Messy messy messy

Most of the words that Waylon uses in a day are echolalia.

Echolalia is a fancy word for repeating phrases he's heard before. (Like an echo... Get it?)

Most of the time, his echolalic phrases are from movies, but sometimes he repeats things he has heard us say too. Last Christmas, we got so excited when he said, "Messy, messy, messy" when he spilled his milk. But we quickly realized that this is what the magician says on Frosty the Snowman when Frosty starts to melt. 

He finds ways to use the limited number of phrases he has, to get his point across. For example, one of his favorite phrases is "Get in your seat," which he has heard Travis and I say a million times when we are getting in the van. However, he uses "Get in your seat" to describe anytime he wants us to sit down for something- to eat supper, to watch a movie, or to go for a car ride. And because he doesn't know how to ask for those things specifically, he simply says "Get in your seat".

So even though he isn't coming up with these phrases on his own- he is using them functionally to communicate. And being able to understand what he is trying to say is awesome.

Except for maybe this morning.... 

I was sitting in the recliner, holding Waylon and his blankie in a sweet, special moment, when he pulled up my shirt, pointed at the old stretch marks on my belly, and said, "Messy, messy, messy." 

Yes, Waylon, I get what you're saying. Thanks.