New Expectations

I've been working more on Andy standing and playing lately. Just so he can experience the feeling of being upright. I have to be careful though, because he doesn't have protective measures for falling. He tends to fall backwards or forwards lately, the side falling seems to have vanished. He's not as floppy as he used to be with just falling any which way like a rag doll. He stands in a stronger stance.

I think he really enjoys being upright though. He stood for 20 minutes today, playing at a sand table with his cousins. It really felt like he was a part of the group, instead of off on his own. He tired, then continued to play in the sand while sitting in a chair. It was very therapeutic play.

Lately, I've been trying to work on Andy's hand-releasing skills. He doesn't easily release food into his mouth, nor does he easily release toys into containers. Realistically, there's no way he can stack blocks, or self-feed finger foods, when his releasing skills are so poor. I try to encourage him by saying "let go", and then "good job letting go of the toy", or "wow you put the toy down".

Andy just turned three, and right now, I do not expect him to be walking in a year from now. I only hope that he will be able to stand independently. I don't know if he will get crawling. It seems way to complicated for him. Walking seems like a much easier task. He stands stronger each day we practice.

Seeing him gain strength really motivates me. It also feels so much better to see him standing upright. It helps to feel that he is really three. At the same time, I feel that I have really let go of wanting Andy to hit milestones. He just isn't going to be a kid that marches to the beat of that drum.