Thanks ladies, I really appreciate your support! It is just SO frustrating, because I normally do NOT believe in comparing kids (especially siblings), but the drs. make you fill out these questionnaires beginning with the 18 month visit. And all of a sudden, things you simply may never have tried with your child yet (like kicking a ball as opposed to throwing one) get your kid labeled as "behind." GRRRRRRRRRRRRRr.
HA, my Dad used to tell us a story about how he did not talk until he was 4, and then, like you, began speaking in full sentences. I don't know to what extent there could be a genetic tie there, but I know Dad's genetic makeup has always been very prominent on his side of my family - the resemblance between the men on his side of the family is quite striking and we have seen it now through at least 4 generations. So I'm hoping that is all it is, though it is sure frustrating. I can tell my sweet little guy WANTS to tell us things, as he talks constantly, it's just that we can't understand 95% of it. It's exactly like listening to a foreign language speaker. Clear intent to communicate, appropriate gestures and inflection, normal rhythm and tone. Just can't understand anything. I do have to say it's getting a bit better day by day, and I'm VERY thankful for that. Whether he is improving, or we are just getting better at picking it up, I'm not sure. But hopefully some therapy will help get him caught up quickly. He is definitely a smartie, so I don't think it's any kind of intellectual issue, I think it's simply late speech. Praying that's all it is!
I hope everyone is feeling better or at least on the path to recovery - it has been the worst spring for sicknesses I've ever seen around here, and it sounds like the same everywhere else
I'm having a better day today, though Reece is still waking us up earlier and earlier.
I really think the problem is that he has the body/size of a 9-12 month old (as evidenced by his current wearing of clothes Ethan wore at those ages), but he is eating the normal diet of a just-turned-4 month old...I think he is just not able to get enough to eat to hold him through the night anymore.
He sucks down almost 8 oz of formula before bed, but it just doesn't hold him lately. We were already doing formula at the last feeding (held him better through the night than breastmilk) and, for a while, he was trending toward longer nights on that routine - sleeping about 11-7 which was AWESOME. But then, he started waking at 6:30, 6, 5:30, etc. and when we got to 4:50 hubby and I looked at each other and said "we need to switch this kid to the A/R formula" (has added rice starch, and is what Ethan ate his first year) to see if it will help him sleep through... well, it worked like a charm for about 2 weeks... now, we seem to be back to the same earlier trend for the last few nights and MAN is it killing me!!!
If we sit him up in the bumbo and try to spoon feed rice cereal or purees, he still demonstrates that oral thrust reflex (pushes food back out of his mouth). But today, hubby suggested trying one of the pouches we use for Ethan to self-feed (like an applesauce one) and, much to my shock, if I offer it to him while he is reclining (like a bottle) he sucks it right down and grabs onto it wanting more!
Greedy little buggy! So adorable. I have a feeling my love of cooking is going to have a happy audience once this kid gets a little older LOL! Ethan can take food or leave it; has never once shown strong ties to food and never fusses if meals are a little late, etc. But Reece is the opposite end of the spectrum completely!
So anyway, Anna you are right - it has been CRAZY cold here. THey are calling it "Marchuary," as apparently it has been colder this March than it was in January! We've had extreme freezing temps here for March - into the 20's and barely making it into the 40's as a high...crazy stuff. I'm normally a cold-weather lover, but I have to say I'm looking forward to getting the kids outside to play again, pollen and all!
Are you gearing up for Mexico!? So jealous!! How is the eye?
Steph hope you and Katie are on the mend! When is your amnio scheduled?
Bek, is Amelia recovering well? How are you feeling sweet lady?
Beth, I LOVED Poppy's EAster hat!! And Poppy did MUCH better with the EAster Bunny than Ethan, LOL! Ethan threw a fit and the best pic we got was a sullen face, LOL. But oh well. It was WAYYYYY past his nap time and we were really pushing our luck to go at all that day. So glad you got a great pic with Charlie!
Viv honey, how are you doing?
Okay ladies, must run and make a swipe at dishes/laundry/dinner prep. We're working on table skills, so we are trying to eat together as a family at 7 each night. Our usual dinner time used to be more like "feed Ethan at 5:30 and we will eat at 8," so this is a challenge for me LOL. I'm not used to starting dinner at 5:30!
Hugs and love to all! And WARM thoughts. Man it's freezing out!!
Ok whining, hugs to all!! 
He'll be just fine! Your mind is now at ease and you can move forward knowing he's getting the best.
