Who's voice is that I am hearing? Who could possibly have such a sweet little voice and be talking so much lately? You guessed it baby, it is you. The language is amazing and each day I hear new words. You are imitating not only the adults around you but also your peers and the best part - now it is not only me that understands but also those around you. I am not always needed as your translator anymore and honestly you are leaving the device aside and trying hard to find a way to communicate to those around you just as they communicate to you. You use a variety of expressive language and when that does not work you add in some emotion and gestures to make sure everyone knows exactly what page you are on.
With this comes more personality and opinions. I will happily hear them though and love see you continue to come out of your shell. I have to smile when you talk back to me and not because I approve of this but because I had started to wonder if you would ever be able to. In the past it was always as soon as you learned a new word of phrase you also lost one. It was as if you only had so much room to store the information and if you learned the word "applesauce" then you lose the word "please". I have been scared lately that as we continue to push and expose you to more language and increase our demands, that you would lose so much progress we had made. This fear has been unfounded though and you have even started to use phrases that you had once lost. Additionally, you are combining a variety of two or three word phrases independently and using language nobody has directly taught you.
The other day at breakfast out with a friend I asked you to "use your fork." You looked at me and simple said in a firm voice "HAND" and went back to eating your eggs with your hands. Needless to say I won in the long run but you did express your opinion. At this same breakfast you also asked me "play fork" which you know we do not play with our silverware, you asked me to "play keys" which I usually would not do but since I did not know you knew either of these words spontaneously you did gain access to the car keys, and finally, as I paid the check, you looked at the server and said "I'll be back." All of this not only occurred in the same time period but was also understood but those sitting with us and others.
We were playing at a little friends house the other day from your school. This little buddy has a lot of language and one of his current goals is to raise his hand when asked a question and say "me." The two of you were sitting at the table and his mom asked "who wants pizza?" Your buddy raised his hand and said "me" clear as day. So, you look at him, look at us, and spontaneously you imitate him and raise your hand and say "ME!" Needless to say you were quickly given all the pizza you could have wanted.
Some of your favorite expressions include "whoa," "need help," "can you help," "do you wanna go," "I'll be back," "more sprite," and "move." You have so much more you are saying and so much more you want to say to the world around you. By the end of summer we will come up with a plan on how your device will be used for next school year as your motivation is to use your own words but we also know the device is what has helped you make these gains and that the device still has language that you are not yet producing spontaneously or can help others understand you.
All you need is a little more time.
Keep on Truckin Baby
Love
Mom
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