We're very lucky.
Jack is the sort of child
we all assume we'll have
when we decide to have children,
and the sort of child
less experienced parents
congratulate themselves for.January and February 2004
March and April 2004
May and June 2004
July and August 2004
September and October 2004
November and December 2004
Blogs we read:
Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 - Dad
Misti and I have been using the phonic sounds related to the words that we eventually want him to use to describe his world. We are also using signs as an interim measure so that he can refine his communications skills as his capacity for phonics takes its time to develop.
Over time, Jack has learned to respond to many of the words we use, and has learned to recognize sentences, He is a long way short of using them, but he clearly recognizes them. He also has a keen interest in behaviour and can anticipate our agenda by the things we are doing in any given moment.
He knows, for example, that when we put coats on we go outside. Any interruption to getting outside once the coats are on is met with confusion and discontent. He also knows that, when we go out, we are often going to get Mamma from work, and this makes him very happy indeed.
So I was sitting in my chair, feeding him the other day, expecting him to go off to sleep. The big grey cat, Minerva, jumped into my lap, and Jack sat bolt upright and declared �Kah kah kah� in a truly excited tone. Jack loves the cats .�Yeah that�s right, Jack, k-ah-t , cat� using the clicks and vowel sounds that he is capable of making to help him bridge the language gap.
The cat bolted and Jack went back to the more serious business of eating. His eyes began to glaze over and I figured he was off to sleep. Suddenly his eyes regained their focus, he snorted his milk and leapt up in excitement. �ck� �.�ah� �.�t� he declared with the hesitation that accompanies intense concentration �K�ah�t� �K�.ah�.t�. His face beamed as he �got it�. He worked out what I was trying to do for him and he was just so excited. �K�.a�..t� was all I could get out of him for ages after that. He wasn�t going to go to sleep any time soon either
Jack is a long way from talking yet, but to bask in the radiance on his face as �the penny dropped� is a moment that I will treasure forever
He now listens very carefully when I sound out words. He cannot always make the sounds himself, but he is listening and waiting for the day��
Take Care
Rod
