It's Update Time!

It's been a little while since I posted about Dylan's speech progress, so I'm here to remedy that. He hasn't had a session in 3 weeks because he's been all kinds of sick, but yesterday things clicked for him. He's still not using words, but he is now signing the word 'more', which is huge. Now Andrew and I have some kind of communication going with him. It's been awesome. A few days from now we're going to try introducing another word and we hope to continue in that way until real words are in play.

Now onto some of the fun things he's been doing. After months and months of wondering why Dylan climbs all over everything but still wouldn't climb out of his crib, he finally did it. Amazingly a week or two later, the awesome Katie offered us her son's toddler bed. Thank you! It's gorgeous and I love it, and so does the little dude.

That didn't stop him from saying goodbye to his crib in his own way. One last climb in and out.

He's also learned that the process for getting out of his eating chair is pretty much the same for getting back in. No clue why, but he keeps getting in it and just sitting there, even when he doesn't want anything to eat. Good thing we keep his chair on the floor.

Now for something Andrew and I have learned. Putting Cake Bites up on the counter does not mean they are safe from the grabby fingers of Dylan.

The toddler-proof latch on the fridge is also getting a ton of use. Dylan's all about getting the condiments and putting them in the dining room.

Now onto Wheel of Fortune. I'm gonna let you in on a very well kept secret. Any idea who trained Vanna White to be such the wonderful button pusher that she is? That's right. Dylan did.

Along with Wheel of Fortune, we've found out that Dylan absolutely loves the third Ice Age movie. Thanks for that fun gift Gramish! Something about the squirrely Scrat character just makes him smile every time.

Things with Andrew and I have been good. He's having a harder time at work because of the colder weather, but he braves it like a macho manly man and I love him for it. My little business is really taking off and I'm loving it. *Snickety Snacks* has been the perfect solution to my need to feel productive and meet new people. I'm loving it! All in all, our little family is doing wonderfully. Thanks so much to all the friends and family who love us. We love you too!

Our Little Growed Up Dude

Dylan turned 2 on Sunday and Andrew and I are still amazed that he's grown so quickly. Even though he's not really talking yet, this little kid has amazing facial expressions that let us know that he totally gets it. He keeps us on our toes, especially with his quick as lightning moves when it comes to grabbing snacks and treats. Here's proof.

I'm completely good with sacrificing cupcakes and such to make the little dude smile. As much as I loved the year just after he was born, I think this last year has been better, just in different ways. The hand holding, smiles, funky noises, headstands, carpet burns, slide riding, nugget eating, circle spinning and hugging days just can't be beat. Excuse me now while I go hug and squeeze on him!

Dancer Boy, Dancer Boy

Dylan does this little dance thing randomly which looks pretty darn close to river-dancing, minus the high kicks. He usually does it when he's excited about something or when he's try to get claps and 'Yeeeaaaa's from us. Well he has a new thing to be excited about I guess. Seeing as how I haven't been able to catch this on video for the last 6+ months, having one full minute is like being able to pet the Loch Ness monster. Amazing.

He's Almost Two!!

Wow, he's such a big dude! Less than a month and he'll be 2.

Yeeaaa For Puzzles!

Dylan had another session with his 'Speech Teacher' today and it went really well. Thank goodness she brought a puzzle! The little man is a whiz with those. Here's what she had to say:

"Dylan followed familiar request/commands, when he was asked to sit down he sat promptly. He engaged in play with a puzzle for 10 minutes. He completed a nine piece large knob puzzle. Dylan was encouraged to imitate animal sounds as he placed the piece into the appropriate slot. We worked with pop beads to increase using hands together, eye hand coordination and wrist rotation. Initially he needed support to connect the beads, by the end of the activity he was able to connect the beads with minimal assistance. Dylan communicated mostly with pointing, reaching and sounds."

The biggest change I've noticed is that he's making more sounds. When we would repeat a word to him, he'd always revert back to 'da-da' for some reason, but now it seems like he's listening more and he's picked up on saying 'mmmmm' when I say the word more. I still maintain that he's just going to talk when he wants to. The cute little content kid is happy with how things are.

Our Little Self Taught Gymnast

As I see the length of the afternoon nap slowly getting shorter, it's comforting to know that he's somewhat wearing himself out before he falls asleep. After 20 minutes of him jabbering in his room when he should have been sleeping, I went in to see what he was talking about. The world is fascinating up-side-down.

Oh, such a funny little dude.

A Happier Kitchen Part 2

I wrote about the happy new changes to our kitchen on my other blog, and I thought that since this is the family side of things, I'd write how we feel about it. I can't get enough. I'm so jazzed for all of the new space! Andrew is being patient and loving and keeps saying 'If it makes you happy then I'm good'. I'm trying not to go to crazy with it all. I think the little dude is on the fence about it. He loves that he can finally get in the kitchen, but baby proofing everything kind of puts a stop to it. Well, we thought we baby proofed everything.
Leave it to him to find the one thing that isn't latched shut. And once again, I ran to the find the camera and actually hoped he was still there, just like I did this time and of course when he did this. Talk about mixed signals. "Duuuuude, what's with the banging in the kitchen? Oh my goodness! What are you doing? Get down. Wait......stay there. I'll be right back. I hope you're still on that! Hold on.........Ok. Ooooooone, twooooo, three! *click* Ok, now you can get down." I'm capturing precious memories :o)

O.C.D. and Measurements

Andrew and I have noticed that Dylan is taking after me in a few interesting ways. He's becoming very particular about certain things and has recently started lining up everything. Blocks, cars, and now these little rings. He's also found a new form of measurement. This hallways is exactly one Dylan wide!

First Official Visit

After weeks of waiting for Dylan to get started with Infants & Toddlers, the person helping him with his speech finally came today. The first time I met her I had some reservations about how she would be with Dylan because she didn't try to talk to him or anything. Today she jumped right into it with him, which I loved. He caught right on with the toys she brought, and somewhat paid attention to the words she was repeating. But honestly, who can pay attention with new toys around? Here's what she had to say about today:

"Dylan had a wonderful session. He warmed up quickly to the provider and was very interested in the bag of toys. We worked with the shape sorter(triangle, square, circle). Initially Dylan needed hand over hand to help him place the shape appropriately. On his 2nd and 3rd trials, Dylan used trial and error to complete the task independently. Dylan was very attentive while working with the peek-a-boo blocks. Initially he only covered the base but with encouragement and model he stacked the blocks. He responded to requests and followed simple directions. Dylan was very quiet today, he used actions/gestures to get his needs met."

That last part was so cute. Anyone who spends time with him can agree that he's a pretty quiet little kid, but he's making up for it physically. Whenever he got all of the shape blocks inside the container he would grab my hand, raise my arm, and set the container in my hand. He'd then pull off the top on his own as if to say, 'Thanks, I got it now.' I felt like a robot. When I put my hands behind my back he went looking for them when he needed my help again. It's so cute to see him from somewhat of an outside point of view. I try to just sit back and let his 'teacher' do her thing, which gives me time to really watch the little things he's doing, like when he raises his eyebrows or clenches a hand while he's using the other one. He's a quiet dude, and we love him!

He's finally attached to something, and I'm jumping for joy! He was never a pacifier kid and still isn't attached to any toys or stuffed animals, and to a degree it worried me. I like knowing if he has preferences at all, outside of picking between Blue's Clues and the Backyardigans. Before he was born we bought two little green 'softy' blankets that I fell in love with. One is green with lighter polka dots, and this one is brown and green checkered with little elephants. The elephant softy has become his cape. He loves dragging it around and brings it to me so that I'll wrap it around his shoulders. Man I just wanna scoop him up and squeeze him. Cute little snuggly dude.

Just Because....

Little Man love, love, loves cameras. When he sees that I have one, he freezes and usually gives a cheesy little half grin. And yes, his shirt says 'Barf Vader'. I love my nerdy extended family.

We're In Trouble

You know, it really irked me the day that Dylan has his first evaluation for I & T. She said it wasn't good that he wasn't taking us to or pointing at things he wanted. I told her that when he wants things, he finds a way to get them. Too bad she wasn't here last night to see the Monkey in action. First try....

Yeah, that last little bit from him was a 'Hey Mom, I reeeeally want Dad's wallet that's up there. Help me, please.' Dude didn't need help from me at all. That little ledge combined with the wall and he did just fine. Second Try....

Success! This was the second time getting up there. He wasn't exactly happen when I took the wallet from him after his first attempt. I wanted to see how far he'd get. I kept saying 'No way, holy crap. Look at him!' I made him do it again so that I could share it with the online viewing audience. Practice makes perfect. Nothing is safe anymore.

How To Make A Tired Dylan.....

Directions:

1. Get a Grandpa & a Dylan

2. Count to 2

Oooone.....Twoooo.....

3. Now say 3 while tossing the little one in the air

Threeeeeee!

4. Remember to catch the little dude on his way down. We're trying to make sure the Mom(me) doesn't have a heart attack.

5. Repeat if necessary. I can guarantee that Dylan will think it is.

6. Grab the camera and snap pictures of the wonderful result of Grandpa's hard 'work'.Such a fun collection of plaid. I love Dylan's shorts.

Anyone else noticing that the dude always seems to be wearing the same few outfits? I really do change it up more often, I promise!

Question

Where did this big boy come from? I mean, I know he was kind of huge when he was born, but come on. As much as I love his independence now, I miss the squishy days where he had no choice but to be cuddled. It's just a matter of time before he's a 'Sunbean'. *Sigh*

Floating Feet

Last night as I was typing away, Dylan was finding a new way to work out. Well technically, Andrew was getting the workout. Basic start, just a "Hey, I can put my arms over these".

"Hey Mom, look!"

And wrapping up with a "I'm practically flying. Hey Dad, can you see me? This rocks!"

Andrew was very patient with me as I tried to snap pictures. Not surprisingly, I ended up with more fuzzy ones than clear. Dylan loved it though, even stopping to check the shots I took before going back to Andrew for more. (And no, none of those things in " " were actually said. The little man has decided to express himself in non-verbal ways. Sometimes it's mime, other times it's dance, but mostly it's just running around and climbing the couches, if that can be considered communication.)

Dylan Has Upgraded

Sandals are easy, but my big ol' honker shoes, now that's different. The little man has a habit of bringing your shoes to you and slipping them onto your feet. If he's not busy doing this with everyone that comes here, then he's managing to walk around in them himself. Watching him last night with my sister's high heels was hilarious, along with one of the evaluater's heels a few weeks ago. My shoes are a completely different story. They're big and clunky, and as cute as they look on him, he can't quite get them on me. I think the big problem is he keeps trying to drag my feet to them, instead of the other way around. At least he's cute to watch.

I love the last little 'hands on hips' bit, as if he's proud of his work. "That's right Dad, I did it!"

It's Like Lookin' In A Mirror

A bit ago I talked about the brainwashing Dylan has gone through when it comes to my Dad...check here. There's ever more of that going on, and Andrew didn't even notice it. Today I walked into Dylan's room while he and Andrew watched The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. See any similarities?
I was laughing so hard when I took this picture, I'm surprised it came out relatively clear. I love my dudes.

The Results Are In

Dylan had his second evaluation today with two ladies from the Infants & Toddlers program. It was so nice to have a more in depth evaluation. In case you want to know, here are the categories, the developmental age he is at, and the comments they made......

Cognition~23 Mo.~Dylan attends to pictures, places four forms on a board(a puzzle), matched 2 objects w/o being named, and nested 3 out of 4 cups.

Receptive Language~10 Mo.~Dylan responds to his name, understands inhibiting words, understand gestures and commands.

Expressive Language~5 Mo.~Dylan will make vocalizations, but is typically quiet. He did not make any consonant sounds, and he did not babble or jargym.

Social-Emotional~21 Mo.~Dylan plays near other children, approaches young children, shows periods of strong independence, and puts toys away on request.

Self-Care~Feeding 21 Mo./Dressing 22 Mo.~Dylan uses a fork and a spoon to feed himself, drinks from a straw and open cup. He attempts to put shoes on, unzips zippers, washes and dries hands with assistance.

Fine Motor~21 Mo.~Dylan uses 2 hands together, turns pages of a book one at a time, imitates crayon lines in any direction, places pennies in a slot, and stacked 3 blocks.

Gross Motor~23 Mo.~Dylan is able to walk up stairs independently, kick a ball, and jump from a bench.

Here's her Summary Statement.......
Dylan is an adorable 20 month old who was referred due to concerns regarding expressive language. Testing was completed in all areas of development. He demonstrated age appropriate skills in all areas except receptive and expressive language. Dylan was very quiet during the evaluation, and did not respond to some questions on the receptive language portion.

.......................................................

All in all, Dylan qualifies for the program and is going to start working with one of their Special Educators for his speech. Pretty much everything was expected. It's easy to tell by the silence that Dylan doesn't talk and isn't completely understanding us, which is why we're trying to get the ball rolling. We've made some goals for 6 months from now and have some things to do that should help him want to communicate. I'm just dying to hear him talk. The first time he full out said 'Daddy' I think my heart stopped. I know he'll talk when he has something important to say. For now, he's good at looking adorable.

Big Shoes~Tiny Feet

Being home has me a little out of my element, and I keep forgetting to put the dining table chairs in the kitchen behind the baby gate we have up. Dylan's been dragging them over to the light switches and going to town with them. He has this hilarious fascination with fans. He'll just stare, smile and randomly giggle when he sees one moving. Here he is, testing out our electricity....

Along with light switches, this kid is very into shoes, like most toddlers his age. He's all about my mom's sandals and Andrew's shoelaces. Today he tried to tackle mine. Thanks to the gigantic feet I have, skater-type shoes are usually all I wear. Not exactly compatible footwear for Dylan's tiny toes. Made for some cute pictures though.

Polka Dot BathTubs

I am so happy that Dylan and I were able to get out to Utah this last week. I know Andrew didn't love being left at home all alone, but he was good to encourage me to go. I haven't seen the majority of the family out there in 3 or 4 years, and none of them had met Dylan, so it was a great experience. The little man especially enjoyed Maryann's awesome polka dot bath tub....

We did a ton of cute store/yard sale shopping, and you'll have to check out my other blog for those items, along with photos of Maryann's place(once I make sure she'll let me share them). One of my favorite things was seeing "Singing in the Rain" at the Hale Theatre. I love seeing all the hard work that some of the members of my family put in to those performances. The costumes my aunts create are jaw-dropping, and the walls that my Grandma paints belong in art galleries. I love being a part of such a talented family. Dylan was quite an interesting little man to keep up with, but after the first day or two, he was at home at my aunt's place. Thank goodness for my awesome cousin and the dark room she gave me that made naps and nighttime sleeping possible for him. My mind is still a bit jumbled up from all the flying, but it was worth it!

Horrible Heat, But Great Family

Dylan and I are out in Utah right now visiting both sides of my parents' families. Despite the horrible heat, it's been so much fun. Getting to know cousins I haven't ever met, and others I haven't seen in 10+ years, not to mention catching up with all the aunts and uncles has been incredible. I'm definitely missing my Andrew though. It's going to be so nice to get home and see him. Remind me next time to bring him any time I take off for more than a day or two with family. It was adorable the other day to hear him talking to Dylan on speaker phone, while Dylan just giggled away. I know he's missing his Dad too. Two more days and we'll be home! At least I got some great pictures of Dylan here!

Can't Beat The Toddler Laugh

Evaluation Day

Dylan had his first evaluation for the Infants & Toddlers program today. Andrew and I have been a little concerned because Dylan still isn't speaking, so instead of waiting and hoping things will change, we decided to start the application process to get him into the county program. The initial evaluation was interesting. I was asked a bunch of question about Dylan's daily life, and then she tried some basic testing out with him. Well, we've got it completely confirmed that his motor skills are awesome. The dude is gonna be an architect or something when he's older because the kid can seriously build. As soon as she pulled out those blocks he went straight for them. She is concerned about the amount of ear infections he's had, so hopefully next week we'll be getting his hearing tested. Not exactly something I'm looking forward to. Dylan is a squirmy-wormy! The second phase of the I & T eval. will happen before the end of next month, it's just a matter of getting the right specialist out here to see him. For now I've got a whole bunch of new activities to try out with Dylan. Hopefully we'll have some new progress soon!

After the testing was done, Dylan and I had a hyped up game of 'chase' all around the apartment(sorry to my downstairs neighbors!). I wore him out nice and good right before his nap. He crawled under the desk and had a cute little monkey-ish posing session. These were some of the only ones where he didn't have a finger right up in the camera. The kid can't point to general things he wants, but as soon as that camera is out, he becomes Pointy McPointer-finger.

Just Wanted To Say.....

Happy Dad's Day to my wonderful husband.

Window Time

We have a wonderful window that spans a good portion of the wall in our living room, and it being a step up from the ground makes it one of Dylan's favorite places to jump from, or slide along. He was doing this cute thing where he'd lift one leg up and then slide in that direction, then he'd go back the other way. He's a cute little scooter.

Just Because

He's such a cutie.

One Determined Little Dude

I don't give Dylan enough credit. He's such a smarty. Lately he's been all about using everyday things to get to what he wants. I've had to rearrange furniture to make things harder for him, but it's not workin. Remember those books my Mom got from Costco, the edible ones? Well I kept them out of reach for a few days on top of the computer. Outta his sight, outta his/my mind, right? Wrong.
Now this was a complicated process, kinda. He got on the glider, reached the drawer, pulled it out, stepped up into the drawer, onto the desk, and onto the keyboard for a tiny bit of extra height(which royally screwed our computer for a while). Along the way he found the wheat thins and dumped them all over the desk. He then went for the books. He had 3 out of 4 once Andrew and I got to him. And of course, before removing him from the situation, we took pictures. He actually did this same thing a few weeks ago, going from the couch to the desk, where he wiped it almost clean of anything that was on it. I've gotta find those pictures. And I need to put all my furniture 2 feet higher off the ground. Oh goodness.

Brain Washed

When Dylan was just a few months old and sleeping in his bassinet, my Dad would cross the little dude's feet over and pose his hands behind his head. Sounds a bit strange, but it's something my Dad does when he's relaxing, so it was very cute to see. Now, over a year later, I can recognize the early brain washing attempts. Dylan is constantly crossing his legs when he's laying down, and even if he's sitting up or propped up on a pillow, those hands end up behind his head. Don't believe me? Stare at some cuteness....*From Dec. 08, but I just found it, and it further proves my point :o)
*I had to snap this quick. He looked so moody staring out the window.
*He turns into such a ham when he sees the camera.
*And the man behind the brain washing. Hilarious.

I love the guys in my life. They're keepers.