I wanted to post on how Lilienna is doing; no pics this time. Stop reading now if proud parent bragging will sicken you.
She is, all in all, blowing us all away with how cute and funny and sharp she is. But I guess all parents say that about their kids, hmm? We're looking at preschools for a few hours a week when she's older to give her even more time around kids; she loves her friends. She has had such a great time at playgroups at the library and Music Together classes, and of course our soon-to-be-official play/support/hangout group (more on that in a later post).
We are lucky enough to have found an area with an amazing, if informal, support network. Some of our friends are working on creating an official affiliate of the NDSS to make it easier for other individuals and families in the area to find our little posse, and to help in organizing new local events like next year's Buddy Walk.
Lili's had her first few minutes of fame; a local magazine wrote an article about Strawberry Fields, her wonderful early intervention provider. We got to be the featured family. It was an itty bitty article about their 35 year anniversary. They mentioned the 'Mercury' Lili uses (basically a souped up touchscreen computer). She was introduced to this by a great research project Penn State is doing, using augmentative communication devices with very young children. Lilienna just eats it all up; she knows most letters and is very good at letting us know what she wants - either using picture cards, signs, words, or her computer. The computer is great, but I think she has gotten even more benefit from the little laminated velcro picture cards we have in big albums and signing (Signing Time on PBS is awesome). My take on the premise of the study is: why not start using other methods of communication as early as possible? Lili started using the computer at 10 months, and there are kids in the program now who started even younger. And we started signing with her when she was teeny. Her favorite signs now are "want" and "please". Insert favorite thing as necessary. (Being almost two, her favorite spoken word is n.o. No sign needed).
She pushed her stroller clear around Toys R Expensive today, saying 'walk, walk.' Whenever Henry comes to visit, she makes great progress with those big kid things.
Ok, sorry, enough bragging. Time for bed.
She is, all in all, blowing us all away with how cute and funny and sharp she is. But I guess all parents say that about their kids, hmm? We're looking at preschools for a few hours a week when she's older to give her even more time around kids; she loves her friends. She has had such a great time at playgroups at the library and Music Together classes, and of course our soon-to-be-official play/support/hangout group (more on that in a later post).
We are lucky enough to have found an area with an amazing, if informal, support network. Some of our friends are working on creating an official affiliate of the NDSS to make it easier for other individuals and families in the area to find our little posse, and to help in organizing new local events like next year's Buddy Walk.
Lili's had her first few minutes of fame; a local magazine wrote an article about Strawberry Fields, her wonderful early intervention provider. We got to be the featured family. It was an itty bitty article about their 35 year anniversary. They mentioned the 'Mercury' Lili uses (basically a souped up touchscreen computer). She was introduced to this by a great research project Penn State is doing, using augmentative communication devices with very young children. Lilienna just eats it all up; she knows most letters and is very good at letting us know what she wants - either using picture cards, signs, words, or her computer. The computer is great, but I think she has gotten even more benefit from the little laminated velcro picture cards we have in big albums and signing (Signing Time on PBS is awesome). My take on the premise of the study is: why not start using other methods of communication as early as possible? Lili started using the computer at 10 months, and there are kids in the program now who started even younger. And we started signing with her when she was teeny. Her favorite signs now are "want" and "please". Insert favorite thing as necessary. (Being almost two, her favorite spoken word is n.o. No sign needed).
She pushed her stroller clear around Toys R Expensive today, saying 'walk, walk.' Whenever Henry comes to visit, she makes great progress with those big kid things.
Ok, sorry, enough bragging. Time for bed.
