Alright, this is about the greatest Auntie in the world--- but she just so happens to be the greatest Aunite first and foremost in Ricci's world! I am referring to my sister, the lovely, "Anielle."
I mentioned in blog #1 that Ricci is entertaining, he tap dances, (to amuse others, not in a class), he does animal sounds, he scripts daily actions, "Mommy, you say 'oh no!' and then acts out something warranting an "oh no," then "Mommy, tell me 'no tiger, you cannot do such and such..." and so on it goes. He also stays in character for quite awhile, and even better than watching Ricci, is watching Ricci and the greatest auntie in the world, "Anielle" interact together.
And scene: Ricci runs up to GAITW( Greatest Auntie in the world- for those of you who needed the explanation), and busts out with spontaneous "kung fu"-like moves. He shouts something like, "I will get you!"
GAITW: eyes like dinner plates feigns surprise and fear!
Ricci: Anielle, look at my moves
GAITW: (again humongous eyes but voice monotone and dry, dry, dry): Oh, there you go, oh, whoah, hmm... oh there you go that was pretty sweet.
Ricci pleased busts out with even more moves.
GAITW: maintains giant eyes still...
So to put it to you, GAITW gets Ricci! She does because she is like his second mother, and I think might love him about that way, and it shows. The night Ricci joined us, Anielle was right there sleeping in the hospital room next to us in that crummy chair-like bed. Uncomfortable, sharing the lame bathroom, keeping me company. From that moment on, Anielle has been an integral part in the raising up of Ricci. Oh, and in case you are wondering, the doctor told my husband he should go home, get some rest, because he would need it. (Side note: For what reason I do not know, as let's face it, Ricci's dad never breastfed, didn't give birth, wasn't yet ready to change diapers, but anyway that is why Anielle was with us, daddy needed sleep...)
Then as I tried desperately to get my you know what through college, I took a summer class and GAITW would watch Ricci for me. (She did many many times as I finished college, but this is just one major act of kindness on GAITW's part) Sometimes they would come with me on campus as he was breastfed, and she would push him around campus while I was in class. One time this meant enduring an entire hour of crying, as she pushed him around comforting him as he expressed his then age appropriate "separation anxiety." His cries bounced off from one end of the campus to another, and GAITW just pushed on probably also close to tears, and so terribly embarrassed.
Danielle also backs me up. I get a lot of watching an silent judging as relatives watch in horror as my son tries to climb safety nets around the pool, jumps off of any and all furniture with reckless abandon, and often that means I have to say, "umm no, please do not let Ricci watch Television, for him it only adds to certain behaviors and inspires new ones, as well as brings on an inability to utilize any coping skills he might posses if he watches T.V. for too long. GAITW, always backs me up when other adults question me.
Also, positive discipline is our friend. Ricci needs redirection, help to keep his body safe, help to find his way to clean up a mess, help to remember to use the bathroom, and then to watch his hands, and GAITW, always, always stays on the same page. She stays calm, when inside she is I am sure throwing toys and screaming and locking herself in the bathroom to hide, but all we see is a composed auntie lovingly telling Ricci she can "help him," and she guides him through his actions. He knows where he stands with her, and so do I.
Now for the BIGGIE- Auntie is the greatest in the world not only for the night in the hospital on his first day of life, or for changing his diapers, and not just because of the driving him around to get him to sleep, or for playing along in his scripted world, or even and this is a biggie, picking him up from school when I could not, and taking him to the park to play while I had meetings, but because she would also build play dough ponies, make them food, a home, and then play with Ricci!!!! Now you know just some of what makes Ricci's Anielle the GREATEST AUNTIE IN THE WORLD!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Welcome to Ricci's World, sit down, hold, on and enjoy the ride!
Hello, good morning, and nice to meet you! I am Ricci's (by the way it is pronounced "Richie-- NOT Ricky) momma! Ricci is my three year old son. He is gorgeous inside and out, (no I am not just saying that), and entertaining ALWAYS! There are serious sides to that which shall come later, and then there is just the fact that he LOVES an audience. Never-the- less I am inviting you to visit Ricci's world because it is for us very much Ricci's world on a day to day basis. No--- I am not over-indulging him, first it is simply age appropriate that he believes such things, and second- let's just say he has a strong perrsonality and has since day one!
Well, now that I put that all out there, let me start. This is my very first blog. I know that it is random to start a blog on a Sunday morning at 8:27 (I know a good mom would be getting their child ready for church, or making pancakes or something) but the mood strikes, so I better go with it. My son, Ricci is climbing on his father and using his face as a battle ground for small figurines from the "Kung Fu Panda" film. My husband I am sure right now is very angry with me! (That is what he gets for taking Ricci to see a kiddie Kung fu film, seriously...)
So yes, Ricci's parents are married, this year it will be 9--- yes 9 years! We have only one child, and right now I am not sure there is room enough for another child in Ricci's world, let alone our bed. (Yes, we co-sleep, we need maybe to transition out of that, but Ricci is not yet receptive, so... alas, no more children, right...) Ricci tells us it went like this, "You and daddy were married and then I was a baby, and I would crawl on you and poop (his favorite part to mention of COURSE) on you! I would say 'whaa- whaa..."'
It was kinda like that except as anyone with anymore than an egocentric three year old mind and a slight ability to do math might figure, there were four years sans children and then in 2003 we FINALLY made Ricci.
Also, my husband and I are in love, and happy, but we also have A LOT of philosophical differences (T.V., Spirituality, literature, fitness, going green,). This I think is what happens when you meet your someone at 20 years old, but we make it work.
So now, we are deep in Ricci's world and there are great amazing parts like that he kisses and hugs and loves with this GIANT heart that just might engulf this house, us, and the two acres we live on, and will at a moment's notice sing Tenacious D's "Greatest Song inthe World -Tribute," perform a spontaneous tap dance, or break dancing routine. BUT--- there is also a little boy that is hard to keep safe, and I mean this (he can outrun almost any adult male, he scales most walls and high up places like spider man (speed all I can say is speed), and will jump in any pool without a second thought), has absolutely no fear (except when stalling at bedtime- and believes dragons, snakes, spiders, and birds have all occupied the space in our bedroom), and can take literally twenty minutes to get in and out of a pee pee session in the bathroom( lots and lots of redirection). AND THEN the fact that it took him until over three and a half to potty train.
So now a brief visit with the serious side, we are in the process of assessing Ricci through First Five (a great resource!). I work with children in Early Childhood Education and honestly know something is a bit different, so for that we will wait. But as a mom, I know that outside of Ricci's world, other mom's are wondering "what is going on, is it really supposed to be this hard?" And for that reason, I will share some of the highs as well as more difficult moments of Ricci's world. Please visit anytime and feel free to laugh, get angry, make fun, whatever... I welcome you to Ricci's world where the creativity (his not mine) and laughter flow freely, and where every minute is a bit of a ride... So sit down hold on and enjoy, we do!
I will sign off for now, and rescue my husband from Ricci's sparring toys.
Well, now that I put that all out there, let me start. This is my very first blog. I know that it is random to start a blog on a Sunday morning at 8:27 (I know a good mom would be getting their child ready for church, or making pancakes or something) but the mood strikes, so I better go with it. My son, Ricci is climbing on his father and using his face as a battle ground for small figurines from the "Kung Fu Panda" film. My husband I am sure right now is very angry with me! (That is what he gets for taking Ricci to see a kiddie Kung fu film, seriously...)
So yes, Ricci's parents are married, this year it will be 9--- yes 9 years! We have only one child, and right now I am not sure there is room enough for another child in Ricci's world, let alone our bed. (Yes, we co-sleep, we need maybe to transition out of that, but Ricci is not yet receptive, so... alas, no more children, right...) Ricci tells us it went like this, "You and daddy were married and then I was a baby, and I would crawl on you and poop (his favorite part to mention of COURSE) on you! I would say 'whaa- whaa..."'
It was kinda like that except as anyone with anymore than an egocentric three year old mind and a slight ability to do math might figure, there were four years sans children and then in 2003 we FINALLY made Ricci.
Also, my husband and I are in love, and happy, but we also have A LOT of philosophical differences (T.V., Spirituality, literature, fitness, going green,). This I think is what happens when you meet your someone at 20 years old, but we make it work.
So now, we are deep in Ricci's world and there are great amazing parts like that he kisses and hugs and loves with this GIANT heart that just might engulf this house, us, and the two acres we live on, and will at a moment's notice sing Tenacious D's "Greatest Song inthe World -Tribute," perform a spontaneous tap dance, or break dancing routine. BUT--- there is also a little boy that is hard to keep safe, and I mean this (he can outrun almost any adult male, he scales most walls and high up places like spider man (speed all I can say is speed), and will jump in any pool without a second thought), has absolutely no fear (except when stalling at bedtime- and believes dragons, snakes, spiders, and birds have all occupied the space in our bedroom), and can take literally twenty minutes to get in and out of a pee pee session in the bathroom( lots and lots of redirection). AND THEN the fact that it took him until over three and a half to potty train.
So now a brief visit with the serious side, we are in the process of assessing Ricci through First Five (a great resource!). I work with children in Early Childhood Education and honestly know something is a bit different, so for that we will wait. But as a mom, I know that outside of Ricci's world, other mom's are wondering "what is going on, is it really supposed to be this hard?" And for that reason, I will share some of the highs as well as more difficult moments of Ricci's world. Please visit anytime and feel free to laugh, get angry, make fun, whatever... I welcome you to Ricci's world where the creativity (his not mine) and laughter flow freely, and where every minute is a bit of a ride... So sit down hold on and enjoy, we do!
I will sign off for now, and rescue my husband from Ricci's sparring toys.
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