Braska Bear

Braska has taken off with her speech in the last month. She's been mimicking, for the last few months, everything that's said, in person, on TV, in the store, etc. But now she's using the words, identifying what she wants, "labeling" as the ST calls it. We were all excited when she first looked at the TV when there was a cat food commercial and said, "Cat! Meow!" Then in the next 4 days there were another 6 words used, and we just kept looking at each other like, "Holy Cow?!?" We started keeping a list, so we wouldn't forget, and so we could reinforce them. It got to where we were adding new words, sometime 2 or 3, every day. I'm just plain blown away by this, let me tell you. She's cracking us up with the mimicking still, and we really have to watch what we say or what's on the TV, since she doesn't so much have an "appropriate" filter. She just says it if she hears it. She's come a long way, also, in completi...

On Friday, we went to Jack's house to play. Sometimes it is just me and him, but this time there was another friend named Anthony. We all have that "extra" something special in our jeans, as Mommy says. But maybe that's not how you spell it. Anyway, we always have fun, even though we don't get to play as much as we want to because our moms are busy. There were some other friends we hoped would come, but they didn't get to. I even let Kinlee come this time. She was pretty good and didn't get in my way too much. Jack knows how to walk all by himself, and it is hard to keep up with him, but I try! His mommy gave me some of those cool strings of beads, and I just LOVE them! Here's Jack smiling with Mommy. They're both pretty silly, I think!

Mommy and I have been working on a new look for my stories page today. And it's one of my favorites ever! I love the bright colors and there's even a bee! I like to say, "Bee!!!" Doesn't it just make you ready for sunshine and flowers?? (The layout uses elements from the Think Spring kit from Scraps by Andrea . Thanks!)

Today is World Down Syndrome Day . Happy DS Day! We went to a party today at the new DS office. They moved so they invited everyone to come see it. Jack and his mommy were there too, so we hung out for a while. Daddy says these pictures look like we're watching tennis. I've never seen tennis, but I thought you might get it. And we snuck in a little smooch too! We made pictures of our hands that they are gonna put on the walls at the new office. We even used the same color so they would match. Mine is not nearly as neat as his is, but that's ok. Here's a better picture of mine. I didn't hold my hand still like I was supposed to. Oops! I hope you all had a good DS day too!!

Last week, Daddy and Mommy cleaned out their cars one day when it was really warm outside. While they worked, I played with my color balls. I just LOVE them! Great gift, Papaw!! Yesterday, my PT came to see me. I worked really hard at making my legs stronger. She made me bend over from standing up and pick things up on the floor. It was so hard! And then I climbed all the way up the stairs from Daddy's room downstairs!! Everyone was really excited! Since I did so good, I got to play bubbles. They are my favorite! (Mommy note: Anyone want to guess what my favorite part of this pic is? Think fine motor... Isn't it funny that our Mommy brains work this way!!)

Last week on Monday, Daddy came home from work with a present for me! A coloring book and colors! We practiced coloring for a while before he had to go back for a special work meeting. Since Daddy had a meeting, Mommy and I went to eat dinner with Jack and his family and some of his friends. It was fun! Jack thought there was alot of talking, I think. I found a new thing I like alot... Mommy says it's called mashed taters and country gravy. I ate alot of bites of it! Mommy did a new trick with my hair last week, too. She said it was french or something. "What do you think?" "Huh? Really? Gee, thanks!" We went to see the guy that gave me my Steps . He was checking to see if they still fit ok. And they do, for a couple more months, he said. I waited for him like a big girl, but I kept looking to see if he was coming soon. When Daddy got home that night, I told him and KiKi all about it. On Thursday night, Grammy, Papa, Auntie Julia, and Uncle Ryan came by. I sat w...

Pardon the interruption into your regular evening, but we have something to share!! Daddy gets the credit for this one. He had her in the bed for cuddles and snuggles, and in a matter of 15 minutes, she's got it down pat!!! She's going around now saying, "Name! Braska! (Ba-ka)" I'm always hesitant to "brag" on her too much, for fear of offending or something to those who struggle... as that's a real thing in the world of delays...but I am so proud of this girl! More speech news soon, but I just had to throw this up and cheer for my girl!

Sunday we went to Papaw's church so the nice people there could see Kinlee . We dressed up nice since it was a special day. First I had a bath and put on my robe. I have had it since I was a tiny baby and I think I'm gonna let Kinlee have it soon. (Mommy note: This robe is 0-9 months!) Kinlee wore a cute Pooh dress and fancy shoes too. I wore a new outfit from my friend Miss Trish. After church, we went to a place to eat. But we just sat on some seats by the door for a looooooong time with no food. It was almost all of us from Daddy's family, and all of us grandkids were there. We were pretty good even though we waited a long time. Finally we got to sit at a table. My uncles and Daddy helped me color my paper. I ate some of Mommy's food because she had some mashed taters and gravy. It was good, so I ate a bunch of little bites. Everyone said, "Yay Braska!" That's my favorite part.

Last week Mommy put pigtails in my hair one day and we decided to take some pictures. It was fun at first, but then...not so much. Here's how it went... "Nose!"

On Sunday, it was time for a birthday party for three people at once. It was for Papaw John , Auntie Janice, and Miss Cheryl . They all have birthdays this month, so we went to Grandma and Papaw's house for pizza that Grandma C made. Yummy!! I played with Shaylin. She shared her toys with me, and I got into my hiding place for movies. I just love getting them all out! Shay got this neat kitchen for Christmas, and I'm big enough to play with it now since I can stand up. The baby cousins were there too, and they just got to be cuddled by everyone all night. Baby Xander is bigger than Kinlee already! (There's more pictures of the babies on Kinlee's blog , if you want to see them.)

Last week, it was really nice, warm weather a couple days. We opened up the windows and let the nice wind in the house. Since I didn't need to wear my really warm p-jammies, Mommy let me wear a Blues Clues nightgown that my friend gave me last year. It's like a dress that you can sleep in! Usually I don't get to wear them because I don't like to keep my blanket on at night and it's cold in our house when we sleep. But since it was nice, I got to try it out and I just kept it on because I liked it so much! My PT showed me, when she came to visit the day before this, how to stand up at the door and see outside to the street. Since the wind was blowing in nice, I stood there for a long time. (Mommy note: I just think this picture is too sweet...not sure why, but I love it.) When Mommy wasn't looking, I decided to try to see what the screen felt like on my tongue. I think she caught me, though. She said I shouldn't do it because it was dirty, but I thought it wa...

Last week on Tuesday, my friend Sophie from where we used to live came to town because she had to see some doctors. Can you believe those doctors put some tubes IN her ears? Isn't that crazy? Anyway, after she was done, we met up at the mall. I love going to the mall or to the store or anywhere at all. And now that Kinlee's here, we have a new stroller and I get to sit in the front! I tried to give Sophie a fist bump, but she was still tired a little. While Sophie was getting some shoes, I checked out the neat store. We got some lunch, and I took a nap in my stroller. Glad I got to see Sophie though!