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So Jacob turned 1 year old on Wednesday. Had his 1-year checkup yesterday, and ... it's hard for us to distance ourselves from the difficulty we've had and realize that despite the lack of coping mechanisms (he still bursts into frantic tears at the slightest provocation because he never learned to self-soothe due to the allergies and acid reflux) but it turns out he's really quite exceptional.
The doctor pointed out that most 1-year-olds don't have a dozen-word vocabulary, don't use multisyllable words, and don't do many of the other things that we take for granted. Maybe it was raising Logan that's tainted us as well - since he was using full sentences around this age.
So, Jacob is... climbing stairs, running and tumbling, playing games (initiates peek-a-boo and patty-cake and tag and catch) and is already more coordinated than his older brother when it comes to playing ball. He feeds himself almost exclusively, although he's not averse to me slipping him some banana or helping hold the nighttime bottle, he is categorically opposed to all things mashed or spoonfed, except of course the desserts which are still ok (heck, they're ok for ME - damn tasty!).
Logan is now in Kindergarten, and has FINALLY decided (stubborn boy) that it's "ok" to be able to read. He's been able to (on the sly) for quite some time now, but of course when we ask him to read something he goes "no, I can't..." - he's like this with everything. Potty training was a nightmare until one day he just went "oh, I want to use the potty" and hasn't had an accident since. VERY stubborn, that one. So he can read (we're starting on "The Hobbit" in the evenings), write, and has better hand-eye coordination (in spite of not being able to catch a ball) than most adults. We strictly limit his TV and gaming experiences, but he will blow most people away in Lego Star Wars... heh. He has memorized the lyrics to every song he's ever heard, and of course the salient characteristics and hidden powers of each and every Transformer(tm) ever produced.
We got his report card back from school, and of course being a touchy-feely school they don't have "pass" or "fail". Instead, they have "achieved", "emerging", and "not yet". So Logan had a "not yet" under "asks for the meaning of unfamiliar words". I spoke to his teacher, saying that I had a hard time believing that Logan wouldn't ask, since he always asks us what something means... and she said "oh, yes I'm obligated to put that down but I don't think I've ever used a word Logan doesn't know..." HA. Maybe I shouldn't let him watch "The Daily Show" any more, since he told her at one point (when she wanted him to recite something and he didn't want to) that he wasn't going to perform for her because he's not a trained monkey. *sigh* We had a little "talk" about THAT one.
He has recently discovered jigsaw puzzles, and of course the ensuing disagreement between Logan (carefully arranging the puzzle pieces by pattern/color/shape) and Jacob (carefully taking each puzzle piece and tasting it before throwing it on the floor) needed breaking up.
Anyway, I'll wrap up now. Let's just say that in some ways, life with exceptional kids is quite rewarding. The stuff Logan comes up with is amazing, and Jacob certainly keeps us on our toes. But in other ways, I sort of wish we could experience some of the "normal" things to do with kids that we have missed out on thus far.
The doctor pointed out that most 1-year-olds don't have a dozen-word vocabulary, don't use multisyllable words, and don't do many of the other things that we take for granted. Maybe it was raising Logan that's tainted us as well - since he was using full sentences around this age.
So, Jacob is... climbing stairs, running and tumbling, playing games (initiates peek-a-boo and patty-cake and tag and catch) and is already more coordinated than his older brother when it comes to playing ball. He feeds himself almost exclusively, although he's not averse to me slipping him some banana or helping hold the nighttime bottle, he is categorically opposed to all things mashed or spoonfed, except of course the desserts which are still ok (heck, they're ok for ME - damn tasty!).
Logan is now in Kindergarten, and has FINALLY decided (stubborn boy) that it's "ok" to be able to read. He's been able to (on the sly) for quite some time now, but of course when we ask him to read something he goes "no, I can't..." - he's like this with everything. Potty training was a nightmare until one day he just went "oh, I want to use the potty" and hasn't had an accident since. VERY stubborn, that one. So he can read (we're starting on "The Hobbit" in the evenings), write, and has better hand-eye coordination (in spite of not being able to catch a ball) than most adults. We strictly limit his TV and gaming experiences, but he will blow most people away in Lego Star Wars... heh. He has memorized the lyrics to every song he's ever heard, and of course the salient characteristics and hidden powers of each and every Transformer(tm) ever produced.
We got his report card back from school, and of course being a touchy-feely school they don't have "pass" or "fail". Instead, they have "achieved", "emerging", and "not yet". So Logan had a "not yet" under "asks for the meaning of unfamiliar words". I spoke to his teacher, saying that I had a hard time believing that Logan wouldn't ask, since he always asks us what something means... and she said "oh, yes I'm obligated to put that down but I don't think I've ever used a word Logan doesn't know..." HA. Maybe I shouldn't let him watch "The Daily Show" any more, since he told her at one point (when she wanted him to recite something and he didn't want to) that he wasn't going to perform for her because he's not a trained monkey. *sigh* We had a little "talk" about THAT one.
He has recently discovered jigsaw puzzles, and of course the ensuing disagreement between Logan (carefully arranging the puzzle pieces by pattern/color/shape) and Jacob (carefully taking each puzzle piece and tasting it before throwing it on the floor) needed breaking up.
Anyway, I'll wrap up now. Let's just say that in some ways, life with exceptional kids is quite rewarding. The stuff Logan comes up with is amazing, and Jacob certainly keeps us on our toes. But in other ways, I sort of wish we could experience some of the "normal" things to do with kids that we have missed out on thus far.
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