Great News From the Retirement Front

So last night after the dinner was devoured, the dishes done, children scrubbed and packed in pajamas, and Tessa was snoozing in her bed... Cole & I let The Littlest Buddy stay up an extra hour as a treat for being such a good listener, it makes him feel extra special and excited to have that alone time, to be the only child stomping around the house. He gets this really funny swagger and he keeps grinning and saying "happy," just so we know for sure that he is pleased with this arrangement. The only rule is that it is wind-down time, so he has to play quietly, nothing electronic, which is really hard for him.

So, last night we are fat from dinner, sprawled out on the couch. Cole is busy crocheting a scarf, I was reading some depressing article about the Hipstomatic killing photo journalism, and all of the sudden we hear LB's little voice. Cole noticed it first, I felt her squeezing my leg, and I look up and she has tears in her eyes, she is watching LB. I look up and pay attention to what is happening, and he has climbed into a comfy chair sitting all criss-cross apple sauce, and he has a book on his lap, and he is READING it... OUT-LOUD, and he is getting it right. He was doing it so casually, it was the "Eight Silly Monkeys" book and he was accurately counting the monkeys on each page, and it was beautiful. He has been reading the 'Foot Book" to us for awhile, but only when we cheer him on, and encourage it.

For the first time, entirely on his own, he went and got a book, and sat down and read it by himself, for himself. He had no idea we were watching him all beaming and busting, he was just reading for the fun of it.

It has been hard not to write about how truly heart bursting it has been to watch Cole explore this new conversational LB, they have their own little language these days, she knows his sounds so well as he is starting to find his words, once you know his sounds he is clear as a bell, and all the sudden they are having big conversations with one another, and he asks questions, and makes clear requests, tells stories about school, and we finally see the start of some consistent communication. Finally.

It was a great end to the day. The Littlest Buddy is six years old and we ended our day listening to him read a book, and watch him full of pride and confidence, and oh so very pleased with himself. It felt great.



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