Friday, February 5, 2010

I could just eat her up.

I have wanted to post a video of Payton's speech for awhile now ... I just never do.

I never do because as soon as I go back to watch it ... I realize just how delayed her speech is. I mean ... we communicate fine. But seeing on video how delayed her speech is ... it breaks my heart.

I just want baby girl to be able to talk. I want her to be able to converse with her friends. And although she does all of this in her own way ... I yearn for the day that she can just speak a full sentence.

At the same time ... this is her. And dangnabbit ... I could just eat her up.

So here she is ... age 4 years 1 month ...

33 comments:

  1. Precious. Grandma loves her so much.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ok I am so going to have to get out my video camera and blow the dust off so you can see Caleb and Isaac watching Payton during this video. They were signing right along with all the words you wanted her to say. My guys are completely non-verbal. Not one official word from them yet, so I think she is doing amazing. But seeing my guys watch Chicky was priceless!!!! This might be Caleb and Isaacs new favorite video :) Thanks for sharing..

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love how she signs as she says the word!

    ReplyDelete
  4. bethany i think she is doing great! and omg..she says blue just like mayson !!! love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love it - I need to do the same but am in denial....but - thats' our girls and love, love, love her!! more than I thought I could - and know you do too - love the signs! - I was doing them with Peyton so I'm learning also!!
    enjoy today -
    denise

    ReplyDelete
  6. She is so sweet! She can definitely say "no"! Too cute!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the word Yellow. That one was my favorite! Her signing is wonderful and her spoken words will come soon enough. Looks like she is almost there!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Blue and yellow are my favorite by far!!She is so stinkn cute.Really so darling.She will find her way ... I think that is my catch phrase now.Mainly because I believe it with all my heart.Mainly because I have seen it with my own eyes,time and time again with these amazing children.

    With Zoey and all her major "issues",I never dreamed she would communicate.Isn't that terrible of me?Maybe self protection.Who knows.But today,my little love has like 60 signs...unbelievable.I think one day she will speak ... hopefully just like Payton and that is not to belittle how you feel and what you want for Payton... I get that too.Bottom line,like I said.. she will find her way.. but I think you know that...I'll shut up now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cute video! Payton is so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  10. She's so precious! I'm actually a pediatric SLP... I think she's doing a fantastic job! The key is just to try as much as you can to make her use the words she can say and to expand on that. You guys are her best coach and I can tell that you really work hard on getting language going at home. Work, work, work, but I know she'll be uttering phrases and sentences in no time! I really enjoy your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Payton is doing great and, of course, she is adorable, too. It's so fun to be able to see her personality in the video. She is so much more grown up than the last time I saw her. It may be time for us to come visit out your way again.
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  12. Goodness she is adorable. Aden started out saying the words with you then he giggled and giggled lol he thinks Payton is great fun.
    Honestly she is doing great. Tay (my 15yr DD) was sitting here saying “She talks like Aden ”I’ll have to borrow a video and get some of Aden. Aden is dropping sounds to we need a St that isn’t about communication. All we seem to get is this ST that wants to work on communication, you know cause Aden has an intellectual disability what ever…he is just like Payton (though I think she understands more hmm don’t know) our kids need speech, help with getting gout the right sounds, so I’m hunting someone down. So many area’s in Speech therapy hey, have to find the right one for the job.


    PS I want to know how you can have plates and a vase within reach of your kids, Aden would smash them in no time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. how wonderful! I know some people think it may be "denial" but I think we just get used to how our kiddos talk and then it is hard at times to see them with peers the same age and see the difference. If they can communicate that is all that matters b/c they will speak plenty as they grow older. She is a doll and I think William is in love!!!I didn't realize they were so close in age...he will be 4 March 3rd.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bethany, she is so beautiful! I just love seeing her in action! She obviously understands a lot and knows a lot of sign. The language piece is, I think, the most challenging part of having a child with Ds. She is coming along great and will continue to thrive with your encouragment and love!
    -Danielle (of foreverbetter)

    ReplyDelete
  15. She is absoluetly adorable! I love the attitude :). Kate kept blowing kisses to her at the end and waving bye-bye.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is awesome! Aidan's speech is coming along, but most of the time we don't know what he's saying. I'm thinking we're getting closer. This clip gives me hope that his speech will continue to blossom like Payton's.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That was wonderful! I haven't seen her since she was a little baby. She has grown up so much. The kids & I really loved watching this.. I was thinking how beautiful she is right before Kyle said "beautiful". Aww she is so precious!

    -Steph & Breck

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for posting the video! I love it! My daughter Leah just turned 3 and isn't verbal yet (well, she does say a few words appropriately but very inconsistently). I can't wait until I hear her voice.

    ReplyDelete
  19. She is doing great!! and so stinking cute.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think she's doing great! She sure has a great personality and knows how to get around the words that are difficult for her to pronounce.

    Someone else commented about your dishes in the background....if they were in my house they would of all been broken!
    Beth(Hannah's mom)

    ReplyDelete
  21. She's so beautiful! I understand about your frustration. We just love our kids so much. But she is coming along and will continue to progress. Love and hugs from Polly and Evie.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I too have to comment on the dishes....Daniel would have them broken into pieces in seconds!!

    Her speech is really coming along well. In 6 months from now, I promise you her articulation will be even better. 4 years old was a big turning point for Daniel's speech. It seemed to really click in and in the last 6 months he has come a long way. Most important thing is she wants to talk, and is clearly understanding you....and that is key. It will come :)

    She is so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!

    Love Lisa (DanielsMommy)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I cant stop thinking about your dishes lol ok I need help think it's time for you to share how you keep up with your house and all you have going on. do you use a diary have a to do list, when and what day you clean x,y and z. how the heck are those dishes still sitting there not broken???? what are you up to tell me your secrets lol my house is out of control as well as my kids hahahaha.
    Do you have a toy room, where is your mess lmao
    I do remember seeing your kids trashed the computer room once lol so I know your human and willing to save me. Hehe

    ReplyDelete
  24. Payton is adorable. I think she is doing great with her speech. The sentences will come. My daughter, Molly, does not have down syndrome but she does have a speech disorder, apraxia of speech. When she was Payton's age her speech sounded very much like Payton's. For several years we did the same thing you did video taping Payton's speech. We would video Molly exactly like that with us having her say words. We did the video on the same date every year so that we could see her progress. It definitely helped to look back and really see how far she had come.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Bethany,

    Words can not describe the feelings I had watching your precious daughter on video. The confidence she shows in all of her knowledge of talking and signing! The composure she shows as she sits and listens to each of your requests. And the eloquent way she uses her words/word approximations was simply amazing to me=)
    I don't know a lot of 4 year olds that would sit for that long and do what their parent asks. You have brought up your daughter to be very kind and respectful person and it's easy for me to see why all of your dishes are out on display!!

    Please try not to worry about her progress! She is progressing at her own rate, and creating her own chart of "Payton's Speech Milestones". She has all the things she needs.....great eye contact, great attention span, fantastic receptive language skills and MANY, MANY sounds that will in time turn to more fluent speech. And she has many words too!! She is doing GREAT!! (Purple is not easy to say.....way to go Payton!!)

    Ok there it is.....from an EI therapist in Boston. Keep up the fantastic job you are clearly doing!!

    Susan Karalias

    ReplyDelete
  26. I could just eat her up also! lol She is just too cute. I agree with everything Susan says. We can't wait to see her grow-she's going to do wonders!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I too think she is doing great! She is just a little sweetheart and so beautiful! Love her personality...thanks for sharing this with us!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh how I adore that little girl of yours!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I swear you are just trying to torture me with her cuteness, I can hardly stand it. The eye rolling is a nice touch Chicky!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey Bethany!

    I loooved watching Payton and listening to you both!! I wanted to second what Heidi said and ask you if Payton has the diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech???

    If not or if so, the therapy to actually work on her articulation is different from just regular old speech/language therapy, and I know how much you want her to converse with you.

    She is just beautiful!!!

    Email me if you want to talk.
    Adrienne

    ReplyDelete
  31. Your daughter is absolutely delightful :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I just have to tell you I smiled and chuckled all the way through - reminded me so much of Kayla! Being easily distracted ... not being able to just sit still in her chair. Kayla's antsyness just bugs me sometimes! Kayla just SIT STILL! :) Anyway, I think she's doing just great! I could eat her up too ... and the eye rolling, hahaha

    ReplyDelete