Spring - Alex 3 To 4 Years Old

Alex from three to four years old.

He started his 40 hour a week in home ABA therapy at three years old.

Alex would spell out words he had seen on TV...

usually from commercials...from memory.

It was embarrassing for us when he would spell out words to his therapists which...

had nothing to do with us...

words such as Zoloft or Viagra  :)

Alex in his classroom we had set up for his daily 8 hour long ABA therapy sessions.

This room would later become Alex's personal library.

Within three days...

they had modified his opposition to this new routine...

and he, thereafter, loved seeing his therapists.

Some of his first therapists.

We had bought a color video and audio camera and had installed it in the upstairs classroom...
(with their blessing)...and recorded the sessions so we could review the lessons
and learn from their techniques so we could be consistent with their methods.

Each therapist would engage with him for a few hours...

and then another therapist would take over.

This went on every weekday for eight hours at a time...

with many interspersed earned breaks.

They kept careful notes on his progress.

Alex had spelled out that he was very happy

(he wouldn't be able to speak for another four or so months).

This was just 3 months into his therapy.

This made his mother very happy...

so she sat him on the kitchen island counter next to his words to take this picture.

Alex loved to spell out his favorite sayings on the floor.

Alex spelling out some words.

One of Alex's favorite things to do was to read.

We had taken Alex to Sea World.

Alex could speak by this time.

At approximately 3.5 years old...

he all of a sudden...

started speaking in full sentences.

Alex loved all things that had to do with water.

He loved the feel of it.

Alex had a very sensitive palate.

He would only eat certain things.

However, my wife had ensured that he learned to love healthful foods early on.

We had taken Alex to a science museum.

Alex loved the water displays.

Alex loved to interact with things...

and not with people...

other than with his mother and I...

or with his therapists.

They later worked on this...

and Alex soon became more comfortable interacting with others.

One of a father's pleasures...

teaching his children how to ride a bike  :)

 Alex has always loved being read to.

This is dad's time to ham it up as he portrays each character with a particular voice.

We always made sure to give Alex plenty of love and affection.

He loved hugs and kisses.

Alex has always been the reason for my being so happy in life.

I had always thought I was happy until I learned of the pure magic that a child brings

into the world of a parent.

We had taken Alex to a children's zoo.

Alex wasn't too interested in the animals.

He was...

however...

very interested with the cave like structures there.

Alex had a special love of Cheerios...

or similar type cereals.

He only liked bland foods at this time.

It would take a couple of years for him to eat more adventurously...

although he has always loved fish, rice, and fruits and vegetables.

Alex preparing his Halloween costume.

Alex sitting in daddy's chair to eat.

Within a short period of time into his ABA therapy...

Alex was no longer over stimulated by normal sounds or touch.

He was always excited to see his therapists.

This also helped set the stage for his love of learning...

as from the age of three years old...

he loved learning for at least eight hours a day.