It's funny how children learn words sometimes. It's hard to teach some words to Gavin that aren't tangible objects. Especially abstract words like "summertime".
His first impression of that word came as we were leaving the local Jungle Rapids amusement park. The water park section was closed, and he saw the huge slides with colorful flags at the top and said "Flags!" I said "Yep. When it is summertime, we can climb up those stairs and see the flags, then go down the big slide!" He wanted the flags right now, and started to get very agitated. (He's obsessed with flags, especially the American flag) I just kept telling him that we have to wait for summertime. He doesn't like to have to wait for a future event. Everything must happen in the present for him. Finally I got him wrestled into his car seat, and we were on our way.
The next day, the first words out of his mouth were "Okay, now go summertime!" That was just priceless. I love it when he uses new words, and so does he. Meaningful sentences like that are pure manna. There was a time when we didn't know if he would ever talk to us. Some children with autism can't speak at all. It is such a blessing to be able to communicate with Gavin!
So now, in Gavin's head, summertime means big waterslides with flags at the top. Words need to be attached to something he can see, so I've been telling him summertime means the grass is green, the trees have leaves, and we wear shorts. Yo Gabba Gabba (his favorite show on Nick Jr.) did an episode that backed up my definition of summer, so I think it might be sinking in. When Foofa and Brobee sing about it, the message really hits home. Now he says randomly "Summertime. Its hot!"
When I set up the "slip and slide" for these kids in our backyard, however, Gavin's eyes got really big and he said "Little Summertime!" For him, that word will probably always be attached to waterparks, which is fine with me. As you can see in the picture, every good waterslide needs flags at the head of it. Those were Gavin's idea.
Our big, nice climbing tree came down last night in the wind. The boys haven't seen it yet, they're at Grammy and Papa Geno's with Sara. I'm not sure if I should cut it up and take it away before they get back, or should I let it lay there on it's side for the boys to see. It's a Wax Myrtle, which is a very common tree here that grows like a weed. These trees can withstand almost any storm, which is why I was so surprised to see this one laying prone when I let Laya (the cat) out this morning. This one's been through a bunch of hurricanes, but I think my pruning is what did it in. It was already listing heavily to the port side, but then I made it too top heavy in an effort to make the lower branches more climbable for the boys.
Climbing trees is so much fun when you're a kid. I remember seeing every tree as a new conquest when I was young. I wanted to be like Tarzan or Mowgli in Jungle Book. Any tree could be a secret hideout. If you could just get up inside the canopy, you could escape the real world for just a little while and have your own piece of the planet. Gavin loved to climb this tree. Actually, he just liked to sit in it, about 3 feet off the ground, and look around the backyard like the king of the world.
Gavin and Garrett mostly used this tree as a race track or train track, whichever vehicle they were currently employing. The long, low swooping branches made for great take off runways for airplanes, too. These boys could play for an hour straight at the tree, and Sara could see them from the kitchen or back door and hear their happy sounds.
Now I'm forced to make a decision. This tree was a big part of these kids' lives. It's almost like a family pet who has passed away. I think I must cut it up and take it away today. If the boys come home and the tree is laying here like a beached whale, it would be very hard to explain. If they come home and the tree is just gone, it would be traumatic. On the other hand, if they witness their own father lopping it limb by limb with a chainsaw, the trauma might be irreparable.
I know what I can do, I'll make a game of it. I'll explain that the tree is going to the letter factory. I'll label each limb with a letter on a sticky note, and let the boys decide which one gets cut before I do it. They love to show off their alphabet skills. With luck this power of knowledge game will distract them from what is really happening, and they'll feel positive about this old tree's disappearance. Making a game of almost anything negative can be a real great tool when you're faced with a difficult situation! Spelling and numbers rule these boys' world right now. I'll be numbering or labeling each branch on this tree, then the boys will be so excited about which branch comes down next, they won't even know their beloved tree is being decimated. It will be another happy learning activity! Then we'll go find a suitable replacement.
This year's Easter Egg hunt was the first one Garrett actually participated in with enthusiasm and zeal. Last year, at 11 months old (upper photo) he was content to crawl to the first egg he saw and park there with it. Finding no great tastiness in its plastic yellow shell, I'm sure he was wondering what the big fuss was all about. Garrett was a great little crawler. I think he was even maybe an early crawler? I'm not sure, I'd have to ask Sara. What I do remember most was his crazy method of crab crawling on the grass, because he hated the feel of it. Garrett would get up on his handsand feet, sort of tip toe crawling around the lawn. It was so cute - and hilarious. We could probably send it in to America's Funniest Videos and win a prize. I need to learn how to post videos on this blog on my own instead of begging for my wife's help. I'm a carpenter, for Pete's sake. Not a webmaster! Anyway, Garrett didn't get it. Easter Egg, schmeester egg, he's saying.
Gavin was lovin' it though. He knew then and now it is what's on the inside that counts. You've gotta crack it open to find the good stuff! If you can't open it, bring it to dad. I'm more than willing to help for a small tasty fee. These types of events just get more fun each year, I think. As the kids get older, the magic of these events becomes more apparent to them and the anticipation is almost more than they can handle. Last friday night before we went to the church's Easter Egg hunt, Gavin was so excited he barely slept at all. Consequently, that Egg Hunt was fairly overwhelming for him. He got a few eggs, but mostly gazed in awe at the tornado of toddlers around him. Garrett remained focused, capturing eggs and insisting on inspecting the contents each time before plunking it in the basket.
Luckily enough for these kids, we did a smaller, exclusive egg hunt on Sunday. In more familiar territory (the back yard) they were both more in tune with the task at hand. With minimal prompting, both these kids filled their baskets in no time. Next year will be even more fun for me since I'll need to come up with more clever hiding places...
The transition from crib to bed isn't supposed to be easy, is it? Garrett has (almost) taken right to it! He loves sleeping in his little bed. The boys have a trundle bed from Ikea, very comfortable! Gavin is on the high part and Garrett gets the roll out bed. The problem is this: he has learned that he's free to roam the house at night if he chooses. I'm not sure if babies can sleepwalk or what, but he comes out of their room sometimes with a glazed look in his eye. He just wanders around. The other night I found him standing at the couch, sleeping with his face down in the cushion, sippy in hand. Weird! Does anybody know what is up with this? I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself some night. Thank God he can't unlock the doors, he'd probably meander on down the road if he could. He does it almost every night. He's scared me to death a couple times. I've opened my eyes at 2 a.m. to see him crouching like a gargoyle on the hope chest at the foot of the bed, a "Gotcha Daddy" grin on his face.
We use the Super Nanny technique of taking him back to the bed without saying a word, so he doesn't turn it into a game. It seems to work! That Super Nanny is awesome. I just wish Garrett would stay in bed all night! I don't want to put up a gate at their door, since we're also trying to get Gavin to use the potty at night on his own. This gives me a couple more t-shirt ideas: "Night Prowler" or "The baby that never sleeps" ...maybe?
Other than his nightly wanderings, Garrett is a great little sleeper. I can't really complain about either of my boys' sleeping habits. I've heard some real horror stories from other parents trying to make the transition. For Gavin's transition from the crib, we bought a bed tent that looked like a ladybug, since he was used to a crib that had a mesh tent over it. Sara found it on Amazon, I think. It had nice little pockets to hold the sippy cups inside. Gavin loved that part. So when we had to take the tent away and move Garrett to the trundle bed, I took Gavin to Target and bought some 99¢ car cup holders for him. They hook right on the bed. Sweet! He was so thrilled with his new cup holders, he didn't even notice the ladybug was gone. He finally got to enjoy the big green wall leaf thing (also from Ikea!) that hovers over the bed. I remember the first night for Gavin without the tent. We tucked him in and asked how he liked his new bed. "Green leaf." he said with a twinkle. You gotta love that!
Every good dad out there knows the importance of baby wrestling. My kids love to just get me down on the floor and pile on top. Gavin (4 next month) has a signature move I call the Double Ear Pull, which he administers quite frequently between official matches. He uses it on me if I get too closeat the dinner table while cutting his chicken fried steak, or while sitting in the cart at Costco. Garrett ( 21 months) has clobbered me quite a few times with his "screaming banshee" technique. It usually works like this: Gavin gets me in a submission hold with an elbow in the neck and 2 fingers in my nose, while Garrett sneaks around the couch, stalking like a hungry cougar after a deer. Then, before I even get a chance to tap out, he emits a shriek like a smoke detector and comes flying out of his blind, launching himself headlong into my midsection. The match is finished.
I love having 2 boys. The three of us can have fun together doing just about anything. Wrestling is definitely at the top of their list when it comes to "what to play with daddy". It's great exercise too! And talk about stress relief! Its like that Saturday Night Live commercial with Will Ferrell's Bio Workout box. He gets an exercise system delivered to his door in a box. When he gets it inside, an apelike creature springs out and attacks him, wrecking his entire house. The workout is in getting that thing back in the box until next time! That's how it is with 2 rambunctious toddlers in our house. When I get home, they want some action packed baby wrestling for about 5 minutes. Once that pent up barbarity is out of their systems, they go back to Legos or Backyardigans or Lightning McQueen.
When we got home from an outing to the park yesterday, it was nap time for both boys. In trying to settle Gavin down, (he can be pretty hyper) I laid down on the floor in his room with one of his favorite books: Roar of a Snore. He jumped on me and said "Wrestle daddy." I said "No, it's naptime. Let's read and cuddle." Gavin paused, then looked me in the eye and said solemnly, "Okay. One hundred cuddles."
What a beautiful statement from a kid who has Autism. At one point in his life we thought he would never look us in the eye and say anything that didn't come from TV. His unique personality comes out of him more and more each day.
I'm trying to enjoy this stage in their life as much as I can. I know it won't be long until they'll both be too big and cool to be tackled and tickled by me. Oh well. I'm sure I'll find another way to connect with them once coolness takes them away from me!
The transition from crib to bed isn't supposed to be easy, is it? Garrett has (almost) taken right to it! He loves sleeping in his little bed. The boys have a trundle bed from Ikea, very comfortable! Gavin is on the high part and Garrett gets the roll out bed. The problem is this: he has learned that he's free to roam the house at night if he chooses. I'm not sure if babies can sleepwalk or what, but he comes out of their room sometimes with a glazed look in his eye. He just wanders around. The other night I found him standing at the couch, sleeping with his face down in the cushion, sippy in hand. Weird! Does anybody know what is up with this? I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself some night. Thank God he can't unlock the doors, he'd probably meander on down the road if he could. He does it almost every night. He's scared me to death a couple times. I've opened my eyes at 2 a.m. to see him crouching like a gargoyle on the hope chest at the foot of the bed, a "Gotcha Daddy" grin on his face.
