My Girls

Posted by Unknown

Thought it was high time for a kiddo update!  Here's the latest:

Maya:  

• Still in love with her Bear-Bear (and still we have no GPS device attached to him.. we REALLY need this!!).
• Loves to talk the ear off of just about anyone who will listen.
• Loves to scream "HEY!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" across parking lots, stores, restaurants, etc. to complete strangers.  Sometimes it is b/c these strangers have kids with them.. but often not.  
• Recently ordered a 'beer' when asked by a waitress (at breakfast no less) what she would like to drink.
• Has an entertaining sense of humor.  Is in some phase right now where she likes to make herself laugh (often by doing whatever she can to run away from me/ignore me/etc) and will giggle hysterically for a very long time.  Tonight's laugh:  she is in the tub and suddenly is breaking out in peals of hysterical laughter:  "MOM!  I just made a jacuzzi!!"
• A few days ago we were in a local liquor store picking up a bottle of wine for a dinner party (yes it is no surprise that she ordered a 'beer' at breakfast now is it?  eek!).  It's a large warehouse-type place and has several life-like and bizarre statues (think wax-museum style).  One of the statues is a 3-ft pig who is standing on his back legs and fully clothed (uh.. I have no idea).  She suddenly leaves my side and runs up to him, throws her arms around him in a big hug and yells, "HONEY!  I've MISSED you so much!!'.  
• Has finely-tuned her negotiation skills for moments such as bedtime and shopping trips.
• Loves her ballet/tap class (Ms. Joy is awesome!), but still has not developed the 'grace' I'm hoping will come... ;)
• Still loves Caillou (cartoon of a whiney 4-yr old boy), Backyardigans, the Polar Express movie.  Still refuses to watch any type of princess-type movie/show.
• LOVED singing Xmas carols this holiday.  Is still watching a kids Christmas Carols DVD that I bought her at a christian book store.  Has taught herself (very quickly I might add) most of the words to most of the songs.  Of course.. there are often mistakes that are quite hilarious, but she is doing well!  And if I correct her, she remembers.
• Is also very into Jesus, God, and Heaven.  I had to teach her some things/read some books when my mom was dying, so that she would understand at least a little.  She, like most 4 yr olds I'm sure, has been very open and matter-of-fact about all of it.  It took her awhile to stop thinking that grandma would be back in '2 weeks' (?).. or that we could visit grandma in heaven.  She loved learning about all of it.  She keeps asking if there are beds in heaven.  She loves church and prayers and very much wants to go to 'god school'.   {we are currently deciding b/t catholic schools or CCD classes for her - biggest issue being that the schools are at least 20 min away with little traffic and good weather}
  
• She was also awesome with my mom on the last few days before mom slipped into a coma and Maya was still able to see her.  My mom kept trying to walk on her legs which were no longer functioning, and Maya would say 'Now honey, your legs are not working because of your medicine so you need to just sit down!'.  So cute! 
• Still hates mushrooms.
• Still walks/does stairs/runs/etc very slowly.  Gross motor skills still a bit delayed/not strong.  Devika is faster now.
• I'm back to thinking that the Orthopedic specialist was correct in saying that milk is the problem behind her leg pains.  I stopped believing it, added milk in as normal.. and every time the girl has ice cream or a decent quantity of something dairy - she wakes up inconsolably crying due to leg pain.  Ok, ok I will stop being skeptic!!

Devika:

• As of approximately 1 month ago, her language skills began to take off.  Yay!  This has been a big issue for us.  Lots of mega tantrums b/c of communication breakdowns.  These are much fewer and further between and life has become extremely more peaceful and enjoyable!!  
• Has sensory issues and requires a LOT of stimulation.  The preschool she had been attending locally was in a very small and dimly-lit room.. and was not working well for her at all.  When we were in IN, she was enrolled in a preschool which was large and bright, active and colorful.. and she positively THRIVED!!  We enrolled her in a similar type school upon return home after the holidays.  She is doing great!  Loves it.  
• Grew 2" in the 2 1/2 months we were in IN!!  WOW!  Her pediatrician would be so excited.  She had not been grown since February (through August) and her doctor was very concerned. YAY!! 
• Is finally showing some personality.  Or maybe is finally bonding completely with us.  Not sure what it is, but she is the sweetest, most loving kid ever!  She has a great sense of humor - laughs all the time.  Anyone who spends any amount of time with her instantly falls in love with her.  Seriously she has gone from being a source of mega, mega stress a couple of months ago to being our sweet, adorable, 'warm fuzzy', crazy/fun child.
  
• Never walks, runs everywhere.  Aj has changed her nickname from 'Screamika' to 'Gump'.  {as in Forest}
• LOVES baby dolls.  Sleeps every night with 5 of them.. and freaks out if any are missing.  When she wakes up, she wants to take them all (and her 'lovey' - which is a cloth turtle-book, and her 'blankie') downstairs with her.  She tries to hold all of them at once - and most are almost her size.  So adorable!!  I really need to get a photo of this.
• Loves Barney and Elmo.  Yes, here we go again.. :)  Luckily she is going to be very excited with Maya's Elmo sweatshirt hand-me-downs. 
• Though her gross motor skills are pretty good, she still falls down and bleeds almost daily.  It no longer concerns me much - nor does it concern her.  Sometimes she will get up, bloody.. and just keep running!  Hoping that she doesn't end up with a deformed lip from all the cuts!
  
• If there is a patch of ice anywhere near her, she will find it and she will fall flat on her back.  This has been tested and proven true.
• Loves, loves, loves popsicles.  'Pops'.  Will go to the freezer and beg for one.  Will then require that Maya also have one (actually she requires that Maya always has anything that she has - it is so cute!).. will run to the 'bowl drawer'.. grab bowls for herself and Maya.. and run back.  The entire time she will be yelling, 'Maya!  Pop!  Maya!  Pop!'
• When she says 'bye-bye', she always follows it with blowing kisses.  :)
• is still, sadly, lactose-intolerant.  yuck.
• Loves Maya sooo much!  Is definately the annoying, copycat little sister!
• Oh, and a couple of weeks ago, she just starts counting!  She can count to 10!!  Well, not perfectly, and you can't quite understand her pronunciation of all the numbers.. but wow!  Obviously we need to work more with her, b/c both Aj and myself thought she wasn't there yet!  We stand corrected.
  

I'm sure there are many, many more cute stories and interesting facts about my little monsters.  Oh, I mean 'angels'..  But that's a nice start!

The video clip below was taken at the St Francis Convent, where my sister lives.  Maya loves all of the Baby Jesus statues that they have in the 'big house' at Christmas.  Sadly, we visited prior to Christmas, so Jesus wasn't 'born' yet.  Luckily, one of the sweet nuns brought out the Baby Jesus for the large nativity in the church so that Maya would not be horribly disappointed!