Bouncing Without Injury

So, the indoor playplaces with all the inflatable jumpy things are all the rage if you are 4. However, C's first experience at one such place was not very good. He ended up having some kind of trauma to his spine. Needless to say, we have not been back since and that was a little over a year ago. But, yesterday was C's "buddy's" birthday. C calls this little guy his "buddy". So we headed to Kids Party Jumps to give it another go. C had a blast this time. He jumped and climbed and crawled and slid non-stop, until it was time to eat cake, what more fun can a 4yo have! His sister on the other hand was a little terror. I think it as too overwhelming for her to be there in a loud environment with all the other rowdy kids and too much to take in. She has developed a high pitched LOUD scream to let you know anytime she wants anything, and man did she use it. She screamed b/c she wanted to get in, then she screamed b/c she wanted to get out, then she screamed b/c she did not want to get back in, then she screamed b/c she didn't want anyone else to get in. At one point, I said in a stern mommy voice "No, maam" when she was screaming and pointed to her mouth, but that hurt her feelings, so then she was screaming b/c she was sad, it was a lose-lose situation with her. We got in the van to leave and she was fine, go figure.

On another topic, I used to have mixed feelings about teaching babies sign language. I was never opposed, but just thought "why not just teach them to talk?" However, I have changed my position on this. AP is at that age/phase where she cannot say the words that she wants to communicate her feelings or needs. So, we have started trying to sign at home, just very basics. She can now sign "more" in her high chair when she wants something else instead of screaming "Mamaaaaa" at the top of her lungs. And on another note, our Euroshams from our bed are being taken over by dachshunds.