Lately I’ve been finding Wes in tight spaces, like cupboards and baskets. I’m not sure how he manages to fit. (P.S. We’ve cut his hair since these pictures. It was a matted mess.)
And who says money doesn’t buy happiness?
Also, check out this video of Wesley’s latest new joy: making himself dizzy.
Wesley is cranking out new skills like crazy. Earlier today I looked over and he was kicking his Winnie the Pooh ball! His physical therapist has worked on kicking with him twice (she comes just once a month), but I haven’t worked very diligently with Wes between visits. Somehow, he still managed to get it.
His dad was so excited about the new skill that tonight for about a half hour he played soccer with Wes in the living room, kicking the ball all over the place.
Wesley clapped for the first time yesterday.
We’ve been trying to get him to clap for what feels like forever. I’ve seen kids a lot younger than him clap and I’ve always wondered, “Why the heck can’t/won’t Wes do that?” Just last week one of his therapists was visiting and when she learned he doesn’t clap yet told us he needs to learn how to do that.
Lately Wes and I have been playing a game where he puts his hands on mine and he pushes my hands open and closed. I say the words “open” and “close” as our hands move. He likes to direct the motion, and he laughs when we go really fast (and end up clapping).
Just yesterday, for the first time, he started waving his arms and hands around like crazy with this goofy expression on his face. It took me a second to realize, “Hey! He’s clapping!”
Check out this video. It shows off not only his new clapping skills, but three other tricks he’s recently acquired.
I’m really proud of him. The longer you have to walk to arrive somewhere, the more you enjoy your destination. I’m really enjoying Wesley’s progress because it takes a lot, sometimes, to get there!
I’m excited, too, that he’s learned a new sign: “please.” We just realized this week that when he’s rubbing his tummy he’s saying “please.” I think he must have learned this from our time spent at playgroup, because there when the leaders ask if the kids want something, parents are supposed to help the kids say “please” (I take Wesley’s hand and rub it in a circle on his chest). I guess you never know what things your little people are going to pick up without you realizing it.
This afternoon I took Wesley to the Parade of Homes. The very last house we visited had fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. When Wes saw me eating one he made his “more” sign, indicating he wanted some too. I was surprised since I’ve offered him cookies before to no avail. Now I know he really likes chocolate chip cookies. I was lucky to get much of that cookie, and when he was done I had to wash his chocolatey hands in the home’s kitchen sink. I guess he has a sweet tooth after all.
We (I mean, I) got lost while driving at one point, but it had a nice ending when we stumbled upon the LDS Mt. Timpanogos Temple. I haven’t been there since its open house years ago, before its dedication. Handily enough, the stake center next to the temple had an event happening, so its doors were open and we (I mean, I) could use the bathroom. Then we (and I do mean we) went for a walk around the temple grounds.
Wes surprised me by wanting to hold my finger as we walked.
He was amazed by the size of the temple.
A video of Wesley on temple grounds.
After we circled the temple we sat on a bench out front. Wes is teething.
Wesley’s really good at smooches. Here he’s planting one on my cheek.
When I asked him if he wanted Mom to take more pictures he made his “more” sign.
He is a happy fellow.
I’m always trying to get Wes to eat good food. He’s a die-hard milkman (still drinks six 4 oz. bottles a day), which is fine, but I try to balance it out with “big boy food.” The problem is, now that he’s all, “I’m a big boy and independent and you can’t boss me around, Mom,” a lot of the food I give him ends up on the floor. If he doesn’t want it he’ll throw it, but lately I’ve been saying, “Give it to Mom,” and he’ll hand the unwanted bits back to me and smile like he’s doing this really great thing. Sometimes I get frustrated, trying to offer him a variety of good food when he won’t eat any of it.
Yesterday was one of those days; he wouldn’t eat much of anything I wanted him to, and by the time we left to go bowling with family I was DONE trying give him big boy food. While we were sitting around by the lanes I had Wes on my lap as I munched on some M&Ms. He took one look at those colorful gems and smiled really big while giving me his “more!” sign. I was skeptical, but I broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth. Instant success. He did another “more!” sign and smiled up at me pleadingly.
So I can’t get him to eat sensible stuff, but M&Ms? Bring it on.
Wesley’s latest thing is putting stuff into containers. This is great when it’s time to clean up because he can help me put toys back in their baskets. It’s not so great when he does what naturally comes next: dump all the toys back out again. Our house doesn’t stay clean for long.
He’s discovered the lower shelves in the pantry. His favorite thing to do is pull down the basket where I keep our instant pudding and put the boxes in…and out…and in…and out….
He’s non-discriminating when it comes to what items can be put where. If there’s a container, Wes thinks he ought to put something, anything, in it–as we learned when I found John’s shoes in our kitchen trash can.
Every Friday morning I take him to a playgroup for kids with special needs ages 18 months to two years. He LOVES the ball pit.
They have an indoor playground area that he’s a fan of, now that he can climb up the stairs and (with help) go down the slide. Here he is at the top, giving me his “more” or “yes” or “I want some, please” sign, signifying he wants to slide down.
He still has the one tooth. I think it’s getting lonely. When I want some peace and quiet I give Wes a Biter Biscuit because it takes him at least 15 minutes to gnaw through one. But it’s m-e-s-s-y.
Wes is the proud owner of a camp chair, complete with cup holder. It’s supposed to be for toddlers, but he’s still a little small for it. To get out, he has to kind of fall out.
He likes the Zumba-green pool noodle I bought to use for Limbo in my Zumba Kids classes next month. It’s a lot bigger than he is, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
Wes is turning into quite the climber, much to our joy and chagrin. This morning I was sitting next to him on the living room couch and for the first time saw him climb onto the arm rest in order to reach the window blinds behind the couch. And later this morning I was sitting at the dining room table while he played on the couch nearby. When I heard him whimper I looked over to find him here, with his leg stuck between the table and the couch:
Hmmm. Will have to keep a closer eye on him now.
Lastly, any of you who have met Wes while he’s asleep knows he’s a loud sleeper. He not only breathes loudly, but he’s a snorer, too. I think it might be related to the Down syndrome, which makes his nasal passages narrower than other kids’. Recently I videotaped him during a nap when he was unusually loud. I think it’s the loudest I’ve ever heard him.
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