Colors

Natalie has started learning her colors. It has been so cute to watch. I originally started out by taping some different colored construction paper up on a our laundry room door and labeling them. We have been talking a lot about colors and she is really catching on.

Here she is saying a few of her colors:

She also really loves The Napping House book, and at the end there is a rainbow. She loves when we sing the rainbow song too. I think for her birthday I am going to attempt to make a rainbow cake...

Happy 1 Year Hearing

On Tuesday we celebrated Natalie's 1 year hearing birthday. She has done so amazing this past year and really exceeded any expectations we had with cochlear implants. And I would like to say she has done so well because she is amazing (which is totally true) but I really believe that we have had such a team approach in dealing with her hearing loss early on, we have made such great strides.

A BIG thanks to amazing audiologists ; our ENT and surgeon Dr. Buchman, auditory-verbal therapists (Miss Jenni), pediatricians, our local ENT, family and friends. I have met so many amazing people through blogs, online forums, conferences, etc. I have gained so much knowledge through these place and individuals and hope that I continue to learn so much so I can advocate in the best way possible for Natalie, until one day when she can advocate for herself.

I made a video of Natalie's 1st year of hearing.. click here to watch it.

1 year ago - Activation Day!

Happy 1 Year Hearing Birthday!

A Year since Surgery

It is hard to believe it has been a whole year since Natalie's surgery on January 4th, 2011. Here are some pics of her post-op.

post-op and chilling with daddy

the next morning and all smiles

Christmas - 1st "Hearing" Christmas

What a fun Christmas season this was for Miss Natalie. She loved all the fun sounds of the holidays. I never would have believe how well she would have been doing a year ago. The year has just flown by and she has rapidly been changing physically and just understands so much!

with "Santa" at the Hitch-Up Christmas Party

growing up WAY too fast!

She loved the Christmas tree and loved saying "off"

the night before Christmas

I entered her in the Cochlear contest for an ipod touch. You had to submit a hearing video about the holidays. This was about the best I could do as Natalie's attention span changes rather quickly. You can hear her saying "off"on the lights. So cute...