two steps forward, one step back

Jaden has been LOVING books these days. She especially loves the DK board books--the ones that have hidden stuff to look under, or stuff to feel, like fur or bumps, etc. She brings me books all day long--which she wasn't doing just a few weeks ago. She also has a few new words this week: babies, moon, star, cheese....but she tends to 'lose' most of them. She used to say 'tree' frequently and now hasn't said it in about a week...The hardest part is getting so excited about her learning but wondering how long she will keep this word...or this action or this understanding....
I have been trying to explain to people the noises Jaden makes when we are out and about...it is hard, though, unless you hear it for yourself. But today we were at Dr Benton's (for another one of our children--sometimes we are tempted to think Jaden is the only one :O( ) and Jaden was on the floor being happy, but LOUD. The nurse poked her head in and said "Oh, I was just wondering what all the noise was--I thought there was a puppy in here!"
Hmmmmm.....
I *could* have gotten mad at her calling my precious little girl a puppy. But she DOES sound like a yelping puppy. It was a correct diagnosis (grin)
I don't know why Jaden gets so loud when we go out. But we as a family have pretty much gotten used to it, and so walk around with her in waiting rooms or the grocery store or the park acting like it is the most natural thing in the world for your toddler to be yelping like a puppy. We forget that most people don't hear that all day long and so wonder what's up....or get frustrated or even angry....
There are some autism tshirts available that say something like "I am not rude, undisciplined, wild---I have autism so please be patient with me"
I want to get Jaden some (and the buttons, too ;O)) but Reg doesn't want to tell the whole world that Jaden is autistic. I will listen to him. For now. ;O)
got to go to bed. It's late for me. I get up at 6 am most days and lately have been missing a catnap in the afternoon....one day last week I lay down on Jaden's floor after changing her diaper and sending her back out to Reg. I feel fast asleep....who said a hard floor feels bad? It felt great to me that day....