Time is FLYING....

Our baby is almost two years old!  He is officially a serious walker and is constantly on the move.  After working SO hard on trying to help him walk and move more fluently, we are getting close to the point of trying SO hard to keep him still enough to do a learning activity.  I suspect this will become more challenging for us as time goes on, but for right now, it is a new thought process.  This week, we got two new pieces of "assistive technology," in addition to his orthotics, to help him do that.  

The first set is his SPIO, which is basically a wet suit.  It is a custom measured compression vest and shorts that are supposed to help him with his vestibular needs, and therefore, help him focus.  Yeah, I had to look all of that up too.  Basically, helping Parker feel secure physically helps him build his core strength, and allows his focus to move from balance and motor movements, to something else.  This will likely translate to what I am more familiar with in education--- weighted blankets and lap pads, special sensory seat pads, etc. 

The second is a Leckey Pal Seat, which I am honestly still learning about.  To me, it looks like a suped-up booster seat.  It comes with a tray, lots of pads, and adjustable everything.  The idea is the same...force some focused activity time.  

Right now, because of his age--all toddlers seem to have a propensity for constant movement and exploration-- it is really hard for us to tell how much Parker is struggling with focus.  If he has the right toy or activity, it seems like he could stay in one spot forever.  At the moment, we have only really found three things that are focus inducing....playing at his water table, listening to Daddy play guitar, and watching Baby Signing Time on the iPad.  With everything else, he seems to be seeking movement, and fights sustained activities unless we give him movement breaks, like swinging him from side to side, or bouncing him on our legs.  It is another one of those things that is fascinating, and would be more so if it weren't our day to day.  We try not to worry about what school will be like, and instead, put our energy into learning.

We are SO SO SO proud of everything Parker has accomplished so far.  We know he is going to blow us away in the next year, just as he has in the last 1.75.  We are loving seeing his personality and preferences come out.  He has become more reactive with scenarios he doesn't like.  The other day, Parker was standing near the door as Matt walked into the garage, and Parker started crying.  I just about cried.  He cries/yells when he accidentally turns off Baby Signing Time.  He spits out food he doesn't want.  He crawls up to me with a big smile when I pick him up from daycare.  These are all things that are "normal" that we have been waiting for for a long time.  The fact that his environment is clear enough to him now that he can begin to process it is a blessing.

Love him.  I wish time would slow down a bit, but we so love seeing him achieve.