Reading, writing and arithmetic

We've been in Bozeman now for almost three months. For the past three months, Colter has been attending speech therapy weekly with a speech pathologist whom he loves. For about the last month I've been keeping track of his "new" words. We started with "mama" and "dada" and have quickly progressed in the last two weeks. Funny thing is he started "school" about two weeks ago. Maybe it's just a coincidence but I wonder if it doesn't have to do with him having to communicate his needs to someone other than the two people who know what he wants without having to say anything, mommy and daddy.

Here's what he's been working on...

moo
baa
neigh
meow
woof
up
down
on
off
in
out
blue
done
go
yep
more
help
bulb
hoo hoo (owl)
he also knows just about every sound of the alphabet and can count to 5 with his fingers

"New" words this week...
hi
bye-bye
mama up
dada up
bubble
green
no (here it is, the end of the world as we know it!)
gone
uh-oh
light

Of course we're ecstatic he's picking up new words but he's also hitting the "terrible twos." Tantrums, throwing and adimantly saying "no" are just a few of the things we get to look forward to each day.

Jackson and Jackson

This is my friend Mike's little boy, Jackson. Jackson is three months older than Colter. When we took Colter on vacation when he was only three months old, one of places we spent the day in was...Jackson. I had to get him a shirt with his "name" on it. I can't believe it was 18 months ago we got Jackson his shirt. Colter's almost ready to fit into the Huber University t-shirt Grampa got him. 

Cutie patootie with a capital C

 

A is for apraxia

As most of you know Colter has been seeing a speech pathologist. There's nothing better than the doctor's telling you they think something could be wrong with your child. The term they used was apraxia. Of course, since he's only 22 months they cannot tell us for sure but have told us that if it is apraxia we're getting help at an opportune time. We've been trying to keep it all in stride. I haven't researched apraxia for the simple reason being that I don't want to know. It's too early to tell if that's what it is so I just want to let things progress or not progress as they may and listen to the pathologist.

It's tough for a little guy his age. He has so many things he wants to say but just can't seem to get the words out. Of course this causes frustration on his and our part so to help him out he uses certain signs so he can communicate his needs. "Eat" and "more" are used on a daily basis. We've moved on from just signing to making the letter sounds along with the sign. Example, "mmmm" and the sign for "more." He picks up the signs and the sounds like nothing so that's promising.

Words he's picked up this week:

Moo
Ba
Walk (when prompted to add the sounds "whaaaa" with "ck)
Bue (for blue)
and something that sounded like "Lola" (from the cartoon "Charlie and Lola")

wildlife sighting #2

Same day at the Spanish Peaks.

Crane, Denny Crane 

Wildlife sighting

We spotted this heading home from the Spanish Peaks. No it's not a dog...or a coyote...it's a wolf! Actually there were three that were on the hill in front of us as we rounded a turn. They scattered uphill, then, after watching us for a few moments headed up over that hill. This picture doesn't do it's size justice since we were totally caught off guard and scrambling for the camera.

I love the smell of sulphur in the morning

If this doesn't just melt your heart. A father and son at the thermals in Yellowstone; a place you can toot and nobody will know. 

We're not in Minnesota anymore

This is called a "bison jam." During peak season in Yellowstone this activity can jam up traffic for blocks. Luckily, it's not peak season and the tourists aren't around to clog up the roads yet. It was 50 degrees and beautiful. 

True to his namesake

I think Colter's a natural. We didn't hand him this stick. He picked it up himself. It must be the genes. 

Mama's Little Helper

I'm never buying toys again. A broom makes him happy. A broom, people! I'm grinning ear to ear right now. On to the bathroom. Let's learn to clean the toilets! 

Can you smell the clean air?

Now this is a park! Just look at that view. This is about a mile and a half from our place and right across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Simmons' new townhome.