Vicksburg

In September Morgan and I took a little road trip together to Texas. I've been meaning to blog about it... so the next few posts will be about our adventures!

Growing up.

Today, Andrew learned how to climb out of his crib. I knew that it was coming... but I just am not quite ready to put Andrew in a "big boy" bed. When I heard a thunk from upstairs, I knew it happened. I climbed up the stairs and confirmed my thoughts.  I sweetly told Andrew that it was nap time, then asked him if he wanted to be in the crib or bed (we've always have both in his room). He said "bed." And with that little word... he became a big boy.

So, I scooped up all the toys, put them in the closet and got door knob covers to keep him out of the closet and stuck in his room. Within 30 minutes he was fast asleep. I guess Andrew's holding the reins on this transition, 'cause I'm totally not ready for it. I keep on trying to hold on to bits of babyhood with him... but he keeps reminding me with things like this that he's growing up. He keeps moving the cheese, and I guess I'll have to keep moving with it. (Metaphor from this book... every adult needs to read it.)

Sweet dreams little Andrew. Stay little!

P.S. And yes, pregnancy/mother/ being Emily sensitivities got to me and I may have shed a tear.

Snooze.

Andrew's slowly entering the age that we have days with out naps. It usually consists of him protesting in his crib until I give in. A few weeks ago we had one of those days. I was busy cleaning something and I realized that I didn't hear Andrew playing - I looked into the family room and saw this sweet little view.

He's growing up too fast!

P.S. This little man is still as crazy over Mickey and Minnie as ever. He LOVES his Mickey shirt and socks. :-)


Also, thank you for all your kind comments on my last post about Andrew's speech issues. They were much appreciated!

Wicked Night Out!

 I love musicals. So, naturally when a friend of mine set out to organize a Girls Night Out to go and see Wicked - I was TOTALLY in. I absolutely love Wicked, so I was a little more than excited.

We started the evening at Maggiano's for dinner (yum!)

Then we made our way down to The Fabulous Fox Theatre, in Atlanta.

The seats were great, the company was lovely, and the music and show were spectacular! I saw Wicked 6 years ago with my favorite roommates in college, I totally wish they had been there with us! Since the show, I've been humming the music pretty much non-stop. I would totally go back and see it tonight if I had the option. I just love that show!

P.S. Look closely! Baby (plus just having eaten a large dinner) Belly showing!

Speech.

I share a lot of things on this blog. There is one area of our live that I haven’t shared too much about. That area? Apraxia. Andrew was diagnosed with Speech Apraxia last year when he turned two. Speech Apraxia is “Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a motor speech disorder. For reasons not yet fully understood, children with apraxia of speech have great difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw and palate that are necessary for intelligible speech.”  So, in plain English – a severe speech delay. It is a neuro-pathway disorder. For some reason his brain isn’t firing away what it should when it comes to speech. When most kids learn a sound, they then apply it to every word with that sound. So… if they were to learn “bah” they then could apply it to ‘baby’,’ball’,’bath’. For Andrew – he’s having to learn each word as if “bah” was a new thing for that word. (I hope that makes sense!)

I knew pretty early on that Andrew had a speech delay (thank you to my degree in Child Development!). Even as a baby he wasn’t babbling or just screeching like other babies. By his first birthday I had started the conversation with my pediatrician about his speech delay and how I wanted him tested with a Speech-Language Pathologist. When Andrew’s birthday came around last year – it happened. We got him tested with an Audiologist (his hearing is perfect… but I knew that!) and with a Speech Pathologist. Diagnosis: Speech Apraxia. Basically – super quiet kid syndrome. 

Amazingly – We’ve taken it all in just fine. Morgan and I know Andrew is a smart kid, a really smart kid – and I knew right from the beginning that we were going to work through it. And honestly, there are SO many other things that some families are dealt, so something speech related – I could handle.

Sure, he’ll be in speech therapy for a long time. Sure, he’s going to have more trouble than some learning how to read. But we can handle that. 

When Andrew was tested last year his articulation was at the level of a 9 month old. Yes, a two-year old at the speech level of a 9 month old! BUT with the AMAZING therapy that he’s gotten (we have an AMAZING speech therapist – she is heaven sent) Andrew was just tested and is now articulating at the level of a 24 month old, amazing! So in 12 months, he’s advanced 15 months. Yeah! Every other area cognitively, physically, etc. he’s at or exceeding his age level. I know with more therapy, prayers, etc. Andrew will continue to progress as he is.

He’s a champ when it comes to therapy, at speech therapy (which we go to twice a week) and with all the therapy I perform at home. Man, am I grateful for his amazingly sweet disposition!  Anyways, I think I’ve written enough for now. But now that it’s out on the table – I will be writing more about it. We’re adding some more therapies that I’m excited about and will share soon. Here’s to speech, and man… don’t we take it for granted.