It had been a long day and I’ll admit, I was exhausted.
Parker, of course, was just working up his 786th new wind.
In an attempt to calm him down and remind him that it was dark outside and when it’s dark outside it’s time to sleep.
(Please kid, please, please sleep.)
I had Parker in my lap. Kenny was singing soft songs to him and decided to use Parker’s new Elmo puppet to try and win his attention.
Parker looked at Kenny, and spotted Elmo.
Then clear as a bell Parker said, “Elmo!”
Parker SAID Elmo!
My non-verbal kid looked at his favorite character of all time and called him by name.
I looked at Kenny. And Kenny looked at me.
And simultaneously screamed for Reed.
Fearing our heads had caught on fire, Reed comes into the room with the look of WTH on his face.
Together, Kenny and I yell, “Parker!” “Parker just said Elmo!”
Incredulously, Reed asked, “He did? Really? Are you sure?”
I figure Reed figured that both Kenny and I couldn’t be losing our minds so together we shared some pretty smacking high fives.
It’s little things like this that give a Mama of a medically fragile kid with special needs hope.
Now if we could just get this kind of hope after Parker’s next right heart cath.
What kind of beloved characters have helped your kid make a new milestone?
WOOT-WOOT PARKER! WTG!
The Love Magnet used to do anything for Curious George and Clifford the Dog.
Scarehaircare recently posted..THE 14 DAYS OF VALENTINES 2011
Twitter: bateminx
says:
This is FANTASTIC!!! Way to go, Parker!! Wow, amazing the kinds of things that motivate. Elmo has a way to really reach kids. When Samantha was born I had sworn that I would never acknowledge Elmo because he wasn’t around when I was a kid, but then I saw how darned cute he is, and how much kids ALL love him, and eh, who could resist that?
Way to go Parker!!
Melissa recently posted..Wordy Wednesday- Little Cowgirl
GO PARKER!
Twitter: therextras
says:
Good ol’ Elmo! Congrats! To all the Hodsons!
Barbara recently posted..A Long and Winding Road
Wahoo, Elmo is a great first word! You know what character is enticing Jax. His baby sister!
Lacey and Jax recently posted..I finally got it!!
That is so cool!!
Kristin recently posted..Its a video kind of week
That was one of Max’s first words too. Even though he insists ‘Eh-Oh’ is for ‘Ay-ee’ (babies), he still doesn’t mind to watch.
Way to go Parker…and way to go Elmo for encouraging our kids to speak!
Deana recently posted..Back to School
Twitter: trishdoerrler
says:
Woo-hoo, Parker!!! Now we know who he really loves, hehe!!!
Just kidding. What an amazing day – I am jumping up and down for you over here.
Good for you Parker. Barney was my favorite.
My name is Sarah recently posted..Mom Rants
I know that exact feeling!
One of the best days of my life was the day my youngest son said “MoMower” while pointing to my husband who was mowing the lawn.
All the dark scary things before that suddenly seemed a little less hopeless.
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Oh, Tammy. That is fantastic!! Many, many, many hugs!!
WAY TO GO PARKER!!! But honestly…who doesn’t love Elmo? There must have been something in the air on Friday because Sam was in a mood too! I am so excited for both of you!!!
Sue Mayer recently posted..Reflecting and Praying!
WooHoo! How did it sound?
Nana says Elmo, but it comes out “Em Mo”. She’s heavily into Backyardigans, so says “tasha, pab-o”, etc. But then, she’s my little name savant, so that doesn’t mean much!
Chris,
Clear as a bell the kid said ELMO!
that is SO exciting! my little guy who has DS also loves elmo and all sesame street muppets. he got an oscar puppet for christmas and loves it so much. i never thought i’d actually say that sesame street can help teach kids anything…but it has been a great learning tool for our isaac.
I’m not a parent of a special needs child, but I am an aide to one. One day when we were going for our daily indoor recess walk in the school, out of no where, my little guy pointed to a cardboard cut out of Santa and said “SANTA!” clear as day. He didn’t say it for a few days and then he started pointing at all the Santa’s and said “SANTA!” for each one.
A few weeks later his Mom came in to see how he was doing and to learn the verbal prompts we do with his IEP goals so she could continue working with him over the Christmas Break. When we went out for the walk I was asking her if she had heard him say “HoHoHo” and she said no, so I then asked if she had taught him how to say Santa, to which she said no and that he had never said Santa at home, even when Santa came to visit him! So we had to go find a Santa to show his Mom what he taught himself! She was absolutely elated!