chillin out

Here's the big girl sitting by herself in a chair. (and quite proud of it!) This rocking chair was mine when i was little, then used by the Fred Pierce clan, and is now back in my house and Sharon loves it. It's the perfect size for her to practice sitting down by herself and has actually really helped with her learning to stand up on her own as well. Thanks Aunt Lorrie for remembering about this chair!!! and for Namom and Pop Pop who drove it here from PA.
So we are into summer now and doing well. I have 4 therapists each week coming to the home so that keeps up busy! I am loving having them though. These are the therapists who were working with Sharon at school and i never got to see exactly what they were doing with her, so now i am able to see it and implement it as well and it's making a big difference already. Now that i know exactly what is being asked of her and what she is capable of, I can enforce it more (she is more apt to pull the "poor me, i can't do this" with me than she is with her therapists, so now i can see when she's faking me out!). I'm very excited about speech. I have decided that it is definitely the most difficult therapy and wouldn't want to be a speech therapist! But we have the best in town and I know that we are going to make progress. The sounds are just literally 'on the tip of her tongue' and more importantly, she is actually WANTING to talk so that will make all the difference!
Our newest therapist friend is an Educational therapist and her job is to play with Sharon and help with colors, ABC's, etc. She is a ton of fun and after two sessions i have a feeling that she's going to be a big part of Sharon's life!
"Aunt" Rose (my dear friend from Philly) came to visit for a long weekend this week and we had a great time. I actually tore some ligaments in my ankle the night she came so that made for a less active weekend than i had planned but still fun and Rose was a huge help with Sharon. (to answer the question: i hurt myself rather boringly...i had been riding Flare and having a ball. The ride was over and i dismounted and promptly stepped in a hole. Thank God Flare is a gentle soul who stood calmly by until RJ and Sharon arrived to help.)
Somewhere in the midst of this i am continuing to work so Sharon is my "assistant" (yeah right!). Our dog Dina has become my biggest helper when i am working because she will come in a play fetch with Sharon continuously, to both of their delights.
Hope you all are well!
peace
Jaye, RJ, and Sharon Isabella

beach fun

So we spent the last week or so at the beach...such fun! Sharon LOVED the ocean, loved the water, the sand...she really had a ball. And her walking got so much stronger while there. Her muscles worked overtime and she's just a toughie. She got much better at keeping her balance. We're still working on falling...falling on sand and grass is much easier for her but she's still not ready for falling on concrete or floors so we've got some work to do! Her uncle Jason worked on "getting into standing" with her. I'm hoping she'll get that down pat by the end of summer so she really can be "free" to move as she wishes...

This top pictures captures the fun Sharon had a couple of nights with her cousins getting ready for bed (bouncing and singing and dancing on the bed. So much fun!)



Getting ready to tackle the waves....














Peek-a-boo with her toy...

Fun beach vacation!!!

Playing in the sand with Daddy's hat














loving the ocean!!!














taking a mommy break while walking all around...(yes, that's mommy...)












My first kayak trip! Such fun! Sharon LOVED paddling...

Welcome summer!

Here is Sharon hanging out with Jontae and Dina, eating a popsicle. Sharon loves when Jontae comes to visit!











Here is the little miss on her last day of school. Her two teachers, Kim and Anne, were fabulous and Sharon really loved them. About 6 weeks ago Sharon decided that she loved school, which made it much easier for all of us! I was sad for her to have to say goodbye to her friends today... but am happy to have her back to myself now :)