A BIG BIG BIG Progress Report

Mommy was telling her friend, H, the other day that I don't like to turn my head and look at someone if they are calling my name. My teacher and Mommy had talked about it a while back and Mommy had tried for a few months to get me to look at someone when they called my name. She made games, she would make loud noises, she would sing praises if I responded...but it didn't work so Mommy decided to give it a rest for a while.

So now, 6 or 7 months later, I went to visit my friend K and his family while Mommy went to print the newsletter for Down syndrome Outreach. His Mommy (who is Mommy's friend, H) said that I turned around a number of times when she called me during our visit. So when Mommy got back and put me in the car, she tried it. Sure enough, I did it! I looked her way when she called my name.

But that's not all, I have another new development. The other day, I took a basket off of a shelf and gave it to Mommy. She handed it to me and told me I had to go put it back. I did. I turned right around and put that basket right where I got it from. Then at church on Sunday, I gave Mommy a toy from a bin but we had to go so she told me to put it away. Like a good boy, I did.

Those are pretty big steps for me. But that's not all. I recently learned how to speak the word, "hi". But now I can say "hi, dada". I actually combined words. This is big. It's not fluent yet but it has happened a couple of times now. I still really rely on my sign language skills to communicate but this is a big step to a more vocal communication.

Believe it or not, I'm also getting ready for my first Big Boy school conference. It is to be held on the 21st and will be about my transition from my Early Learning School (ages birth to 3) to the public school system. In March, I start going to my big boy school. The school bus will come and pick me up too. Mommy's gonna cry...I just know it. We are going to really miss my current school. They are so wonderful.

Mommy also wants to report that the bruise around my lip didn't really develop like she thought it was going to do, Jonah's fat lip is no longer fat, and his black eye is now just a scratch. The Christmas tune revision has been put to rest for now. But Jonah and I will surely come up with something else to add to our new song. Just give us a couple of days. We are two very active toddlers. But for now, it is safe for us to go to the grocery store and not have other shoppers giving Mommy a questionable look.