Higher Learning...

I thought I was well versed with taking care of babies since I "nannied" all my nieces but Sydney has challenged me to put all my years of experience to the test. Her three months on earth has taught me more than I could have ever imagined:

• She is teaching me to be a stronger person than I thought I was capable of being (still in progress)
• Not to take anything for granted especially your kids and your hearing
• Take life one day at a time because you don't know what tomorrow may bring
• A whole new language and culture that is fascinating
• The deepest love that only a mother can have that gives life a new meaning and purpose
• To be a more compassionate understanding person
• Perspective on life and what's really important
• That a child's smile can melt your heart and make even the gloomiest days seem bright

I can go on and on. I can't say it has been easy, but it helps to look back and see how much progress we've made and try to find the silver lining in all of this. Today I made her learning posters with the alphabet, numbers and shapes in both English and ASL. She is very alert as I trace off the letters and sing the alphabet to her. Her teacher also suggested to make a poster with different baby faces on it expressing different emotions.


She had her first day of pre-school last week through the local Early Intervention program. I was very impressed with her school . It is really nice. Her teacher is great and works wonderfully with the kids. She does circle time singing and signing to the kids. They do an art and crafts project. Poor Sydney's arms are just barley long enough to sit in her Bumbo seat and reach the table, so I had to help a "little". Then she fell asleep. Another teacher there works with the parents to teach us ASL. There are all kinds of cute kids in her class. Sydney is the youngest by about 9 mos. We plan on taking her to both the infant and toddler classes to expose her to as much learning that she can have.

Happy Hearing Birthday....

Well the big day finally arrived. Sydney got her hearing aids YEAH!!! She didn't even complain or fuss when the audi put them in her ears. The audi each had us practice putting the earmolds in her ear. It's a little tricky I must say, especially when Sydney turns her head to see what you're putting in her ear. Then she taught us how to care for them. I learned any type of moisture is their worst enemy.

When they were first turned on Sydney just raised her eyebrows and looked around as if to say "where is all that sound coming from". She jumped when the audi sneezed. She actually fell asleep with them in on the way home. That is a whole other trick I have to master, slipping her hearing aids out of her ear without causing feedback and waking her up. She kept them in her whole first day without a fuss. The more time goes on I think she is able to localize sound better. The fact that she isn't ripping them out of her ears is a huge plus and gives us hope that they are working for her. She likes playing with her little jingle bell bug more now, maybe because she can finally hear it?