Little Helper

Briggy has become quite the helper lately! He likes handing us the clean dishes from the dishwasher, when I come home with bags of groceries, he'll take a few things out of the bags and bring them into the kitchen [of course lining them up..its his favorite thing to do!] If he finds something that's yours [ie-my bra that he found in our bedroom, or toms belt] he'll run up to you with and say "here daddy" "here nahmmeeee" he is seriously too cute. even with his screaming outburts that have been more frequent than we like...he is definitely trying to use better words and actions to communicate his feelings--which is major progress for him! From the beginning of his speech and developmental evaluations he has been 6 months behind with the "average" communication standard. He is still proportionally behind, but having him be able to say a handful of words now and mimicking verbally has been so amazing to see and really helpful.
let me try to list some of his words:

nana-banana
daddy-daddy
awh-eee-ollie
nahhhmeee-mommy
ball-ball
buhh-ble-bubble
dye-bye [he cant say his bs, but for ball and bubble he can...weird]
eeeeeeeeeee!-briggy
oooose-shoes
ide-outside
heyyyylll-help
uhhhhh-up
noun-down
gooo!-go
oooooze-juice
dir-eeee!-dirty [thats the newest]
yea! (major filler word)
uh-ohh!
oh-no!
dawh-eee!-doggie


Im sure im forgetting some, but thats what I can think of off the top of my head
The developmental therapist has told me from the get go he is a "sensory seeking" child. its an off-shoot of a sensory processing disorder {SPD}
In the beginning, the occupational therapist didn't think it was nessecery for her to come out as long as we incorporated some of the texture and other sensory activities in his daily routine. but, we just had his 6 month review, and they are feeling like there needs to be more intervention in that department. There is an informative book I've been reading "The Out-of-Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz that really describes all different sensory disorders. I guess we should count our blessings because some of the other sensory disorders seem really problematic and really get in the way of the childs day by day activities. Briggy's little body and brain just crave an excessive about of sensory. He needs sensory OVERLOAD to feel fulfilled. I have been able to find a lot of activities that really help him, but the first official visit with the OT will be in a couple weeks and Im hoping she can shed more light on ways to help him focus and calm down--I know he's only 2, but I worry about him as a school age child. It is very difficult for younger children with that sensory seeking need to be confined in a school setting...If he doesnt mellow out a bit by kindergarten age, I might have to homeschool until he understands better how to cope with the hyperactivity. Im sure the OT will have lots of ways to get us on the right track.






[ps--she is the same OT that will be working with Oliver for his Hypotonia.]
[pps-which by the way, oliver has made majorrrrr progress in the sitting, crawling, drinking from his sippy cup...within the last 2 weeks. He has very mild hypotonia, and with a little physical therapy and excersize, he should be on track too--he also just cut his first tooth, just shy of his 10 month birthday!!]