Day 2: Take a Random Photo of Your Day & Tell Us About It

Having 3 boys is like "living" in a candy shop.  The energy level in our house is "through the roof"!!  I love my boys dearly, but I just can't keep up....NON-STOP energy from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep. Those who know us well, are laughing right now (and saying better you, than me, lol)!!  What I would do for just a 1/4 of that energy, lol!!!  

Seeing that Scott & I are outnumbered by children, a SCHEDULE is a MUST in our house.  We actually had the boys sign a contract agreeing to their schedule.....that's no joke!!!  Just trying to stay one step ahead of them, in case they try using the "I forgot" or "I didn't know" line.  We went over the schedule in detail, made sure all their questions were answered (CLEARLY) and had them sign their life away!!  That schedule is hanging on our kitchen door....as a constant reminder:)

This is why I love the last 1/2 hour before bed time....no video games & no over-stimulation

....just.simple.unwind.and.relax.time!!  I love how attentive Mason & Elijah are to Landon......they just love to make him laugh!  And I just love watching Landon follow the boys around the house, copying them and climbing the couch to sit & snuggle with them.  I really enjoy watching their sibling relationship blossom.  *sigh*  Memories in the making!!

The Price You Pay.........

.........if you don't play by Landon's rules.........

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

WHAT??  YOU CAN'T SEE ME!!!

Every time Mason & Elijah watch wrestling, this is pretty much where you will find Landon!  No doubt he will be sitting right by his big brother's side whether they are watching it on TV or at an actual event!  

He's already following in his big brother's footsteps!!  Oh the memories these 3 boys are already making!!!!

Look What I Can Do!!!!!!

Getting Landon off the bottle has been a huge deal for me.  Both Mason & Elijah were off the bottle by the time they were both one.  Although I know that this  may take a little longer for our little kiddos with Down syndrome, I can't help but to "still" have that expectation for Landon.  I have tweaked that expectation a bit, but I am "still" determined to make it happen, even if it is a "little" later!!  I have tried so many things.....sippy cups, honey bear cups, open cups, straw cups, etc.  On occasion we would move 1 step forward and then fall 2 steps back.  VERY FRUSTRATING!!  I read blogs upon blogs, I asked friends and I even got to speak personally (on the phone) to one of my blogging buddies for some much needed advice that actually helped.....THANK YOU, LAURA (Anne & Whitney, Up, Down & All Around).  You see, all along the answer was right under my nose, in my own house and did not cost me any more than a few bucks!!!  Had I known then, what I KNOW now.......I could have saved myself from ALOT of frustration!!!  AND, Landon may have been off the bottle a little sooner too:)  

You see, the problem wasn't that Landon couldn't drink out of the straw rather the fact that his brother's were giving him the good stuff....you know, SUGAR (aka, Capri Sun)!!  Did you see him go!!  That NEVER happened when I was teaching him to drink!!  lol  (BTW, he only seems to communicate with his brother's this way...hmmm, I wonder why??!!)

***NOTE TO SELF***

I guess that "note to self" NEVER made it to my notebook!!  HA!  Because, I am always researching toys to see what will be helpful to Landon, you know, cause & effect, gross/fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, etc.  I pick & choose each toy I buy for Landon with one thing in mind...... how will this toy help Landon achieve his goals?  Endless amounts of money later, I have a collection of toys that get thrown around the house by 3 boys, (and not played with), only to have to clean it all up at the end of a VERY.LONG.DAY.  And ONCE AGAIN, the answer was right under my nose..........

1 active 4 year old + SUGAR ='s

1 EXTREMELY HAPPY & SILLY LITTLE MONKEY (and endless hours of FREE entertainment)!!!!

All joking aside, I am over the moon happy for my little man!!  He has really been working so hard to reach each new milestone.  Last week, while we were at Elijah's "Day of Celebration", Landon was home with Lauren, his OT.  (A little side note:  I am usually home for ALL of Landon's OT sessions).  For a couple of weeks, Landon has been playing with his toys....on his knees. And on occasion, he would attempt to push off one of his feet to "ATTEMPT" to stand.  Always so close....but never quite made it all the way.  When we got home last Wednesday, Lauren informed me that Landon did indeed "PULL TO STAND", not only once...... but 6/7 times.  Are you kidding me??  Do  you know how much time & effort I put into helping this little guy reach that goal??  I know, not 1/2 as much as he did to ACCOMPLISH it!! 

 That's right folks, LANDON DID IT!!!!!!

Oh Landon, we are SO.VERY.PROUD.OF.YOU!!!!!!!

*****Landon did his "first" pull to stand over a week and a half ago.  It took a few days for me to get this on video.  Landon had another OT session with Lauren this past Wednesday (once again, I missed it, as I had to go and pick Mason up from Summer School).  When I returned home, AGAIN, Lauren informed me that not only did Landon pull to stand (numerous times) at our coffee table, TODAY (while I WAS NOT THERE) he took his very FIRST step while holding on to the table.  I am speechless and a little disappointed that I missed "that first" too:(  I am however, so very grateful to Lauren, for all her hard work with Landon and for believing in him.  Those disappointing moments pass rather quickly when I look at the BIG picture........my little man IS reaching new milestone's (and all his hard work is paying off)!!!*****

KEEP.REACHING.FOR.THE.STARS.SWEET.BABY.BOY!!!!  YOU.CAN.DO.IT!!!!!!!

And THIS little boy............

........is officially a KINDERGARTNER!!!!

Yesterday, we went to our local ZOO for our city's day of celebration, "Smooth Sailing Into Kindergarten", in honor of all the little kiddos heading to "BIG BOY/GIRL" School!!  The guests of honor, and their families, are treated to a fun day of musical entertainment, arts & crafts, lunch, admission to the zoo and a great opportunity to get to meet other children who may be heading to the same school this September.  A great day to celebrate all that they have learned in preparation of kindergarten.  After all, learning the ABC's, identifying shapes, colors and numbers AND being able to write your whole name is REALLY.HARD.WORK.  Another wonderful milestone definitely worth celebrating!

Here are a few pics of the day!  Unfortunately, Landon was unable to accompany us as he had a date with his OT!!

(Elijah running around to the music!  Oh the energy this boy has, if I only had a 1/4 of it!! lol:)

(Big brother Mason, giving Elijah a pep talk and letting him know that he will be there to show him the ropes!)

(Mason introducing Elijah to a couple of his friends....it's always nice to know the upper.class.men!)  

(And finally, some pizza for lunch, to help refuel all that ENERGY!!)

I must confess, we did not stay as long as I had anticipated!!  Elijah was sure to point out that seeing it was HIS day, he got to call all the shots for the day.  So off we went, back home, to play the Wii!!!

Gotta love this kid!!!

And this little munchkin was waiting to hear all about Elijah's big day!

And by the look on his face, I would have to say,  that he was quite IMPRESSED!!

Elijah is so "SUPER" excited about heading to kindergarten this fall.  I just hope his energy level drops a bit.  Lord knows, I can't keep up with him, and by the looks of it..............neither can Landon!!

(HELP ME!!!!!)

A Message to Our Baby Brother on his 1st Birthday!

Happy 1st birthday landon. We can't believe you're 1 today. Elijah and I have been watching you work so hard during your therapi sessions  to get strong enough to play with us.  Now you know how to sit, playing with you is so much fun. you like it when I read to you. you love to dance to music and  when we sing to you . I love to hold you and somtimes feed you but I leave the dirty diapers to mommy & daddy.  I can't wait until you are older to sleep in our room and play in the snow with me. And most of all I love you Landon. but there's someone on the other hand who wants to write and that is elijah. (typed by big brother Mason, 7, with a little grammar help from mommy).

I love Landon! I like to play toys with  you. You have to be nice when you pinch our cheeks and not scratch us. I want to learn teach you how to read. Happy birthday to you- happy birthday to you - happy birthday dear Landon - happy birthday to you. Your so nice and I love your little ears.(typed by big brother Elijah, 4 with a little help from Daddy).