Cutie is MIA!

My dear friend, Nicole, and her sweet Victoria in Gruene.

Me and my Joey at one of my favorite getaways . . . Greune (pronounced green).  Joey was excited when I told him we were going to Greune.  He said, "Like my favorite color!"  We ate outside by the river - just calm and beautiful.

In Gruene, Joey getting close to a squirrel - interacting with nature - so important for development.

Joey was thrilled with the water misters.  He was very intrigued.  We spent a good 10 minutes in this area.

My handsome guy!

This is the marble run I put together this week.  I believe it was 350 pieces (so please praise me).  I built it - 1.) because Joey enjoys marble runs, and 2.) because I thought it may work on his eye strength, tracking, and focus.  I keep trying to integrate fun activities into our world that will encourage the skills Joey is working on right now.  

(OK , here I go off on a tangent. . . . )  As a mother, I want the best for him.  I have goals such as getting as much integrated before kindergarten.  As you OTs know - now is the time - early intervention, the brain is still developing rapidlly, easier to break the patterns/habits now.  I feel limited on time, but Joey and I are definitely on our way.  Thank you, Barb, for all of your insight and ideas.  Thank you, Marla, for saying it so plainly - You need the reflexes integrated to have isolated movements - this makes so much sense to me now.  This has been a journey for me personally and professionally - I am really learning.  AND, I believe in what I am learning!  Thank you all for listening to me and supporting me.  This has been a challenge that I didn't expect.  But, I am already growing and changing.  (OK, I'm done.)

As the title says, "Cutie is MIA!"  Cutie is Joey's favorite stuffed animal.  He has played with stuffed animals through the years, but he never really attached himself to any one until this summer.  Well, Cutie is missing.  He was here earlier in the week, but now is gone!  It wouldn't be that important, but today is the Teddy Bear Pancake Party at his school, and he didn't have his favorite teddy bear to take!  Joey always surprises me. . . . he accepted it well.  I simply told him that Cutie was hiding. . . . on vacation.  I asked him where he thought Cutie would vacation.  Joey responded, "South America.  No, the rainforest because Cutie likes to swing from trees."  What a trooper!  I went out today to find a replacement - not sure if it was to soothe my anxiety or his.  I am feeling much better now that I have a spare :)

Joey convinced me that the teachers said he could take 2 stuffed animals to school for the Pancake Party.  It worked out beautifully - a boy had forgotten his, and Joey offered the boy one of his to have for the day. 

When Joey wakes up in the morning, he always has precious things to say.  Like this morning, the first thing he said was, "Mommy. . . . . . kiss me!"  Sometimes it's, "Mommy. . . . I love you."  Occasionally, it's, "Rise and shine, kiddo!"  It used to be, "It's morning.  It's time to play!"

My Quotes

On Facebook, I have been writing quotes occasionally that have been inpirational for me.  I thought I should include them in my blog.  Here's a few to catch up.

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is life to praise and celebrate." - Oprah

"What you see in others has more to do with who you are than with who other people are." - Epictetus

And, last, but not least, a quote from a card I found today, "When the choice is to be right or to be kind always make the choice that brings peace."