I tend to wear my rose-colored glasses on the back of my head. In other words, I may be filled with worry and doubt looking forwards, I may be emotionally volatile or obsessive in the present, but I also tend to mostly remember the positives of what happened in the past and not dwell too very much on what happened way back when. I frequently and quite literally forget the bad or rough patches. Call me a romantic, an optimistic, delusional or great coper- either way it is what it is. And it never really causes too much trouble right?

Well, just to be clear that every day in her new class isn’t sunshine and roses I’ll share this from class:

9/21/10: “The Quail was great when we first got there and even crawled away from me when she saw a toy she wanted to play with. Another toddler going for the same toy accidentally stepped on her hand though. She was upset for a few minutes, but let me put her back down. After that she was fine and would play with me but was less interested in the other toddlers or moving away from me. I really think that once she gets walking she’ll be great over there. It’s just tough for her to be down on the ground with ten other energetic babies running/falling around her.”

That little incident is one of my biggest fears with her moving in with the Toddler room. But it wasn’t an injury- just more of an upset and really it’s happened rarely since she’s been in there. She also seems to recover more quickly from those types of upsets which is ultimately good for her.

9/27/10: “The Quail was in a great mood today but even more stubborn than usual. She was already in the toddler room when I got there today and she was doing great. Miss Ashleigh told me they’ve been trying to keep from picking her up so she crawls when she wants to go somewhere. She wouldn’t crawl to me though. She would start to crawl towards me then lay down like she was too tired to keep going then sit up and sign “please” and flap her arms up and down in frustration. I didn’t give in and eventually she gave up and tried to pull herself up to stand using the round tables.”

It was around this time at home that we noticed that she would follow us into another room or if she heard Zuzu or Lovey she would perk up and ditch me to go see what they were up too. It’s so hard to not give in and pick her up at home, so it’s good that there are others with a stronger constitution to help her work through it!

9/29/10: “When I first got to her school, the Quail was finishing up an art project so I hung out in there with her for about 10 minutes. She also tried to pull herself up using a chair, the tables, the refrigerator, my leg, and anything else she could grab.Once she came down off the block I couldn’t make her sit still if I wanted to. Today I pretty much just followed her around and tried to work different activities into what she wanted to do. I had her crawl over the foam block to get a pretend phone (she did this three different times). Then I answered the phone and told her “dad’s calling, say hi dada” and she reached for the phone and said “hi da” and then hugged it. So cute! Next, I got out her puzzle. She almost got the star in by herself, but got distracted by the mailbox of the house. I put a puzzle piece in the mailbox and she pulled it out. Then I told her “open the mailbox” and put the toy in the mailbox” She did both. Then she just wanted to “mail” me puzzle pieces so we took turns with that. After about 5 minutes of this she went back to playing with the puzzle and got the square puzzle piece in completely by herself.”

I probably said it before but I just love how Miss Mattie seems to “get” the Quail and lets her take the lead while looking for teachable moments to get the work in. The outcome is still the same- in this example learning how to get the puzzle together, but her way of getting around to it is so much more successful than when we or other therapists have “drilled” her on a particular activity.

And the grand finale for this week’s post and her busy Toddler Room days in September….

9/30/10: “The Quail pulled herself up to stand two times in a row today! We stayed in Ms.Patti’s because the toddlers weren’t doing anything specific. First I worked on the wheelbarrow position with her for puffs and she crawled over my leg and I held her up in wheelbarrow while she reached with one arm (always her right I think) for puffs. She was able to hold her self up for a good 15 seconds each time before she would rest. She did this four times. Then, I got out her toys and she wanted her Puppies book. I read it once and she signed “book” and “please” so I read it again and then again. She kept signing “book” and “please” so I put the puppies book in the red toy bucket. She crawled over to get it. She tried to lift herself up but didn’t quite get it so she sat down and I heard her say “doggie” and then she signed “book” and “please” again (Ms. Patti heard doggie too). I told her to go get it and that’s when she pulled herself up. She grabbed the book and plopped back down so I read it to her again. Then, she wanted something else in the bucket so she pulled herself up again!”

It was the Saturday morning after this that she pulled herself up to stand in her crib with the only assist being our wild crowd cheering of her efforts! We’re so proud of her.

Up next month is her saintly ongoing battle with the wheelbarrow position and the start of the Toddler Shuffle!

As I mentioned last week one of my biggest smiles of the day comes every afternoon when I get a tiny peek into the Quail’s day. For posterity’s sake, I’m going to start keeping a collection of her days as told to me by the Quail’s beloved Miss Mattie, Miss Jodie, Miss Ashleigh and all our other favorite teachers. I hope it makes everyone who loves her smile as wide as it makes me! The picture shown here is the Quail with her EI, Jodie working on some squishy skills.

From September school days:

9/7/10: “She was so great today!  She came out on the playground with everyone and was so preoccupied with playing that she didn’t care if I was there or not at all.  Once we came inside, she just played on the green carpet with everyone and was crawling around and babbling with everybody.  She was much less shy today than last week.  After that, it was time for their snack and it was about time for her milk so I sat her down in a toddler seat at the table and she drank milk and thickener out of her cup with everyone.  After milk, they were getting food-food and I wasn’t sure what she eating now.  Ms. Patti said she usually gets baby food at around 12 so Miss Ashleigh went to grab her a couple saltine crackers so she could eat with the big kids.  While she was gone a couple kids at her table got their food.  She was getting impatient and stood straight up out of her chair.  I don’t think she even realized she was standing.  She was up without any help for a good 20 seconds and then put her hands down on the table for support, but stayed up for a couple minutes while Miss Ashleigh got her crackers.  She also signed “eat” and “please” to get them.  I’m not sure that she even really needs me with her anymore, she’s getting much more confident and comfortable with it. ”  

After requesting further clarification on the standing since it was the first time noted by anyone:

“She lowered her feet down and just stood right up.  The back of her legs were up against the chair, but other than that she was standing on her own until she put her hands down on the table.  I didn’t even know she could do that.  I’ve seen her try to pull herself up from sitting on the ground, but never lower herself down from something. ”

And then the next week:

9/15/10: “She is so motivated to stand!  When I first got there, I was going to bring her right over to the toddler room.  Instead she grabbed onto my fingers and (legs tucked to the side) stood right up with me pulling a bit.  Unfortunately, she lost her grip on my fingers and fell backwards.  She was a little annoyed with me for that, but quickly forgot about it.  Next, she crawled over to the red toy bucket and tried to pull herself up to stand (again with her legs perfectly placed).  Even though she never quite got it, she kept trying.  After about five tries I helped boost her up and she picked the baby toy out of the bucket and gave it hugs and kisses.  Then I got her shoes out to go outside with the toddlers and I said, “Quail, Can I see your foot so I can put your shoe on?”  and she lifted her foot hi in the air for me.  We went next door and spent about 5 minutes outside and then about another 15 in the toddler room.  She played with block with them and I tried to work on some two-step commands with her “Quail, put the block down.  Quail, stack the block.”  She was pretty distracted though.  She also said “baby” in reaction to another toddler playing with a baby doll next to her.  She did pretty good in there, but still looks over for support when she gets overwhelmed.  Then, we cam back to Ms.Patti’s room.  I tried to work on her wheelbarrow excersize, but she wasn’t feeling it today.  We did some crawling over my leg instead.”

And then a few days later:

9/20/10: “She pulled herself up to standing without any help today! When I first got there, she crawled over to me to say hi, then she crawled over to the red toy bucket and just pulled herself up like she’s done it 100 times.  She tried again a minute later and didn’t quite get it, but she was close.  Then we went out to the playground with the toddlers and she went on the swings and down the slide (with a little help) and got to say hi to Zuzu on the other side of the fence. We spent about 20 minutes outside with them and then came back to Ms. Patti’s room.  I had her sit up on the block and we read a book twice.  She signed “book” when I asked her to say book.  Then I worked on having her reach for puzzle pieces and tried to get her to put them in the puzzle.  She was more interested in hitting them together though.  I also tried to work on two-step commands with the cups.  “Put the cup down. Stack the cup” She stacked one cup on top of another once, but wouldn’t put the first block down when asked.  Then, I had her sitting up on the big ball and moved her from side to side and front to back.  She did really well with this and didn’t need that much support from me.  Next, I had her crawl over my leg for puffs.  She did this about 5 times and signed “please” for puffs.  Then, I tried the wheelbarrow with her with help from Ms. Patti distracting her with puffs.  She stayed up for about 15 seconds 3 times.