Memory Game

So several months ago I found a cool Toy Story memory game on my iPhone. Oliver was starting to get more interested in my phone so I thought he might enjoy seeing the characters. He liked it right away. It started with me holding his finger and I'd help him find all the matches. Eventually he started poking around and occasionally got a match (mostly by accident). Usually he'd get frustrated, grab my finger and make me find the matches. He at least recognized that the matched tiles were disappearing and he understood that that was good. Then about a month ago I gave him my phone (by this time he could easily navigate his way to the game to open it) and I noticed he wasn't grabbing my hand to help him. I also noticed that he had found a match. I started watching as he flips 2 tiles that don't match, then the next one he flipped he recognized that he had just seen its match, so he remembered where and got the match. Still I thought he was getting somewhat lucky. About 3 minutes and 15 seconds later he had solved the puzzle! Then he did it again and beat his record (2:45). He amazed us with his memory and has since then beat his time to close to 2 minutes. What an amazing boy. So smart like his mommy. I'm in search of other games that he'll enjoy while they challenge his mind. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. I just hope this doesn't translate to mindless texting in later years. But as for now he is our little professor.

Progress and Big News

Since the last post we have seen some progress here and there. Oliver will have really big days and then retreat back to what he's comfortable doing. He is playing some games at a higher level. Like the toy with the balls that you put in the holes. He used to not want to use the hammer but does now. He still LOVES playing chase. The difference is that he seems to better understand the suspense of the chase.

He also has started tugging on our pants or pulling us by the hand to the thing that he wants. We think it's a pretty good sign of progress. Sometimes (like in the middle of writing this post) he will pull you to where he is playing or watching a movie just so you'll be with him. Now we are just trying to help him point at the thing he needs instead of having us just guess what it is.

The big news has to do with the visit we made to the U of U's Psychiatrist. His temporary diagnosis is Aspergers. This good news in that he doesn't think he has autism, but he's not sure yet if it's Aspergers or PDD. The main sign will be if he begins speaking before he's 3yrs and 3 mo. If he does he has Aspergers. But we'll find out with time. He does seem to be a lot more vocal these days, but he's still just hooting and hollering most. He has started to make more consonants, but they are few and far between.

We also have learned how AWESOME of a climber he is. He has climbed into the bassinet, the crib and on top of any table in the house. Can't wait to take him to do some REAL climbing.