Oh Me Oh My

Boy how time flies... I need to get better at shorter updates to you more often instead of these longer ones.

Lets start with Preschool. You started on Monday at Open Doors To Learning in Leesburg (the school based upon ABA therapy). Upon pick up when asked how your day was they simply said you are a "handful" - never a good first impression baby! From what I was told you barked for eight hours straight, ran around the entire time, and threw a tantrum when you were asked to talk - hmmm.. not liking the demands much. You crashed when you got home but woke up an hour later sobbing. I think it was just a huge change for you and better we make it now then later.

Tuesday though you were talking up a storm. We heard "bead," "puzzle," "up," "down," "my buddy," "car," "thank you," "ride," "apple," "pizza," and a few others. Absolutely amazed! Your use of PEC's is hit or miss. If you are looking and trying you are spot on and can discriminate a few pictures at a time otherwise it is rough but with consistency at school and home I know we will make vast improvement this month. My goal is that you are somewhat independent with this by fall so you will have a little more communication in the typical preschool program you will be attending.

Today, school said you did much better. It is obvious they still have no clue what you capable of. They were impressed you could say "high five" I will let them think this is new and be just as amazed with you as we are but hopefully they will start to push you harder soon. You need more behavioral structure there. You are now barking at home a little again and other loud vocalizations we had already seen decrease. I am thinking they are just getting to know you this week and by next week a better plan will be in place.

Well, I always talk about progress or frustrations but I want to tell you who you are today. You are a beautiful little boy who grabs the hearts of those he meets. If people do not know you are adopted they never question you could be my son, we look enough alike. You still love your cars but also you are now interested in space crafts, books, duplo blocks, coloring, skateboards, learning to ride your bike, the playground, pool, and much more. Your favorite activity I think is playing with Anna and Ellie down the street and just being around other people. You and I love to play "fetch" together. You have trouble throwing the ball so it is more me throwing, you running after it, and then bringing it back to me to do over and over again - yes, the game of "fetch."

You are stubborn as hell. Through all our fights I think you have waited me out longer and I think I can honestly say you are more stubborn then me which is hard to do. With this though comes determination and persistence and this is what has helped you grow so much. You read people by looking at their facial expressions and have a pretty good idea of those you can trust and those you tend to shy away from. Overall, as scary as it seems, you are a typical little boy! You might be going through developmental milestones of a 2 or 3 year old but you are just a little boy living life and from what I can see loving it. Through all our fights, all our battles, and all our moments, we continue to build a stronger and stronger bond that cannot be broken. You are my little boy, my little sped, and my forever child. It doesn't happen over night, we are on this journey together and we have both grown so much in such a short time. We both step back and look at each other sometimes, trust me, we both do it, and realize how far we have come and how much we still have to learn.

Keep on Trucking Baby

Luv ya

Picture of your first day at school