November 3, 2011 - Babbling

Brennan started babbling today. It has been coming on for a few weeks now, but today she started really babbling. A few weeks ago, she started becoming a little more vocal. She will have a little yelling contest with whoever will participate with her (Conner!) but a lot of times she is quiet. Today, I could really hear her babbling. I think David and I both had tears in our eyes at the sound of it. To most people, this may not be a momentous occasion. I mean, it's our second child and it's just babbling. Conner first syllable sound came when he was just over 15 months old. We were in the car driving home on a long road trip. Maybe one or two consonants repeated (ex. bababa). We were so happy to finally hear it and we thought things would just take off...but it never did. We waited until Conner was 2 before he had any words at all and when he went to camp as a 3 year old, he was still labeling and only ever said one word at a time. He knew a few signs (which he doesn't remember any more!) but that was it. Thankfully, over the past year, Conner has become a little talking superstar and we are so proud but this has been the result of a TON of hard work from him and hours and hours of therapy.

So to us, this is huge and to people who know us in real life, you know that this has been a concern of mine for a long time.

When Conner was little, everyone used to tell us what a good baby he was because he was pretty much silent. I didn't know any better and I agreed...Conner was a great baby and so quiet and well behaved. I could even take him to the library. So, now when people say the same thing about Brennan, I cringe. Knowing what I know now, I want my kid to be the chatty verbal one because I know that "late" babbling is a sign of apraxia which we have struggled with with Conner for 4 years. As I'm sure I mentioned before, apraxia can be hereditary, or it could also be a result of one of the other things that have happened during Conner's life, or just as a result of his severe prematurity. In fact, although he is "officially" diagnosed with apraxia, I'm not sure if that is what it is. Conner definitely exhibits some characteristics, but who knows, really? Conner's brain was affected by being born so early so that could be the reason for his speech difficulties.

So, the momentous thing happened. We've been hearing more sounds for a few weeks. I keep telling Conner that Brennan is talking to him and he should start teaching her stuff. He is mostly interested in taking stuff away from her. It's funny how he is with her. He loves her so much and wants to hug her and kiss her, but since she has become much more mobile and takes his toys, he is reconsidering. I'm hoping that he will start to share better with her...there are so many toys but he always wants the thing that is in her hand. And, Brennan has her own toys, but somehow she knows that she wants Conner's stuff more than her own!

At dinner tonight, I was getting her food ready and she was babbling away. I kept looking at David and saying "do you hear that?" over and over again. It is such a totally different experience watching her learn things. She doesn't have to work as hard as Conner ever did and things are coming to her naturally. I don't have to do therapy with her to teach her the pincer grasp or how to chew. She is figuring out how to move food around in her mouth all by herself. It's pretty amazing to watch and something I'm not sure I would appreciate if we hadn't been in therapy with Conner his whole life.

Anyway, it was a momentous day and one I will not forget. Brennan's "talking" was music to our ears!

Here are a few photos just for fun!

Anyway, just wanted to record our day so I would know that this happened...Brennan is now just shy of 8 months and we are loving every minute of it! More Halloween and other pics coming soon!