Obsessive - Compulsive & Other Disorders

So it is a wild ride watching your kid develop into their own little person right before your very eyes. But watching them develop weird traits while you sit hopelessly by - I never prepared myself for that.

About two weeks ago, we ATTEMPTED to put Addie into an outfit that had fit a mere week prior. Much to our chagrin, she had already grown out it and we had to drag out the bag of hand-me-downs of the next size up to begin the clothing "shuffle." So Eric and I begin the sort of clothing - shirts, pants, shorts, dresses and make immaculate piles as we move through the bag. That is, until Addie woke up from her nap. This is when we realized that our kid might have started developing some strange behaviors seemingly overnight.

Addie started with one small pile of dresses and shirts. She sat on the floor taking one piece of clothing at a time, lift it up talking quite sternly to the item, and then immediately threw it behind her with fervor. The poor article of clothing would literally go FLYING across the room while she proceeded to take the next item of clothing and repeat the process. Now one would think that after destroying the pile of clothes, this 13 month old would get bored and move onto another activity. OH NO! Not Addie. She simply turned around and started the whole process over again - but this time, the talking got louder, more intense, and the tosses got even more vehement, and all the while, she had no idea we were even in the room. Eric and I kept laughing - too afraid to move for fear that we would disturb her and she would stop. But oh what we wouldn't have given to have a video camera on her during this episode!

So in essence, we think Addie has some sort of Obessive/Compulsive disorder in her blood. This is due to the fact that she didn't stop this course of action with the clothes until 30 minutes into the activity at which time, I got a little nervous about her state of mind and started picking up the clothes to get rid or her amunition.

However, we could be wrong - Addie is far from neat an tidy like a true obessive/compulsive. Usually she plows through her toys with such intensity that at the end of the day, the poor living room looks like a nuclear bomb went off. It takes both of us parents at least 20 minutes to clear a path for the next day. So the diagnosis could more aptly be attributed to multiple personality disorder? schizophrenia? Or perhaps, just a very curious and very animated little girl...if only we could climb into her head and hear her thoughts...any day now I am sure.

Summertime

It's been quite a busy summer thus far for the three and a half of us. Addie got to celebrate her first birthday a couple of times, once with the Montgomery clan in Escondido and then again with the Timmons family out in Liberty. She also took her first trip to the swimming pool...and has loved every minute in the water. The girl has no fear...she would dive in head first if we let her. She even got to explore a couple of kiddie water areas in Kansas City, which only furthered her curiosity for all things aqua-related. We should have known after watching her splash around in the bath tub. She has also learned to make the sounds for monkeys and elephants and can pick out Ernie, Elmo and various Veggie Tales friends when requested. For more pictures, Daddy will be putting more photos up on his facebook page. It's free...sign up if you haven't already.


Walking with Mema and Grandad at the KC airport before flying home.


A rare still moment at the water park.


If I was any older, I would think this water was freezing. But I'm one...who cares how cold it is?!


Very happy with her time in the kiddie wave pool.


The patriotic swimsuit...Happy 4th everyone.


Addie's 4th of July outfit...Mommy couldn't wait to pull out this ensemble.


Chillin' with my pal Alek.


Mema is so funny.


My first swim with Mommy...we had so much fun.


More splishing and splashing in the bath tub.


Not so sure about the texture of frosting and cake in her hands...but it sure tasted good.


The birthday girl.


Addie's first birthday cake...complete with her favorite, Elmo.


Addie and Daddy swimming at Aunt Beth's place.


Mommy and Daddy had front row tickets to see the Astros beat down the DBacks.


Sucking down some apple juice and lounging on my birthday present from Ashley.

"Supposed To"

As a parent, I often hear myself utter the words, "supposed to" as it relates to some developmental milestone for Addie. Such as: "Isn't she supposed to have more teeth at this point?" However, what I find myself saying much more often is "NOT supposed to." I think every parent has inherent within them to brag about what their kids are doing at each age - how far along they are, what they are doing/saying, etc. Somehow, we think that our children are the most brilliant things that walk the earth...

But lately, I am finding myself more and more making statements in sheer disbelief rather than in a bragging tone. Addie simply is "not supposed to" be doing half of the things she is doing at this stage in life - 11 months old. And I think I say it both in disbelief and sadness because I feel like we have somehow been robbed of her "babyhood" faster than most parents. I can cite example after example, but here are just a few:

Walking

This one will be short. Addie at 10 months was full-on walking. Now at 11 months, she is practically running. She loves the game of chase, and will play until she is panting like a dog, and we have to calm her down by giving her juice. Hilarious.

Individual Play

Starting at about 9 months old, Addie decided that going off by herself in her toy corner was a lot of fun. She would sit for over 20 minutes playing with one little toy like a ribbon - entertaining herself for so long, that it worried us at times just how quiet she was being. Now at 11 months, she does this at times for close to an hour - digging toy after toy from her toybox, talking (babbling really) to them, putting them into her mouth, and then moving on to the next toy. She is so independant at times, it is isolating as a parent - she doesn't even want you over there playing with her, as she will swat your hand away and keep on playing by herself. Don't get me wrong - MOST of the time she is the most social baby ever - wanting you in her face, playing, talking, and generally having a good time. It's just that she is "not supposed to" be doing this so young...

Animal Noises

Addie loves animals. And since she was about 9 months old, she has been obsessed with trying to repeat sounds we make. She decided that the duck sound was just so much fun - that she started quacking every time she saw a duck. So we started asking often, "what does a duckie say?" And each time, she would dutifully answer us, "QUACK QUACK" For those of you that don't believe it - we have timestamped video to prove it.

Since then, she moved onto the cow - making the "moo" sound that eerily sounded more like "mama" than "moo." Remarkably, she knew the difference between the two animals, and would answer the two questions differently when asked - "quack" for duck and "moo" for cow. Her latest and perhaps FUNNIEST OF ALL sounds is the monkey. She is perhaps the cutest little monkey ever when she says the monkey sound - "ooo ahah." At one point, all you had to say is the word "monkey" and she would erupt with the sounds of the jungle. She is hilarious.

On a sad note - in the last couple of days, she has stopped making all sounds, and now looks at us as if we have three heads when we ask her what certain animals say...please tell me this is just a phase.

Mickey & Elmo

Addie loves Mickey Mouse and Sesame Street. She is actually OBSESSED with them and watches VERY intently when they come on the TV. So much so, that we have had to limit her TV time to only 2-3 20 min episodes a day as she would watch them all day without moving much if we let her. Now when they come on, she just sits like a little girl in front of the TV with her feet crossed almost indian-style and watches the images go past. We are convinced that she knows what is going on - and it was proven the other day when Mickey started clapping for one of Pluto's tricks and Addie just begun to clap right along with them - smiling and giggling.

Addie loves these two cartoons so much - that we have gotten her the stuffed animals that correlate with the show. The other day I laid out Zoe, Elmo, and Mickey on the ground and asked her to find Mickey. She prompted walked over to Mickey, squatted down, picked him up, and delivered him to me. I said, "good job!" and she clapped for herself and grinned broadly! I then asked her where Elmo was...she did the same for Elmo. She is too smart...Is she supposed to be doing this so young?

Another little trick she does with both Elmo and Mickey is so funny. In the mornings, Eric has taken to getting her out of bed and giving her the morning bottle. She takes about half of it, and then gets down to play. Eric proceeds to turn on SportsCenter or Fox News and lets her go about the hurricane-like destruction of the entire house. However, when she gets bored, she has been known to pick up either Elmo, Zoe, Mickey (or sometimes all three) and bring them to daddy. She then looks at the TV as if to say - "daddy, isn't it time for some Sesame instead of the news?" We have our hands full with this one - I tell you...

Although there are many other examples indicating how Addie is growing up too fast, I don't have the time to recount them all here - perhaps another time. I can hardly believe she is going to be a year old in just over two weeks...my how the time flies - but then again, I guess it is "supposed to."

Clearing My Mind

Generally this space is reserved for updates on Addie and eventually Baby Monty #2. However, today I am claiming my right to post my personal thoughts on something here.

For those who did not read it on Thursday, a male student at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles was chosen the Prom Queen by his peers. The student, who was originally denied the opportunity, gave a speech to the student body saying that the fliers did not specify gender for either position. I was about to ask "Since when was there any confusion about the gender specifications for kings and queens?" Apparently, the answer is May 2009. The student went on to say that he doesn't want to be a girl, but deep down he is a queen and that he felt the role would fit him better.

These comments stir a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings, but two specific ones draw the most attention. Number one, it saddens me to see that it has become acceptable enough for men of any age to turn their backs on the masculine nature that God made for them and embrace feminine traits as more appealing. Though I'm certain I'm paraphrasing, I know that John Eldredge spoke in his book "Wild at Heart" about how society has turned its nose at the strong, male character and his innate desire to be a purposeful leader. While God has appointed a number of women through time to be strong leaders as queens, they were WOMEN. They were designed to assert and provide leadership with a unique set of characteristics. My underlying concern is that society has developed such an apathy for this distortion of God's desire for us as man and woman that my children and future generations will be looked down upon for upholding these core beliefs.

Secondly, I am troubled that someone of this age would have a well-developed self-image that is so schewed from that of his birth and nobody is asking the necessary questions. What caused this young man to abandon his masculine nature? What are the emotional issues that have led him down this path? Some may disagree with me, but I refuse to accept biology. I do not accept that God created any man or woman to end up with homosexual preferences. Knowing that God sees this as a perversion and a sin, I will not accept that argument.

A third thought came to mind when re-reading one of the quotes in the AP story. The senior class president spoke for her fellow students and celebrated that the class was so open-minded. I would argue that these students are mis-characterized as open-minded and should more accurately be deemed as uninformed and blinded to the greater issues. While I hesitate to blame the media, it is an important part of our society and it has definitely contributed to the acceptance of this lifestyle. Instead, I think it is more important for us as Christians to take a greater stand against societal elements we find immoral and use both our voting and buying power to force executives to change the way they program. These children have been raised in a society that has embraced those ideals and has no concept of the long-term emotional consequences that many people will face.

I'm no crusader...just a soon-to-be-father of two who is worried sick about the world his kids will inherit. Thank you Mom and Dad for the delicate balance you forged for me between education and protection.

Addie's Additions

The last few weeks have been a busy time for our growing bundle of energy. She got to spend a few days with her grandparents and other family members in Liberty, Missouri. Needless to say, her and Mema picked up where they left off while Grandad won over his youngest granddaughter with some vanilla ice cream. When she came home, Ashley and Mommy have managed to teach her to touch her head and her belly. Then, she claps in approval...it's pretty awesome. Her walking improves everyday, as does her penchant for finding little odds and ends in and around furniture and putting said items in her mouth. Gone are the days when we could just let her exist and not worry about her finding something she might swallow and/or choke on. Less than a month until she rings in her first full year of life...stay tuned for the post-party wrap-up.

Two Birds, One Stone

Isn't it great when you can make people happy by both posting a picture of your little girl and making a major family announcement? Yes, the t-shirt tells the truth. Baby Monty #2 is due around December 1. So far so good, but we'll have more updates as we learn more.

Walk On

It was only a couple of steps, but the first ones are in the book...starring Addie Jean as the Walker and Ashley as the coach. Mommy is the director/producer of the picture.