Squeak – Super Mario Bros Nintendo DS
Initially both my boys were diagnosed as ‘non-verbal’ or having ‘significant speech delays’ dependent upon which expert we favoured. These days, they have lots of words and they choose to share them with us frequently. However, I think it would be fair to say that as often as not, this is not their preferred method of communication. When the pressure is on, they both revert to type and communicate by gesture, mimicry and a wide variety of noises, each of which have very specific meanings.
‘Noises’ are the most difficult things to describe, but I recognize each of them like speed dial tones as they are so familiar and ingrained into our family life. They convey an emotion more succinctly, accurate and immediately than words.
***
I take him into the kitchen to show him. I tell him it is a surprise because this is one of the rare occasions when the ‘surprise’ will be met favourably. I warn him not to touch it, because it’s not dry yet, that it will take several days, until the weekend, to be dry enough to touch. I orient his body towards the counter and slip an arm around his shoulders to steady the pending explosion. With the other, I whip off the tea cloth to reveal his birthday cake decoration. Although he is static with the soles of both his feet on the ground, he still manages to pogo two feet in the air with flailing arms, and the noise. The noise is a cross between a whipped zipper, the sign off salute of a radio host and a pitch to shatter glass. He lowers his chin to the counter for a closer look before clutching my forearm with both his hands for a quick squeeze of appreciation and the lick of an affectionate puppy.
You can see lots more Mario Cakes over here.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:12 am
LOVE IT! You are a cool mom.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:43 am
WOW! That is fantastic, what boy wouldn’t love that!?
November 20th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Okay, I know that sound!! You’ve just described perfectly the sound Jessica makes when she’s very excited/happy! I’ve never been able to put it into words. Now I can!
Awesome Mario
November 20th, 2008 at 5:27 am
AWESOME! I think I would have pogoed a bit myself. ;o)
November 20th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Oh, this is precious and priceless. BTW, when is his birthday??
November 20th, 2008 at 8:57 am
You made that? Regardless, you clearly rock.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:21 am
did u make that? it’s incredible! and yes, the noises .. my little one’s a squealer .. the high pitched arc of happiness
November 20th, 2008 at 9:47 am
You are the best mom ever! Can you come to our house and make one too? I bet you’d get a similar reaction.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Tell you what, give us a couple of weeks for drying and post birthday and then I’ll package it up for you. Doubt if it will arrive in one piece because they’re very delicate but I think it would make a perfect Christmas cake decoration for the alternative family. So saying few families are sufficiently alternative to consider buying / making / eating Christmas cake for some unfathomable foreign reason!
November 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Oh, that is wonderful! I make homemade cakes and decorations, but mine *look* homemade! I figure that my children will look back at the photos and there will be no question whether I crafted that thing myself. Yours looks so professional!
Funny, there must be some kind of hard-wiring with these little guys: not only do I know the noise, and the pogo, and the hand flailing that probably accompanied this – I do frequently get my arm squeezed like the drugstore’s electronic blood pressure cuff, and also get licked. Somehow, it manages to be endearing and the mark of absolute glee.
But the noise? Around here it is more “severely wounded rabbit.” It scares the cat.
We’re seriously into Mario right now, too. Can’t account for it.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Oh, I love it. That noise says more than any spoken word.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Bravo! *standing ovation*
November 20th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Aw! That’s awesome! I think I might have reacted the same way!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I love when they are thrilled like that! Nigel gasps loudly and tackle-hugs me when I make his favorite dinner. I mean, now that he’s 14, he can really take me down without even trying!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
How awesome! I love your posts. You have a wonderful family!
November 21st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
My son would shit. his. pants.
OMG- you have to tell me how you did that!
November 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I declare (as we say in Texas). Your children sound so much like mine, it’s scary. Must be the Anglo or the Saxon or the Norman or…maybe it’s just the Quirky. It’s like a parallel life when I read what you write.
Nice Mario.
April 18th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
My son Alex is 7-almost-8, was diagnosed with High-functioning ASD when he was 3. He is OBSESSED with Mario and all of the other Nintendo characters, as well….what is it about these characters that are so appealing? I have no idea, but am thankful that this is what captures Alex’s attention! I’m currently searching for Mario birthday cake ideas, which is how I stumbled across your blog. Congrats on the noise and pogo bounce, may there be many more to come!!