update...

Jack has been doing really well with his signing. He is even starting to sign in sentences (well, one sentence...I want milk and cookies please). His speech pathologist thinks he is making great strides already. She doesn't think he has autism but thinks that it is childhood apraxia of speech. It's a neurological disorder in which a child has trouble saying what they want correctly and consistently. It can range from mild to severe (speech errors to not being able to talk). When he goes to the Autism center in December the neurologist should be able to give us a diagnosis. She will continue to work with him until he is 3 but then he will have to start special needs preschool and intensive therapy 4-5 times a week with a speech pathologist that specializes in childhood apraxia. At least that's the game plan for now. We'll have to see what the future holds.

Woody

The sheriff shooting bad guys

He chose to be Woody for Halloween.
Resting with Bella.

Peach Festival 2010

excited to go to the peach festival
making friends
waiting patiently for the candy
waiting for the parade to start

The peach festival this year was amazing! During the parade Jack was a little scared of all of the sirens but loved picking up the candy. He talked to all the kids near him and even shared his candy with some of the ones that didn't pick up as much. He's such a sweet kid. Then we went to the carnival which was even better. He loved all the rides. He was the only kid his age smiling and laughing on every single ride.

I'm sure everyone knows that Jack's speech pathologist diagnosed him with autism. He's going to the autism center in December but until then he has been accepted into the First Steps program which allows a speech pathologist and a special instructor to come to our house to work with him a couple times a week. Jack will stay in the program for a year and then will be re-evaluated to see if he needs to start pre-K a year earlier (which I'm really hoping he won't have to, I'm not ready to let him go to school just yet). I know my little guy and I really don't think it's autism. I don't have that worried feeling. I feel eerily calm about the whole thing. But, whatever he has won't change the way we feel about him. He's our pride and joy. He's happy, healthy and very social. He's just a quirky kid that needs a little help. Just wanted to keep everybody updated and say thanks for all the support.