A Ray of Hope

I don't want to be overly optimistic...I don't want to jinx myself after all! But I feel like we've made it past a important hurdle in Elijah's development.  All of a sudden something clicked internally and he is able to do so much more and as a result seems so much happier and independent than he was at 9-11 months.

 Here's a few things that I notice he's been doing lately:

- Organizing/moving things -  I first noticed this when he was taking a bath and rather than just splashing with the bath toys, he intentionally lined them all up on the rim of the tub.  He loves to now take any group of things (socks, napkins, etc) that are out and put them all into something they "belong" in such as on a chair or in a box.  I made him this toy from a milk jug so he can practice with these links (major low budget toy!)

 - He also now goes intentionally over to his walker to get around and he can turn it!  This means he now uses it as a mode of transportation, rather than just a game...makes life nice of everyone!

- Exploring.  Lately he's been checking everything and everywhere in a much more thorough and interested way.  

- A lot less clinging!  Wohoo!

- Making sounds such as "da" or "duk" and no more endless and eternal "ehhhhhh"  like he used to make 24/7

-Clapping

- Signing all done without us suggesting it first

- Obeying (more often anyway!)

- Talking into phone-like objects...not just holding them up to his ear/back of head but actually saying something into it

- Mimicking things we do such as blowing on food or making noise through a tube

- Laughing at things that are funny

- Keeping busy on his own

Poor guy has a yeast infection so the dr says he has to air out hahaha!

To sum it up, it's just been so encouraging to see that there IS someone in there after all haha!  He's sweet and fun and ready to learn and play.  Hi Elijah, so nice to meet you at long last!