Oh how I love Mr. Potato Head

Let me start off by saying that Naty and Ella are both very technologically (is that even a word?) savvy.  Most of this gift stems from their hearing loss.  Ever since they were born, they've had to rely completely on their vision until they received their implants.  It was never easy to try to sneak around the house because if they caught you out of the corner of their eye, you were busted.  When their aunt Misty got her first iPhone, guess who took it over when she was around? Natalie.  She would go directly to the pictures and expertly slide her finger across the screen scanning each and every one of them.  Her passion for iPods and iPhones have grown since then.  She knows what games to go on, how to play them, and even managed to buy an app on her aunt Misty's phone. 

As soon as I saw a sale on a droid, I jumped on it.  Not just for me (haha) but for the girls.  For the first week or two, I was able to conceal the fact that my phone was better than aunt Misty's iPhone.  She hadn't realized yet what all it could do.  Then the day came when she finally figured it out.  I then loaded down my phone with games for her including Memory for Kids, Mr. Potato Head, Kid's Doodle, Musical Toys, and my personal fave Fish Fart Kids.

Memory for Kids is a great one especially for kids who are visually stimulated.  Not that I'm bragging, but my child is a genius.  Her brain soaks everything up and she's learned to really focus on one certain thing.  She's able to shut out the world and concentrate.  I hope this ability stays with her forever because let's face it, her mother and father are not that talented.

What can I say about Mr. Potato Head.  I LOVE this app.! We are at the point where we are teaching Natalie body parts and what better way to do that than Mr. Potato Head.  Naty has learned eyes, nose, ears, and mouth all because she gets to makeover Mr. Potato.  She also knows that he has to have all these important body parts to function.  She doesn't ever forget his ears, nose, eyes, and mouth.  Too bad you can't attach an implant to the ears.  Hmmmm..........light bulb!!

So you see, technology isn't all THAT bad.  Especially for children with disabilities.  If you give them something that strengthens the abilities they DO have, they grow and adapt and make things possible.....their way.  So yes, I am thankful for iPods and iPhone's and any other piece of technology that will help her grow, no matter how different her ways are.

Tornado known as Naty

As I sit here in bed with the laptop on 1 side and the 2 babies surrounding me, I reconsider my decision to consume a Java Monster energy drink at 10 at night.  Considering that bedtime is at 10, it was definitely a bad decision. 

Since I had all this energy, I start to clean up the tornado known as Natalie that hit the girl’s room last Friday.  Natalie had a friend over and while I was trying to get Ella to sleep Natalie was taking out every single piece of hanging clothes that was in their closet.  What was she doing with them you ask??  Well that was the great part.  As you can tell in the photograph, she was taking her time spreading them all over the bedroom.  I figured I couldn’t wait any longer to clean it up so considering I had just downed an energy drink it was as good a time as any. 

As I fill my arms with clean clothes from the floor, I tried not to lose it.  Let me just add that this wasn’t the first time I had tried to clean it up.  I had tried to at least separate Cayli and Naty’s clothes into different piles but I kid you not, Naty threw them in the floor each and every time.  So needless to say I was not in the best of moods.  Plus nighttime seems to make my whole family nasty.  Everyone is just ready to go to bed……..but Natalie.  She wakes up early, takes no nap, and fights to the very end.  Fun times, fun times I tell you.  I finally start getting the “evil” glances from my hubby and try to speed things along.  I finally get everything hung up but decide not to hang them in the closet just yet.

My daughter will certainly feel my wrath if I wake up in the morning to find the clothes in the floor………

PeePee in the Potty!!

I have to give a huge shoutout to my 3 yr old daughter Natalie. Woop Woop! Since yesterday she has TOLD me when she has to peepee. 3 years old you say? Isn't that a little too old you say? Well not for Miss Naty. Because of her hearing impairment it has been extremely difficult to try to potty train. Considering she's only been hearing for roughly a year, it's not like we could explain it to her like you would a normal 3 year old.

But yesterday was the day. She had gotten to the point where she would pretty much let you know when her pullup was soiled so we all knew it was time. I realized how tired I was of buying diapers for Ella and pullups for Naty, so I just decided panties it was. Well after about 15 minutes I went ahead and sat her on the big girl potty. I told her to puuuuuuush (she also knows that word, yay!) and she did and guess what.....I heard a distinct tinkle! It was like music to my ears! She heard herself doing it and basked in the glory while I was doing the happy dance in the bathroom. I made sure stress the "PeePee" part in hopes that she would tell me she had to "PeePee." Do you know that she used the potty ALL day yesterday, even at church! Of course I was a little unsure and put a pullup on her but she pulled her sister up from the pew and made her take her to the bathroom! You're talking about one proud mommy.

We have started the morning off great but all we can do is take it one day at a time.

The Burgess's

Recently I had the awesome opportunity of photographing Baby Remi and her brother Wesley.  They were the cutest, most charming kids.  Remi is around 6 weeks old and such a good baby and Wesley was the most loving big brother.  We were fortunate enough for Remi to get a picture with a coyote skin (yes, I'm serious) and in lots of adorable outfits.  Stay tuned for more pics of the Burgess's on Elizabeth Miltimore Photography on Facebook.