Cooper Update

I know I haven't given an update on Cooper lately, so hear goes.  Cooper had a hearing test on New Year's Eve and everything came up perfect.  He did have a slower reaction to his low tones, but they figure he was just getting bored with the tests. 

So, we have moved on to working with the Birth to 3 program.  We met with the Program Coordinator last week and immediately signed Cooper up.  She said that they expect an 18 month old to be saying 25 words and a 2 year old to be saying 50 words and be putting atleast 2 words together.  Well, since Cooper is 20 months old and was only sort of saying "momma," we new he was immediately accepted.

The next step is for the speech therapist and the early childhood teacher come out to the house and evaluate him.  One of the requirements of the program is that he be evaluated by 2 different people, using 2 different evaluation scales.  Then, they will put together a report and determine a program for him.  They will also determine how often the speech therapist will come out to work with him.  Most of the time they spend about 1 hour every week or 1 hour every other week.  Mostly, the therapist will just give me different ideas of how to work with Cooper.  The great thing is that everyone will always come right to the house. 

Since the program coordinator was here, we have gotten Cooper to say 4 words.  The words are not the most clear but he is attempting them.  He also will only say these words on command.  The words are: momma, more, milk, and boot.

I'll update after our next meeting.

Here are the pictures from Christmas that I finally figured out how to upload.

 

Josie setting out cookies and milk for Santa

 

Cooper opening presents from Santa

 

Josie showing off her baby carrier that Santa brought!

 

Josie looked like such a big girl in her princess dress sitting on a stool at the Hanson's.

 

All of the cousins

 

 

Josie showing off her clip on earrings from Aunt Casey!!

 

Opening presents at Grandpa John and Grandma Tracy's

Christmas

For Christmas we celebrated with my side of the family on Christmas Eve, our immediate family Christmas morning and Luke's side on Christmas afternoon.  We had a great time at all of our Christmas celebrations and the kids got some great things.  Josie's favorite items were Barbie dresses, a baby carrier and clip on earrings.  They had so much fun opening all of the presents.  Cooper was great about opening all of the presents even if each piece of paper that he tore off was really small.  Enjoy the pictures.

***Picture uploading is not working, I'll upload pictures another time.

Breakfast with Santa and Sledding

Several weekends ago, we attended Breakfast with Santa at the Stoddard Legion.  Josie was all about talking to Santa but had absolutely no interest in sitting on his lap.  Cooper also only wanted to look at Santa.  They both had lots of fun looking at Santa but were careful as to not get too close.  As soon as Santa asked Josie what she wanted for Christmas, she spoke up quickly and announced she wanted a baby carrier. 

The kids also got their first chance at sledding recently and they really enjoyed themselves.  Cooper would rather just be outside in the snow but Josie really liked sledding.  Josie was doing a great job of walking back up the hill too.  Unfortunately, about a week ago, they were going down the hill on the sled together and they got so much speed that Grandpa E had to grab the sled to stop them from running into the barbed wire fence and the kids ended up in a pile.  Josie landed on top of Cooper and Cooper was face first in the snow.  Since then, neither of the kids have wanted to do much sledding.  We'll have to give them some more time I guess!

Christmas Wish List

Josie has had quite a few ideas of what she wants for Christmas this year.  About everything she sees, she thinks would be nice to get for Christmas.  The last few days, I have been counting down the days until Santa comes to visit and she always replies with, and the Santa will bring me my baby carrier!  The baby carrier is definitely on the top of the wish list.  She has also asked for 2 black horses, a barbie house(somewhere they can sleep), and anything and everything that she can think of.  Since Cooper doesn't talk, everyone asks Josie what Cooper wants for Christmas and she replies that she thinks he would like a stuffed monkey.  Not sure where this idea came from.  Hopefully they like everything that they get from Santa and from everyone else this year.

Merry Christmas!

School Visit

Last week, Josie got her second chance to go and visit her school and teacher for next year.  Josie was much more confident this time and she actually talked to her teacher on her own.  Granted she took every opportunity to tell Ms. Fox that her brothers name was Buckshot(ask Grandpa John about this nickname).  Josie loves getting the opportunity to go and play in the preschool room, especially with out her brother!!  She loved playing with the sandbox.  Then, she moved on to using Elmer's glue and making several art projects.  Then, she found the cash register, her new love.  She loved being able to check things out and use the play money.  Although she didn't really understand the concept of money.  She kept wanting to pay me when I would buy something!!  I think we'll have to work on the concept of buying things!  Lastly, she found the baby dolls.  She was very disappointed that they did not have any blankets to wrap the baby's in.  She already can't wait for the next visit to school!

On a side note, while we were at school our ceiling was being installed.  Now all we have to do is finish the electrical and put in actual lighting and the ceiling will be completed!!!  The house is already looking better with the ceiling being in.

Cooper's 18 month checkup

Cooper went for his 18 month checkup last week and everything is looking good except for his speech.  He did have an ear infection which we are treating then the week before Christmas we are going to take him for a hearing test.  We know that he can hear, we just aren't sure as to the clarity at which he hears.  He used to say momma, but he no longer says any words.  On occasion we think he says a word but we can never get him to repeat it.  So, I guess we will just keep waiting for those first words to come out.

Weight - 26 lb 3.8 oz (this was down slightly as he was sick for over a week and barely ate anything)
Height - 2 ft 7.89 inches