Milo completed his first sessions of speech and feeding therapies this week. I didn't get to go with him to the speech therapy session becuase I was out of town but Chris went with him and said he did fine. They threw a lot of signs at him which I didn't really expect I thought they would do one at a time. Some of them, like fish, are kind of complicated and I don't know how a 13 month old is supposed to have the manual dexterity to do them. I guess it's okay if he doesn't get it though since they are just a means to and end any way. He has started saying "Hi" very clearly this week. It's his new fav word now and he will just walk around the house greeting all of his toys. It's so cute to watch. He also has started to howl like the dog. He got it from us though. We do it to get Bailey to howl and he picked it up from that. He has a coat that looks like a dalmatian and tonight he was wearing it while he was in his car seat howling. Chris and I thought that was pretty funny.
Feeding therapy went great the first day and ok the second. They worked on peaches the first day and apples the second. He progressed to self feeding the peaches but didn't quite make it that far with the apples. He would eat applesauce kept spitting out the diced apples. He was on the verge of a tantrum when they called it quits. In his defense though he hadn't had a nap that morning so he was REALLY tired. They are going to continue apples again next week and start on milk. 
Friday, November 21, 2008
First Week of Therapy
Before the Boo Boo
I am finally getting Milo's 13 month pics up even though he's about to turn 14 months. Such is motherhood I guess. As you will see he was having a great time before the boo boo that I posted about a few posts ago.
These are a few of my favs but you can see the whole set HERE.
Off to explore the world with his poor dog dragged behind him.
This is a truck that my dad made and my brothers and I played with it when we were little.
Such a sweet smile. He just melts my heart.
He was so happy just dragging that toy around. 
Snapped just as he was getting up to take off again. I swear that kid never slows down.
A Boy and his dog
He leaned down to look between his legs, I guess becuase he though the world looked cool that way, and I started snapping furiously to get the moment. He ended up staying like that for about a minute so I have like 50 of this same pic. LOL!
Oh, how I love him!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
New Lens
I got a new lens the other day and spent the whole evening testing it out on Milo and Bailey. It will take a little getting used to but so far I love it!
Here are a few of the snap shots:
He grabbed his grilled cheese crust and started walking around. He had a lot of fun with that!
Stuffing it in.
You can't read it but his shirt says "Teething Bites" and he is chewing on his teething toy. LOL!
Milo trying to break in to the kitchen and Bailey checking him out.
He has discovered splashing in the bath. I think he does it just to see me squeal and jump back to keep from getting soaked.
He put one of his big balls in the tub before he got in and had a great time throwing it around. He would throw it out to me and laugh and squeal for me to throw it back.
Playing with his dog after the bath.
Bailey checking out the goings on
Sunday, November 9, 2008
My Baby is a Freaking Genius!
We took Milo on a walk this evening and left the stroller out in the living room. He decided it was great fun to grab onto the basket on the back and push it around the living room. Our living room isn't very big so he could only push it a little way before he would run into the gate blocking off the kitchen or (going the other way) into the front door. After two times of running into the gate he figured out that he needed to stop before he hit it and back up the stroller and turn it around and go the other way until he came to the tile right in front of the front door then he would back it up and repeat the whole process. I was so proud of him that he got it so quickly! What made it more impressive to me was the the stroller was so big he couldn't see around it. He was using clues in the surroundings to tell him when he got to the point that he needed to stop and turn the thing around. He pushed that darn stroller back and forth like that for 30 MINUTES!!! He would also stop and pick up things put then in the basket, go a little way, and take them out again. Talk about a great way to keep him entertained!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Boo Boo
My poor baby had such a hard day yesterday. :(
I took Milo to the Arboretum yesterday to get 13 month pics with him. He did great and had fun playing for the camera until a big boo boo happened. He was leaning down to get his toy when he lost his balance and fell face forward and whacked his head on the gravel path. I happened to be photographing in burst mode when he fell so I got it all on film. It happened so quickly that even though I was in burst mode I didn't even get the fall, just him leaning over to get his toy and then WHAM! I was too far away to have done anything about it but I still felt so bad that I hadn't caught him (I cropped the pics so they look like I was closer than I actually was). He had dirt all in his mouth and up his nose. I took him to the Dr. after to get the second of his flu shots and while we were there asked the nurse if she could clean the dirt out of his nose. He got so upset about that that he didn't even notice when she gave him the shot.
"Ahhhhh...
...hhhhhh...
...hhhhhh!!! THAT HURT!"
I immediately stop shooting and went and picked him up. We just sat there on the path cuddling until he calmed down. He was fine until I sat him in the stroller and picked up the camera to get a photo of the damage. Then he started wailing again. Apparently he doesn't like me photographing his war wounds.
Rocking the bandage on his head.For the rest of the day people asked me what happened to him.
Baby Z
I got to photograph a precious 2 month old little girl the other day! She was so sweet and fun to work with. She had just discovered her hands so she kept them in her mouth almost the whole time. LOL!
Here are a few of my favs from the shoot. You can see the whole set HERE.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Fall Festivale
We had so much fun working the cake walk at our church's fall festival! There were so many baked goods that we eventually just started give everyone who came up to our booth baked goods whether they won or not. The kids LOVED that!
Here are a few pics of the evening:
The family
"Dada what is that strange thing on your head?"
Mommy's little penguin.
Milo being entertained by Amanda and M.
Amanda , Little M., Little A. and Brooke
He had fun looking around at all the happenings
Such a stinkin' sweetheart
We tried to get him to do the cake walk...
...but it was a no go.
I ended up carrying him around it and that went much better.
Me, Milo and the cousins
Friday, October 31, 2008
Trick or Treating at Nanny's Office
Milo went to his Nanny's office to trick or treat this morning. He looked so cute waddling around in his penguin costume. The tail bounced as he walked and it made it so much cuter!
He immediately got down and started wandering all over the place.
Saying hi to the girls
Our festive family
"oooh, What is this!?!"
Grabbing for his first ever trick or treat
He didn't want to let it go and I can't say that I blame him
Milo and the very scary Nick. He didn't quite know what to make of him at first but at least he didn't cry and actually let him pick him up.
After one of the ladies gave him a ball he was much more eager to go in all the offices. he doesn't quite understand the concept of candy yet.
Ball in one hand candy in the other...life is good!
Milo and Crystal
He wanted to walk every where we went. Watching him waddle down the hall way was sooooo cute!
"Look! It's a cute baby penguin!"
Baking Baking Baking
Yes I took a pic of my cupcakes, I'm a big doofus, I know. :)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Speech Evaluation Results
We went to get Milo's speech therapy evaluation results today. Here are his scores on the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale. The first age is what he has mastered and splinter skills mean that he has some skills up to the age level stated
Interaction-Attachment: 6-9 mons. w/ splinter skills to 9-12 mons.
Pragmatics- 3-6 mons. w/ splinter skills to 9-12 mons.
Gesture:9-12 mons. w/ splinter skills to 12-15 mons.
Play: 9-12 mons. w/ splinter skills to 12-15 mons.
Language Comprehension: 3-6 mons. w/ splinter skills to 12-15 mons.
Language Expression: 3-6 mons. w/ splinter skills to 9-12 mons.
Some of it I agree with and some of it I don't and some of it makes me want to cry. Like I think he understands more than a 3-6 month old he just doesn't always pay attention when you talk to him so it may seem like he didn't understand you. She said he's weakest area was expressive language but that is no big surprise. That is what first stared this whole thing. His strongest area was play and gesture, again no big surprise since he's a boy. Boy's are often doers and not talkers.
To be honest I am having a really hard time with this whole speech therapy thing. The feeding therapy I am really looking forward to. I am at a complete loss as to how to proceed there so I want to get on with that part. But I feel really resistant to speech therapy even though he could benefit from it. For some reason it feels like saying there is something wrong with him. Like he's not normal or bright. I know it's totally not that way it just feels like saying there is something wrong with him or that I failed him as a mother. I hate people accessing my child. He IS normal ans he IS bright but looking at the numbers makes me want to cry.
Pumpkin Patch
I took Milo to the pumpkin patch yesterday to get a pumpkin to carve. He was so tired though that by the time I gave up on trying to get a good pic of him we just left without getting one. I think he's gotten used to me taking his pics becuase he just ignores me now. I couldn't get him to look at me once!
I knew if I put him in the hay he wouldn't move because he wouldn't want to touch it. He still wouldn't look at me though.
"Mama, the sun is BRIGHT!"
Reaching out for a test touch.He very quickly pulled his hand back and started whining for me to get him out of that stuff.
Checking out the decor.
He hasn't quite gotten the hang of walking in his shoes well so he falls often. I thought the grass all over his booty was too cute.
Checking out the gourdes
Trying to be a big boy and push the cart himself
I tried to put him in a red wagon to get him still enough to take a pic,
But he just tried climbing out of it. I gave up after that because he nearly hurt himself.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sweet Fairy Princess
I got to take pics of sweet fairy princess A. the other day for her birthday invitations! Here are a few from that session.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Shopping with Mama
Milo and I went shopping today. When he got tried of it (which he does quickly) we played one of his favorite games.
and he laughs and takes then off and either gives them to me to do it again or throws them behind his head depending on his mood.
He hadn't had a nap this morning, can you guess what kind of mood he was in?
Happy Birthday A.
Milo went to his first birthday party yesterday! He had so much fun he worn Mama out. Milo spent most of the party trying to escape and roam free in the building. At first I tried to keep him in the room but I eventually gave up and just followed him. Since A's birthday was so close to Halloween they made it a costume party so he went in his penguin attire. All the kids looked so cute and I loved the idea!
It was so hot in his costume that he kept downing juice. When I took it off of him to eat he was soaked in sweat
Miss KB as Snow White
KB peeked Milo's interst
Coming in for a closer look
He gave her his patented snarl smile. What woman could resist such charm and cuteness?
"I think I like her Mama."
He was Mr. Social Butterfly, greeting everyone, whether they wanted him to or not.
The flower princess birthday girl, Miss A.
We tried to get all the kids together for a group shot but Milo kept leaving.
My little escape artist on the run.
I kept bringing him back, but to no avail, he just wouldn't stay put.
K.B. trying to steal A.'s flower hat.
I think JT was giving Milo some competition.
I think she was ready for cake! I don't blame her I would be too!
I tried to keep Milo entertained with some games like peek a boo from behind the chair and cereal in the room,
But I couldn't keep the boy contained.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Little Red Raider
I put on Milo's Texas Tech outfit today to show his school pride and he was so stinkin' cute I could not resist sharing pics! Go Tech!!!
Taking a break to play with Mama's cell phone
I took him outside to walk around and show off his spirit to the neighborhood. At first he didn't want to walk, it took a little coaxing.
He took off eventually though
The determined, go get 'em strut
Yelling out for all the street to hear
He's got his game face on.He has actually been snarling like this a lot lately. Sometimes he does it in place of a smile.
He got distracted by the neighbor's flower bed decorations.
Mommy's little Red Raider!
