Now that he is almost 31 months old, I feel a closeness with him that is unlike anything I have ever experienced. He will cuddle with me now and he will even reach up for me to pick him up. Those moments are the best! So, this journey with Luke has taught me so much about life. I am so grateful for the experience :)
UPDATE:
Luke has really grown lately. He is now almost 26lbs and he will stand in a gait trainer for 15 minutes without help. He is learning to request items and actions also. This requesting is called "manding". When he mands, he signs for what he wants. He now mands for "up". We are working on "eat" and "drink" also. He also tacts "Baby". Tacting is just another word for labeling. I have a book with a baby on the front cover. I will say to him, "Luke, touch the baby". He will look at the baby and put his hand on it. This summer we are going to work on teaching Luke to use a spoon to feed himself. I am so happy for him. He is making good decisions that are leading to growth.He is also doing something else that is new and can be viewed as good and bad- He is throwing fits! He is learning to assert himself. He will sit and rock back and forth and throw his head back and yell when he doesn't get what he wants. He also throws fits when we push him to do something that he doesn't want to do at that moment. So, it is good that he is asserting himself. Now, we just have to treat him like the rest of our kids and not let him get away with this behavior :)
I no longer say that I am proud of my kids. I now say that I am happy for them. If I say that I am proud, they may think that when I have to discipline them, I am no longer proud. When I say I am happy for them, it puts the ball of responsibility in their court. When they make good decisions, I am happy :)
