More of Ben's Words

• pees {please}
• k {ok}
• pow pow {time out}
• a,e,i,o, - then he points at YOU

he has tried some phrases:

• pees chg bana {his version of 'please change the channel'}
• I done
• pees ah {'please let me have a bite' or 'please give me something to eat'}

Random Update

I haven't blogged in a bit, so I figured I'd give an update.
Orin is great, of course. He's been acting up, but he's trying to be good and helpful.
Ben is, well, Ben. He tries so hard to communicate. We officially start speech therapy next week.
Now, the baby is a'movin' and a'shakin'! At 5 months, I already look like I have a basketball in my belly {well half in my belly, half in my butt}. He seems to get bigger every day.
Still no name picked out, but we have plenty of time. I haven't gotten any family feedback whatsoever, so I'm thinking they {the extended family: grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.} aren't interested. I have sent update emails to them, and receive no response. Oh, well. It depresses me, but I can't let it get to me. I have my boys, Thomas, and my brother. In addition, a have my small handful of friends. I guess that's all I need. My mother tries to help, and she does what she can, but she has tons of obstacles to overcome right now, some of which her children {us} have helped to cause inadvertantly. {Mom, if you are reading this, I love you and don't blame you for anything.}
Well, I think I have babbled enough. Peace be with you all.

It's A Boy!!!!

We went to get the ultrasound today. We saw all the parts, including the boy parts!

Adding to Ben's Word List

• done
• home
• chz {cheese}
• woowoo {car}
• kick
• pillow
• quack quack {duck}

Possible Speech Therapy {for Ben}

We met with a caseworker involved with the ECI, which is {I believe} Early Childhood Intervention {I'm not looking at the paper at the moment}.
This caseworker went over several questions with us and about half as many peices of paperwork. She weighed Ben, measured his height, and got his head circumference.
The information she addressed included {but is not limited to}:

• how many words does he say
• does he understand what you say to him
• does he follow directions
• possible concerns about sight, hearing
• sleep habits
• how does he communicate his needs
• daily habits and structure
• ability to interact with others

The caseworker's next step was to explain that because the ability to talk and the ability to hear are connected, his initial "hearing test" failed. Not because he can't hear, only because he doesn't talk much. She will set up an actual hearing examination for Ben at another time, just to make sure there IS nothing wrong in that area.

She made a second appointment for a couple weeks from now. She will bring the speech therapist and possibly her supervisor. It will be then that a judgment will be made as to whether Ben needs speech therapy and/or other services they provide.

Ben's Verbal Progress {as of June 25, 2009}

• mama
• dada
• yay-yay {his name for Thomas}
• O {Orin}
• nana {banana}
• ni-ni {night night}
• num-num {food}
• co {cup}
• coco {milk, choc. milk}
• wa-wa {water, juice}
• doh {no}
• ya
• bye-bye
• ba {done, empty} *said like a goat "baaa"*
• ba {bath} *said like the beginning of the word bath*
• ball
• hel {help}
• HoHo {a character on Ni Hao Kai Lan}
• Ni Hao {Chinese for hello}
• hewo {hello}
• hi
• hey
• go
• weee {his slide}
• wow-wow {Wow Wow Wubbzy}
• go-go-go {Yo Gabba Gabba / Go Deigo Go}
• col {cold}
• butn {button}
• ow {booboo, owie, bite, bump, etc.}
• aah {he wants a bite}
• uh uh {no}
• eye
• uh oh

He also makes animal noises:

• monkey
• elephant
• cat
• dog
• bear/lion/tiger/monster/etc

I Think...

I think the baby kicked me the other night... I remember all too well when the boys kicked, and this felt just like it. I got so excited, but of course Thomas couldn't feel it.
Then today, s/he moved to the front of my stomach and was like a hard ball protruding out of my already showing belly. Again, I got excited, but again, Thomas missed it!
Ben is really getting used to the baby being in my belly. I ask him "where's the baby?" and first he points at his belly {he's either saying himself or that the baby's in his belly} then when I say "no," he rushes over to my belly and lifts my shirt, says "hi" and starts tickling the baby or giving it a kiss!
Orin, my little man, has started helping with Ben a lot more. He changes some of the wet diapers {you should watch that, it's so cute} and helps to feed him etc. I can't believe Orin promised me he is going to change all the baby girl's {he wants a sister so he thinks this one is a girl} diapers - even the dirty ones!! That's one for the books! It started out as a joke. We were teasing him about taking care of the new baby and he stood up and said all chivalrously "I'm gonna help Mama and change all the baby girl's diapers - even the dirty ones - I promise!" Of course I'm not gonna hold him to that, but it sure would have been great to have recorded it and tease him with it later... j/k