The perch

Lately it's been a bit comical around here with all the funny things my toddlers are doing.  You know, the usual hunting for dragons with flashlights, or using the holes in Mr Potato head for any and every extremity, or eating every extremity, or putting your hands in the potty and swishing them around a few times (I think I've mentioned this before), or just plain eating what's in the potty, or my absolute favorite...asking God daily to deliver a trampoline to our back yard.  

 Well, my daughter has been obsessed with a certain position in our house.  The funny thing is, my son was NEVER allowed to sit on this antique piece of furniture, nor would he be allowed to lounge on it and take a nap, drooling...No, he was firmly told, "No!" and redirected to another spot.  Well, one day I walked in the living room and found Iva June lying up on the coffee table, hanging out like she was sunning by the pool. I at first laughed, but then took a closer look.  She had her whole body pressed firmly against the marble tabletop (drooling and all).  I watched and waited and she did not move, so I left her there, and after thirty minutes or so she hopped on down and got back to playing (I mean, chasing strings and eating crumbs off the floor and waiting for the floor vents to blow in her face).  We have come to call this very familiar spot her perch.  What's even more spectacular is she does tricks up on the perch. She hangs her legs and arms off, does a back bend to reach toys and move wagons, all from up on the perch...  Concerned parents and therapists come by and say, "Ut-oh, she's on the coffee table. Do you want me to get her down?" "No," I always reply. "She's just hanging out on her little perch".  She gets so much joy out of it.  I don't know if she likes that she's higher up, or she likes the cold marble against her belly (she's low sensory so this is likely), or if she knows something we all don't, like you get extra energy from recharging on marble.  Either way, it's her spot, so I thought I'd take some pics:

She thinks she's hot stuff if she hangs one leg off.

I know...frightening she's resting on a laptop. My husband took this pic. Blame him.

June revealed

Just yesterday we brought Iva June for her two year old pictures with our friends Scott and Adina of Hayne Photographers.  It was quite evident during the photo shoot that we weren't going to get a "normal" toddler picture.  No sitting in pretty buckets draped with textured blankets, no standing and smiling on the tree stump, no looking into the camera lens, no looking at smiling faces, no smiling at smiling faces either.  There were just two things she really wanted to do at the studio.  Chase the fan AND (obviously) chase the cord belonging to the fan, and pull on the very funny long floor lamp, which Adina so graciously let June destroy during the photo session.  It will be a miracle if Scott can show us anything cute, but I'm sure he'll do it because he always does. 

So all that to say that my daughter is feeling more and more autistic lately.  I've been deleting all the pictures where she is flapping her hands, shaking her head violently, and crossing her eyes, but I realized just today that these things are exactly what makes my daughter unique and special, and I shouldn't just delete them.  Today we were at church and she got upset about something and started throwing her head back and forth and knocked my head so hard that it sent shivers down my neck. I'm realizing that people are now viewing her differently and I'm going to have to start getting creative...Up until this point, I've posted cute pictures and videos of June, but today, I'm going to let you see a little but of June that I really don't want you to see:

I'll post again when I get cute pictures from Scott. Until then, please pray for little miss June who is, again having a hard time sleeping, and is also starting to get very frustrated because she cannot communicate her needs/wants to us very well.  I never thought I'd thank God for a baby's cry, but aside from the few sounds she makes, that's her only way to tell us that something is wrong. Thanks for reading, for loving us....

My favorite pose these days

Happy Birthday Iva June!

Today my baby girl turns two years old.  And yes...we still call her "baby girl". My husband says he'll call her baby girl until the day he dies.  It is a bittersweet day.  Iva June has been making slow progress... but last night I saw a neurotypical two year old (again).  I see them daily, sometimes hourly.  You know what I was thinking when she was prancing around the house in her twirly little getup, having cute little conversations and giggling with all the adults. 
Things aren't getting easier. 

Today also marks the day for another glorious event.  I have finally come to the full recognition that, at 35, my metabolism has slowed down (or completely stopped).  I'm annoyed because I've been going to bed hungry for two weeks and this morning I jumped on the scale only to find that I had gained 4 pounds from just yesterday.  Marvelous.  Already took another vigorous walk and I'm definitely guzzling a gallon of water.  Maybe I'm eating too much salt. 

This afternoon, I'm sure we'll celebrate by splashing around the kiddie pool (like we always do), even though my son has a mysterious fever of 102 (still). June recently received this papillon from her Grandma for her birthday.  She uses it in the tub or the pool and absolutely loves it. I'd highly recommend it:

 
The best part of my day is yet to happen.  My mom is arriving on a train at 6:40 pm this evening.  My three year old son is the most excited.  What toddler doesn't want to pick up his Marmelade from a train station?  It will be the biggest event of the day.  Don't you just love your mom?

So, Happy Birthday to my sweet little Iva June! You have filled our lives with sunshine and joy in the most unexpected ways.  You continue to surprise us with your recent "big girl" tricks (like, last month, when I found you had climbed up on top of our kitchen table...and your recent sippy cup proficiency).  When you wrap your little arms around my ankles for a hug, I just want to melt.  When you cry, I want to hold you and tell you that you can stay little forever.  And, the smile of delight that comes from the depth of your soul, is so telling of the future you will have. Bright and cheery, ordained by God.  I love you.

Birthday princess outfit from Grandma Carolyn