Tommy "The Explorer" enjoys Chicago

We did a short family trip to Chicago City last weekend. We went to celebrate the wedding of my husband's cousin. All the family was there and we all have fun including Tommy. We decided to take Tommy with us because he is so used to be with mommy and daddy that we didn't feel confident left him because of the sensory issues, which is cousing a little of trouble for him to adjust to new people and situations. Tommy alsoenjoys trips to big cities and he always behaves and is very cooperative when we have taken him in family vacation to big cities. 

Tommy looking at the car and saying very loud "car."

Even although Tommy has sensory issues, the noises of the big city and looking at many cars moving around get him very excited; what makes me think, he gets a lot of sensory in put from them helping him to relax and enjoy. We will figure out more about Tommy' sensory issues in the coming weeks and I will post about it. But for now, we are so glad we took him with us and happy we spent time together as a family, which is not very often due to my husband's job.

We had time to enjoy Chicago City and we took Tommy to the Shedd Aquarium. Tommy's face lighted up as soon as we got into the showroom. He began to say and sign "fish." He was amazed with every fish he saw at the aquarium as any other child we saw over there.

 

Tommy enjoys any animal with 

fur or scale, it doesn't matter!

Tommy "the explorer" looked astonish with the outfit he wore for the wedding. He enjoyed the cellist playing during the wedding. He was amazed for the violin! Tommy has developed a natural preference for music and enjoy any type of musical instruments. 

 

 Tommy is growing up! 

He is not a baby anymore, 

he looks like a big boy with his outfit.
Daddy was so handsome, too! 

 I am very excited for my husband's causing and his wife who did a great job in organizing the weeding to make all his guests comfortable, have fun and enjoy the wedding. Both families and all the guests at the wedding had a good time! 

It was amazing how Tommy overcome his sensory issues and he got integrated in all weekend family events by running behind other kids, eating at the table in a big chair during the rehearsal dinner as a big boy, enjoying the photo-booth that was at the reception to create a photo album for the bride and groom, greeting with "Hi" and "Bye" to people, following directions, specially, when I couldn't hold his hand and I told him "follow daddy" and he ran behind diddy trying to catch up and looking for daddy when he didn't see him. Washing him enjoying just the small things like crossing the street by holding our hands and running as fast as he could made us so happy.

Tommy ate at the table on a chair for big people 

(No booster seat)

Tommy enjoyed the dressed up accessories 

to take pictures at the photo-booth.

Tommy had two occasions were he struggle with his sensory issues. One was when we took him to Shedd Aquarium. We took him to the Belugas' show and we completely forgot "he doesn't like when many people clap." So it was too overwhelming for him and he began to cry. So we comfort him and staid on our seats and told him people will be clapping because people were happy to see the belugas. He calmed down and enjoyed the event. But we could tell he got a little responsive when he heard people clapping. The second time, it was during the wedding when the groom and the bride were walking down the ale and people began to clap, but this time we helped him to to anticipate the clapping noise by telling him people will clap because they were happy for the groom and bride. So he calmed down and didn't cry.  We sat closet tho the cellist and I think it helped a little because music makes Tommy relaxed, so it was perfect even the spot were we sat at the wedding. We all had a good time!