Mommy Mondays: Words Words Words

Sometimes it doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself something, you still have trouble putting it in action.

Ever since I was pregnant with Thatbaby my health care providers have reminded me that every child is different.   It's something I know, and I'm quick to point out to others.  Heck I'm fantastic at doing it with my own children and not comparing them with anyone else's children.

But even though I know it to be the truth, I still expect Thatbaby to behave just like his brother.  Even though I know there's no way that is going to happen.  Like sleep, Thatkid was my "bad sleeper" who didn't sleep through the night until 13 months.  So when Thatbaby was 11 or 12 months old, I kept telling myself I just needed to get to 13 months.  Ha.

And talking.  Rationally I know that Thatkid was an insanely early talker and I shouldn't expect as much from Thatbaby.  I know this because I was an insanely early talker and Thatbrother was not.  I know this because Thatbaby is insanely advanced physically and a lot of more physical babies are not as verbal.

But still, I went through (and go through) major comparisons.  When Thatkid was 16 months, we lost count of how many words he had.  By 19 months he was speaking full sentences.  Thatbaby has one really recognizeable word, which is "uh oh."  Other than that, most of his language is either tonalities (using the tones you would use when you say "thank you" or "what's that?")  or words that only we, his family, recognize (like pumpkin is ap-uh-day).

According to my pediatrician, all of this is normal, he even gave me a quick survey to do in which Thatbaby passed the verbal assessment.  But he also gave us a referral to audiology to answer my question as to whether there was any issue with hearing that may impede his language skills.

2 weeks ago we visited the audiology department where he went through three assessments to test both his objective and subjective hearing (should he hear versus could he hear).  He passed all of them with flying colors.

So what does this mean?  It means I need to keep reminding myself that all kids develop at their own pace, and one day I am going to be just as anxious for Thatbaby to forget the word "mama" as I am with his older brother.