Thursday, December 17, 2009

100.


This is my 100th post. This is a huge, monumental feat in the blogging world (though it has taken me a little longer than planned to get here!) And me, wanting to give my centennial moment the absolute glory it deserves, have been overly fretting, mentally writing my century post in my noggin for weeks (2, I think, to be exact.)

For such a momentous occasion, I decided to write about what has had the most momentous effect on our lives right now- Cole's speech.

Now let me start by saying that this is probably the single most asked about topic in our lives currently, not to mention the most commented on in social settings. You can not begin to fathom the frustration (on our end and Cole's) of having a late talker unless you have been there. Having such a precocious, rambunctious, and curious little boy who can not express himself is more disheartening than one can begin to understand. There is also nothing equally as frustrating as those (who think they're being quippy or cute) who make comments such as "Oh, I wish my two year old couldn't talk!" or "Once he starts talking, you'll wish he never had." Again, if you haven't been through this, you can do little to begin to understand the frustration and then the utter relief I feel with EVERY single word this kid speaks. In my world, every single word (small or big, but mostly small still) is an enormous accomplishment. Nor can you begin to understand the constant thread of doubt/guilt that weaves its way through my thoughts causing me to wonder if there is more I could have done, more I could do, or more I should have done better.

That being said (*sigh*), Cole is still receiving speech therapy once a week. He had his 6 month reassessment in October, and was determined to still require services. Then, a week ago, I met with his coordinator about beginning the transitioning to preschool process, since it is quite the ordeal, and we have to start relatively soon (January).

What makes this all so momentous in our lives right now, is the fact that Cole has been making leaps and bounds the last 8 weeks or so. Now, all you with normal speech pattern children, might think that means he's talking. Well, not quite. He is however up to over 20 words (HUGE! for us, since he started speech therapy with only 3- and those 3 he had or over a year!) and has recently been able to tell me stories through a series of words, sound effects, gestures, and prompt questions from me.

I can't even begin to tell you how awesome this is!

I was actually able to find out all about his night alone with his dad from him! (I was at a cookie exchange) I asked a lot of yes/no questions, but he was able to answer! (He's been saying no for a while, but just recently started saying "yup"- like in the last 2 weeks. HUGE!) He told me where they ate dinner, how the video game he likes was still broken- but they raced boats instead and knocked over balls, how he watched movies, ate popcorn (it was "hot" by the way) and played with dad. Of course, it was not in so many words, but for the first time EVER, I was able to have an entire conversation with my son!

We are also finally to a point where he can (in one way or another) communicate to us what he wants, whether its to "eat," watch "ball" "vroom,vroom" or "choo choo," or even tell on Dozer "oh no, maaa (that's me!) Dozer EAT"- usually at lunch/snack time, when Dozer has run off with Cole's unattended food.


We are finally making noticeable progress, and I can't begin to tell you how good it feels.



We, of course, still have a VERY long way to go, and a couple of speech delay disorders to completely rule out, but we are on our way.




I have never been so excited nor had greater anticipation for incessant talking.





Now, if only I could teach everyone else what he's saying...

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thanksgiving weekend picture OVERLOAD!

So we had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend as always. It started with a trip down the hill to the Geupel's for an amazing Turkey Day feast (courtesy of the Geupels and Hartmans). So YUMMY!

Cole couldn't resist being outside...
...nor could he resist splashing in the pool!
At least it was a gorgeous, warm, Arizona fall day!
He also decided to help Gaga with some work...


We went to the zoo the day after Thanksgiving with my family.
We took a trip on the zoo "train"

Checked out the super active monkeys in the Monkey Village
Cole tried to get an up close look at the orangutans. Good thing Grandpa was holding on so tight!
We visited the newest exhibit of Komodo Dragons (just glorified alligators, if you ask me)
(no I was not allowing Cole to play with the dragons- its just a statue outside the exhibit)


However, this tractor had to have been the highlight of Cole's trip (of course!) Anyone familiar with the movie Cars should know about tractor tipping, which happens to be Cole's favorite part of the movie. Cole repeatedly yelled HONK! while playing on the tractor and laughing!
(This is something he does with all his toy cars, too. Everything gets honked at and then tips backward!)

Saturday, we had an amazingly relaxing and lazy Saturday. We did go to Wally World to see if there were any left over deals from Black Friday, and wouldn't you know it, in our small town, there was! We scored a great price on a Blu-Ray player, which I am stoked to go buy Harry Potter 6 on my birthday next week and enjoy the "Blu-Ray Experience!"


Sunday, we started pulling out some Christmas decorations, and then decided to go do our part with helping 'thin the forest.'
We actually found this beauty about 50 yards away from where we found last year's beauty
(top secret spot, not telling where, but know that the bottom of the tree we cut last year is doing wonderfully, and we even noticed one of its neighbors that had been cut is actually flourishing!)

Cole, being keenly aware of his dad's axe wielding skills, took cover! haha

As Cole would say- Ta Da!!!
My son is really into weaponry (wonder where he gets that from?) and decided the axe made the perfect gun to shoot me with. I find this somewhat disturbing...

Although Cole was so cold that he was UNCONTROLLABLY shivering, he was more than devastated that we were leaving the forest...
I know I should not be as entertained by this as I am...
HAHAHA!!!

Good thing Dad found a rock...

Whew! And a stick. All better!

We had to change tree locations this year, since I moved the piano to the tree's home from last year.
Boy is it a monster! LOVE IT!!!

Probably the highlight of Cole's entire weekend was his acquirement of my brother David's old TV. (David scored a TV at his own Black Friday Sale).
Abe and I had been under the assumption that the TV in our bedroom had taken its last breath, only to realize when going to install my brother's TV, that the power cord was just hanging by a thread- you know, just enough to occasionally give the TV power and then have it go out 30 seconds later. So our TV is back up and fully functioning, so Cole inherited my brother's.


He is in heaven!


This could end up being a problem, huh?

To pry the little man away from "Vrooom Vroom, Honk, hahaha" (Cars) for a minute, Abe let Cole pick out and hang the first ornament on the tree.
Of course, he picked a Tonka ornament and then a "ball"


This wasn't technically from the weekend (Monday, after speech, actually) but Cole refused to take a nap that day, was being an absolute stinker, so while I tried to get a few things done, he asked to watch "Vroooom, Vrooom, Honk, hahaha" and I came back 5 minutes later to find this...


I made the mistake of waking him up about 45 minutes later (it was 6:00pm for crying out loud!) and he was an absolute stinker the rest of the night. However, he slept until 9:30 the next morning! AWESOME!!!


All in all it was a great Thanksgiving weekend, yet again, and we could not be more thankful for it. Nor could we be more thankful for this little guy who is the light and joy of our lives!!!