Keeping it Cool

We have been staying indoors, in the air conditioned house. I have no desire to check my mail as I know my electric bill will show up any day now. I'm sure it'll be insanely expensive as we keep our house about as cold as an ice box so that Owen doesn't sweat buckets. The best part of summer has finally found it's way here. Monsoons.

Monsoon season is the time of summer I always look forward to. The storm brews, dust blows, thunder roars and the rain comes down! The skies are lit up with lightening. The kids squeal with excitement. Last night was our first, perfect storm. We went out on the front porch to watch the storm and Owen laughed with each burst of thunder. I tried to get some pictures but my lens was soaked from the rain. If the meteorologists are right, I'll have another chance for pictures tonight.

On another note, we have discovered that Owen has been holding out on us. For a few months now, and even up to last week when he had his speech evaluation, we assumed he didn't understand us when we talked to him. We'd ask him questions or try to communicate with him and get a response that sounded like "eeeehhhh?" or "oooohhhhaaaakkkssshhh". He will imitate but not initiate. If we ask where a body part is, no response. Well...

Sunday, he was fresh out of the tub and laying in our bed when I asked "Owen, where is your diaper??" To which he picked up his diaper. Then I asked "where is your nose?" You get the idea. He knew all of his body parts. I threw a trick question at him... "where is your tape?".. to which he pointed to his cheek. Ah-ha. Since his little revelation of knowledge, he has been showing off. He is initiating a little more as well.

Mr Owen has also been standing up on his legs a little more. He needs about 80% support to get up to standing but I can hold onto his hands and he'll stand for a minute or two. He turns blue and is clearly winded afterwards, but what great progress! He's also trying to get in and out of the sitting position. He lays on his back, rolls to his tummy and stops for a breath. Then he pushes his torso up and tries really hard to push into sitting. He has done it several times, but once again is winded. I'll get a video of him doing it one of these days so I can record the JOY on his face when he realizes he's accomplished it! It's priceless.

We're off to rent more movies to watch while we sit in our icebox of a home and watch the monsoons tonight.