More, More, More!

If you read yesterday's entry, you know that I promised a big milestone update.

Well, yesterday, Elina signed for the first time!

More is the sign she does for wanting food. We started signing with her about two months ago, and honestly I was about ready to call it a failed project. At first, we signed lots of words like play, ball, eat, all done, sleep, etc. After a while I decided maybe it would be simpler for us and her if we just really focused on one important sign.

These past few weeks we have started to notice how frustrated Elina gets when she cannot express herself.

She screams and whines, and who could blame her? Almost nothing is more frustrating than not being able to communicate our wants and needs. We all want to feel heard, to feel understood. This was a big step in that direction.

Elina eating a well deserved snack for signing "more" for the camera

Signing can be a helpful tool for kids with Down Syndrome. Often they have some degree of speaking delay. In addition to this, a combination of different things (hypotonia, smaller mouths, brain processing) can often make it difficult for some to pronounce words. Signing is a way for them to communicate in addition to speaking.


One resource that has helped us is "Baby Signing Time".

No, It doesn't teach kids how to sign on its own (at least probably not at her age). What it does help with is putting the signs firmly in the parents minds. The catchy songs make it hard to forget what sign means what. Plus, it is a good reminder to keep practicing the signs when you talk to your kids.


We hope that this makes it easier for Elina to communicate. Seeing the look of pride and understanding on her face when she signs is a great reward for all the hard work we have been putting into her growth.

She's Radio Flyin' Now

Around Elina's first birthday I started thinking about finding a push walker. My awesome sister happened to get Elina one for her birthday. We started trying this walker out with Elina. She loved the buttons and music in the front, but struggled to get the hang of pushing it. Every time she would go to push it, the wheels would fly forward and she would fall on her face.

After some research I learned that one reason this walker sped out from under her was because it was too light. When Elina would go forward, she would lack the ab power to pull it back, and kersplat she went.Thus begun my long search for a walker that would work for her. It had to be heavy and sturdy, for extra balance support.

My scouring of the internet led us to a push walker made by Radio Flyer.

We got it in the mail today and Mikey set it up in a flash. There was even a piece that gave extra resistance to the wheels.

Our Therapist suggested adding a weight for traction, hence the pumpkin

She didn't take off right away. In fact, we realized it is going to be something that she is going to have to practice. She liked it but was was as interested in chewing the handle as pushing it. We were happy that it didn't fly out from under her. When it went too far forward she was able to pull it back or step to catch up.

 I took a video so that I could keep track of her progress with using it.

It is a work in progress, one that we are so excited about. I will update as she keeps working at it.

Watch out, this girl is going to be up and away before we know it.