More signs and sounds

We've been working with Oliver trying to teach him more signs so he can tell us more specifically what he wants. Thus far he has 'more' and 'please' down. We've been working on 'spin', 'cookie', 'drink' and 'thank you'. After we begin to repeat each sign with him non-stop he'll start to kind of figure it out. Usually when we know what he wants we'll ask him for example, "Do you want another cookie?" and after hearing the word he'll make the sign, but he rarely does it on his own without our cues. So he'll often come to us, sign 'more' and then he knows he usually gets something after that. The trick is to get him to be more specific and communicate that to us.

Also, Oliver has been learning lots about animals. He can make an elephant sound which cracks him up when I (dad) make the sound and move my arms like an elephant trunk. He also makes his version of a cat sound which is the softest little sound anyone could ever make. It's like the tiniest little grunt that sounds almost like a cat, but it's his version. Lastly, he's been saying mama again! He says it randomly for the most part but there have been a few times that it seems as if he is addressing Ciara by saying it, either way we are just happy to hear it. Happy Easter everyone. Just for fun I added some pics from a couple weeks ago when I put Oliver's shoes on over his pj onsie to play outside. He played with Ozzie's ball and Ozzie would chase him. It was lots of fun.

Signing, Playing and Maybe a First Word

Over the past couple months Oliver has continued to develop. We've been working on his signing a lot. He's great at signing 'more' and 'please.' We try to get him to sign exactly what he wants and he'll occasionally sign 'drink' when he's thirsty. He also makes the same sound when he signs 'more' which even sounds a lot like more, but without the 'm.'

Oliver has shown a lot more interest in playing with us. He still doesn't really want to play with other kids, but he always wants Ciara and I to play with him. To get our attention he'll run into a room and close the door. Then he starts banging on it until one of us goes to get him. It's a fun game he's developed. He absolutely loves playing chase, especialfly if he's being chased by a monster. He has little interest in object games. He mostly wants to run and have you chase him. He does sometimes play with his basketball hoop. I used to grunt 'You made it!' and he would laugh hysterically.

As of a few days ago, we noticed Oliver making a sound that sounded a lot like 'no.' Today we heard it again and investigated further. We gave him Ciara's old wallet and I tried to take it from him and he jerked it back and said 'nah.' Then Ciara tried the same thing and he did the same thing. We think his first word just might be 'No.' While we are super excited we don't know how to encourage him when he disagrees with us. Hopefully this is a sign of more words in the near future. He has ben making a lot more sounds. He still doesn't really jabber, they are more like different shouts here and there with different consonants and vowels.

He's Pointing!

For the first time Oliver pointed at what he wanted! Oliver wanted something on the counter so he grabbed my hand took me there and had me pick him up. Then I wouldn't give him anything, but tried to get him to point at what he wanted. I would point at something that I knew he didn't want and ask him if that's what he wanted and then I'd point to whatever I thought he DID want. I just kept asking 'What do you want? This one or this one?" I would be pointing to each one myself. Finally he pointed at the item he wanted. He has now done it several times today with both Ciara and I. We still have to encourage him A LOT to point, but at least he's starting to do that.

He has also been doing really well with the 'more' sign. At one point a couple weeks ago we feared that he started to forget it, but he picked it up again and even more than before. We are now trying to teach him to sign 'please' and 'hungry'. Great to see him learning.

Super Updates!

There is much to talk about concerning Oliver's development. A few weeks ago he finally started doing the more sign when he wanted to swing more in the laundry bag! Then more and more he started using the more sign for lots of stuff: food, to turn on a chair that vibrates, etc. It's amazing to see him communicate a little more. He also brings his cup to us pretty consistently when he runs out and wants more.

Also, he has started getting his shoes any time he wants to go outside and he'll bring them to us. Today I decided to take him outside so I asked him to go get his shoes because we were going to go outside. He went to the shoe basket and pulled out his sandal and brought it to me. Then I pointed to his other foot and told him to get his other shoe, which he did and brought it to me to put it on him. AWESOME!

We just had Liam and Oliver rarely pays any attention to him, but when he does he usually just wants to hit him. He's not a fan of his crying. That's really the only time he pays attention to him.