I have been watching this video over and over, just marveling at our progress.

I used to walk around recording Jojo in the hopes of hearing his first word. His first sentence. The first time he said “Daddy,” and then replaying that moment over and over again…

Progress is never guaranteed, so we can’t take ANY of it for granted.

When Jonah was diagnosed just over 5 years ago, he had only one word in his vocabulary:

“done.”

His Autism diagnosis was “level 3”

“With developmental delays
With limited functional communication
With anxiety features
*DSM-5 severity rating of Level 3 (requires very substantial support) is assigned for Social Communication and Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors.”

If you told me five years ago that Jonah would be not only talking by now, but such a CHATTERBOX, I’d have thought you were lying.

But let me tell you something about Jonah.

Before he could say a single word, Jonah would bust out laughing if you even smiled at him.

The boy exudes “joy.”

Joy makes a home inside of his heart and seeps out of every inch of his being.

He laughs with his whole body.

He only wants to be happy and wants to make everyone else around him happy.

I am thankful for every spoken word that Jonah has in his arsenal.

But I am convinced that even if he still only had the word “done,” he would still find a way to “get a rise” out of me just for fun…

Because, being “joyful” is just who Jonah is.

“And if ‘teasing daddy’ is what makes you the most happy, buddy…

“…give me your best shot.” ☺️

#ausome