post to daddy!

dear daddy,

we miss you!! since you've been away, we've been learning new things. we've been out and about quite a bit too (that's partly why mommy is so tired). we've been trying to be good and mommy says we are most of the time.

we can't wait for you to come home in two weeks! we love you and can't wait for you to see how we've grown and what we've learned.

lots of love,

cole and madison

~in the photo, cole is signing "love you"! he learned that this morning... it's so funny to watch toddlers sign, because they don't always get the signs right on and often don't get the concept of placement (where your hands go), but for them, it's a wonderful communication tool. after breakfast, cole took an empty mint tin off the table, knowing that usually he's not supposed to take stuff off the table since usually it's mail or something he shouldn't play with. but, he knew it was ok to play with the mint tin- just in case, though, he walked over to me, held it up and signed "please". what a sweetie!! now, why can't he be that pleasant all the time (i.e. during meeting)? eh, it's probably teething... i'm pretty sure those eye teeth will be making an appearance before too long. combine that with the terrible two's stage and it's a recipe for chaos, courtesy of one very small individual. amazing. anyway, we like the signing since it tends to cut back on a bit of the frustration!!

yesterday was my first appointment at n.e.w. rehab... the occupational therapist that works with adults with sensory processing issues is really nice! she actually has processing issues too so she has a personal understanding of the whole thing. this time was just more of an interview and evaluation and next time we'll start working on auditory therapy. she asked me which one i'd like to tackle first (auditory, touch and vestibular stimuli are the three that bother me most) and i said auditory. she told me that was probably the best place to start since it's the one that affects me the most, and once that area has been worked on and improved, it'll be easier to deal with the other two. good- just in time, since the birds have been chirping that last few mornings. i felt comfortable sharing with her how i'd reacted to the birds when i was pregnant with cole... laugh if you want, i would too! anyway, the spring i was expecting cole, the birds bothered me WAY more than normal (hormones). no joke, i would get up, get the broom from the kitchen (or an old curtain rod since it could extend) and go out and whack the tree branches to try to get the birds to fly away and pester someone else. i know how silly it must have looked and that it really didn't do any good, but it was either that or melt into tears because i just couldn't take it anymore. for those who don't have sensory processing issues, it might seem crazy; for those who do, you'll understand!! a little out of my comfort zone sharing that, by the way. go ahead and get a little chuckle out of it, i don't mind. back on track... i'm anxious for the next session and to get started on sound therapy. this is such a relief for me, knowing that i'm not crazy or being too picky after all these years!