This is the Therapist Coming Out in Me

As a speech pathologist, I was sure that my baby would be saying all the "normal language development" sounds and words. You know, ball, juice, go, bath, duck... But no. Not my child. His language acquisition has been anything but typical. First he said, "what's that?". Then he started saying "push". He did say "da" for dog for a few times, but that did not last too long.

So what did he start saying today? "Berries".

All my speechie friends will agree: Initial /b/ is a pretty typical early developing sound. But medial /r/ and final /s/? Ok, I do admit the medial /r/ is pretty distorted (vocalized, maybe...or perhaps even deleted). But even that he is attempting is quite an accomplishment. And I love that he doesn't seem to be having any trouble with final consonant deletion...he has been saying all kinds of final /s/ babbles for 2 days.

And, yes, he is doing the sign for "more", with a good word approximation one time. What a brillant boy.

The Scene Last Night

Silas is in full teething mode again...this time with 1st year molars. He chews on everything and is drooling like crazy. Poor baby also has a runny nose. This time he is still sleeping through the night (THANK YOU LORD). But last night he did not want to go to sleep at his normal 8:00 time. So I went in, got him up, and he came to play on our bed for an hour. He was so sweet and just played quietly while Shane worked on his computer. Then at 9:30, he went right to sleep in his bed. I decided these were nights we wouldn't want to forget...




Shane's Disclaimer: The USC shirt was a Christmas gift that is worn only at times it may get destroyed.

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This morning Silas wore a sweet outfit that a certain uncle and aunt gave to him for his birthday. Thanks, Uncle Wes and Aunt Brooke! Silas received a multitude of compliments at church today and I had to work doubly on fostering humility rather than pride with him looking so cute!

Good for the Soul

Silas and I just got home this evening from a quick trip to St. Louis to see my two dear friends from college, Nikki and Lindsey. It was good for the soul to be together. The three of us have lived the details of life with each other from our late night talks in college to walking down the aisle in each other's weddings. We cried together through miscarriage and rejoiced in pregnancies. We have prayed for each other and challenged each other. We talk God, hair, clothes, dreams, decorating, food, and babies most of the time, but not necessarily in that order. We laugh a ton...mostly at each other as we share the incredibly real part of ourselves. It is always a gift to be with people who just know you. That's us. And this week was a gift.

We went to Grant's Farm on Tuesday. Silas and Lainey loved the tram ride...



Lindsey holding Silas with Nikki and Lainey...

Nikki pointing out the goats (I think, but maybe it was kangaroos) to very serious Silas and Lainey. It was a rainy and very cool day. We all wished we had on sweatshirts and ended up only staying about 45 minutes before we bailed and went to Panera for warm soup...

Back at the house; Lindsey playing with Lainey...

The two little kids playing in the kitchen and outdoors in the sandbox...

You can't tell in any of my pictures, but Lindsey is going to be having a baby in November. She is so cute pregnant! So I let her ride in the front (of course) and I rode with the little ones in the backseat while Nikki drove us around. I'll just say it was a lot of peek-a-boo, Dora, and Barney for one afternoon! But after all we've been through praying for and waiting for these babies, I wouldn't have it any other way. We girls already decided one of us is going to have to purchase a minivan for our future get-togethers...

Yes it was, girls...good for the soul.

Weekend Play

Grandma and Grandpa Lee came to visit this weekend. They came with gifts from Silas' birthday that did not fit in our packed-to-the-max car when we were coming home.

Silas LOVES his new house that Uncle Wes and Aunt Brooke got for him. But who do you think was having more fun playing right here...

Later in the day on Saturday we went to a park to play outside. It was a cloudy and cool day, a nice reprieve from the summer heat we have been having. We went down the slide and played with other playground toys, but swinging was by far the most fun...

Just a little evidence...

...of the walking going on in this house!

What is That?

Silas is still constantly asking "is at?" I wanted to get it on video and shot this little clip on his birthday. We were just about to go upstairs to get changed for his friends to arrive.

My Dad (Silas' Papa) celebrated his birthday one week after Silas. My father is one of the most thoughtful and reflective people I know. He has taught me to think deeply about Christ and the meaning of walking in close relationship with Him daily. I fall short often, but my father has been a gracious mirror of our Father, who continues to love us regardless of our faults.

My Dad was given this video recently and sent it to Shane and I. It is priceless on these days as we patiently answer Silas' never ending questions about the things he sees. Perhaps one day when Shane or I are old, we will have a similar encounter with our boy.

Dinner

Shane and I decided on Chick-fil-a for dinner tonight. People who know us are not surprised. We l.o.v.e. Chick-fil-a.

So we got all giddy when we realized it was "Dress up like a cow and get free food" night. Problem: no cow costumes (where is Chuck when you need him?!?).

Therefore, we decided to donate Silas' white onesie I was carrying in his diaper bag to the cause and draw black cow spots on it. I only had a black pen so the spots were not that dark. But as we were working on our makeshift cow outfit, a very nice lady came over and donated her black construction paper spots to us!

The workers were great and loved Silas immediately. He won a free meal for his cute costume. Shane got a free sandwich for his black spots on red shirt. So we had dinner for $1.75! It was great fun...the place was hopping and Silas got to meet the Chick-fil-a cow. We even paid our spots forward and handed them on to another surprised non-cow-costume wearing family.

Here is Silas with Daddy. The black pen spots are hard to see...

Silas really wanted to touch the cow...


And then he gave the cow five...

A Wonderful Day

July 2, 2008

It is a few days overdue, but I had to finish this series and write about the day Silas was born.

I was somewhat apprehensive about being induced. I was concerned that perhaps Silas was not ready to come into the world. I did not want to take his life into my hands. From the first moment that we found out about him, Shane and I had trusted the Lord with our boy. That was not going to change on the day of his birth.

So it was incredibly fun to hear all day from my doctor and nurses how ready I was to have a baby. I responded great to being induced, loved getting my epidural, and enjoyed every moment that led up to Silas' birth. It was a wonderful day. Highlighted by meeting Silas for the first time. What joy.

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July 2, 2009

We had a birthday party at our house on Thursday night for Silas. We invited a few friends from church, friends who have babysat Silas this year, a couple friends from my work, and our neighbors. One year after his birth-day, Silas' birthday was another wonderful day.

Luther and Augustine "helped" me decorate while Silas was napping. Then the puppies went off to play in our youth building for the rest of the evening...


I made Silas a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" cupcake cake. It turned out sweet...

After our friends arrived, Shane talked for just a minute about our prayer and desire for Silas as he grows...

Then Silas blew out his first birthday candle...

First taste of sweets...

Then Silas opened presents and played with his friends...

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How adorable is this bunch? All boys except little baby Lily in between her brothers...

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We are amazed that a year has passed, but are loving each and every new thing...

After our friends left and our one-year-old went to bed, Shane went to pick up the puppies while I cleaned up the house. Then we both started to pack. We left the next morning for Illinois, where Shane's family celebrated Silas' birthday with us on the 4th. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but very worth it. I will share more about that soon.

July 1, 2008

The night before Silas was born we took this picture...

If you look not-even-closely at my face you will see that it is a face that is ready to have a baby. I was more than ready. But I still wondered if Silas was ready.

At my pregnant request, we went out for dessert that night at the Pie Kitchen. Louisville natives know...it is good. I had chocolate cake and mocha chip ice cream. Nothing like ending my pregnancy on a high note. But it was delightful. It was the last thing I ate before baby arrived.

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July 1, 2009

Silas is 11 months, 4 weeks, and 1 day old. Have you noticed the counter goes by actual weeks and not by month-days? Silas was born on a Wednesday; exactly one year ago today.

Shane told Silas this morning, "It's your last day being zero!"

We played like crazy this morning. Then Silas took a 3 1/2 hour nap after lunch. When he woke up, I had all his presents wrapped waiting for him to see. His response? "Is at?"

We skyped with my parents tonight so Silas could open some presents with Papa and Nana. We had such fun...

Let the birthday festivities begin!