Happy Halloween

Independent AND Pretty

Josie's aversion to gross motor activities has been well-documented on the blog.  This is her biggest area of delay.  Josie neither runs nor jumps nor climbs, even though these are things that come easily to most 3 and a half year-olds.  Josie lacks both the skills AND the inclination to attempt such activities which is why she whines and moans and complains throughout her twice-weekly physical therapy sessions.  If it were up to Josie, we'd just leave her the heck alone and let her sit in one spot all day.  If it were up to Josie, we would lift and carry her as often as necessary in order to prevent her from having to attempt to do anything beyond walking on a perfectly smooth, flat surface.

The one tiny problem with Josie's agenda is that girlfriend is tipping the scales at a whopping 30+ lbs and growing...and all of this lifting and carrying is making my back cry out for mercy!  So we continue to cheer her through those dreaded physical therapy sessions and we encourage her to keep on trying to tackle gross motor challenges that she'd rather avoid.  Fortunately, Josie has a really handy Dad who has made some awesome adaptations (click HERE) to our home to help facilitate this process.

 Travis recently adapted our treadmill AGAIN.  You see, we thought that since Josie learned to walk, she had graduated from treadmill therapy.  Josie's drill sergeant physical therapist, Shannon, informed us that we were mistaken.  Shannon (who is wonderful, by the way) explained that Josie's gait and pace could benefit from more treadmill therapy and so Travis got out his tools and he went to work enhancing our treadmill with a bench, little-kid-height handles, and even a platform for Josie's personal trainer, Piña Colada (or Elmo, or Clap Your Hands, or whatever beloved singing animal it happens to be that day).

When Josie started treadmill therapy back in April of 2012, her standard pace was 0.5 mph.  Lately, Shannon has worked her up to a brisk 0.9 mph for 10 minutes!!!

And it looks like all of this physical therapy is paying off because Josie has experienced some significant gross motor gains recently!  The little girl who does not climb - she doesn't go up and down stairs nor has she ever even attempted to climb on the sofa - recently learned to climb into her chair at the table.  Pardon my shrieking in the video - I was just beside myself witnessing an event that just seemed so improbable not too long ago.  In fact, as soon as she did it, I pulled her back out of her chair and insisted she do it again so I could get proof on film to email to her dad at work! 

And the second clip, well, that's just funny.  Miss Independent learned to climb up on her step stool at the sink so she can wash her hands...and admire herself in the mirror:

We place great emphasis on the word "independent" around here.  The girls are encouraged to do things "independently" and they take great pride when that adverb can be applied to any task.  Josie wants the world to know that she's a double threat:

(This makes sense if you watch the video)

Where does she come up with this stuff???  I've said it before and I'll say it again; she definitely inherited Aunt Leanne's sense of humility.

I survived my first IEP meeting - the conclusion

The night before Josie's first IEP meeting, I laid out my outfit; a sweater dress, tights, necklace, and suede boots with a dressy heel - an outfit that would have helped me project professionalism and confidence back in my office job days.  I went to bed early, woke up early, and got on the treadmill in an attempt to reduce my stress levels and blood pressure that were bound to elevate that day.  My husband, a MBA graduate who thrives in corporate America, gave me a rousing Dale Carnegie inspired pep talk and then wished me luck - regretfully, a business meeting prevented him from joining me. 

 

I left my house super early hoping to arrive early and check out the preschool environment.  As I headed towards the school, I got an unexpected call from my wonderful husband, telling me that he had left his meeting early so he could join me at the IEP meeting - an unexpected gesture of support that meant the world to me (even if he only did it in anticipation of having to restrain me).

 

Josie's DHS caseworker offered to attend, and I happily obliged anticipating that she knew a little bit more about this process than I did.  I knew I could use all the help I could get. 

 

The meeting itself was uneventful.  The school's physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech and language pathologist presented the findings of their evaluations along with the preschool teacher.  I asked questions, they answered them, and then they gave Travis and I a tour of the school.  I got back in the car and breathed a sigh of relief that it was over.  I had maintained my composure and I felt like I deserved a tee shirt that looked something like this: 

Having grown up in the special needs community, you'd think I'd have a better idea of what I'm doing.  But I don't.  Mama Hop has a Masters Degree in Special Education and she'd be the first one to tell you that the educational landscape has changed so much that any advice she can offer is limited.  But just because I've never been through an IEP meeting before, doesn't mean that I'm a lesser member of the IEP team.  I know Josie and her abilities better than anyone else in that room so my perspective is critical. 

 

When I'm so invested in a cause like Josie's education, I won't let a lack of experience intimidate me into taking a passive position.  That's why I called other parents whose children had been through this before, I interviewed other elementary education teachers, I spoke to other professionals in the special needs field, I drilled Josie's therapists in an attempt to extract as much information as I could.  And I turned to a trusted friend who has both the education and personal experience to make her an invaluable resource.

 

What I've learned since the meeting is that the stack of papers I was handed is merely a draft.  It's a working document.  And as I read through it and consult with others who know more than I do, I am confident that I will have revisions made to this document.  For example, I just learned that there is a difference in the medical and educational models of occupational therapy.  Josie's private OT cannot work on handwriting because she practices the medical model and handwriting falls under the educational model.  That was a major oversight on my part and it will require me to rearrange my plans and schedule so that Josie can take advantage of both the private and school OT.

 

Who knew?  I didn't.  But I know now.  And I will continue to educate myself and take advantage of any opportunity that I have to gain a better understanding of this process for the welfare of my daughter.  I'm sure there will be more oversights in the future.  I'm sure I will stumble along the way.  There will be small victories and major disappointments.  The system isn't perfect.  But I must continue to rise to the challenge of my role as my daughter's biggest advocate.

 

I survived my first IEP Meeting - Part 2

So, here's the deal: When it comes to the welfare of my children, like any parent, I tend to go into this protective "Mama Bear" mode.  And sometimes my priority of ensuring my children are safe, healthy, and treated fairly skews my (already questionable) perception of reality.  This IEP process became the only thought in my mind.  I so desperately wanted Josie to showcase her full potential you would have thought she was taking her medical school boards.  While I'm under no illusion that Josie has developmental delays (we adopted her because she has Down syndrome so I am perfectly okay with that), I also know that she's a really smart kid, extra chromosome notwithstanding, and she's worked really hard.  This testing lasts 3 years so it will carry her through kindergarten and I just wanted it to be a fair portrayal of what she is capable of. 

But here we sit, on day 2 of standardized testing, and the teacher has just thrown in the towel because Josie will not cooperate whatsoever, and I am feeling so defeated.  I needed to vent so I drafted an email to Courtney, a dear friend, who has two of the most adorable chromosomally enhanced kiddos you will ever meet.  She has been through the IEP process from the standpoint of both an educator (she is a BRILLIANT teacher) and a parent, so I hoped she would be able to talk me down from the ledge.

 

She wrote me paragraphs upon paragraphs of genius advice but here are my 3 favorites:

 

1.  If you are interested in working with your child on building skills that other preschool-aged children are working on in a public preschool setting, you can find guidelines online by going to Google and typing in:

(Your State) Department of Human Services Early Learning Guidelines

Um, Wow!  I didn't know that.  Did you?

 

2.  Do not allow yourself to be dismissed during the IEP process because you are new to the process and you do not understand how it works.  Educators think they know what is best for your child but it is your RIGHT as a parent to be considered an equal part of the IEP team and to have your voice heard in the educational decisions that impact your child.

 Repeat after me: I will not be steamrolled by any member of the IEP staff because I am an equal member of the IEP team. 

 

3.  In the previous blog post I mentioned the questionnaire I was asked to complete for the parent-submitted portion of the IEP.  Courtney explained that parental submission was not limited to that questionnaire and if there are skills I know that Josie has that she was not eagerly demonstrating on the day of testing, to film her demonstrating these skills and submit the video.  Here is a direct quote from Courtney: "ANYTHING you provide in the parent-submitted portion should show up on the Present Level of Educational Performance section of the IEP, so these aren't just suggestions you're making.  This is data that will be included as part of her permanent record."  

And that, my friends, was my Oprah "light bulb" moment.  The heavens opened up, the sun shone down, and I felt liberated.

So I dug out the flashcards, the shapes game, plastic toys in an assortment of colors, animals figurines, and the blocks from the regretfully un "standardized" alphabet train (ah yes, that was sarcasm you just detected) and I got to work compiling this little gem:

I submitted it via an email I drafted that communicated, in no uncertain terms, that I am an equal team member of the IEP staff with statements like:
While I realize this video cannot affect her scoring on her standardized testing, it is an important tool in assessing her current skill level as we set her goals together. 

After sending the email to the preschool teacher, I forwarded the entire email to my mom and I believe she replied something like "Well put, Tiger Mom.  Did you really send that?!"

Yes, yes I did.  I think my mom has always been a little caught off guard by my random moments of audacity. 

Tune in next time for a summary of the actual IEP meeting including a perfectly reasonable explanation of why a restraining order has been filed against me...just kidding!

I survived my first IEP Meeting - Part 1

Disclaimer: After venting about the dreaded IEP experience on Instagram, I received requests to blog about it.  And I'm happy to share what I know (which isn't much at this point).  Please realize that these are simply my thoughts on our experience and that each individual child, school system, and educational staff is different, so the IEP experience varies.

 

 

Let's start at the beginning.  What is an IEP?  IEP stands for Individualized Education Program (or Plan) and it is a document that any child receiving special education services in the public school system is required to have.  The child is evaluated by the education staff, eligibility is determined, goals are set, services are provided, and the progress is measured.  Then the whole process begins again and repeats throughout the child's educational career.

Josie has Chronic Lung Disease and due to the nature of her lung problems, sending her into a preschool environment at this point is not advantageous due to the germs and illness that circulate within a classroom.  For those that argue that Josie will never build immunity if she's not exposed to germs, you are correct.  But right now, due to the amount of damaged tissue in her lungs, her pulmonologist predicts that if she got bronchitis or other common childhood respiratory infections, she would likely require oxygen to breathe.  However, he is optimistic that as Josie continues to grow, her lungs will get larger and she will acquire more healthy lung tissue, making the unhealthy tissue less substantial.  So the reasoning is, why expose her to something right now that would require her being tethered to an oxygen tank (or worse), when we could wait a couple of years and she could endure the same illness with some rest and chicken noodle soup like any other kid?  Make sense?  Good.

Even though Josie isn't going into the preschool setting, her Down syndrome diagnosis makes her eligible to receive educational and therapy services in the home.  This is why we began the IEP process.  I contacted our local school system requesting a developmental consult and after faxing the necessary medical records, I was sent a Student Profile Questionnaire.  It contained questions about her home environment, health history, cognitive development, behavior, speech/language skills, social skills, motor skills, self care skills, and sensory issues.  I completed this questionnaire and the preschool teacher set up 2 appointments to come conduct standardized testing with Josie.  The school Physical Therapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT), and Speech & Language Pathologist (SLP), all set up times to come and observe Josie.

For the most part, Josie was her friendly, cooperative self.  However, on day 2 of her standardized testing, she decided she was going to be stubborn and defiant and she refused to answer a single question.  The teacher asked her to point to letters on a page and Josie refused.  Josie knows the alphabet forwards and backwards.  She loves talking about letters and letter sounds and yet she just put a wall up and wanted nothing to do with the evaluation!  I suggested the teacher use her alphabet train and have her identify the letter blocks but the teacher declined saying that the test was standardized and she had to use her materials and phrase the question the exact same way for every kid (insert mom frustration).  Josie's attitude was so bad that day that the teacher asked to reschedule.

That's about when I lost my IEP composure.  After the teacher left, I sent a frantic email to Josie's behavioral psychologist who conducts feeding therapy.  I called my mother and commiserated over her IEP horror stories.  I vented on Instagram.  And then I did the smartest thing I'd done all month - I emailed one of the most innovative and gifted educators I know and I received some advice that I will carry with me throughout Josie's educational career...

 

...to be continued. 



The Big Condo Reveal

It's been three months in the making but the moment is finally here to unveil the before and after photos of the condo.  In case you missed the condo announcement (click HERE), we found a little place in our new residence where Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne can come and spend part of the year.  Beyond just a real estate investment, this condo is an investment in our family - a way to bridge the distance between us even though we're 700+ miles away.

 

Without further ado...

We started the project with some cleaning supplies and paint rollers.  Painting was eventually outsourced after it took me hours upon hours, up and down on a ladder, to paint one bedroom (stupid vaulted ceilings!). 

 I wanted to tie the wood tones together with a warmer beige paint and freshen things up by getting rid of that heavy, chocolate brown accent wall.  Mission accomplished.

 The majority of the furnishings came from Target and Ikea.  Loyal readers may recognize some accessories from our previous house.  The room was designed around those two chairs from Target - I fell in LOVE with the fabric. 

The sofa is from Ikea and it pulls out into a bed - perfect for guests!  If you have questions about a specific item, leave a comment or email me and I'll be happy to provide more details.

 I wanted to paint the cabinets white.  I reeeeeally did.  But after it became apparent that painting is not a quick and easy project, nor am I by any stretch of the imagination, a talented painter, I reconsidered.  And I'm so glad I did.  Because I'm pretty sure I would still be painting cabinets when my kids leave for college.  So we simply replaced the shiny silver cabinet hardware with an antique bronze and it seemed to suit the old oak well! 

The black appliances were in bad shape so we replaced them and chose white ones for a more cohesive look.  Special thanks to Uncle Corey for his help with this project!  The former laminate counter tops were definitely showing some wear so we considered replacing them.  Then, a nice man at Home Depot convinced us to try a Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformation Kit instead.  Bad idea.  I won't get into the whole elaborate story about how Travis took a day off of work and literally sweat and bled over those counters only to have it result in disaster...we'll just say that it did not work out but fortunately, the kind folks at Rust-Oleum did refund our money...which we applied towards new laminate.

 Travis, strategic project manager by day, freelance plumber by night, then tackled the bathroom.  It got a new toilet, shower drain, and a fancy hose attachment to the shower head.  If you must know why this is a necessity, click HERE.  It was also painted and accessorized by Target/the junk in our basement.

 Aunt Leanne's room was a fun one!  I so desperately wanted her to LOVE it.  I wanted it to be a upbeat and youthful sanctuary where she could relax and watch The Disney Channel while doing her word searches.  I wanted her to come and never want to leave. 

The most important thing was that it incorporated enough of Leanne's favorite color: GREEN!  The last thing I needed was to p*ss Leanne off (If you don't understand this reference, click HERE).  Hell hath no fury like Aunt Leanne without her favorite color.  Luckily, Leanne loves the room!  I do, too!

 Mama Hop's bedroom is a warm and cozy space that walks out to the patio.  She likes simplicity and earthy tones.  She also likes having a Pack N Play at the foot of her bed ;-)  What grandma doesn't?! 

 And now it's time for my favorite room of all: the laundry room.

 I know, I know.  It sounds crazy to get that excited about a laundry room but I truly believe this room was the biggest transformation and I am so grateful to my talented husband for that.  Check out that before picture: a closet with no doors just beckons a cluttered look.  It bothered me even more since the laundry room can be seen from just about anywhere in the condo.  So I looked at Travis, batted my eyelashes, and pleaded with him to put doors on that closet.  He said it was impossible (well, it might not be impossible but he said "Eh uh.  Nope.  No way!  Not gonna happen!").  Time for Plan B:

 Seriously, folks - that's the SAME closet only instead of looking at mismatched hangers, a dozen colorful jackets, paint cans and an ugly water heater, you see this adorable little nook!  Travis built the shelf with hooks so it can be used to display photos and to hang coats.  He also designed and built that bench complete with a hinged lid to offer more storage.  Talk about a perfect spot to sit and remove snowy shoes in the winter!  And if that wasn't enough, he added more shelves and hanging space to the right of the bench!  The final touch was to throw up a cheap curtain panel from Target to hide that ugly water heater and ta daaaaah....

What we learned:

 

1.  Travis has an undergrad degree in IT and a MBA - he's never taken a wood shop class in his life.  And yet he's an incredibly talented carpenter...and plumber, and electrician, and general handyman.  Sorry Ladies, he's taken!

2.  I possess none of the talents listed above but I can clean better than Heloise!  And I can Pinterest with the best of 'em!  Oh, and I can now add "battery powered screw driver operator" to my resume.

3.  Little things can make a BIG difference.  Travis replaced the grimy, old light switch covers with bright, new ones and at 15 cents a pop, it was SO worth it!  Talk about a difference!

4.  Day beds are very practical!  They maximize space and really open up a room.

5.  Don't try a "counter top transformation kit" unless you're willing to replace the counters if it doesn't work.

6.  Ikea furniture is pretty easy to assemble.  Case in point: I even assembled a few things! 

7.  Target is just the best store on earth!

8.  Save the plastic, zip-around containers that sheets and comforters come in.  They can be labeled and stacked easily to store spare sheets in the linen closet.

9.  They won't tell you this on HGTV, but the fridge must contain a case of beer to sustain the labor throughout the duration of a home improvement project like this one.

10.  Include babysitting expenses in the budget.  Two toddlers underfoot during any of the aforementioned projects is ill advised.

Yoga Babies

Sometimes blog posts are premeditated and thought-out and other times, they result from impromptu moments of humor and/or cuteness.  When an unplanned moment arrives that I want to embed in my memory forever and ever, I turn to CCE, my online baby book.

 

Take, for example, my little ladies' sudden interest in yoga.  My mother's dear friend, Ann, got them this book called Sleepy Little Yoga, and the girls are obsessed!

We've got a couple of little yogis on our hands!  Shhh!  Don't tell Josie this is actually gross motor activity that she's enjoying so much!

 

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

We're more than halfway through October and we've failed to acknowledge Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!  Last year in October, CCE did a much better job with awareness and advocacy efforts.   Click on the links provided below if you're interested in topics like:

 

Down syndrome is not a defect

Down syndrome adoption

Having another baby after giving birth to a child with Down syndrome

General Down syndrome cuteness (Pin it!)

Adults with Down syndrome

First-hand perspective of those living with Down syndrome 

and

Bright futures await young people with Down syndrome

 

Editor's Note: I'm not sure where this Michael Jackson pose came from but after a stroll down Memory Lane, I suspect it's embedded in the extra chromosome.  Presenting Halloween 2009:

Eeeeek!!!!  Could you just die?!  Aunt Leanne is a genuine fan.

 

But I digress...back to Down Syndrome Awareness Month and my slacking in the blogging department.  Bear with us because we've got some fun posts planned including Before & After photos of the condo, Buddy Walk details, and, by popular demand, an in-depth post about Josie's speech.  I may also throw in a post about the dreaded first IEP process - that is, if I am not too traumatized.  See you soon! 

Potty Training Game Changer

The World's Best Dad has a well-documented history of impressive creations designed to promote safety, gross motor activity, and fun, including the:

 

Baby Gate

Therapy Swing

 Great Wall of Baby Gates

Walker

Treadmill Adaptation

 

...and who could forget the best creation of all:

The Ball Pit

 

Well, Travis has done it again with a potty training game changer.  Introducing the potty ramp:

Some readers may recall how we had the home builder install a small toilet in the girls' bathroom to accommodate Josie's gross motor delays.  However, even the pint-sized potty was a little too high for Josie to reach.  So after experimenting with various steps, it became apparent that, well, Josie doesn't like steps and they just don't offer her ample room to turn around and sit on the potty.  That's when Travis came up with this genius design that allowed Josie to avoid the dreaded step entirely.

 As with any activity beyond walking on a perfectly smooth, flat surface, Josie requires two-handed assistance to ascend and descend the ramp.  But that's just fine because at least there is NO LIFTING to get her on and off the toilet.  My back is singing an emphatic "Hallelujah"! 

 It is our hope that with more time and practice, Josie will ascend and descend the ramp without assistance, like her sister does.  And eventually, she'll be tall enough to use the toilet without a ramp.  But for now, this ramp is a helpful tool to use along our journey of toileting independence. 

Regarding the potty training itself, I am reluctant to distribute advice on that front as I have no clue what I am doing.  Josie has been sitting on the potty after meals for about a year now and most days, she remains dry.  She almost always goes #2 on the potty but she has occasional accidents (usually because I didn't give her enough time on the potty).  She still wears a "big girl Pull Up," as I am mess averse and I hesitate to make the big jump to panties until I know she's very reliable.  Josie rarely tells me she has to potty unless she's trying to get out of another activity, such as eating.  All in all, I realize I am "mommy trained" more than she is potty trained, but at least she is getting the idea without the pressure of a given time frame and deadline.

 

Both girls enjoy potty time because we read books, sing songs, and get stickers for our adorable custom potty charts, made by none other than the super creative Mama Hop.  And with the addition of this new potty ramp, potty training is even easier.  Big kudos go to Travis for his latest innovation - we are such lucky ladies to have him in our lives!

 

P.S. In case you are wondering, those funny looking elf shoes Josie is wearing are her "Skidder Shoes" over her Sure Steps.  They're lightweight and much less clunky than her tennis shoes so she wears them around the house.

The Tricky Art of Teaching Socially Appropriate Behavior

There is a stereotype that people with Down syndrome are very affectionate, and in my experience, this holds true; especially as it pertains to Leanne and Josie.  I have early memories of Leanne getting lectured about NOT hugging strangers in public places.  As a young child, she would just run up to anyone waiting in line at the grocery store check out and throw her arms around their legs. 

 

Likewise, Josie frequently greets strangers with an emphatic "I love you!" instead of the traditional "Hi, nice to meet you".  We're talking everyone from a new speech therapist, my financial advisor, or the x-ray technician at the hospital.  Josie is also liberal with her hugs and kisses which has forced us to institute a new policy around here: We don't kiss on the lips because that's germs - ick!  I truly never know what random acquaintance Josie will plant one on next! 

So you can imagine what it's like when Josie and Leanne get together.  We're talking two people who never tire of the other's undying urge to offer heaping helpings of affection.  It's one big, cute-bordering-on-nauseating, I love you/I pray for you/Move In!/Okay!/You're so pretty/You're the best/I love you, I love you, OH I LOVE YOU hug fest!

 

 

According to Josie's Occupational Therapist, we're supposed to be teaching Josie to restrain her urge to drench affection upon everyone she encounters.  Travis' reaction: "She's only three!!!  It's cute!"  There's a part of me that agrees with him.  I find that most people relish in Leanne and Josie's lovey-dovey tendencies.  These uninhibited ladies' outpouring of love, praise, and compliments has undoubtedly made the day of many folks.

 

However, I know that Josie won't always be a tiny tot and she will need to learn socially appropriate behavior.  Leanne has this exercise where she holds her arms out in front of her and declares "personal space," and she remains at least an arms-length away from people.  If she forgets, we just have to utter "personal space, Leanne" and she steps back.  So where is the line between allowing Josie to express herself freely vs. teaching her to conform to social norms?  At what age and how do we teach Josie restraint? 

 

Truthfully, I haven't figured it out yet.  Naturally, like Travis, I'm a little biased.  But I also understand that Travis can't exactly walk into a meeting at work and greet his colleague with an emphatic "I love you!" along with a bear hug and a kiss on the lips.  So, it probably isn't okay for Josie, either. 

 

But even if we have to temper Josie's enthusiasm, she'll always have the open arms of Aunt Leanne to run to, and that is a beautiful thing.

Leanne's New Boo

Urban Dictionary defines "Boo" as boyfriend of girlfriend; term of endearment.

 

Well, in her world of Fox News, Marty Balin concerts, computer class for seniors, and Sunday Mass, somehow Mama Hop didn't get the memo.  It's a good thing she has Leanne around to keep her abreast of all of the current pop culture terminology.

 

 

Oh, that look of utter confusion on my mom's face is simply priceless; almost as priceless as my snort when Leanne first busted out the term in front of me.  Where does she get this stuff?!  I have no idea but I'm glad she does.  It's 24/7 entertainment when Leanne is around.

Aunt Leanne is a Hero

Josie is known for her signature pink spectacles and she's pretty good about keeping them on...most of the time.  But every once in awhile, things get off course and the glasses go missing.  Remember this post?

Well, it happened again.  This time, Aunt Leanne came to the rescue!

 



 

Poor "Thelma" was falsely accused.  It turns out Mom had forgotten to take Josie's glasses off of her when she went to bed so the glasses were found wedged between the crib and the wall.  We are so grateful to Aunt Leanne for her heroic detective efforts in solving the missing glasses caper.

 

So, did Travis bring a Coke home for Leanne?  What do you think?  :)

Aunt Leanne Blogs: Adventures in Baby Wrangling

dear everbody
sister houise
baby sit kids
thelma  meryrine
banna spilt srawtbeerry
nickname
for
baby
pretty
f+
pull my hiar
tick tack on the floor
mad
steal puzzles books
I tape
not happy
I stilllove her
she is best
Josie catfish and ketchup
she preety
good behiver
a+
she
hugs
kiss
me
soup salmon
spinach
millk
love
Leanne
chesebuger
head

This one doesn't really need much translation.  Merryn (aka "Thelma") can be a bit of a handful; spilling Leanne's Tic Tacs, tearing the pages of her puzzle books, and being a pretty typical two year-old by most accounts.  Girlfriend was the recipient of the dreaded F+!  But Aunt Leanne's love for our little hurricane knows no boundaries so it's all good.  Meanwhile, Josie, with her generous distribution of love and affection, consistently maintains an "A+" status in Aunt Leanne's book. 

 

And of course no post from Leanne is complete without a mention of her favorite topic - food! 





 

Sadly, Mama Hop & Aunt Leanne's visit is winding down but we still have plenty of photos and videos to share and we look forward to seeing them again next month!