It is so fun having a 4 year old! He really is the best! I feel like Connor has really graduated from being a toddler and is just a kid now. I love how much he talks and we can have conversations! Connor goes to school and is becoming more independent everyday.
I have really been impressed with how much Connor talks these days! He speaks in sentences or sing song melodies with his own words. He really loves to sing all day long (and night sometimes). He knows his colors, shapes and a few letter sounds. He knows lots of animals and vehicle names too. I love when we are out and about and he spots something he knows the word for. He has quite an eye for spotting things. He is now even giving accurate descriptors as well like - thats a green tree or a big ball. He still can't answer questions like - what is your name, how was your day, how old are you - but we are working on them. The best is that he is starting to consistently call me momma/mommy and Logan, dada.
I love it when he talks to Liam. Connor uses a baby voice just like I do but he already has a high pitched voice so it is really funny. He says to Liam "Its a sweet baby" "hi baby brother" and "don't cry". Connor show his love to Liam by coming up to him and holding his face to his or rubbing his cheek in Liams hair. Connor tries to share his toys and food with Liam all the time. One time I was in the bathroom when Liam started to fuss. I heard Conor go to him and tell him "it's ok, don't cry, here your go." When I came out Connor had given Liam some of his favorite toys. Other times Connor will help put/shove Liam's pacifier back in or come get me and insist that I help the baby right away. Liam loves Connor and is always watching. Liam gave his first laugh when he was watching Connor bounce around on the couch next to him.
Connor is completely potty trained during the day and now has even started to use a responsible amount of toilet paper to wipe his bum when he poops. Sometimes I only know he went number two because he doesn't always flush. It is great that I really only have to deal with the baby diapers. Connor does still wear a pull up to bed.
Connor has figured out how to get his own water out of the fridge. Its not a thing I like he has learned but he does a pretty good job at that too and it is nice when I'm nursing and can't help.
One funny thing Connor has learned is to wag his finger and say "no, no" when he doesn't want something. This is probably the most attitude he gives me. As far as kids go, I think we got off pretty easy with Connor. He fights us on things like going to bed and wearing weather appropriate clothing but overall he really is a good kid.
One thing I need to work on myself with him is discipline. It was pretty pointless when he didn't understand at all/didn't care but now that he knows better I'm working on finding what motivates him to make good choices. One thing that really helps is giving him "one more minute". When I warn him something he likes is about over and let him do it a bit longer Connor almost always cooperates.
Now probably the hardest thing we are trying to teach him is how to sit still. It is a struggle in primary and I'm sure school too. In the last year he has made lots of progress. The first several weeks he wouldn't sit in his chair for even 5 minutes. Now he has moved up to 10-15 by himself and then will sit on a teachers lap another 5. The primary program is coming up the day after his birthday. He even has a line we have been working on! It is "I am a child of God". Now Connor is really good at pronouncing words but for some reason every time he says it it sounds like "Ima cha-goo got". Of course, if he says anything at all at the podium I'm be ecstatic.
One of the sweetest things is hearing Connor give a prayer! He still needs to copy someone but will now fold his arms and try to say at least the last word of each sentence. The end always gets a loud "amen!".
So school seems to be hit and miss. He was loving the bus and coming home happy but this fall all his correspondences with his teacher have been negative. He is fighting me to get on the bus and apparently not wanted to interact with the other kids or follow directions. I'm hoping this is just a transitional adjustment with having a new baby, changing weather and not seeing his dad as much because of his new work schedule. I want Connor to be happy and good for others.
So far his progress on his IEP categories is mostly "Progressing Gradually - The student is making less than anticipated progress but may still achieve the goal" or "Not Achieved". I feel like he has been doing great making progress as far as I can tell and that’s probably because he talks to me more than anyone else and I also happen to understand him better too.
We took his 4 year old pics today and he was so good about staying in one place, saying cheese but mostly not looking at the camera. After a few he would say “ok, all done” so sweetly so we would move on until we found another good spot for pics and he would take some more. He was really good to walk with us on the trail and was so fun to be around.
I have to say most of the time Connor is just a happy little boy and loves adventures, getting out of the house and being around his baby brother. We love him so much!
No comments :
Post a Comment