Mom, go away

It's funny how excited we get when B talks. He is repeating everything these days. Literally, he will repeat sentence after sentence. Unfortunately, the meaning behind language still isn't there. A typical exchange goes something like this:
Me: What do you want, B?
B: What do you want, B?

Me: Can you tell me?
B: Can you tell me?

Me: Do you want yogurt or applesauce?
B: Yogurt or applesauce

And so on. It's exciting that he has the ability to say the words and it's a long way from where we started. A long, long way. I shouldn't downplay its significance. It's a source of hope and I believe that one day he'll get there and actually be able to have a conversation.

Every once in a while, he surprises us by showing that he does understand some language. Like yesterday when he was watching one of his favorite movies in therapy. I went up to him to say goodbye before leaving to get his big brother from school. He tried to look around me at the movie and then quietly said "mom, go away". Most moms wouldn't be that excited by those words but you better believe I was. I think he could tell me to go jump off a cliff and I'd still throw a party.

B "reading"

So, I've been trying to capture this on video because it is so freaky weird. Several months ago, B picked up this book and "read" it word for word. As far as I know, it's not a book that had ever been read to him. Or if it had, it couldn't have been many times since no one remembered it. So imagine my shock that day. I'm still not sure what to make of it. It is only with this book so maybe he just has this one memorized somehow? Regardless, it is fascinating. This video isn't his clearest enunciation and he skips some of it. I have seen him literally say every word on every page but I can never seem to capture the best examples on video (of either of my kids). Still, if you try to follow along, you should be able to see that he is saying each word.  I have no explanation.

On a lighter note

No one loves a cookie quite like B...