Madilyn Update

Madilyn has been doing really well with her ABA therapy over the last few months, and right around Christmas time we were asked if we wanted to increase her hours for the new year. Part of the reason we would be able to do it is because now Spectacular Kids (where she receives her ABA therapy) is now in network with our insurance. That means we can increase our hours and still have the same payment each week which is amazing. But because other families are wanting an increase in their hours with the insurance change, we can either increase her hours now - or possibly wait several months waiting on more staff to be trained. Of course, this decision took much thought and consideration because she is currently going from 8:30-12:30 Monday through Friday, and with this increase her time will be from 8:30-4:30. Every. Day. That's a long time, and that's a long day of hard work for her. She has really made such progress in the few months that she has been going, so the increase in hours will only benefit her and I am certain we will see more progress made. It is hard though because she is only two and a half.. And another concern for Rob and I is that she is still taking an afternoon nap. But, we are going to send in all of the things shes uses for nap, and see how she does napping there for a few weeks. If it ends up not working out well for any reason, we could scale back to the current hours we have. But we feel like only good things can come from an increase in hours. With all of that being said though - please keep Madilyn, the family, and the staff in your thoughts and prayers over the next few week or two. It is going to be an adjustment for all of us, and I hope that Madilyn does as awesome for them in the additional hours as she does in the morning!

Happy Hoildays!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Biddle Babies!! 

My little Turkeys!

I quickly wanted to share what the kiddos made Rob and I for Thanksgiving. Carter is always making things at his Mother's Day Out which I love! His MDO invited the parents for pie to celebrate the holiday and he surprised us with a leaf telling us what he was thankful for and a super cute little bear with an adorable smiling face! :)

Madilyn works very hard every day at ABA, but she does get a little bit of down time. Since the Thanksgiving holiday was coming up, she was able to help make us a cute little gift!!

2.5

Two and a half. That means we are that much closer to our "babies" turning three! Unbelievable! Here are a few pictures we had taken of our Biddle Babies!

Halloween

Trick or Treating with the kids was so much fun this year! Because Carter had a little practice going trick or treating before Halloween, he kind of understood what he needed to do in order to get candy. When we went around our neighborhood on Halloween, he would see a light on and would go up to the house and try to knock or ring the doorbell. When the people giving out the candy would try to just put the candy in Carter's pumpkin, he wouldn't let them because he wanted to put the candy in himself. At one point, a lady had a handful of candy, and Carter took about 5 minutes taking candy out of her hand piece by piece! As far as saying Trick or Treat -- Carter would just say "treat!" I guess he knew what he wanted so he just left off that first part! Madilyn loved being outside (of course) and even went up to several doors to get candy. Since we all love Batman so much, we all wore our Batman shirts and were a Bat family for Halloween! 

Pre-Halloween Fun!

Last week we had a Halloween party with my twin group - KAMOM. We went to Old McDonald's Farm and we were able to see and even pet lots of different animals. Madilyn and Carter even got to have a pony ride, and to our surprise they loved it! There was also a train that I think the kids could have stayed on all day! We were able to enjoy a yummy lunch with cookies for dessert. Later that night, we joined some friends and went to a trunk or treat at the Episcopal church - actually the same place we went for the pumpkin patch. It was fun getting to walk around with the kids and watch Carter really start to understand what Trick or Treat means. Although, all he says is "treat" - probably because that's all he wants! The kids went as JJ Watt and a Texans cheerleader.

Madilyn & Carter checking out the ducks

Family photo on the train ride!

Madilyn on her pony ride - She loved it!

Carter (with Daddy!) on his pony ride

Carter.. not so thrilled about petting the sheep!

 And here are two shots from the Trunk or Treat in Kingwood!

Madilyn loved the pumpkins.. But phones can be so much more entertaining!

This picture pretty much sums up my life! These kiddos make life so fun!! 

Grown-ups come back!

Ever since I can remember, both my kiddos have loved watching Daniel Tiger. And though I can quote quite a few episodes by heart, I really like that there are so many different episodes that relate to the life of a toddler. One of these would be the theme that "grown-ups come back", and it even has a catchy little song to go with it. Well, since Carter started going to places that had childcare, I incorporated that song on our way to either the gym or MOPS. Granted, the first few weeks of dropping him off were not tear free - but what can you expect from a little boy who has only been with his Mommy at home and out on play dates while Mommy stayed and watched? As I mentioned before, Carter also recently started a Mother's Day Out program twice a week and yes, we still use the song and talk about how "Mommy comes back". I remember one of the MDO workers telling me how cute he was at nap time because he would soothe himself by saying "Mommy back.. Mommy back.." So he is definitely old enough the get the concept that I'm not leaving him forever and I think that makes it easier on both of us. But -- I am so proud of Carter because at the beginning of the week, he and I went to the gym twice and he was a total champ when we walked into the childcare center. Once the door was opened for him to go into the play area, he went right in.. Turned around.. And started waving and said "bye Mommy!" And off he was to play! It only took a few weeks, but I think he's starting to realize that even if I'm not right there with him, he knows I am going to come back and get him. Another incident happened this week as I was getting ready to go to a meeting. I usually try to sneak out so that my kiddos don't get upset when they see me leaving. I had to get my bag from the kitchen before I left, and Carter saw me and said, "Bye Mommy!" and was giving me air kisses! It was so nice to actually get to say bye to both of them and not have to sneak out!

So, it's been a big week for Carter -- although he was still not 100% happy when I left from Mother's Day Out today. But, he stopped fussing pretty quickly afterwards. Here a few pictures of Carter's life being a big boy at different places without Mommy!

First Day at MOPS - we started off good...

Playing at the end of MOPS!

First Day at MDO - coloring letter E

 Using glue to make the letter G at MDO!

If you look in the back and center, Carter is in the gray shirt playing away at the gym!