Summertime Update

Summertime is our favorite around here! No school, no homework, and longer days! I’d say we get to sleep in, but Nolan is up at 6am no matter what time of year it is! But the kids love not having to get up and get ready early in the morning, and I do too! Last year, the start of summer was a little rough for Nolan. He had finally gotten used to the school routine and then it suddenly changed. He seemed restless without the structure and routine. He has adjusted really well this time and actually takes me to my bed and tells me “Go to sleep” if I’m making too much noise early in the morning. Ha! Nolan is a fish in the water, so we go to the pool almost most days and the lake on the weekends. It burns his extra energy and gives me a chance to sit down!

His language has seemed to really explode this summer too! First, he has started saying short sentences on his own without being prompted! Most of them he copies from his favorite videos, but it has gradually moved towards his own words. He loves to say, “go to sleep” and gets a blanket and pillow and lays on the couch. He is only there about three seconds though! He started adding names to it lately saying, “go to sleep Mama,” “go to sleep baby,” and “go to sleep dog.” He also independently points to things and tells me what they are! This is HUGE for so many reasons! He has never pointed at things and named them on his own, and he gets so excited when I say, “that’s right that’s a ____!!” I can remember when we had to physically teach Nolan how to point at things. I also remember when we would get him to repeat an object like “duck” but then we’d never be able to get him to do it again. So, for him to WANT to say these things, say them correctly, and be proud of himself . . . is a HUGE milestone!!

Just like normal speech development when a child begins to use more words only those around him the most understand what he says. I act as an interpreter most of the time. . to the point that he expects me to repeat him even if nobody is around. I haven’t gotten tired of it yet! I also haven’t gotten tired of hearing “mama” ALL DAY LONG! Towards the end of school, he started saying, “mama’ a lot when he wanted something. Now it is constantly, and he yells it! “MAMA help!!” I used to run in there but quickly realized the urgency in his voice is only to tell me, “cup” because he wants more to drink. Ha! Hopefully we won’t have the same issue as the boy who cried wolf!

Summer so far has been busier than I originally thought with swimming, Nolan’s speech and occupational therapy, and of course all of Harper’s hobbies and activities. I think the older they get the busier it gets! We are enjoying it now, but I’m sure by the end of July I’ll be ready for school to start! The main thing I miss is time to write! This little update has taken me two days in five to ten minute increments! That’s summertime for you though! A few weeks into school in August and we’ll be wishing for summer again! I remind myself to enjoy these little moments because they will fly by way too fast!