident that actually lead me to tears...tears of laughter. You see, she's gotten into a bad habit of "beating" items on our entertainment center. The "beating" usually occurs on the glass door. Definitely not good. Items of choice are typically a remote or her sippy cup (which has lead to some nice opaque streams down the glass). We tell her "no" and she usually smiles/smirks/laughs and continues until we pull her away. She thinks this is fun and most likely will walk right back.
Might I add that every time she is hitting the door...she's looking at us as she's approaching with her hand in the air...she's looking at us the entire time she's hitting...and she's smiling at us when we say "no"...and on and on it goes.
However, tonight she did something slightly different. As always, she walked up to the entertainment center (watching us the entire time) and began smacking her sippy cup against the door. We said "no" several times to no avail. Jeremy stood up to take the sippy from her and she immediately stopped and brought the cup down into both hands. Jeremy sat back down, Layla began hitting the door. We said "no" and she continued. Jeremy stood up and she immediately brought the cup down into both hands...as if to say "I stopped." Jeremy sat back down and Layla started hitting again. Jeremy stood up and Layla pulled her sippy back down. At this point "no" was out of the rotation because we were too busy trying to stifle our laughter. I don't know how many times we watched this routine...enough for me to spout out "we should be videoing this!" through my laughter and tears.
Oh my. Parenthood has begun full-swing!
What do you do with a 1-year-old to stop a behavior that's inappropriate? "No" isn't enough...removing her from the location doesn't work as she simply walks right back. Time-out is too advanced. Flicking of the hand sometimes gets her upset and other times not...but I don't know if she's truly recognizing that the flicking happens b/c of her actions. I can sit and read a book with her or try and distract her with another toy, but how will she learn that her previous actions were wrong?? Ugh!
**At some point I'm sure I'll be writing a post with the same subject line...only the discussion will be about my frustrations with her constantly saying "no." I can definitely wait for that one...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
T.V.
Layla does not really watch TV. It's on (FAR too much!) but she is content playing around the living room with whatever she can get her little hands on.
Yesterday the midday news had a man from the Humane Society there with this adorable puppy that needed a home. I pointed to the TV and said "dog". Layla looked up and got so excited she started dancing!! It was too cute!
Apparently this morning (while my loving husband let me sleep), Layla was being a bit difficult and not wanting much to do with anything. He was flipping through the channels and found a Best in Show dog show. She watched it! I came out into the living room and relieved him. Much to my surprise, she just sat on my lap and watched...she NEVER does that! She loves dogs :-)
**On a side note** I'm surprised every day by what she knows. She knows a couple of signs (which we haven't taught her), says several words (or first syllable of words), and will have a floor full of toys and pick out things that you ask (i.e. ball, duck, shoe). I know this is probably age appropriate...but it seriously seems like yesterday that she didn't know anything. When did she get so smart?!?!?!
Yesterday the midday news had a man from the Humane Society there with this adorable puppy that needed a home. I pointed to the TV and said "dog". Layla looked up and got so excited she started dancing!! It was too cute!
Apparently this morning (while my loving husband let me sleep), Layla was being a bit difficult and not wanting much to do with anything. He was flipping through the channels and found a Best in Show dog show. She watched it! I came out into the living room and relieved him. Much to my surprise, she just sat on my lap and watched...she NEVER does that! She loves dogs :-)
**On a side note** I'm surprised every day by what she knows. She knows a couple of signs (which we haven't taught her), says several words (or first syllable of words), and will have a floor full of toys and pick out things that you ask (i.e. ball, duck, shoe). I know this is probably age appropriate...but it seriously seems like yesterday that she didn't know anything. When did she get so smart?!?!?!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Indy update
We went back to Indy Monday to see Layla's GI doctor. She's back on the growth chart!! No tests were run! We have another follow-up in 3 months. However, if we feel she's doing fine, we can cancel.
On a side note, they ended up testing her for food allergies. We had to get her blood drawn and have another week or so of waiting to hear the results. This blood drawing experience was MUCH better than our first on here in Terre Haute. I think there were a lot of factors into why - at a Children's hospital, Layla was tired, I knew how to hold her - I think the fact that it was a lady who only deals with children helped a lot.
The reason for the test came because of a quick question the nurse practitioner (apparently Layla's first doctor up and moved to Canada!) asked at the end of the visit asking if we've had any issues with food. We gave Layla some scrambled eggs about a month ago and her lip swelled in the middle, she had some splotches on her face and later her eyes became very red and itchy. We gave her some Children's Benadryl and all was fine. The nurse seemed pretty concerned that her lip actually swelled the first time and thinks that maybe some of the respiratory issues we've had could be tied to food allergies. She tolerates foods with eggs baked in them. Or at least we think she does. Maybe her seemingly constant runny nose has something to do with that. We're currently just waiting.
Although we haven't enjoyed needing to go to Indy - it has now given us 2 opportunities to eat at Chick-fil-A :-)
On a side note, they ended up testing her for food allergies. We had to get her blood drawn and have another week or so of waiting to hear the results. This blood drawing experience was MUCH better than our first on here in Terre Haute. I think there were a lot of factors into why - at a Children's hospital, Layla was tired, I knew how to hold her - I think the fact that it was a lady who only deals with children helped a lot.
The reason for the test came because of a quick question the nurse practitioner (apparently Layla's first doctor up and moved to Canada!) asked at the end of the visit asking if we've had any issues with food. We gave Layla some scrambled eggs about a month ago and her lip swelled in the middle, she had some splotches on her face and later her eyes became very red and itchy. We gave her some Children's Benadryl and all was fine. The nurse seemed pretty concerned that her lip actually swelled the first time and thinks that maybe some of the respiratory issues we've had could be tied to food allergies. She tolerates foods with eggs baked in them. Or at least we think she does. Maybe her seemingly constant runny nose has something to do with that. We're currently just waiting.
Although we haven't enjoyed needing to go to Indy - it has now given us 2 opportunities to eat at Chick-fil-A :-)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Merit Pay
I'm going to get on my soap box, but make it brief. I think it's ridiculous to think about merit pay for teachers based on their students' performances on standardized tests! I know, I know, you expect me to be accountable for my students...and I am. But to base my excellence on another human's ability to perform under the stress/pressure that comes with tests like that is ludicrous! Let's not even factor in all the possible scenarios that enter the classroom with the student....hunger from not eating since lunch the previous day, weariness from lack of sleep b/c of awful home environments, worry/fear of what awaits them at home, hormonal anger that is blocking clear thoughts from the brain, hormonal anything, test-taking "freeze", undiagnosed learning disorders, any learning disorder, lack of parental involvement/support, etc. etc. etc.
I am by no means making excuses...I am accountable for what my students learn. I work hard every day. But the fact of the matter is, no matter what I do, how hard I try, what changes I make, there are students who simply won't pass b/c of their attitude or lack of knowledge (for various factors).
If I could allow you to teach in my classroom (or any classroom) for a span of a couple of months, I would be more than happy to do so! Maybe then you might begin to understand why teachers should not be held accountable solely on achievement of standardized tests!
Thank you. :-)
I am by no means making excuses...I am accountable for what my students learn. I work hard every day. But the fact of the matter is, no matter what I do, how hard I try, what changes I make, there are students who simply won't pass b/c of their attitude or lack of knowledge (for various factors).
If I could allow you to teach in my classroom (or any classroom) for a span of a couple of months, I would be more than happy to do so! Maybe then you might begin to understand why teachers should not be held accountable solely on achievement of standardized tests!
Thank you. :-)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Refreshing
I have been loving having the windows open the past 2 days! Fresh air flowing through the house after months and months of stagnant air is so refreshing!
It's got me thinking...is there anywhere in the country that has 70-80 degree weather all year???? Wouldn't that be beyond fabulous! No need for air conditioning, no need for heat. A breeze blowing through your house on any given day. Ahhh...lovely!
Of course, I would miss the snowball and hot, pool-splashing weather...but that's what a car is for. :-)
It's got me thinking...is there anywhere in the country that has 70-80 degree weather all year???? Wouldn't that be beyond fabulous! No need for air conditioning, no need for heat. A breeze blowing through your house on any given day. Ahhh...lovely!
Of course, I would miss the snowball and hot, pool-splashing weather...but that's what a car is for. :-)
Friday, March 6, 2009
1-year appointment
Jeremy took Layla to her 1-year appointment today. Our goal weight was 18lbs. That would keep us on track with what the specialist is wanting to see.
Head - 44 cm (if I remember correctly)
Height - 27 1/4 in. (not a lot of growth here...actually, according to the measurements at the specialist's a month ago she has lost 3/4in. in height...something's not correct b/c I'm positive she isn't shrinking!)
Weight - 17lbs 4.8 oz! Ugh!
The doctor liked the gain on paper (this is the most she has gained in quite some time), but does not like the fact that Layla's not catching up the way she should be. So we now have a new "recipe" for mixing her formula. Which...apparently she's not doing as well with the sippy cup as we thought.
We have nothing to base our assumptions on as far as how much she should be drinking as we've strictly nursed up until a month ago. She has really been guzzling it down each day. Or so we thought. I guess the doctor was surprised that she's only drinking 12-15oz. a day. Jeremy didn't think to ask how much she should be drinking. I will probably be calling in to the office early next week.
She only gets about one 5-6oz. cup down at daycare and then she drinks another 6-10oz. at home. We try to give her some in the morning before we leave, but it's never much. I feel like all she does is drink or eat when she's home so I'm not really sure what else to do. I do know that she (for some reason) doesn't seem to drink as much at daycare as she does on the weekends. I have a guess that it's because she eats drier foods here. However, she just started her big girl meal plan at daycare so I'm hoping we start seeing an improvement in her drinking (although there wasn't a huge one this week).
Regardless, I can definitely tell her legs have thickened up. Maybe she just needed an adjustment period and will now really pack on the weight. I hope so because if she isn't 20lbs by April 6 the specialist is going to see about running some tests. :-(
Head - 44 cm (if I remember correctly)
Height - 27 1/4 in. (not a lot of growth here...actually, according to the measurements at the specialist's a month ago she has lost 3/4in. in height...something's not correct b/c I'm positive she isn't shrinking!)
Weight - 17lbs 4.8 oz! Ugh!
The doctor liked the gain on paper (this is the most she has gained in quite some time), but does not like the fact that Layla's not catching up the way she should be. So we now have a new "recipe" for mixing her formula. Which...apparently she's not doing as well with the sippy cup as we thought.
We have nothing to base our assumptions on as far as how much she should be drinking as we've strictly nursed up until a month ago. She has really been guzzling it down each day. Or so we thought. I guess the doctor was surprised that she's only drinking 12-15oz. a day. Jeremy didn't think to ask how much she should be drinking. I will probably be calling in to the office early next week.
She only gets about one 5-6oz. cup down at daycare and then she drinks another 6-10oz. at home. We try to give her some in the morning before we leave, but it's never much. I feel like all she does is drink or eat when she's home so I'm not really sure what else to do. I do know that she (for some reason) doesn't seem to drink as much at daycare as she does on the weekends. I have a guess that it's because she eats drier foods here. However, she just started her big girl meal plan at daycare so I'm hoping we start seeing an improvement in her drinking (although there wasn't a huge one this week).
Regardless, I can definitely tell her legs have thickened up. Maybe she just needed an adjustment period and will now really pack on the weight. I hope so because if she isn't 20lbs by April 6 the specialist is going to see about running some tests. :-(
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