Priscilla: 10 weeks
This week has been fabulous and crazy. When there is company, you learn how you're children would really behave if you had never provided any training.
Mommy's Lesson 1: Get Liem some more socialization time.
Good friends of ours are in town, and staying with my parents. This means all of Liem's toys are being shared and the attention is split between he and his "cousin." Liem has overall done well, but still has a lot of learning to do. His lessons are the reasons for my lesson.
Liem's Lesson 1: Don't hit.
Liem doesn't play the same as everyone else. He collects things, lines them up and organizes them, groups things; but just because he put it down doesn't mean he's done. It just means he's gone to get something else and will "be right back," as he says. But his slightly younger playing companion doesn't understand this playing style. So when Liem gets off his riding toy and gets his play wrench to "fix" it, K (his cousin) takes off on the toy. Liem's response is to bop K on the top of the head. I don't know where he got this, because that is not a behavior modeled in our house. But this has been a reoccurring incidence this week. Mommy is helping Liem learn not to hit.
Liem's Lesson 2: Share.
As I said, Liem loves to group and organize things. He'll line them up according to size and shape. But again, this is not K's style. So if Liem has put it down, K views it as fair game. Liem doesn't see it this way; and being a little bigger, he tends to win. Liem also likes to see toys that are new to him. And his "collecting" style of playing really lends itself more toward hoarding. So all of K's toys tend to end up in front of Liem. Mommy will win the battle on this one. Sharing is a must.
Mommy's Lesson 2: Taking professional pictures of Liem just isn't going to be fun.
I am very blessed to have some wonderful photographers and editors in my family. This means that I frequently have beautiful pictures of my children at no cost, except the printing. Liem does not enjoy this as much as I do. He doesn't mind getting dressed up; he likes looking "handsome." In fact he's quite proud of the way he looks. But once it comes to the actual picture taking, he has no intention of cooperating. In order to get a good picture, I bribe him. This is something I do under no other circumstances. But even with bribes, and a very patient photographer (my mom, in today's case) Liem is not going to make it easy---or even difficult; he's going to make it next to impossible. And if I put Priscilla in the picture next to him, he's going to carry it all the way to impossible. After hours (quite literally) of trying, taking breaks, and trying again, I believe we got one good picture. I can't wait until he really starts to like his sister. It will bring the process just back down to difficult.
Mommy's Lesson 3: There are no bed times when Grandma is in town.
Also in town this week are my husband's parents. They are wonderful in-laws. I am very blessed that way. But juggling visiting with two sets of guests has been difficult; Liem was very distraught that he didn't get to see Grandma and Grandpa today. We even considered taking him over late tonight. We have decided that for the remainder of their time here, we're just going to have to flex the routine and get Liem some good Grandma & Grandpa time. And he's falling asleep very quickly once he does go to bed because he's staying up so much---that's a great perk!
Liem's Lesson 3: No diaper, no wetness protection.
Guests make potty training difficult. But while we are home, it's on. He is still having trouble remembering to go when he's playing, even with me reminding him to use the potty every 20-30 minutes. So he's been surprised and upset a few times this week when his clothes have ended up quite wet. He's making great progress, though. I am sooo thankful we seem to be getting this down!!
The money shot of my beautiful children:
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