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Seven Years

While it's not Ethan's birthday today, it is the last day of his 6th year!! Tomorrow, January 25th, we will celebrate his 7th birthday and I have to say that each year it get's better and better.

I love seeing him interact with his brothers and the older he gets the more he wants to be involved with what they do. It's taken a long time to get to this point. He still likes to spend time by himself doing what HE want to do but more and more he wants to join in with everyone else.

His baby years were hard on me, I'll be the first to admit. We worked hard with therapies and getting him able to do things typical kids just "did." Seeing him more involved is a huge step for us all.

I'm sure spending so much time in the general education class has helped. We were told at his IEP last week that he has certain friends in class that he has to say hello and good-bye to every day and that he plays with them on the playground now too.  Music to a mother's ears!!




He's now moved past the board puzzles to the floor puzzles - much more challenging and age appropriate.  He still needs occasional help but he really enjoys the work.



And Wyatt loves any excuse to help!!

Another fun and challenging puzzle are the shape patterns. This is great OT for him - and it's tough for even me to line those little pieces up to make the pattern!!

He was very proud of himself.

These pictures make me happy for several reasons.  I was upstairs organizing my closet (a post for another day) and I heard Jack call up to me, "Mom, I think Ethan wants to do his word wall." So I call back that I'll be right down.  I came downstairs to find Jack helping him with his sight words (these are the first couple of lists that he has down pat).
I thanked Jack for helping and he responded, "Ethan wanted to do the words so I thought I'd just help him." I told him how I appreciated the help and that I'm sure it made it more fun for Ethan to have his big brother help.

I was so proud of Jack for just jumping in and doing it.

I think back to all the hard times at the start and even though it's still hard in a lot of ways, it's so much easier and better the older he gets. I love seeing him interact the way he does now, the communicating is better and the independence is more him wanting to do things for himself instead of him just not wanting to interact with the rest of us.  He's happy and thriving and (gulp) getting ready for 1st grade next year.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!!

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