Kody - One years old

Kody passed away Tuesday morning.  

He had just celebrated his Cars themed birthday.  It was a wonderful, joyous party.  

We had egg races (many of the eggs broke free of the their confining shells), rattling revving cars, and a musical ball with a magic bear that always stayed on top.  A Cars candy filled piñata was smashed.  We ate chili and chips with jalepeños and cake and ice cream.  We saw Kung Fu Panda duke it out with a very mean tiger.  We sat and talked and visited with many friends and new people.  We had a very nice time.

Thank you Kody and Sarah.  Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Day 4

Tuesday was Jacob's 4th day using the ECO talker.  The goal right now is for Jacob to be comfortable with it, so we are asking him to just explore.  Still, he has used the ECO to say some interesting things.

He was watching a TV show that had a fire engine whistling.  Jacob surprised us all by making a Fire Engine sound.  We did not know the talker had one.  Jacob did.

Johnnie & I were sitting with Jacob, and Johnnie was playing with my phone.  He wanted to call someone, asking about this uncle or this aunt.  Jacob moved his right hand in a big arc and stabbed the Eco, saying Call

Lissa was with the boys, and Johnnie went to do something on the talker.  Jacob blocked Johnnie's arm and said "don't don't don't".  Not only was it remarkable that Jacob could say such a thing and say it quickly, but this self assertion is something very new.  Jacob is quite passive.  Very laid back.  He doesn't say or cry out or even make a face when Johnnie takes all his toys as they "play" together.  To see Jacob now take a stand, so use his new voice to say new things... How cool!

Jacob did not get to use the talker the second 1/2 of the day.  We will need to figure out how to always have it accessible for him.