Josh and I have had a great summer with the girls and Vasa--our head is still spinning, though. My brain fails to function at full capacity each day--we feel like we have a newborn even though he is three--just by the way our body feels. We are sleeping ok, but each day is full of physical and mental use--running after Vasa (where is he, now?), shuttling the girls here and there to camps and things with their friends, playing referee among the girls (she scared me on purpose--Addison), keeping baby gates up for Vasa.
Vasa continues to be such a delight. He has a killer smile. The girls have fun with him and think he is very funny. He seems to take such joy in the everyday things still that we take for granted. It's funny to still see him enjoy turning on and off lights, turning on the fan in every room, opening each drawer and cabinet, turning on and off the tv, brushing and brushing his teeth, loading the washing machine, .... goes on and on. We are trying to not let some of them annoy us at times. One of his favorites is slamming each door as he enters each room. Our hallways seem to echo the load slam.
Vasa is using the potty well--I'm thrilled. He even goes by himself at times and we're working on standing and peeing--my walls have never been scrubbed more. We are visiting all of the bathrooms in each establishment in town, so let me know if you need to know where the bathroom is if we are out together. He loves to go when he is bored just to flush and throw away paper towels.
His dinner habits are getting better. He is trying to stick to eating off of his plate and we are trusting him with a plate in front of him. Two weeks ago he was still shoveling all of his food in his mouth at one time if you put it in front of him. We trying hard to keep him from feeding the dogs at the dinner table. Funny today--poor Oscar, our old dachshund, thought he was getting food from Vasa when Vasa shook a post it note at him--oscar quickly jumped and ran off like he had a piece of cheese or something. Losing his sight and his patience--I feel like the worst mom b/c we are still having problems with Vasa and the dogs. We have gone over thousands of times with him not to even touch Oscar and to gently with one hand pet Sparkle. I try to still watch him like a hawk around Oscar, but we thought he had learned a lesson about touching him. Several weeks ago, Vasa got bit by Oscar--not bad, but he tried to pick him up or something when I went to put clothes away. Today, I was helping the girls get school supplies organized and I hear Vasa mess with Oscar's crate. I get up and the dog shrieks and Vasa shrieks. Bitten again. I have learned my lesson, I guess. I got a lock for Oscar's crate when Oscar wants alone time and now I have kept the dogs outside or on the other side of the baby gate. Vasa knows the rule--we have demonstrated and acted out and explained a gazillion times. Feel like I spend most of the day doing this. Yet, he can't seem to control his impulses yet around them. Even tonight, I hadn't let him get near our other dog (sweet patient one) all day and she walked up tonight--Vasa with a big grin was so happy to see her and instead of petting her sweetly -one hand gently--I think I say it in my sleep--quickly pulled the hair on the top of her head. I could have beat my head against the wall. Please pray for us on that.
We are headed to the beach for a long weekend tomorrow. We are hoping that Vasa does ok with the new environment. We are looking forward to spending time with the girls and seeing Vasa's reaction to the beach. Also looking forward to not having to say, "No kicking the dog, pet the dog gently like this, don't lick the dog, don't chase the dog, no barking at the dog, no pulling the dog's hair--it hurts." We will stay far away from dogs this weekend. Vasa will be the only "puppy" there. He still likes to crawl around like a dog and bark at times, but I am so thankful I seem to be getting more regular kisses than doggie kisses now.
Feeling bittersweet about the girls going back to school-August 8-can't believe it. The house will be a little quieter (less stimulation for Vasa--good thing) but I miss them when they are gone. One of my babies starts kindergarten this year, too. I think I am thoroughly confusing Vasa--I call them the pet name baby sometimes, so he keeps saying, vasa baby? ava baby? and I say, no, you are a little boy and ava is a girl, but you will always be my baby no matter what. Hard to see babies start a new school year and be another year older. Hard to start all of that homework again--I feel like it is my work, too!! So far, I've made good grades, though!
Vasa continues to be such a delight. He has a killer smile. The girls have fun with him and think he is very funny. He seems to take such joy in the everyday things still that we take for granted. It's funny to still see him enjoy turning on and off lights, turning on the fan in every room, opening each drawer and cabinet, turning on and off the tv, brushing and brushing his teeth, loading the washing machine, .... goes on and on. We are trying to not let some of them annoy us at times. One of his favorites is slamming each door as he enters each room. Our hallways seem to echo the load slam.
Vasa is using the potty well--I'm thrilled. He even goes by himself at times and we're working on standing and peeing--my walls have never been scrubbed more. We are visiting all of the bathrooms in each establishment in town, so let me know if you need to know where the bathroom is if we are out together. He loves to go when he is bored just to flush and throw away paper towels.
His dinner habits are getting better. He is trying to stick to eating off of his plate and we are trusting him with a plate in front of him. Two weeks ago he was still shoveling all of his food in his mouth at one time if you put it in front of him. We trying hard to keep him from feeding the dogs at the dinner table. Funny today--poor Oscar, our old dachshund, thought he was getting food from Vasa when Vasa shook a post it note at him--oscar quickly jumped and ran off like he had a piece of cheese or something. Losing his sight and his patience--I feel like the worst mom b/c we are still having problems with Vasa and the dogs. We have gone over thousands of times with him not to even touch Oscar and to gently with one hand pet Sparkle. I try to still watch him like a hawk around Oscar, but we thought he had learned a lesson about touching him. Several weeks ago, Vasa got bit by Oscar--not bad, but he tried to pick him up or something when I went to put clothes away. Today, I was helping the girls get school supplies organized and I hear Vasa mess with Oscar's crate. I get up and the dog shrieks and Vasa shrieks. Bitten again. I have learned my lesson, I guess. I got a lock for Oscar's crate when Oscar wants alone time and now I have kept the dogs outside or on the other side of the baby gate. Vasa knows the rule--we have demonstrated and acted out and explained a gazillion times. Feel like I spend most of the day doing this. Yet, he can't seem to control his impulses yet around them. Even tonight, I hadn't let him get near our other dog (sweet patient one) all day and she walked up tonight--Vasa with a big grin was so happy to see her and instead of petting her sweetly -one hand gently--I think I say it in my sleep--quickly pulled the hair on the top of her head. I could have beat my head against the wall. Please pray for us on that.
We are headed to the beach for a long weekend tomorrow. We are hoping that Vasa does ok with the new environment. We are looking forward to spending time with the girls and seeing Vasa's reaction to the beach. Also looking forward to not having to say, "No kicking the dog, pet the dog gently like this, don't lick the dog, don't chase the dog, no barking at the dog, no pulling the dog's hair--it hurts." We will stay far away from dogs this weekend. Vasa will be the only "puppy" there. He still likes to crawl around like a dog and bark at times, but I am so thankful I seem to be getting more regular kisses than doggie kisses now.
Feeling bittersweet about the girls going back to school-August 8-can't believe it. The house will be a little quieter (less stimulation for Vasa--good thing) but I miss them when they are gone. One of my babies starts kindergarten this year, too. I think I am thoroughly confusing Vasa--I call them the pet name baby sometimes, so he keeps saying, vasa baby? ava baby? and I say, no, you are a little boy and ava is a girl, but you will always be my baby no matter what. Hard to see babies start a new school year and be another year older. Hard to start all of that homework again--I feel like it is my work, too!! So far, I've made good grades, though!
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