Can't keep a good girl down...

Chloe doesn't let TLP slow her down a bit! We throw the iListen, bone conduction and the cords into a backpack and she's off! She wears this pink hat (smaller photo) from her teacher Nancy almost all of the time! Here she is...she is supposed to be getting her jammies on but she decided it was more important to put her hat on over her headphones and push her babies around.

Activities to use during TLP...looking at books with photos of babies, playing babies, pushing babies, eating yogurt, taking walks around the neighborhood, photo albums, play dough, putting money in her piggy bank, block towers, rocking on mommy or daddy's lap (our favorite).

Simple Pleasures

Five things this week reminded me that it is the little things in life that matter most.

1. Earlier this week, Chloe's friend Lily came over to play. Lily was teasing Chloe saying that Chloe's baby Joe Joe was Lily's. Lily: "That's my Joe Joe." Chloe: "No, that's my Joe, Joe." Lily, "No that's my Joe Joe." Chloe, "No, that's my Joe Joe!!!" Lily: "That's my Joe Joe." Chloe, "NO, THAT'S MY JOE JOE!!!!" This went on for a few minutes...long enough for me to email Lily's mom to tell her, "The girls are arguing and it is music to my ears."

2. This morning both kids were in bed with me. I got up for a minute. When I came back Chloe said, "Wook Mommy." I looked and what did I see? My two beautiful babies lying in bed together holding each other's hands. Music to my eyes :)

3. Quinn got himself a glass of water and Chloe wanted some too. After I gave her the water, she looked at her brother and said, 'I have water too Quinn." No big deal you say...perhaps you have never had a child that didn't speak until she was over 3.5 years old.

4. Quinn got hit in the head with a ladder today. After giving him an ice pack and making him comfy, I came back downstairs. His baby sister looked at me and said with all of the concern in the world, "Quinn okay Mommy?"

5. We had Chloe's parent teacher conference today. The teaching assistant in her room (Miss Nancy) said, "I feel like I have always had very high expectations of the kids with whom I work. I expect a lot of James (her son with special needs) too. I never, ever imagined when I met Chloe one year ago that she would be where she is today. Her progress has been unbelievable." Nancy and Heather (Chloe's teacher) said that a few months ago they would have thought Chloe would need SSN (lots of help, special classroom, etc.) in kindergarten. Now they are saying that they cannot predict because if she continues on the developmental path she has been on since starting TLP, she will end up being in a typical classroom with special need resources.

I believe that all of these things are an answer to prayer. God heard our cries and sent us to the right therapist at the right time and she (Heather, OT) recommended The Listening Program. Like the little plaque my grandma gave Quinn at his baptism says, "God answers knee mail!"

Ants

Chloe and I watched Brainy Baby ABCs while Quinn and Joe went to AWANA last night. As A for ants came on the screen and the narrator said, "a says a, a, a, ant", Chloe said, "I don't love those ants!"

Clear as day! She apparently doesn't like ants too much. She's always been fascinated by watching them. Who knew she felt such disdain.

I don't love those ants either!!! But...I sure do love that Chloe!