therapists, preschools and giggles

After Carson's 6 month check-up (at which he weighed 11 lbs, 11 oz), he is now taking adult medicine to ease his constipation. He is taking a newly OTC drug called MiraLax which has been working wonderfully. He is now regular (without explosions) and his hemorroid has significantly shrunk - RELIEF! His iron is still not up to par so we will continue multi-vitamin drops through 9 months and check his iron level then. He is gaining weight, but we are going to keep him on the 22 calorie formula through at least 9 months to make sure his weight gain continues. We asked the doctor about his preference to use his left arm over his right arm and he referred us to First Steps (a state of Kentucky program). Hopefully, the professional evaluations will put our mind at ease. After meeting with an RN, an evaluator played with Carson to assess his skills (gross motor, fine motor, cognitive and social). He checked out fine in everything except gross motor and fine motor; he was on the borderline for normal. Remember, Carson is being assessed as a 4 month old (his adjusted age). The next step is to have a physical therapist evaluate him; this appointment has not yet been scheduled.

Carson started rice cereal with applesauce about a month ago and goes crazy for it. After we got the MiraLax under control, we started vegetables. He despises green beans which follows in Vic's footsteps because Ella and I are huge fans. I know it can take several attempts for a baby to learn to like a new taste, but I am not seeing any signs of improvement after four days. He coughs them up, spits them out, closes (more like locks) his mouth shut, and makes the most awful faces. Come to think of it, he makes the funniest faces? Did I mention how he makes the biggest frown? Vic and I have tried to imitate his frown and we can't come close. We'll have to catch that on camera. Carson has also learned to fake cough so he gets our attention - it works! He thoroughly enjoys Ella. He laughed while she jumped over my legs and giggled when we were doing pattycake with her. He loves to grab our faces especially our noses and my hair and successfully removed Vic's glasses from his face. Everything goes into his mouth. And he is a BIG flirt with men and women. While we were eating at PF Chang's, he smiled and cooed at two gentlemen dining together until he captured their attention and elicited some conversation. He is definitely getting a personality.

And then there's Miss Personality herself - Ella Nicole! She now knows her full name and can spell her first name. She also knows that her family is Momma Gregory, Daddy Gregory and Carson Gregory. And since we started preschool today, she now informed me that God loves Mommy, Daddy, Carson and Ella and that God made us. She can successfully do a somersault and is fond of trying it wherever (couch, bed, etc.) so we are in the process of setting limits and helping her understand that she can't do them into the cabinets. Potty training - we really focused in June/July, but decided to back off because we were getting into power struggles. After consulting many books, we decided that SHE needed to make the decision to go potty because we can't make her go pee/poop in the potty. We know she can do this, but we are having mixed results. She has successfully gone in a potty at two restaurants (does McDonald's count?) and she told me she had to go and held it until we made it there with Carson in tow. She also says "please change me" after she goes and she waddles around until she is changed. So, we are encouraging her but waiting for her decision to do this! The preschool selection process continues. More about that next time...

Some funny Ella stories...

• After listening to me tell Carson how handsome he is, Ella says "I wanna be handsome."


• I definitely shop and talk too much because she identified a Wal-Mart commercial before me and pointed out that her raisins have Kroger on them (because they're Kroger brand).


• While we were at Old Navy, I said something about not being able to find socks in Carson's size. She calmly reassured me and led me to another sock rack. She said, "Don't worry, Mom. There are more socks right here."


• Ella is addicted to Dora & Diego fruit snacks. She can identify the animals (Sammy the Sloth, Sea Turtle, Baby Jaguar, etc.) I don't think I can identify a sloth : ) Anyway, after eating Baby Jaguar, we had this conversation:

Ella: where's baby Jaguar?

Tonya: in your belly.

Ella: I want him to come out.

Tonya: (thinking quickly to avoid a meltdown during which he might come back up) he'll come out in your poopy.

Ella: (inquisitively) he be nasty?

Attached are a few overdue pictures of Ella at 2 years and Carson at 9 weeks: