Look Mom, No Hands!

Allison is doing all kinds of fun things these days. She starting pointing a couple of weeks ago and she loves to turn the pages of books and point at pictures. That is if we can get her to sit still long enough to read a whole book... I don't need a gym membership, I just chase her around the house! She crawls at lightning speed and is cruising like crazy. She is experimenting with standing and occasionally has a "Look ma, no hands" moment. Ali loves handing things to anyone around. She even hands a binki to Ethan upon occasion. That doesn't stop her from plucking it right back out of his mouth, but she'll probably hand it back again soon. Poor boy doens't know what is going on!

Ethan is making some progress with sitting and has his own "no hands" moments. He sat on his own today for at least a minute. I was very impressed! We have been seeing a new Occupational Therapist and she suggested that we try a therapeutic rotation program. What in the world is that? Basicaly we just hold him facing out and then down across an arm and spin a few times in a circle, counterclockwise then clockwise. It has a prescribed pattern that is supposed to stimulate the vestibular system which will in turn help his motor development. It's hard to say how well it works, but it doesn't hurt anything. It seems like his progress has been faster since we started, and he thinks it's fun. Mom thinks it's fun until we have to spin more than 3 times...

Ethan's eating has been up and down. He'll take half a bottle some days, but most days just a few sips. He takes a few bites of applesauce or squash now and then. He doesn't want anything to do with that baby cereal stuff. Way too bland for me, he says! He does like to chew on a pickle or pretzel or beef stick some days during dinner. Odd baby food indeed, but our Ethan has never been one to go with anything "normal". These things are good for him to practice moving food with his tongue.

We have been good friends lately with our carpet cleaner and burp cloths. Sigh. If only Ethan could keep his food inside! Hopefully we will make progress in that area soon as well.

One is a fun age. Both kids are happy and smiley and bring us unbelievable amounts of joy each day. They love playing peek-a-boo around the corner, banging on drums, shaking maracas and rattles, looking at books, playing with balls and stuffed animals, and babbling ma ma and da da. Ali is also trying to say "cat" whenever she sees Tamlin. Allison is very good at making rounds around the playroom, moving from one toy to the next and then back to the first again. Ethan continues to get as close as possible to rolling over without actually doing it. He is amazingly good at reaching and stretching to get toys just out of his grasp. He is really starting to use any semi solid object to push off of so he can get closer to his destination.

I really still cannot believe that it has been a year since our special little babies were born. How is it that time can go slow and yet so fast at the same time? All in all, I'm feeling very blessed.