Back in the Wack

I have exactly zero photo evidence of our trip to Greendale because we 'lost' our phone aka it wasn't in the first spot we thought it was and we didn't bother to look for it and then later found out it was in my tiny purse the whole time.

Our trip was super busy and really great. We packed in a LOT of family time with both sides of the family, especially the Dueck's.  Joey got plenty of time with his cousins.  He lets them hold his hand and lead him around. It's so cute. Ruthie (9) is like a little school teacher for the little kids and takes them to rooms and tells them activities to do (coloring, etc) and Joey and Ellie (same age) listen to her. Omg I wish we lived closer to the cousins.

The cutest thing I 'walked in on' was Olive (7) and Joey having a conversation
Olive, touching Joey's back and leaning in "Joey, are you excited to have a new baby?"
Joey, nodding, "Yes"
Olive, "Are you hoping for a baby brother or a baby sister?"
Joey, "A baby brother."

It was just so cute to see Joey having a conversation with another kid and she was being so tender and sweet with him I just wanted to cry. WAH!

The Dueck family gathering for Thanksgiving was c-r-a-z-y. It was at mom and dad's and there were I think 55 people there! It was SO FUN to see everyone and everyone was in such good moods. It was so fun!

Sadly, Joey decided this trip that he doesn't like my mom. I think it's really hard for my mom because she's trying to pack in as much bonding time with Joey into four days as she can, and Joey is NOT an in your face kind of kid. He needs time to ease into relationships. Not only that, he needs time to ease into his day.  For instance, when he wakes up in the morning, I hug him quietly for five minutes.  We go out into the main room and he quietly takes out the cars he wants to play with, and then comes to me when he wants me to play them with him.  I tell him well in advance when it's going to be breakfast time because I know that he needs a few minutes to wrap his head around the idea of moving from one activity to the next.  These are just things that make Joey Joey.

When we were in Chilliwack, my mom would come in when we were trying to do his bedtime routine and it would rock his world. He would freak and say "NO OMI! NO! GO!" It was embarrassing that I would end up having to say, "No, seriously mom. Go." (in a nicer way) and it could have easily been avoided if my mom had gone up to Joey while we were still downstairs and said, "Joey, Omi's going to do something special tonight. Would you like that?" (he would have said yes) and if she said "Omi's going to come to your room and say goodnight!" he would have been totally okay with it and even excited for the special thing to happen.

The reason that I know this would have worked is that Stuart's mom is this way.  Joey let's her put him down for nap time all by herself.  It's not because he likes her more, it's just that she understands Joey's needs (without even realizing it) and it's natural for her because she's that same personality.

Joey wouldn't have anything to do with my mom because the minute she walked down the stairs in the morning, it was "Joey! Get over here! Give me a hug! I wanna show you something!" And he was playing cars at the time and had a specific plan for sed cars and his mind just got electrocuted with Omi's demands and therefore he freaked every time.  If she would have gone over and asked if she could be one of the cars, he would have started a whole conversation!

My mom doesn't really listen to me and thinks that kids should just be flexible, so I didn't explain and just kept saying "Joey, remember to be kind" or whatever. It's really too bad.

Anywayyyy, obviously my mom is an amazing Omi and has nothing but the most loving intentions, so it kind of broke my heart that he wasn't being nice to her.  She just doesn't see Joey often, so she doesn't know him in the way that someone who sees him every day, or even ever y week, knows him :( In that way, it's really sad that we live far away.

Joey and Stuart's mom got along better than I could have even dreamed.  He did puzzles with her, let her feed him (even soup! and he hates soup!) and he even sang with her. Like, a lot! He doesn't even do that with me! It melted my heart!!!

I was on the fence about where we were going to stay when we come back for Christmas, but now, after seeing Joey with his Omi Dueck, I think I'm happy to stay there :) (even though, I obviously love my parents the most and would rather stay with them if I had no kids) :)