Cookies and dogs

This past weekend we decided to get out of the house. The dogs were needing some attention so we loaded both kids and both dogs into the minivan and headed to the nearest dog park. There were lots of dogs there and the area seemed small. That didn't stop us from having fun though. When Conlan is really excited and having fun, he "squeals". We heard him squeal a few times at the dog park. I love to hear him even if it does hurt my ears a little. It was a tie between the dogs and the kids for who behaved better. I was a little concerned that our intact male would pose a problem, but he didn't and had lots of fun. After nearly an hour, our female corgi started limping, and we were all ready to go so we packed up and went home. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures, maybe next time.

Touch

Hilary found yet another great show on Netflix. I really like how with Netflix, you can find shows that are real good but never really made it big for some reason or another. Anyway, Touch is about a nonverbal boy and his father. The kid sees the universe in numbers. The was one scene that I really appreciated. The last scene of the second episode, the dad is talking to the son. They had a long adventurous day and they are getting ready for bed. The dad is telling his son what he thought it meant to be a father. When he first became a father he wanted to teach his son so much, and not just how to play ball. But as his son grew older, they realized he was autistic and the dad had to grapple with how and what he could teach his son. As he was talking to his son, who was all tucked in bed, he realized that maybe he was the one that needed to learn, that his son was the teacher. So I likened it unto myself. There is so much I have already learned as Conlan's father. There is yet so much I can learn from him. Courage for one. Could you imagine getting up every day, knowing that even your parents don't know what you want? Not being to tell anyone what you want to eat, that you have to use the restroom, that you're sad or happy, that you want to play outside and just run around. That sounds depressing to me, and yet he does it every day. Every day he wakes up and gets excited about school or having pancakes for breakfast.  He gets excited when Grover learns how to jump over three moon. He gets exited to be outside. Being happy and satisfied with life is another thing I could learn from him. He gets so excited about the simplest of things. A ride in the car is a special treat. Yes, I have a lot to learn.

Like a weed

Yesterday, Hilary got up and fed the kids breakfast. A couple hours later, I fixed some turkey bacon, french toast and eggs to eat.  Conlan ended up eating about 4 full pieces of bacon, 3 or 4 slices of french toast and whatever else he could find including some graham crackers and pop tarts.  I did manage to save some for myself but felt guilty for hiding it from him; I had to scarf it down before he saw it.  I don't know what he had for breakfast round 1, but he definitely was hungry just a couple hours later.  He's surely going through another growth spurt.  He has been sleeping more than usual - actually through most nights!  I can't believe how tall he is getting.  It's a lot bigger of a chore carrying him up two flights of stairs to his bed at night.  What's it going to be like during his teenage years?!  We'd better start saving up for the grocery bill now. :)

Interactions, teaching

For a couple weeks I have been pondering how to truly interact with Conlan. A lot of the time, Gavin will be demanding my whole attention while Conlan does his thing across the room. At night, Gavin brings me a book to read, and I try to involve Conlan. That lasts for about 20 seconds before he goes to do something else. Gavin just soaks up knowledge. It is so easy to teach him new words and how to do stuff. He is always wanting to help dad fix stuff or mom with household chores. Conlan though, is more like me. Throughout college, I had this attitude that I could learn anything, and on my own.  Why would I ask someone if I could read it in a book or google it on the Internet? I didn't want someone telling me but to discover and learn it for and by myself. I think Conlan is similar. He steps back and observes. He stays at the perimeter just watching and listening.  On car rides he stares out the window with a look of deep concentration. I wonder what goes on in that mind of his. Sometimes he'll surprise us with something new he has learned. We never saw him practice it and all of a sudden, he is doing it. It is like he plays it out in his mind over and over again until he is certain that he can do it without flaw.
So, anyway, I've been trying to get on his level and do more with him than just the standard tickle and "zerber" wars. Since he loves pouring water, I had him help me wash the dishes using hand over hand. That seemed to work for a little while until he wanted to pour the water out of the sink.
Lately, he has been taking off all of his clothes. We worry about him getting sick, especially since we recently moved from Arizona to a cooler climate. He won't even keep on his jacket outside. Maybe I should take off all my clothes too in order to get on his level...