14ish Months!

I've been a little late getting Ryne's 14-month update posted.  Ever since we got back from the cruise, Ryne has been TERRIBLE!  I love him to death but he's been terrible, so it has been hard to do much of anything...even showering!

The last post I had about Ryne he was 13 1/2 months old and he had started saying some two-word phrases.  I've kinda caught a little apprehension about that from some other mothers.  I'm not saying my kid is smarter than anyone else's kid.  I'm just saying that I think mine is a little smarty pants in his own right with language and comprehension!

I think it is sad that other mother's cannot rejoice in my child's accomplishments, and instead they want to attempt to bring down my child by belittling his accomplishments.  I did go back to college and studied Speech Pathology so I do know a little about child language development.  Would it not also be fair to say that the way I communicate with Ryne may more easily promote communication and comprehension since I know how Speech Pathologist teaches language to a child who has language delay or other language issues?

Anywho, Ryne is continuing to bust out the two-word phrases and his comprehension level is skyrocketing!  Just this week Ryne said "hey dot doh" [hey dog dog] to the neighbor's dogs.  He said "hey bud" plain as day to the nurse...while his pediatrician was in the room.  He commented on Ryne's comment.  Not to mention it was so hilarious because Ryne was sitting in my lap with nothing but a diaper on, leaning back against my chest, and drinking a bottle, cocked to the side, when he said "hey bud" to the nurse!  It was hilarious!  He also said "dir dipe dipe" for dirty diaper.

He has been saying new words almost daily.  He said "buot" for foot, "cart" for heart.  He says "hey" "what" and "bite bite" a lot.  He says "dan" for down.  He also says "dan" for up but he raises his arms up while saying "dan."  He is very close to saying "blankie" and "blue bear."  He also said "woof" to the neighbor's dogs later this week and "arg" to River's t-rex toy!

He knows some of his body parts.  He knows his hand and foot and he can point them out on Tad and his new best bud, a play and learn puppy that he calls a bear!  He understands what "outside" is and means.  If I say "outside" he goes to the door leading to the garage and knocks on it...because knocking opens doors (see the knock knock game).  If I ask him to get his shoes he will go find them and bring them to me and sit in my lap so I can put them on!  If you say "popsicle" he goes to the freezer.  He will say "ba ba" or "my ba ba" and go over to where we keep the bottles.  He will say "bite bite" when he's hungry and he will go to the refrigerator.  He seems to understand A LOT of what we say, so I think we will have to start spelling things out or using code words like "fruit bar" instead of popsicle...even though they are fruit bars and not popsicles!

So it seems Ryne is trucking along quite well with language and comprehension.  Now if I could just get him to sleep and stop throwing tantrums.  The doctor thinks Ryne's teeth are causing the tantrums.  He said it is a little early for the Terrible Twos but also it is rare to see a child's behavior change this dramatically in such a short time.  Ryne is cutting at least 2 teeth.  One of his molars seems to be giving him the most trouble, but I still think he's having some terrible twos issues as well.  Ryne has dropped down to only one nap - like that's something new.  I think the one-nap day is going to stick this time though.  The tantrum issue is really driving me nuts though.  I'll be so glad when we move past that phase!

Ryne is a zealous little guy.  He has a lot of charisma and with that comes lots of fun and lots of tantrums.  All in all, I still feel so blessed to have Ryne and to be able to stay at home with him.  I get to be there for all the special moments!

Getting Plugged In

I will apologize up front for the unorganized randomness that this post may entail.  I'm still collecting my thoughts but I feel if I don't get my current thoughts out then I may explode!

The past month or so I have been doing a lot of thinking.  I'm working on becoming a positive thinker, setting goals (which takes some thinking), reflecting inward, and becoming closer to God.  Most days I feel like my life is running me instead of me running my life!  I have been reading a lot of helpful books, listening to inspirational CDs, saying my affirmations, but I still feel unsuccessful and worn out at the end of the day.

Adam and I just got back from our week long Western Caribbean Cruise, which was MUCH needed!  I hated to be away from my little man so long, but Mommy and Daddy needed a break, a chance to reconnect, and some toddler-free time!  I took all my helpful books on the trip and barely read a single one. We were having too much fun I guess and I like to read by the pool, but when it's over 100 degrees my tush HAS to be in water or I feel like my skin is on fire!  Now I know how a turkey feels!

We had a wonderful stateroom attendant on the cruise named Jonathan.  He was really nice and helpful and said "Good Morning" every morning, asked us how we were doing, etc.  I rarely have anyone say "good morning" to me so I felt special!

One thing I will say about myself is that I find myself in interesting conversations with people.  Mom calls me a "freak magnet," but I think people just find it easy to talk to me and tell me their life story, even when I haven't initiated a conversation or asked for their life story.  Sometimes it's awkward and sometimes I find myself in a really good conversation with a stranger!

The last night of our cruise, my bestie and I were walking back to our rooms for the night to pack and such.  The stateroom team's rolly station (with towels, etc) was parked between our rooms.  Jonathan greeted us and asked if we were ready to go home.  We both said "yes" and "no."  I noticed while we were all talking that Jonathan pulled some little cards with stuff written on it out of a drawer on the rolly station.  I figured they were little cards that he probably left in the room to notify us of some check out procedure, etc.  He held onto them the whole time during our casual chat with him.  As my bestie and I turned to go into our rooms, Jonathan asked me if I was a "spiritual person."  I stopped, turned back around and said "actually, yes!"  Now let me say that "spiritual" means different things to different people.  For me personally, I am a Christian, but I also accept beliefs from other religions, because I ultimately believe they are basically the same thing, just a different way of saying it.  For instance, I am currently reading The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and find it VERY intriguing and practical.  I also believe in the mind-body-soul concept and using meditation, yoga, and prayer.  So, yes, I would say that I'm spiritual.

Anywho, Jonathan said that he was the ability to "read" other spiritual people.  It sounded a little hokey, but honestly out of our group of people, I probably am the most spiritual.  He said that he could tell that I think negative thoughts (yes :( ) and he asked me if I say affirmations (yes!).  He said that I needed to start visualizing my affirmations.  He said that if I wanted a house then to put up a picture of the house I wanted (how did he know I wanted another house?!)  We talked about desires, goal setting, positive thinking, prayer, meditation and yoga - all my favs!  All the while, holding onto those cards.

Then he asked me what virtues I lack.  Whoa what a question!  It kinda caught me off guard, but I said "confidence."  He looked through his cards and handed me a card that had Confidence written at the top of it.  On the front it defined confidence and on the back it listed actions to put confidence into practice and some affirmations about confidence.  It was great!

Then he looked at me with the sideways glace, like he was studying me, and I think he was.  He started hunting through the cards and then he asked me if I had problems with self-discipline. I looked at him like OMG and I said, "hand it over!"  Nail on head!  He talked to me about self-discipline and what I have never equated to self-discipline was self-control. I was thinking more along the lines of how I don't like to wake up and get to work and let small things get in the way of important things.

 He mentioned that my body language was telling everyone that I met all the problems I had.  He said people can read the body language and sense the negativity and we actually project it onto people.  Now let me say that when it comes to people affecting me, I have a long fuse, but their is a bomb at the end.  I can take a lot of abuse from people before I explode!  The explosion is a lack of self-discipline and I never thought of it that way!  Jonathan started talking to me more about meditation and yoga, saying it would help with carrying the emotion in my body and throwing it off on others, etc.

I know Adam and my bestie were thinking I had gotten stuck in some crazy conversation, but I truly enjoyed it!  Jonathan said he felt like he was put there to talk to me about these topics and to inspire me and offer me some guidance.  I honestly felt the same.  I think God puts people, experiences, and obstacles in our path for a reason.  Jonathan was there for a reason!

One of the last things Jonathan mentioned was praying more.  I truly lack there.  I don't pray as much as I'd like or as much as I feel is necessary.  Jonathan said that he likes to explain to people that praying to God is like plugging in the vacuum.  You can't see the electricity, but when you plug in the vacuum, it works!  And when you talk to God, even though you can't see Him, He's there!

So, I'm taking this experience and getting "Plugged In."  I'm getting plugged in to God - the Ultimate Source, and I'm getting plugged into my body and mind.  I've started meditating daily using mindfulness and breathing techniques, praying more, ask for God's guidance, and I will soon be getting down with some downward dog and practicing yoga again!  Right now, my favorite is corpse pose - oh wait, sleeping doesn't count as yoga!

I'm so thankful for my conversation with Jonathan and his nifty cards!  I thank God for placing him in my path!