Our First Two-Way Conversation

It was Spencer's turn to go to the grocery with me and we went on Friday.

Here he is ready to go and impatiently waiting for Dad to come home and stay with his brothers. Waiting is never easy! And Dad is always late. ha. :) Spencer can say several words, but would still be considered nonverbal. He can ask for something, such as a hot dog, chips, bed, remote, things like that...they are 'wants' or 'requests'. He never has done a back and forth conversation and although this one was very simplistic, it is still the first ever!

Spencer has figured out what my shopping list is and what it means. He always reads it and makes sure I have printer paper and scotch tape on it! When we got into the Jeep and started to leave, he locked eyes with me, like he usually does. This means he wants me to say something. (As in read his mind, ha ha. That works with his brothers, but not usually with me!) But I knew this time he probably wanted to verify what he was going to get to buy at the grocery. So the conversation went like this ~

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ME ~ "So, at the grocery we will buy you hot dogs..."

SPENCER ~ "deedee" (means OK or yes)

ME ~ "cheese..."

SPENCER ~ "deedee"

ME ~ "paper and tape"

SPENCER ~ "deedee"

I stop, thinking we're done talking. Spencer turns sideways toward me and looks into my eyes.

ME ~ "You want to get something else?"

SPENCER ~ 'dee'

ME ~ "What?" Spencer just looks. "Say...I want..."

SPENCER ~ "D-D-D"

ME ~ "You want to get a DVD?"

Spencer nods. And looks out the windshield.

ME ~ OK! You can get a DVD, but just one!

SPENCER jerks his head and looks at me. "Two!"

ME ~ "You want two DVDs? ha ha...OK, you can get two!"

Aww! Isn't that great??? Sure made me smile! And if you have forgotten what Spencer's voice sounds like, or mine for that matter, you can listen to our saying body parts HERE. In fact, I really should do some more video clips. I still need to figure out how to do that on my new camera! Anyway, thanks for celebrating with me! And for those of you who pray for my boys, thanks very much. See...here's a wonderful answer! Certainly not in my timing, but then I'm learning that it's not all about me or what I want, either! :)

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As for the trip itself, Spencer has improved greatly since our trips last summer. Remember when he flashed his belly at the cashier and wanted to buy National Geographic's Border Wars, Vol. 1? Click here if you want to read about that. He did still push the cart way too fast, turn corners on two wheels and would have crashed into several people if I hadn't had a firm hold on the side of the cart. But he was much more patient, even on a Friday afternoon, with a crowded store and long check out lines. Although, I was exhausted when we got home! ha ha.

♥