Happy 8th Birthday Monkey

All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth.

Monkey finally lost his other loose front top tooth. That sucker hung on for a while there. I thought for sure Chef would of taken it out while I was gone but alas he didn't. So the task was left for me to push for once I returned.

Monkey has always been a sensitive boy but he has been getting better as he has gotten older. I think for him though since he "knows" pulling his tooth will hurt and he knows it won't hurt long the fact that it WILL hurt freaks him out. No matter HOW much he wants it out. (money you know). Well we're already to take it out and he loses his mind. Crying and carrying on for apprently no reason although the reason to him is VERY valid. At this point there was no turning back. It HAD to come out but he had to open his mouth. I tried everything. Talking him out of the panic, holding his hands, coaxing him to open his mouth so his dad could get it out. It would only take a second. Then it would be over. He "KNOWS" this. Finally it resulted in Chef having to open his mouth and pulling at the same time. Thankfully that sucker came right out and Monkey could relax. Of course within moments he was back to being the happy kid he is. *sigh* being a parent is hard.

Makes me glad I chose to let him have Laughing Gas at his next dentist appt. Maybe I can bring some of that home for the next loose tooth. LOL

Friday Features

Man is it Friday ALREADY. Where'd the time go this week. You'd think with a lack of sleep I'd of gotten something done. LOL Here we go with Part 2 of my Friday Feature. Here is Part 1.

So today I will feature pictures and tidbits of my spawn that I call Monkey. The name has been his since birth. He has ALWAYS been on the go. Seriously this kid doesn't stop. It is reflected in his sleep habits (or lack there of). At less then 8mths old he was trying to stop his morning nap cause his big brother was more fun to play with and he had things to do. This caused multiple times of falling alseep at the lunch table. Pretty much everyday. LOL I wish I had a pic to share. I mean I do but it isn't on any computer. Darn it. I am also too lazy to go find the disk it is on (he was born before digital camera's were so readily available).


Above is him on his first Birthday. Isn't he nice and cubby cute? (he was my only child to ever be chunky - again fits his name - often was he my Chunky monkey) LOL Chef was being silly when he put the hats on but he loved it. Who'd of guessed that this happy baby (he was ALWAYS HAPPY) would turned into a whiney little kid (thats coming)

Some of my fav pictures from the younger years.....(collective AWE please)



Sigh* I love that time. I wish there was a way to capture it and keep it forever. He was such a doll. Everyone loved (loves him) he is a major ladies man. The chicks ADORE him and the guys want to be his buddy.

I was nervous when we were expecting again. See LittleMan loved the idea of little ones but Monkey was more about all the attention for himself. I was thinking there'd be issues.

Does this look like a new big brother having issues?

He can multitask -videogames and patting baby sister. Below he is feeding her (not sure why that pic is so tiny but trust me it makes your overies quiver.) Such sweetness. My middle child is a wonderful boy.

The middle child. Is it true? Do they test you the most? Are they the ones that will make you wonder WTF was I thinking? I don't know but I do know this child knows his mind. If he doesn't agree or like it he finds a way of letting you know. He always has. I call it 2nd child syndrome. I've seen it in many families. I wouldn't miss any of it for the world though.

See told you ladies man. This is his BFF - they have been friends for 4 yrs now. She looks out for him and he adores her. Before he met Brat Baby #4 (it's HER daughter) he was BFF's with an adorable little girl in Turkey - they were inseperable. What is it with the girl's man. LOL

We've had a few hard times with Monkey but we've all learned and grown from them. He keeps me on my toes and teaches me paitence everyday (although I feel as if I am losing it most days). I adore him (as I do all of them). He makes me smile.

Things about him:

1. Wants to play soccer.

2. Loves movies.

3. Has a heart the size of Texas.

4. Major goofball

5. WILL be voted the class clown.

6. Gives the best hugs.

7. Always smiling (unless you've upset him)

8. Can't sit still.

9. Loves attention

10. My middle child.

He has come a long way...

Anyone who knows us knows how last year was a difficult year school wise for Monkey. He had lazy and unattentive teacher's who felt that all the issues were Monkey (not saying he can't be difficult) and not the fact that they didn't give a shit or the fact that he was in K with 26 wild arse kids and had not one moments peace. Anyhoo....fast forward to 1st grade. I met with his new teacher with nervousious(is that a word) and I was unsure how this year would be

(I should mention here that the teachers last year PUSHED me until I had him diagnosed and medicated for ADHD - which I hated because while I understand the needs for these drugs in some children they just weren't right at that time for Monkey - if I hadn't had him medicated they were threatening to put in his permemant record that he was disruptive and a bad child- yes I am serious here not making it up) It was a mess. Again off topic...

I spoke to his teacher this year Ms. B and explained that over the summer I worked with him on self control and using his words to express himself when upset. I informed her that I had him off meds the entire summer and wished to keep him off. Though I had put him on them again for the first week of school before I met with her. She suggested we continue for another couple weeks and then take him off of the meds for good. She also stated as a teacher it was HER JOB (shock right) to deal with children with ADHD and teach them how to behave.(yes you read that right - she said it too) I was fine with this. I checked in with her a few weeks later and she said she didn't notice a difference in his behaviors on the meds or off except he is touchie feelie more.

So yesterday we communicated by email about him a little boy coloring on each others pants. Once we were finished I shot her a msg back asking if there were any tips or suggestions I could give his 2nd grade teacher to keep him on task and focused in class.

This

is

her

reply:


He will be bringing home a math book with lots of pages in addition and subtraction. Also I will send home his grammar book with him. There are great websites too. They are on McAuliffe’s website. Go to classroom links and each grade level has wonderful links.

I think the only thing I really do as far as behavior is redirect him or I look at him and make eye contact. Proximity works too. Overall he is well-behaved so I don’t have to do much. Thanks to you! He is quick to get things finished. He sometimes day dreams or reads instead of working, but I never have an issue with unfinished work. I guess I do not have a lot of tips. That is a great thing though; I think he has come a long way.



Mrs. B


I COULD CRY! I love my Monkey! I am so glad he is enjoying school and doing so well. On another note - his behavior is mostly WONDERFUL. I limit red dyes as much as I can and have him on all natural vitamins every morning. Seriously this is all the change we've made to him. I've also been known to give him a little Coke when I need to make sure he remains calm....but not often as we never have soda in the house.