Hi Friends!

Happy belated Chanukah!!

I'm a big boy and I feed myself now...

What fun!

and messy ;)
but I don't let anyone help me anymore.
Lots has happened, but hey we didn't forget about you!

We'll be back with more.

Nonstop Action

Friday, Mendele was on wheels! The paparazzi were unable to get a good shot of him due to the high velocity of his action that night.
This is what we did get:

Mendele, supported by two addoring fans (cousins to be sure) marched in full regale out of the Jewish Children's Museum in Brooklyn.

We want Moshiach....

..."Now!"

Just a lovable picture.

Mendele's favorite... the Alef Bais!

After months of trying, Mendele happily wears his glasses now.

In other news

B"H Mendele is now crawling on all 4!!! (he's been crawling with one foot up.) We were at a Hotel for Rosh Hashana and the hallways were just long enough for Mendele to just keep going. He's loving his freedom, and doesn't ask to be picked up anymore!

In other news we were approved for SSI (Suplemental Security Income) which is given by the gov. to help cover needs of those with disabilities. So now we have no excuse not to buy the best stuff out there.... like a set of sign language dvd's that is $668.

Yes, we started signing with Mendele and I highly recommend it for any child who is not speaking. It has totally taken away his frustration. Now, he can tell & show us what he wants. People are worried that signing will take away the will to speak but really it only helps increase it. With Mendele he speaks and signs together. When he just says, "Da" I'm not sure what he's referring to, but when he says "Da" and shows me with his fingers "Dip" then, I know he's asking me to sing the "Dip the apple in the honey" song. The problem is once he starts, he just wants the song over and over... (he signs 'more' and says "Na, Na" for Nach which means more in Yiddish)

Simple signs that Mendele uses on a daily basis are: eat, drink, milk, water, more, give me, sit, finished, up, down, music, play, apple and... thats all I can think of off hand.

Here are the "home-made" signs which Mendele uses: diaper, hat, open, close, go away, nurse (yes, I am still nursing him, experience shows its the best oral motor therapy) candles, and... I'm stuck again. I'll add them on as I see him signing and remember the rest.

Mendele's vocabulary has made a huge jump this month. He is currently using one syllable words unless both syllables are the same as in Mama, Dada, Ba Ba (Bye, Bye.) A word, according to the therapists, is any sound that he says and uses consistently for the same thing. So, if you heard him talking, you may need further interpretation. For example, he holds his hand like he's talking on the phone and says "A-owe" to which we know he is saying "Hello."

"Ssss" (Hais in Yiddish means Hot)
"Nuh" (Nose)
"Da" (Das in Yiddish means This)
"Gah" (Car)
"Mmm" (Food)
"Ba-ba" (Bamba-snacks)
"Ata" (Hantach in Yiddish is Towel)
"Itu" (Hitul in Yiddish is Hat)
"Oh" (Open)
"Dah" (Down)
"Dih" (Dip -refering to Dip the apple in the honey)
"Mah" (Farmach in Yiddish means Close)
"Ada" (Adaink in Yiddish means Thank You)

Like in China there are words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently.....
"Dede" (Rebbe)
"Dede" (Baby)
"Dede" (Vindel in Yiddish for Diaper)
"Dede" (Zaide in Yiddish for Grandpa)

so long for now....questions and comments are welcome.

Who can blow the shofar?

Mendele's first day of "school"

Mendele is all excited for his first day at "school!"

Music therapy (check out Mendeles new shoes ;)

Hello to Mendele
At snack it's only one at a time for Mendele, otherwise....

In the car on the way home...

He was occupied the entire ride!

Ed note: Mendele is loving Teacher Terry's class. The room is set up like a preschool classroom. The schedule is free play, circle time, music therapy, craft, snack & outdoor play. As you can tell from the pictures, Mendele is quite attentive and has already learned so much from his friends and teachers.
Mendele is great at imitating and he associates sounds (tunes and words) and motions very well. He knows motions to the Hokey Poky and says 'B" for bush and "M" for morning when the class sings "Here we go round the mulberry bush...so early in the morning"
We're working on him keeping his plate in one place, the craft paper ON the table, not throwing the crayon when he is done... we'll let you know how it goes.

Summer fun!

Hi Friends!
This is my favorite spot.

I'm always the center of attention.

Talking to my best friend!

This is my friend Avi.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a fireman!!!

Just kidding.

I like my tongue.

Clap to the beat...1,2,

3!

Regards, Mendele

Update

Well friends. In this long stretch of time, Mendele has grown lots. He is cruising along the couch and just taught himself how to get down! He is also climbing up and down stairs. He has become a real Daddy's boy. "DaDa" is one of the most exciting things in Mendele's life right now.

Mendele's therapist uses Bamba to work on his biting. Now anything that comes in a crinkly bag is called "Bamba"

Songs with motions has become a favorite for Mendele. He covers his eyes while saying the Shema. He is always ready to say Bam. (from the second par of the Shema; Vedibarta Bam)
Or when we say the Blessing over food, Mendele says "Ba"

Mendele has always loved listening and drumming to the beat of music, but now he's actually started singing "La, la, la" If only there were a trace of a tune....

We recently had our annual IFSP meeting. The EIOD (gov. official) reevaluated the current therapies and added in a new center-based program that Mendele will go to 3 times a week. This program is run through Step by Step and is known as Teacher Terry's class. Teacher Terry is a Special Ed therapist and does parent-child classes through music and movement. In Mendele's class there will be about 6 other children.

More to come....

This summer

note: ask any camper what their favorite part of camp is and they will all tell you, "Mendele!"

Final note: Our temporary therapist says over and over again, "I've never seen such an attentive 18 month old. He's amazing." (not to show off or anything.) bli ayin hara

My Gosh! It's been over a month!

Don't cry - I know this is an adorable picture.

Good Shabbos.

There is no need for toys...

A Siddur keeps Mendele occupied for longer!

It was a little too quiet....

...Mendele found his way into the bathroom, pulled himself up on the the tub and was waiting patiently, tapping and drumming!

Mendele learns to...

Mendele Learns how to eat with utensils!See?

Mendele has a new type of therapy; he gets to sit in a pile of beans, noodles, etc. that get him used to the sound and feel of it, to improve his sensory skills. At first he was petrified to get in, but now he's improved B"H and actually looks forward to it.

Mendele in his glasses!!

He has a new thing that he has to feel all his food before he can eat it.
Mendele's biggest crime: Throwing food on the floor that Mommy has to pick up!