It’s the simple things that thrill me Today Brendon did something that I've not been working with him on.  He took a juice box and inserted the straw in it himself.  It's the simple things in life that make me feel good.  We did the happy dance after he did this and he had the biggest smile on his face.  I really love this kid and any small accomplishment he achieves makes me happy.  It's even more special when it's something that he picks up on his own without any effort from anyone around him.Ah ... that's a  BIGGIE!  Fine motor coordination and strength! He's so tired now, I think he's going to take a nap lol.  That had to take alot of concentration on his part.  He was looking in the direction of the juice boxes for about an hour while he was drinking out of his sippy.  He had to have really wanted that juice.  I thought of Amanda's video on boiling water and what he had to do to make his body go through the motions of putting that straw in that box.  Sentimental mom that I am...I saved the box and put it in with a few other momento's that I don't want to lose. Thank guys.  And he did end up taking a nap.  First nap he's taken in 3 months without being sick.  Good job Brendan!! That is so huge !!! Way to go Brendon. My son's big thing was about a month ago he started buckeling his seat belt by himself. ( This Van has really deep seatbelts and it isn't easy for even us NT folks to do much less my son) The whole family was so thrilled when he did this and we all three of the rest of us were there. It must have been a funny sight to anyone who witnessed it. My huge ex- college football playing husband, myself , and my taller than myself 13 year old daughter outside the vans open door all doing " the happy, happy dance and clapping for him.I have soo learned  to appreciate the small steps.   Brendon!!! That is a big accomplishment! One small step by Brandon...BUT a GIANT LEAP into  Mama's HEART        way to go on him for that. and yes it is all the small that make everything worth it Oh, my goodness. Congratulations, Brendon! That really is a huge step. I mean I have trouble with those things...LOL. That's pretty impressive. ours kids see us do things and they learn how to do these things and one day they just go ahead and show us they do know And when he NAPS...that's when YOU can UNWIND & RELAX... Have a GREAT DAY ahead !!!  WTG Brendan!!!! One day I handed Noah his shorts and told him to put them on (not really expecting much) and left the room to give my dd a bath. When I came out, his shorts were on and even zipped and snapped. It was was of my happiest moments. You'll be shocked at the unexpected abilities that some of those little guys pick up. The one that really did it for my mom was when I suddenly started reading words and then sentences at age 4 when no one had ever worked with me on reading.[QUOTE=NoahsMom] WTG Brendan!!!! One day I handed Noah his shorts and told him to put them on (not really expecting much) and left the room to give my dd a bath. When I came out, his shorts were on and even zipped and snapped. It was was of my happiest moments. [/QUOTE]   my son amazed me last year when he wanted to go to the park so bad, that he came up to me almost dressed ,just needed help with a shirt. i was shocked! Let's hear more stories of simple things that THRILL & AMAZE us.. as we see our child grow up... He did it again today.  I gave him a juice box and the straw separately just to see what would happen.  He tried his best to put the straw in the box.  He just didn't seem to have the strength today.  His upper body strength is pretty much non existent, but we're doing some OT exercises to help with that.  I poked the hole out for him and then gave him the box and straw.  He put the straw in the box.  He had the biggest smile on his face.  The cool thing about his doing it today is that Jacob was throwing a tantrum in the same room and he didn't run away, he still put the straw in the box.  The other cool thing he did today was kinda funny.  I was singing the Barney song....the I Love You one.  He smiles and gives great eye contact every time I sing it to him.  When it was over I asked him if he liked that song.  He didn't answer so I was trying to prompt him into nodding like he did yesterday by nodding myself and saying "Yes you liked that song."  He shook his head no while still smiling.  It was like he was telling me, "I can say yes, but I don't want to right now."
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