Whats new at the Stevens

It has been a long time since I last posted. Two reasons...First our computer broke down and the new one doesn't have card readers so it takes a really long time to get to my photos. Second, we have been working hard with Max.
About three weeks ago, I took Max to his 18-24 month appointment. I had several questions for the Doctor regarding Max's behavior. There were little things that caused some concern. For example: he lies down and watches the wheels of cars for 10 minutes at a time just rolling the car in front of his face; He stopped speaking to me and Curtis but will still talk to babysitters; he will not respond to his name - no matter who calls to him. We have been connected to an early intervention group and have had two specialists to our home. These women have been perfectly wonderful. They play/interact with Max and teach me and Curtis fun and new ways to play with him but teach him at the same time.
There is nothing wrong with Max. He is a really smart kid. He is so smart, he has figured out he doesn't need to tell us what he wants. He just has to hum. Curtis and I know what he wants from that - so why waist time speaking to us?
We are currently working on eye contact. We offer Max two choices, one held in each hand about 6 inches from our face. Once he chooses what he wants we hold the winning item closer to our face and repeat the name of the object two or three times. This brings attention to our face and what we are saying.
Another activity is when he knows he wants something - like going outside. A week ago he would stand by the door and hum. When he would do that we would say things like, "what do you want? do you want to go OUT? Out?" or "should we go out? is that what you want? out? out?" at first he would get really antsy and hum louder and two step. But now he says out when he wants to go out...so we reward him by going out for a little while.
I hope you enjoy the show. This is our happy little boy. The movie kinda drags on. It is over a minute of him laughing but I love it.