Wednesday, May 20, 2015

New mama...new speech therapy outlook

Hello there!  Wow it has been a long time since I have posted. 
Thank you, Katie Niemann Photography http://www.katieniemann.com/main.php
My baby boy, TJ, was born in March...on my first day of maternity leave.  Instead of waking up and getting ready for work, I woke up and went straight to the hospital.  No hospital bag packed, no car seat installed, NOTHING.  I felt completely unprepared, but I have found that TJ and the big GOD were teaching this planner a little lesson.  Trust in yourself and in God's plan, be flexible, and know that it will all be ok.  And it has been more than ok.  Being a mommy has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but the most unbelievably rewarding.  Days when TJ cries and fusses are all forgotten with just one of his charming smiles...he melts my whole being!

In graduate school, I learned that babies start making connections and learning language from day 1, but it is a completely different experience watching it first hand in your own child.  At two months, TJ makes eye contact, smiles, vocalizes, localizes sounds and follows sounds, and is beginning to understand turn taking with vocalizations...makes the SLP mommy giddy.  I have always had a loving spot in my heart for early intervention and loved working with the preschool population; however, I have never experienced working with individuals this young.  As I gawk at my TJ, I am constantly thinking through how I can modify some of my books, songs, and toys to be appropriate for him because the truth is he can learn SO much right now...he is a sponge!

For other fellow mommies and fellow SLPs, I'm going to be posting about my journey.