This week was CRAZY. But we survived somehow. Tate has pneumonia. Aiden has had earache and croup with molars that FINALLY came through. And I've been sick with parent teacher conferences for two nights. Ick...ick ick.

The SLP came out yesterday and evaluated Aiden. Basically from her evaluation Aiden is at about the language level of an 11th month old. So we were at least six months behind (which is what you need to qualify for services) so we are getting placed on an IFSP to recieve speech and language services and work with a speech and language therapist. Right now they can't give us any other information, except that their is a delay (umm....I think we already knew that one).

It was pretty hard on me emotionally to have her come out. I know it shouldn't have been, but it was like having someone come into your home and telling you all of the things your child should be doing and that they aren't. I felt like an awful mother and that I had failed in some sense. So I pretty much had a break down that night. It's hard because I can't help but internalize some of those feelings.

Halloween 2009. What a fun time. Aiden was finally able to slightly understand the concept. We went out trick or treating with cousins and we did about every other house. (Even though he kept trying to go up to every doorstep) He had a death grip on his bucket, but did drop it when a dog was at the door.

Here's a quick Aiden update to tell you kinds of what's been going on around here. Aiden is now almost 17 months and still hasn't said his first word. Don't get me wrong, he babbles none stop and will cry momma, but that's about it. He's also kind of got this weird alien language...anyways...I have been at sorts about it of course, Tate started getting concerned this last month as well. Our pediatrician is SO super laid back that he's the kind of wait and see type of guy, which is so not like me, but we do like our pediatrician. I am frustrated at everyone saying "just wait and see" I've been told that from everyone person and even random strangers. This is MY son and obviously there is some type of language delay.

So I called the Infant Toddler Program in our area, which they were really awesome and understanding and agreed that not saying anything by 17 months IS a problem. The returned my call super fast and set us up with a social worker in the area, who called us that day and set up an appointment for the speech and language pathologist to come out to the house and evaluate Aiden. These are my kind of fast acting people. The explained that if Aiden qualified for services, which the social worker thought he would, he would be placed on something similar to an IEP for toddlers (three letters no teacher-mom wants to hear)!

He has reached every other milestone up to this point on time, he follows all of our directions. If we tell him to throw something in the trash, he will go into the kitchen, open the door and through something away. He will fold his arms for prayers and bow his head. He will go get books for us if we ask. He spins, he jumps, he tickles us, loves to play chase.

So that is the update so far, hopefully once the SLP comes out, we will have more information to report!

I LOVE it when my students crack me up. Funny story for the day. I play a game with my students that my friend Mary taught me. It's called "three in the hot seat." What we do is have three students sit in chairs with their backs to the white board. We put a vocabulary word behind them (one we are reviewing, like today for our quarter one test) and the rest of the class need to describe that word for them to guess using definitions, examples or actions. When they think they know it they need to be the first one to clap their hands. My students have LOVED this game every year.

Today, we were playing this game and the word I put on the board was "immigrant". I had a student raise his hand and gave the following description. "you know...climbing a fence" (as he made the motion of climbing a ladder).

Myself and my aide were laughing hysterically. The kids really didn't get what was so funny, but it was great. I guess I can add this to the line "you know you live in Caldwell when...."

What a great day.

This last weekend was also full with more family. We spent the day participating in the annual Buddy Walk. We were the "Westin Warriors" team for my nephew Westin. It was such a great experience. Thank you Tiffany and Jason for hosting everyone and bringing awareness to down syndrome.



Thanks for a fun weekend Jolene! It was great having you at our house...Aiden missed you the next day for sure!

Last week was exhausting...but so much fun. Tate's family was in town from all over. Utah, Illinois, Idaho and Thailand. We were able to relax and enjoy each other's company. It was so much fun to be together and bond. Tate has such an amazing family. I feel so blessed to be part of it. Aiden had a blast every night playing with all of his cousins. After a day full of day care and then playing all night with counsins, he was exhausted! The next day, after all the action, Tate said he took a four hour nap.

My Coach purse smells like gasoline. Yes you heard me. I am going to cry. I have a coach purse. I LOVE it. No, I did not spend 400 dollars on it, my brother bought it for me as a gift when I graduated from college. It was my first grown up purse. I try not to be too materalistic, but I love that purse and now I made it smell like gasoline. I went to the gas station to fill up a small container for our lawn mower and set the purse on the ground and before I knew it some gas had spilled over onto my purse. I guess this is what I get for having a material things mean so much to me!

We've been spending a lot of time outside the last few days. It's been really great weather and Aiden loves being outside any chance he gets. These pictures show Aiden trying to soak up the last few bits of summer weather left. Moms with toddlers...do you go stir crazy in winter? I am scared because of how much Aiden loves to be outside.

Saturday project finally finished! i found this really old crappy dresser at a thrift store a while back and was determined to find it a place in our guest room/office (not like ever have many guests out in Caldwell). I plan to make this room into more of a guest room/office rather than the hodgepodge room it is now. Well this is what the desk started out as:


It was actually all blue, but after hours of paint removing and sanding that is how it started to finally look.

I then painted it all a cream/white color and finished with faux technique glaze by Ralph Lauren which finally turned it into this:


Tate thinks it makes it look dirty, but I LOVE how it turned out. I think it gives it that weathered look I was wanting for this room. I still need to go and get the right kind of hardware for the drawers.