Ok, I know you don’t hardly see it in these videos, but I grabbed the camera at the end so I could enjoy the “event” thoroughly with my eyes first. Jordan was deliberately making noises (“talking”) into a tube and then putting the tube up to his OT’s mouth for her to make a sound. He initiated this game that we have initiated for him before. But, him making intentional vocal sounds and the turn taking lasting for so long (probably 10-20 minutes!) was incredible. And he was having a rough day too, as you can tell because he’s sitting in a corner and sucking on his hands. But he kept pushing and trying to connect with Joanna. Oh my, but it was a treat. Both Joanna and I were about to cry or cheer or do a dance, but we didn’t want to freak Jordan out. Anyway, Jordan taking turns and making his first ever speaking sounds counts as huge awesome breakthrough, people!
Here he was not “talking” at all, but did keep Joanna making sounds for him. You can here his frustrated/tired whine here and see him request she makes more sounds by putting the tube to her mouth.
I know it only lasts for a second, but at 39 seconds, Jordan made a deliberate sound! He had done quite a bit more of this preceding me getting the camera, but it is definitely a challenge for him. You could just about SEE the thinking going on in his head. He was focusing and trying so hard that day and looked a little surprised and pleased every time he was successful in making a sound in the tube/microphone.

Here is Anna under two of her pieces of artwork at the county fair! The blue one with butterflies and the one of the pool above that. So proud of her! She’s proud of her too!

Yes, Carolyn wants to be in every picture and Maggie poses like this on her own. The painting with dolphins and glitter in the top left corner is one of her entries.

This was the big deal at the fair. Anna wanted to go on the ferris wheel with Mama until we walked up to it. It was too big…. but she pulled as much daring as she could from deep inside and went with me anyway! She tells me she even opened her eyes before the ride was over! LOVED being on the ride with her myself… made me think of my mom!

Over to the kids rides! This is the kids roller coaster and only one of us adults went on…. so Anna sat on her own! She was as scared as she looks and wasn’t sure she liked it once it was swerving around corners, but it was a short ride and her confidence was boosted… I think.

Carolyn’s very first ride ever! She was ADORABLE. She was unsure at first, but once it started moving, a look of wonder was all over her face.
Really really really love these pics and videos! Thank you for posting!!!