Escape Artist

Last weekend about 45 minutes after putting the kids down for nap, I was in the office and hear this loud thump upstairs.  I just assumed it was Charlotte still playing instead of sleeping.  Then Scout freaks out and runs outside to howl/bark.  Then I suddenly hear Cooper crying -- hiccup crying!  I run to the stairs and what do I see??

Cooper sitting on the 3rd stair from the top crying really hard.  I was in such shock because the last I knew he was in his crib!!  I guess that explains the loud thump!  We think he fell out of his crib in attempt to get out.  The monitor was turned down and he was likely crying for a bit and since I didn't come check on him, he took matters into his own hands.

We haven't had a repeat of crib escape, but he does try to climb up the cribs from the outside.  We are trying to decide what to transition to - toddler, twin, or just the queen that's already in his room.  Also trying to decide when.  We coslept until 14 months so he knows how to sleep on a regular bed, but he sometimes wakes and puts himself back to sleep in the crib.  If he can get out of bed, we might have some real sleep issues on our hands.

Charlotte had her first preliminary speech evaluation meeting with the Early Intervention services program.   We filled out a bunch of paperwork mostly about her medical history and then the case worker came to the house to interview us and Charlotte.  Mostly she asked a lot of questions about what she could/couldn't do and also observed Charlotte playing, coloring, and talking.  She said she could only make out 2 clear words - mama and hi.

Charlotte's full speech evaluation is this Thursday.  We also may need to get her hearing checked.  Although she doesn't seem to have any hearing issues (follows directions, responds to her name, whispers with us), she may not be able to hear certain sounds correctly and that's why she isn't speaking as much or saying all of her words clearly.

What we find interesting is just as we get worried and make all of these appointments she is starting to talk more.  She now says the following words clearly and with purpose:

Hi, Bye, Mama (she actually says it now to get my attention), Dada (she says it now to get his attention, to ask where he's at, or to explain that something belongs to him), Yay, Yes, Yeah, ah-choo (mimics us sneezing)

She says these words, and although not clear, they have a clear meaning to the sound:

Baw (ball), Aw-daw (all done), Daw (dog), Uh-uh (uh-oh), Bugh (book), heh (help), baba (nursing),  bipeh (diaper), bampa (grandpa), bubba (bubbles), gah-na (good night/night-night), aw shi (aw shit), mmm-mmm (vroom), agh-agh (woof, woof), ehhh-ehhh (mimics sound of drill, vacuum, or blowdryer), puh-puh (up), huh-puh-puh (singing 'hop up, jump in' from Handy Manny), dat (that), dee (this)

Cooper is also starting to talk more and says the following words:  daw (dog), ka (cat), tout (Scout), hi, ni-ni (night, night), mama, dada, cackeh (cracker), banuh (banana), agh-agh (woof, woof), ehhh-ehhh (mimics sound of drill, vacuum, or blowdryer), uh-oh, dat (that), dis (this)