Emilia - Forty-Seven Weeks Home

Yesterday marked forty-seven weeks home for Emilia.  It's been an exciting period because we are seeing some nice developmental progress.

First of all, Emilia's verbal output is increasing in frequency and variety, so much so that therapists and friends have even noticed.  Her teachers at preschool, Sarah and Nina, tell us that she calls them Rara and Nini.  I'm not so sure I believe it, but then again, she is always a little show-off in settings away from home.  She is signing "more" and we are working on adding another sign or two quickly, so that she can learn to distinguish between communicating different needs.

Self help skills are also on the rise with Emilia holding her own cup and beginning to put some food on a fork and then to her mouth.  She can take hats off and put them back on, socks and shoes off, and she tries to put her shoes on, too.  Emilia is also newly interested in her hair and attempts to comb it, but more preferably she shakes it and runs her hands through it like a supermodel at a photo shoot.  I am pretty sure she's not getting that from me.

Emilia is now quite comfortable on playgrounds and independently navigates play structures, including slides and ladders.  I think this is something she has learned at preschool by observing other children and following suit.  We also have a new bounce toy our German friends brought as a gift.  You have to climb on as you would a tricycle, hold on to the ears (the thing looks kind of like an animal) and then you bounce and balance by pushing your feet up from the floor.  Emilia took about ten days to watch me use the toy and now she hops on it independently and loves it.

Ready for story time at the library

Little sister still adores her big brother and thinks that he is super cool, but the time home alone with me has done wonders for her.  I feel that our bond is so much stronger and she seems to trust me more.  She's always been pretty snuggly, but I cannot enter a room now without Emilia running for me to pick her up or sit down anywhere without her climbing into my lap.  She wants to be close and for longer periods of time.

Playing with her brother

Emilia continues to sleep well through the night, to nap in the afternoons, to never miss a meal (or anyone else's for that matter) and to bring so much sunshine to our lives.