Kindergarten

JT loves his school. He seems to be adjusting so well - he even
asked to go see his new teacher today :)

Here he is on his first day of school (Thursday) with his teacher and
TA.

So cute!

JT & Beezy

Changes...

Today JT had his meet the teacher.



He seemed to really enjoy his time in the classroom, although he wasn't really as engaged as he usually is (he seemed a little overwhelmed, not really responding to requests/questions as quickly as he usually does). He did say "I scared" a few times, I think it was just a lot to take in.



I think it will be a great year. He liked his classroom. His teacher seems excited about the new school year and working with Mr. JT. His OT and ST were really excited, too. His little classmates are SO CUTE.



I am a little nervous about the change; going to Kindergarten is a big deal, and we're changing schools after being somewhere for 2 years.



JT asked for his favorite aid from prek today several times (Miss Lisa, if you are reading this, he almost cried because he realized he would not be at your school - he wanted to come see you and begged as we were leaving Reedy Creek today). He said he 'miss Michele' - his teacher from last year.



I am hopeful that he will adjust quickly to his new school and team, and that they will get to see the fun, smart JT that everyone else has fallen in love with.



School starts Thursday...

Silencing parents.

Why can't parents of autistic children have an opinion?



This video, made by Autism Speaks, shows the life of several families with autistic children.







It's not fluff, it's not pretty. It's honest. It's the life of many parents of children with autism.



And some groups of autistic adults are upset about it and demanding AS takes it down.



And I don't get it.



Why is it that parents of autistic kids aren't allowed to say their lives are stressful? Why are we not allowed to be upset that our children have a disability and life is hard for them? Why is it not okay that we are sad our kids struggle? Why can't we wish for better by hoping for a cure or treatments to make life easier not for us, but for our child?



No other groups are singled out like autistic children and their parents by the 'adult community'. Think of any other disability: CP, Down's Syndrome, blindness, deafness, physical disability... those parents are allowed to speak up and say 'You know what, life is hard. They're allowed to wish for a cure.



They're not made to feel MORE guilty by even more people.



The adults who can navigate life with small blips speaking for a group who have some major issues is like someone who has to wear a leg brace offended that parents of children in wheelchairs have hope their child will walk.



As a parent of an autistic child, I do wish for better. I wish my son had an easy life. I wish for a cure. I don't care if any adult on the spectrum is interested in taking that magic cure. That doesn't matter - if they don't want to change things, if they're happy the way they are, that's their business. Even if they find the cause and a cure, no one's going to make any adult take it.





I support Autism Speaks video. I think it's real life for many of my fellow autism parents and children, and their story deserves to be told - and publicized - as much as anyone else's does. I encourage both positive and negative stories: here at our house, we dealt with some dark times, and it's encouraging that others have come forward to share that experience so other parents don't feel so isolated and helpless. I also love the good pick-me-up - positive autism stories lift my spirits. There are room for both, and we shouldn't avoid talking about one over the other.

Whatchu doing?

JT is talking more and more :)



He comes up now and says "Hey _____, whatchu doing?"



or



"_____, you okay?"



and other similar questions.



He stops and waits for a response... it is SO cute!



He also enjoys playing chase/tag/tickle games and loves to say "I got you!" after he catches you or 'wins'.



He's started wearing his shorts whenever we have guests - particularly the little girls that moved in down the street. He blushed a few days ago when they ran back in to grab something after he'd taken his shorts off! First time I've *ever* seen him embarrassed!



He loves stealing people's seats and exclaiming "SPOT STEALER!!!"



Today our neighbor was over and JT was CRACKING UP messing with him stealing his spot.



Getting lots and lots of 'I love you' and 'I miss you', too - makes a momma's heart SO happy!

En Espanol

JT has been really into YouTube videos lately... and of course he LOVES the letters and numbers.



I had noticed he was watching French and Spanish number videos as well as videos in English, but figured he was just looking at the numbers.



I was wrong :)



Today he brought me his number blocks, and handed them to me one by one.



As he was handing them over, he said, "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez."



Considering my Spanish is limited to Dora-taught words, I better start working on it... he's almost got me beat!

Playing at the beach.

At the beach.

Pizza

Too funny..

JT: Mommy, I want a pizza.
Me: JT, we don't have pizza. What else do you want?
JT: (thinks about it...) Another pizza.


Hmmm...

Another pic of the missing tooth!

Goodbye, tooth!

My little boy is growing up!

He came up and said, "Mommy, my tooth missing." and showed me. Sure
enough, the tooth he said was loose a few days ago must have been
really loose - because it's gone!

Silly boy!

He loves brains... and knows how to mess with everyone. Goofy boy!

Magic 8 Ball

Since we have no answers, and no way of knowing when the answers are coming... Audrey and I have resorted to using the Magic 8 Ball.

As a side note, Audrey loves the thing because she can ask a bazillion questions and it keeps answering her.

Got a question? Go play!