Changes

I know that I write a lot about RDI these days and that is because I have come to feel so passionate about it. For us it is right thing to do. Last night Nik and I sat on the couch and reviewed the videos from our first two weeks. Seeing Oliver now you wouldn't believe that those videos were taken just four months ago. A big change that we've seen with Oliver of late is an increase in his ability to communicate. Oh, he isn't speaking that much more but he is communicating and I do believe that we are starting to have our first conversations, which is so exciting. Who cares that hardly a word is spoken.

Here is an example of an exchange that we had yesterday:

Standing at the back door and holding it open an inch or two Oliver is poised to go outside. "Oliver, lunch will be ready in two minutes."

Oliver looks again outside and inches the door open a bit further. I clear my throat, he looks up at me and sees me shaking my head 'no'. He then smiles and vigorously shakes his head 'yes'. I shake mine in the negative one more time while simultaneously setting a piece of pizza down on the table. End of conversation.

Short but oh, so sweet!

Some other changes that we've seen since we started doing RDI:

Oliver is starting to be able to make choices. When presented with a number of books he will study them for a moment and then intentionally choose one. A few months ago he would have sat immobile if presented with a choice.

He is also now independantly getting things to eat -- even if that means he has to climb up on the cupboards and chairs to get it. I have always left fruit out on the counter so that anyone can grab a snack when they want. But Oliver never before took the initiative to do it -- even when he was really hungry. Now, nothing is safe. And one day I even found him hiding outside and trying to get a popsicle wrapper off! I was so stunned that you could have knocked me over with feather.

Another exciting development is that the range of toys he chooses and his manner of playing is starting to vary a bit. I am starting to see more and more elements of pretend play which is kind of fun to watch.

We still have a long way to go, to be sure, but at the moment anyway it all just seems so very good.