Autism Awareness Day

(If we're friends on facebook, you've already seen these pictures.)

We're lighting it up blue tonight for Autism Speaks. I got blue light bulbs to put in our outside fixtures (crud, I still have to do that!) and I made the boys cute blue Autism Awareness t-shirts to wear today.

And here's a rare picture of me on this blog. I've been hunting for a good Autism Awareness jewelry piece for a couple of weeks but I haven't found the one I want yet. So this morning, in a fit of creative insanity, I dug up a card stock puzzle piece left over from a Silhouette machine venture gone awry, colored it blue and strung it up on a light blue piece of Christmas wrapping ribbon.

Gets the job done. Between that, the ribbon in my hair, and a little sparkly blue eye shadow, I figure people will be more likely to think my outfit is for something instead of just an all blue-on-blue mood. Plus, I can't look too silly when I'm walking with my ridiculously cute boys in their Awareness T's.

I'll try to get a family picture later and a picture of our house lit up blue if I can get my camera to work in the dark. :-)

Easter Saturday :-)

Alexander wasn't too interested in hunting for eggs yesterday, but Jacob certainly enjoyed it.

Happy Easter everybody!

Walk Now for Autism Speaks!

May 19th, the Georgia chapter of Autism Speaks will be holding a walk to raise funds and awareness for autism. Kevin, Alexander, Jacob and I will be participating in this event as a family! So pick your favorite Brown family member *wink* and donate on their individual page! (We'll understand if the kids earn more donations than the grownups.) :-)

(The icons in the left hand column should work, but if not, here are the page links.)

Alexander's Donation Page: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/georgia/atb

Jacob's Donation Page: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/georgia/atbbro

Kevin's Donation Page: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/georgia/atbdaddy

Amy's Donation Page: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/georgia/atbmama

~Message From My Donation Page~

I'm sitting in an observation room, watching Alexander's ABA session. He giggles and struggles in turn. He is the happiest, most patient, loving kid I know, but things don't come easily to him. His therapist is trying to teach him to say what he wants, but the work is hard. If only Charles Xavier would roll in and tell me what my boy is thinking. Any progress is celebrated, he said "go" yesterday and I jumped for joy. We are so lucky to have the resources we have but more research means even better resources for our little boy and for the countless other little boys and girls who struggle in the same way. I believe Alexander is here on a mission. If he could talk, I believe he would say "Give to Autism research! It's only logical!"

But I can't speak for Alexander. I can try, I can guess. I can put words in his mouth all day long, but that's just it, I don't know what he's thinking. I can try to be his voice, but my goal is to work and fight until one day he can use his own voice. Until he can tell you in words how much he loves Kung Fu Panda.

Until he can thank you himself.

Alexander Says "Go"

Alexander started in the (intensive, 6 month) Language and Learning Clinic at Marcus Autism Center around the first of February. After only a few weeks in the program, he has officially picked up his first word. He says "Go!" (and means it.) This covers a lot of different activities (like playing, jumping, running, being pushed on a swing.) Basically, he'll use it when he wants a particular activity to continue. So here are a couple of videos demonstrating his new vocab word.

Alexander's New Camera

Mommy got a brand new digital camera for Christmas back in December and it just occurred to her to hand down her old one to her gadget-happy first born son. 

I'm pretty sure he can learn how to use it. (Although first he may learn how to take it apart and put it back together again. ahem *uncle michael* ahem!)

This isn't a great picture obviously, but it shows his excitement a little better than the other two. 

In love with his new sophisticated device.

Our waiting room

Alexander has been going to the Marcus Center for ABA therapy for a couple of weeks now. Luckily Jacob loves car rides and usually takes a good nap in his car seat. When he wakes up this is what our time looks like.

Big Boys

My kids always look so much older after a haircut. 

Kevin actually cut their hair a couple of weeks ago but I've been majorly slacking in the picture taking department and I just took these tonight. I'll try to remember to bring my camera along on our adventures next week and put together some sort of real update on our lives of late.

Ta-ta for now!