barefoot...

we have had a lot going on lately.  long car rides.  too many goodbyes.  but life is still good, and wholesome and beautiful. 

last night after about seven hours of our twelve hour car ride...camden might have begun losing his mind. and not in a good way.  the cry outs from a fifteen year old uncle sharing a back seat with a two year old are still ringing loudly in my ears today.  "ow camden, don't kick me".  so we took a short break, and i let camden walk around the car in a black asphalt parking lot barefoot for about twenty minutes. we walked in circles, stepped up and off the curb again and again, we picked at the grass, we felt the sun beat down and the wind blow by.  we took a long deep breath.  and when it was all said and done, the little put up one heck of a fight about getting back into that car seat of his...but then i noticed something...tiny black feet, stained from the dirt in the parking lot.  

this observation might not be significant to you...but it was to me. in two years, camden has never had dirt stained feet.  and i took the moment in and realized how much joy two tiny feet could bring to me, that moment surpassed the goodbyes, the long ride, the tantrums, the kicking...and thoughts of a tiny toddler walking around barefoot with tiny dirt stained feet this summer made my heart melt and brought a smile to my face. 

i wonder if i will notice the little things with my other kids...i hope so, i can't imagine life without them. 

i love you...

Camden (with prompting) started saying "i love you" through a mix of words and signs a few weeks ago :) i took video...it sounds more like (i of uuu) and he signs i by pointing to himself and love by puting his hands over his heart and moving his shoulders side to side, and "you" goes back and forth, it starts with a finger at you and then it ends at him haha, he apparently loves himself too ;) and i don't blame him, not one bit! here are the best videos i could manage...he is really only half paying attention when the camera is going, but you get the idea...

i am happy to report that after a few weeks of prompting, every other minute of every day, because i love it so...camden is now using the phrase all on his lonesome...and i melt. 

step by step...

 

it may have taken us almost five months since the day he took his first steps...but he is finally getting there...and loving walking again!

on a side note...in honor of World Down Syndrome Day on 3-21 i am linking up to this little post...the impact of down syndrome...where several fellow mommies, including myself, were asked how having a child with down syndrome has changed their lives...it is just the first in a series of posts honoring our littles on this blog, so be sure to follow along.

camden is turning two...

our littlest big boy is turning a whopping two years old next week..we are having a party to celebrate at our place on saturday the 28th (you will see a formal invitation on the blog soon)...i am so in love with this age...tantrums and all :) at almost two camden is....

*a first word user (meaning he uses single words, and copies or tries to copy the things that you say) words he uses on his own include: mama, dad, chase (ase), toe, two, turtle (tuwtuw), bye, that (dat), no, more (mo), oh, wow, santa (anta), nigh nigh, grandma (um ma), grandpa (pa), thank you (an ou), all done (a don), yes (es), head (ed), snow (noh), me (meh), yay...

*he will tell you what a cow, dog, cat, duck, monkey, bee, snake, gorilla, bear, tiger, dinosaur and wild thing says when you ask, or he sees one, he also knows most of the signs for different animals. 

*we stopped counting when he hit his seventieth sign, and he has learned so many more and he will often combine signs...like "roll ball"

*he understands a ridiculous amount when spoken to, and can answer a question he knows instantly...although he chooses quite frequently to ignore you.

*he gives hugs and kisses on demand.

*he can point to his head, toes, hands, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, head and hair when asked.

*he is walking! when he wants to...and he will only do something for people he doesn't totally know when he feels 100% confident about it. 

*he can walk up stairs with two hand support, alternating feet.

* he can turn around and go feet first off anything: down the stairs, off the couch....

*he dances standing up without holding onto anything, the kid can shake his little booty.

*he can bend over in the middle of the room and pick up objects and stand back up, sometimes walking them over.

*he uses a push toy and can get on, off and ride a push car.

*he can get up into a kid sized chair on his own and turn around.

*he can push his chair over to the couch and use it as a ladder to get onto the couch, although he doesn't like to if it feels unstable at all.

*he loves anything ball related, he loves to roll and throw them.

*he knows the words and signs for the colors: blue, yellow, red, green, brown,  black and white...and is beginning to understand the concept behind color (he is pretty consistent with red and blue)

*he is stubborn as all get out and hit the terrible twos around 18 months...lovin' those fall to the ground and kick tantrums...my fav.

*he is a great eater...finally! 

*he can use a spoon, although he is still working on consistency with the scooping action.

*he is learning how to use a fork and is getting pretty good.

*he drinks from a straw and open cup

*he can do simple matching puzzles.

*he loves to feed his elmo and cookie monster and knows how to get the cookies out of cookie monster's backpack, feed him and start over, he also loves to rock and kiss baby dolls and chuck them across the room when he is finished, haha. everything is a phone. he also likes playing with cars and doing the sound effects.

*he can work push button toys without help, and can navigate some apps on the ipad.

*he is quick to pick up on how to make things work.

*he loves to open the garage door, and has to do it every time we enter or exit.

*he knows the actions and signs to the following nursery rhymes/church songs: itsy bitsy spider, the wheels on the bus, patty cake, book of mormon stories, popcorn popping, up up in the sky, twinkle twinkle...and asks for each quite frequently

*he loves bubbles and can blow out of his mouth (not strong enough to get the bubbles going yet, but he is getting there.)

*he can put pegs into holes.

*he can do the ring stacker, stack 5 plus blocks and the shape sorter (most consistently with the circle, square and triangle)

*he is the first to fold his arms at the dinner table awaiting the prayer

*is obsessed with signing time and finding nemo, and asks for them anytime he can see a tv in the room...he loves to chant like the fish in the tank and pretend he can speak whale like dory.

*he knows how to work the dvd player (we had to turn off the touch screen buttons on the front so he couldn't get the dvd's out anymore)

*he loves rocking out to music...any kind, and can sing away into his pretend microphone like no other.

*he helps with chores...like wiping down the counters or floor, sweeping, laundry (more often than not he ends up making more of a mess, but that's ok) and when asked and in a good mood he will help put his toys away. 

*he can also make quite the mess, dumping toys out everywhere, emptying the cupboards and drawers, we can't leave the toilet seat up, 

*he loves to play instruments: drums, piano, shakers...you name it, he will play it.

*he signs potty before going number two :) and has been known to bring me over a diaper when he needs to be changed and there is one lying around.  he has also gone to the potty on his training potty multiple times, no we aren't training but getting him use to it here and there and really just trying to keep him from going in the tub. 

*he hands me his bottle when it is empty and he wants more.

*he loves books, he mimics the facial expressions of characters in the book, turns the pages, signs and points along as well. 

*he knows his signing time dvd's so well he signs the sign that is next before she gets to it.

*he goes to nursery at church and even though we requested an aid it hasn't worked out quite yet, but he is doing great in there anyway and eats his snack, listens to singing time, bugs the leaders to hold him, gives them hugs and sits independently and attentively in a kid chair with the other kids.

*goes to music class and a toddler class through early intervention, goes to physical therapy twice a month, sees a speech therapist here and there and has an early intervention coordinator pop in twice a month.

*his dr appointments have slowed and he is on a typical schedule with the pediatrician and doesn't need to see a cardiologist again until he is three.  

*he still has a hair pulling problem, although i have noticed it is when a kid invades his space bubble or he wants their attention...we are working on it, he also tries to kick them away if he is annoyed and when he gets hurt or angry he hits...again working on it. 

*he likes to wash his own hair, rub in his own lotion and brush his own teeth and hair.

*and if you ask him "camden how old are you" he holds up one and a half fingers and says "two!"

i love this little man of mine so so much and i am so excited for what the future holds for him...

a little christmas magic...

smile camden!

there is a definite difference this christmas than those of past years...because at age two, camden is starting to see it...he is taking it in...the lights, the tree, the snow, the big red guy with the beard...and if you ask him if he is excited for christmas...he says "yes" with a big grin and a head nod.  when you point out to the falling snow, he smiles shyly back and signs snow while he says the word "noh" and after taking the above picture he now recognizes the big guy everywhere we go...and so sweetly signs santa while attempting it with "ata".  and i giggle and he giggles and the magic of christmas is creeping back into our lives...and i couldn't be more ecstatic, because there is nothing more magical to a child than christmas, and there is nothing more magical to a parent than watching a child at christmas.

preferences...

as of now camden still prefers to crawl...i on the other hand, would prefer he get off his little tushy and walk. i don't think it is too much for me to ask, since two plus months ago he showed us he could and he is up to ten consecutive steps now, and understands how to slow himself down and balance. apparently camden doesn't see it that way. about a month ago camden tried out walking to get around, and somewhere along the line, he decided he prefers his hands securely on the ground. his therapist even wrote the following on his report last week: "camden is able to walk, but chooses not to"... i can't say that i blame him, he is a fast little fireball on all fours...but i am dying a little over here.  the only time he will stand up and take steps is if we are begging, pleading with him to do so...and so for the last few weeks, i have been pretty down about it.  and then this morning i was getting ready and i watched him in the mirror come crawling in from the hallway, and i realized that i should be cherishing these last few months of crawling, because i know soon enough he will stand up and take off on two legs, and that little piece of baby in him will be lost forever.  so crawl away little man...because you are getting bigger everyday, and a part of me just wants to yell "STOP!"

update on hannen program...

so i blogged about the hannen program back in september...and i have two classes left and wanted to do an update on how i felt everything went.

the idea behind the program is to train the parents to be able to most effectively communicate with their children through the different stages of communication...and to hopefully help the children to gain a better understanding of language and the need behind communication. the program utilizes all forms of communication (sign language, speech, pointing, pictures...) and helps you as the parent to understand where it is your child is in both understanding language and expressing communication.

here is what i loved about the program:

they trained me to be a speech therapist for camden...so instead of sitting in an hour long therapy session with someone else trying to get camden to communicate with them it is all about how we, as parents, communicate with our kids. i loved this because camden is shy, and i see three thousand things in a day, that a therapist probably won't ever see in an hour a week...so i know where camden is with his communication and i can build on that more effectively than an hour a week with someone else who doesn't see what he is capable of day in and day out.

they took video! and yes it was intimidating, but it was sooo helpful to see how camden and i interact and what things i do naturally with him, and what i can improve on. they did a new video every two weeks so that you can track how you have changed in your interactions.

they help you better understand your child, his personality type and the ways in which best to communicate with him through each stage.

they took everyday scenarios and turned them into learning moments. because honestly, when do we have time to sit down with our kids all day and work on speech...we don't. so they show you how to take your everyday routines, that you are already doing, and naturally work communication into them using several techniques that build upon one another. it helped to make the process of speech therapy a natural part of our day, and gave us the ability to actually incorporate it throughout our day.

and so much more...

there were really so many great things that i took away from this program...and i would definitely recommend it...we started it in september, it was on wednesdays for 2.5 hours, parents only (two weeks on two weeks off) with an at home follow up and video taken on the off weeks). time consuming, yes, but if you have the time it is worth it. if you don't have the hannen program in your area (our school district offered it through early intervention) they have a book. it takes two to talk

i can honestly say we saw a huge improvement in camden with his communication. a lot, i am sure, was because we caught him right at the time that he was ready to learn and beginning to take off with his communication, but i do feel like hannen helped me to best take advantage of the last few months. he went from twenty or so signs to over sixty. he went from saying mom and dad and no to attempting to say around 16 words (they definitely aren't perfect words and mostly vocalizations like "eise" for please and "aaaaba" for amen but they are attempts at speech!)...he is also making 6 animal sounds. plus you take what you have learned and move forward on your own after the program ends. so all in all, it was well worth it for us.

we will still see a speech therapist throughout next year, to help camden gain the muscle tone in his mouth he needs to speak clearly, but this program was a great start.

walking update...

cam might have decided today that walking is going to take priority over crawling...woohoo. meaning...he is up to four steps (remember...i had faith) and he isn't crawling to get close enough to something before he tries to walk to it anymore...he just stands up wherever he is...takes a couple steps, eats it, stands right back up, takes a couple steps, eats it...until he gets to whatever he is going for...he does this for distances within about ten feet...so no, he isn't walking ten feet all in one swoop but this kid is going places. and we are so proud of his enthusiasm.

GO CAMDEN!

dreams...

i wake up sometimes, from dreams that feel so real...and they are amazing dreams and heartwarming and in them camden is accomplishing great feats...in one dream a few months back, cam just stood up and started walking, and he was amazing and flawless (i have had this dream a few times since), sometimes i dream that he speaks eloquently and clearly, even if it is just one word, it is clear and concise and i know without a shadow of a doubt what it is that he is saying to me. and then i wake up, and i ask myself, was that just a dream?

they feel so real.

and i eventually come to, and back to reality and the knowledge of that sinks in, deeply. don't get me wrong, camden is accomplishing great feats, every day...and i know that one day he will walk across the room with ease, and he will speak beautifully and concisely...but he won't do it today.

a few days ago camden was looking at his electronic book and after turning a page he would reach up and push the tiny button on the top of the book to get it to read to him...i didn't teach him that. and i was thrilled, because for the first time in his existence he learned something without the concept being drilled into his brain, without going over it a thousand times, without hand over hand motions, he just...figured it out. and i realized then that other kids learn a lot of things on their own, no one has to move their arms and legs in a crawling motion, they just do it. no one has to twist their bodies and contort their muscles, no one has to walk through the motions on how to sit up, or how to pull up to stand, they just learn when they are ready to. and that amazes me.

but it also helps me to realize just how determined my little guy is, how much he wants to succeed. he deals with the hand over hand, and the twisting and contorting and the forced motions (most of the time) because he wants to learn! and i know that he will learn things on his own, and that he will continue to accomplish great feats...it is just going to be one day at a time.

caught on camera...

i finally caught this little guy on camera! for the last few weeks he has only tried walking randomly and i never had my camera, until yesterday when he decided he was going to practice all day!

family...

we spent last week in idaho visiting billy's parents...while we were there camden realized his mad potential as a future pianist...the kid can sit for an hour listening to grandpa play and banging on those keys himself...

he also decided that his favorite person in the world is his uncle chase...he even started saying chase last week...it sounds more like "aiz" because he doesn't know how to make the "ch" sound yet and his "s" is a little sharper and more of a "z" but that is what he is trying to say, and i couldn't be prouder of him!

wobble wobble...

guess who just took his first deliberate, all on his own step...that's right...the cam man!!!!!! pretty good for day three of 31 for 21 :)...he just wanted to be sure to show off for you all! i am pretty sure i almost cried...we have been practicing for a little while holding onto the back of his shirt ever so lightly and pushing him to walk forward and letting go to get him to take one or two steps on his own...but today was the first day that he deliberately stood up on his own, in front of the mirror of course....and took one step forward all on his own, leg bent and off the ground and replanted all on his own, and then he lunged forward onto his hands. he is on his way!!!!!

did he just...

you have to watch it clear to the end...there might be a big surprise!

it is amazing how every new step is its very own milestone, i am loving it.

push it...

cam has been experimenting with the push toy for a little while now, but he has gained more and more confidence with it and so i shot my first video of his newest venture!

transitions...

beside the fact that camden tried to bite his therapist this morning due to unwanted completion of a task (he wanted to take the rings off, not put the last one on), we had a fairly productive day...

we are currently working on getting camden to use a spoon, he has the pincer grasp down and can self feed with his fingers (when he doesn't throw whatever it is on the floor) but hasn't fully transitioned into using a spoon quite yet. his speech therapist recommended using edible things that can also double as a spoon to start out, and having camden dip them into a yummy treat...his favorite combo, vanilla pudding and biter cookies...i think it is working great!


we also give camden a spoon to explore with at the same time, and today he took it out of the pudding and put it straight into his mouth! yay!

(ps. don't mind the fact that the cranberries are on in the background, and i may or may not have been humming along...haha)

just because...

i know my blog is overrun with video clips these days, but i can't help it...
~
the toughest thing about having a 16 month old who is the size of most 8 month olds (or younger) is finding developmentally appropriate toys that fit his tiny frame...but every once in a while we get lucky...this was a christmas present from a certain pair of grandparents and i am happy to say, g and g bush, that he now loves his truck! (click here to see how cam first responded to this now treasured gift)

every day i love him a little bit more...i don't really know how that's possible.

a,b,c's...

a couple of months ago we started speech therapy with cam...i felt like he was doing alright with making a few sounds, he did mama, dada, baba, goy, nana...so what i really wanted from therapy was to get him eating more (he was having problems moving to more solids...he ate stage three baby foods all day long, bread, puffs of all sorts, and cookies and french fries, but had a problem with choking and then vomiting on pretty much all other foods, including his bottle, and he wasn't taking a sippy or a straw). along with his speech therapy weekly, his early intervention coordinator through the school district set up a feeding eval and encouraged us to encourage cam's speech by repeating every sound he made to us, back to him (and i mean every sound).

so we faithfully went, every week, even though cam had mad stranger anxiety with the therapist and spent half of every session clinging for his life to my neck. and billy and i have been making an extra effort to repeat every single sound that comes out of our boy's mouth. we got some great advice on eating from the therapy sessions, along with our early intervention coordinator, each week. i also started singing a,b,c's to camden at bed time, i sing once through the traditional way...a,b,c...and then through with just the sounds (ah, ba, ca, da...). i do it at bedtime because that is when i have his fullest attention, he will do anything to postpone going to bed.

so here we are one and a half months later and cam is now eating and swallowing (without choking) small bites of meat (chicken, meatballs, vienna sausages), small fruit slices, yogurt, fruit bars, cereal bars, bagels and cream cheese, peanut butter, steamed veggies, most anything sweet, graham crackers, pudding...you get the idea) and he hasn't thrown up anything in about three plus weeks! we still have a long way to go, because the bites are still ultra tiny but we are getting somewhere! he is also drinking through a straw!

as far as speech goes, he has started to blossom, he is trying to mimic a lot of sounds we make, where before he would only mimic mama and the other sounds he only said when babbling...now he copies ma, da, ba, wa, ga, ka (this one is a little throaty), s (it's a mix between an s and th, because he has no top teeth, but it sounds pretty dang good for a toothless s), h, na, doe, no (which he is also saying in correct context here and there), ta, oh, uh. we are really working on getting him to say uh oh and hi and the e and i sound...but he hasn't quite yet. all in all i am so excited to see improvement!
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seeing cam blossom and knowing that he can and will continue to accomplish so much is so amazing to watch! we are so proud of his hard work! and so thankful that we live in a day where the help that he needs is available.

uh oh...

my sweet, innocent, baby boy is a hair puller and biter to boot! we are starting time out this week, since he laughs when mommy signs owie and pretends to cry and since he has branched out farther than family members and thinks that you initiate play time by grabbing hold of the nearest head of hair and pulling it in...something has to be done. he goes into nursery at church in just two short months and i definitely do not want to be called up because cam took a chunk out of some kids scalp and laughed about it before he bit him. so we will see how the time out thing goes. if anyone out there has experience and suggestions...please feel free!

apparently he doesn't like tile...

motivation: keeping knees off of the tile...maybe we should tile the entire house?

just a little somethin' somethin'...

note his leg movements in the background mirror...