Monday, June 30, 2014
Mini Milestones: Walking Down Stairs
For Gwyneth, the larger milestones are spaced father apart than for typical kids, so we tend to notice and celebrate a lot of the mini milestones that happen in between. One of her latest accomplishments is walking down the staircase without any help.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Long awaited update
Well, hello again!
I've decided to reopen my blog to chronicle our life with Gwyneth once again. Life has certainly not stopped or slowed down since the last time I posted almost two years ago! Gwyneth just completed her first year of Kindergarten at the public school, but will be repeating that grade for the 2014-2015 school year. The experience of moving up from pre-K had some ups and some downs for her. I am now expecting each year to bring its own challenges.
For our family, the latest news is that little brother Ryker is not so little anymore (at age 3, he is starting to pass up 6 year old Gwyneth in weight and height) AND we will be adding one more child to the mix this fall! We are expecting a little girl at the end of September and both kids are very excited for their new baby sister.
Summer is moving quickly for us already. We spent a nice two week vacation visiting family and friends in Colorado and returned this week to our home in Georgia. As we get back into our routine, I'll be blogging about our busy therapy schedule, some summer homeschooling activities, and our activities with the Down syndrome community locally and online.
Cheers!
I've decided to reopen my blog to chronicle our life with Gwyneth once again. Life has certainly not stopped or slowed down since the last time I posted almost two years ago! Gwyneth just completed her first year of Kindergarten at the public school, but will be repeating that grade for the 2014-2015 school year. The experience of moving up from pre-K had some ups and some downs for her. I am now expecting each year to bring its own challenges.
For our family, the latest news is that little brother Ryker is not so little anymore (at age 3, he is starting to pass up 6 year old Gwyneth in weight and height) AND we will be adding one more child to the mix this fall! We are expecting a little girl at the end of September and both kids are very excited for their new baby sister.
Summer is moving quickly for us already. We spent a nice two week vacation visiting family and friends in Colorado and returned this week to our home in Georgia. As we get back into our routine, I'll be blogging about our busy therapy schedule, some summer homeschooling activities, and our activities with the Down syndrome community locally and online.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
31 for 21 Sibling Sunday: COPYCAT
Ryker likes to copy most of what Gwyn does especially with speech and sounds. This can be very cute, and it can be not so good. Like when Gwyn is screaming or grunting because of an auditory or other aversion in the environment. Ryker doesn't understand her reaction and usually thinks she's trying to be funny, so he wants to do it too. Besides those times, he is very cute when he tries to copy some of her phrases and says them in her unique voice.
I can't remember when Gwyneth and I started the "Where are you?" game, but it must have been when Ryker was just a newborn. I've almost forgotten that this phrase was started by her, because now Ryker is the one who says it all the time in the exact way that Gwyn says it. They yell out "WHERRRARRRUUUU?" in one long sing-songy word after someone or some object's name.
"Mahhhhh Meeeeeeee, WherrrrARRRUUU?"
"Doggy, WherrrARRRUUUU?"
"Football, WherrrARRRUUU?"
Ryker and I use this game all the time -- it's a great way to redirect him if he's starting to whine for something he can't have. I ask him where something is that he CAN have and he searches for it while calling out "WherrARRUU" and he is excited when he finds it. Ryker uses Gwyn's exact voice for this phrase. I wonder how long it will be before he breaks the words up into individual clearly pronounced words.
"Where Are You?"
He has other funny phrases of his own with the "Where are you" game that he says all the time:
"Where Dit Go?"
"Where De Other One?" (he really likes things in pairs)
And of course "There it is!" which is always preceded by a big exaggerated expression of jaw-dropping surprise.
I have found myself now using some of Ryker's language when I talk with Gwyn. He's in a very talkative phase so he's teaching me a lot about keeping up a conversation with a toddler. Gwyn is still farther along in speech development than Ryker, but she internalizes a lot of what she is hearing and learning so I don't get much instant feedback. On the other hand with Ryker, I get constant feedback about how his language is evolving every day. He repeats everything and he practices, practices, practices talking. Gwyn will repeat individual words if she's in the mood for it, but sometimes I can't tell if she's even paying attention. But then, later on, she might say a word or phrase in the right context and I'll realize that she was listening after all.
I can't remember when Gwyneth and I started the "Where are you?" game, but it must have been when Ryker was just a newborn. I've almost forgotten that this phrase was started by her, because now Ryker is the one who says it all the time in the exact way that Gwyn says it. They yell out "WHERRRARRRUUUU?" in one long sing-songy word after someone or some object's name.
"Mahhhhh Meeeeeeee, WherrrrARRRUUU?"
"Doggy, WherrrARRRUUUU?"
"Football, WherrrARRRUUU?"
Ryker and I use this game all the time -- it's a great way to redirect him if he's starting to whine for something he can't have. I ask him where something is that he CAN have and he searches for it while calling out "WherrARRUU" and he is excited when he finds it. Ryker uses Gwyn's exact voice for this phrase. I wonder how long it will be before he breaks the words up into individual clearly pronounced words.
"Where Are You?"
He has other funny phrases of his own with the "Where are you" game that he says all the time:
"Where Dit Go?"
"Where De Other One?" (he really likes things in pairs)
And of course "There it is!" which is always preceded by a big exaggerated expression of jaw-dropping surprise.
I have found myself now using some of Ryker's language when I talk with Gwyn. He's in a very talkative phase so he's teaching me a lot about keeping up a conversation with a toddler. Gwyn is still farther along in speech development than Ryker, but she internalizes a lot of what she is hearing and learning so I don't get much instant feedback. On the other hand with Ryker, I get constant feedback about how his language is evolving every day. He repeats everything and he practices, practices, practices talking. Gwyn will repeat individual words if she's in the mood for it, but sometimes I can't tell if she's even paying attention. But then, later on, she might say a word or phrase in the right context and I'll realize that she was listening after all.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
31 for 21 What If Wednesday: RESPECT
What if everyone was taught to treat people with intellectual disabilities as THINKING people who deserve RESPECT?
We wouldn't live in a world where calling someone the R-word is the go-to insult for anyone we don't like, or anyone we think is doing something stupid.
We wouldn't have to deal with constantly asking people to stop using R-word insults.
Most people still use the R-word casually because they are ignorant of its deeply felt offensiveness. And when people in the public eye are asked to apologize, most do. Unfortunately some people stand by their use of the R-word and don't feel bad at all. I think some people feel okay using the R-word as an insult because they don't consider those with intellectual disabilities worthy of respect.
Ann Coulter is the current offender, repeatedly using the R-word on Twitter for shock value.
A self-advocate (a 30-year-old man with Down syndrome) responds to the controversy with a well-said open letter:
http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/
We wouldn't live in a world where calling someone the R-word is the go-to insult for anyone we don't like, or anyone we think is doing something stupid.
We wouldn't have to deal with constantly asking people to stop using R-word insults.
Most people still use the R-word casually because they are ignorant of its deeply felt offensiveness. And when people in the public eye are asked to apologize, most do. Unfortunately some people stand by their use of the R-word and don't feel bad at all. I think some people feel okay using the R-word as an insult because they don't consider those with intellectual disabilities worthy of respect.
Ann Coulter is the current offender, repeatedly using the R-word on Twitter for shock value.
A self-advocate (a 30-year-old man with Down syndrome) responds to the controversy with a well-said open letter:
http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
31 for 21 Therapy Tuesday: DANCING ON HORSEBACK
Gwyneth was sad leaving school Tuesday afternoon when I picked her up and I'm still not sure what was wrong. Her assistant teacher said she had trouble paying attention and it had been a long day. It is so hard to see her upset and not to get any explanation from her about what is wrong.
Anyway, she was crying in the car before she fell asleep on the way to therapy. Then when I handed her to the OT, she started crying again. Fortunately, she cheered up as soon as she was put on the horse, and her OT said she was dancing and having a great time while riding. I'm glad she shook off her sad mood.
Anyway, she was crying in the car before she fell asleep on the way to therapy. Then when I handed her to the OT, she started crying again. Fortunately, she cheered up as soon as she was put on the horse, and her OT said she was dancing and having a great time while riding. I'm glad she shook off her sad mood.
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