When Cute and Cute Collide

Waiting For the Toof Fairy

When Melody and I got home from a playdate last night, Theo greeted us at the door with a dangling tooth. He told me about several failed attempts to pull it out--Joe tried ye olde string method, but the tooth wasn't ready. The poor guy was so disappointed! He was uncomfortable, sure, but more than anything he wanted his visit from the Tooth Fairy.

He got out paper and a pencil, sat down and began writing. I was half paying attention, helping him spell the words he didn't know while doing other things. It wasn't until he finished his first drawing that I realized the brilliance he had produced.

I ran to Joe to show him the picture and we cracked up! I think it's the best picture he's drawn yet. Hilarious! And how much do I love him for spelling words as he hears them...I didn't have the heart to correct "toof."

But wait, he wasn't done. He sat back down and created his next masterpiece, him lying in bed, complete with the lollipop under the pillow. He told me "the magic turns the tooth into a lollipop." I was impressed that he drew the Tooth Fairy horizontally to indicate that she was flying. That may not seem like a big deal, but for him it was. He almost always draws all his people the same way.

Starring: Theo in Another Blog!

Logan's mom Jenn used a great photo of Theo getting a skating lesson in her blog entry about Logan's birthday party. This is a great blog about parenting and special needs, you might wanna check it out:

http://canmombecalm.blogspot.com/2010/01/skating-parties-perfect-for-special.html

Ice, Ice, My Baby

When Theo's friend Logan invited him to his birthday party, I tried to think of other birthday parties Theo had been invited to. I could probably count them on one hand. Theo went from 0 to 2 friends last year. Both of the friends he found, Logan and Reina (who will get a blog post of her own) seemed to need him, too. No kid ever needed Theo before. So here he was, invited to a party--not because a kid was inviting everyone in his class or a cousin was obligated to include him--Logan genuinely liked Theo and wanted him at his party! And the best part--it was an ice skating party.

Do you recall our first and only attempt at ice skating last year? We had incredible fun, but Theo was unable to hold his own on the ice. I was curious to see how he'd do--a year later, his vocabulary and verbal comprehension were stronger--skills that seemed like they would matter to skating. One thing NOT better was Theo's balance. And so we would see. But I knew either way, we'd have a great time.

When we walked in, Logan's enthusiastic "Hi, Theo!" was music to my ears. His mom, Jenn, was good enough to pay for the kids to all have a 30 min coaching session. The kids learned how to fall properly, and then they hit the ice. I liked this rink because it provided helmets, something that Theo really needed! I'm pretty sure he took a couple of headers.

I automatically went into apologetic mode with the coaches when Theo did not get it right away. In fact, he was downright uncooperative at first and wouldn't stop giggling as he fell over and over. But pretty soon he was moving little distances on his own and two of the coaches were actually impressed! Coaches who teach beginners every day, impressed with Theo's progress on the ice? I felt great, and Theo felt great.


As the day went on, his confidence grew. A couple of times he went from one wall to the other entirely on his own! As many times as he fell, he never stopped smiling. I think both of us could have skated all day! Unfortunately, the rink closed early for hockey.


He never really skated skated--more like skillfully walked across the ice. But that's what kids are taught to do at first--hold their knees and march. We're going back this weekend and I plan to keep taking him, because I had as much fun as he did! I love skating! (But oops, one of the coaches corrected ME, telling me to bend my knees.) I really think he'll get it if we keep at it, and this will be wonderful therapy for his balance issues.

As far as the party went, thankfully gluten wasn't an issue. Theo gleefully chowed down on pizza and birthday cake, and loved singing to Logan. He didn't socialize with the other kids much, but he was clearly happy to be part of the festivities.

Email From Teach

This put a smile on my face this morning. I know it will do the same for you!

Mrs. Orecchio,

Happy New Year to you as well. Theo is doing great. He has been spending less and less time on the computer*. He is starting to be able to control himself a little better. In math, he only has to be shown how to do the problem once and he is able to complete the rest on his own. I am glad that he is happy about coming to school.

Thank you,
Ms. Fredericks


*They use the computer to calm Theo down when he gets nutty

Top 11 Reasons All Cats Have Autism

• They throw a fit if there's a change in their routine. You don't want to be around a cat who's mad that dinner is late.
• They can spend hours fixated on a light bulb, staring out the window, or playing with a ball.
• Social anxiety
• Fear of loud noises
  
• They prefer flipping the pages of books to actually reading them
• They exist in their own world (if you're lucky, you are a guest)
  
• They act out when overstimulated
• They don't mean to misbehave
  
• Some are the height of innocence and accept affection from any stranger, while others refuse to be touched
• Once you win them over, you will never know a more rewarding relationship
  
• Their vision of the world is much more beautiful and brilliant. They know a purity in life that the rest of us can't begin to understand...but because we love them, we'll continue to try.
  

Happy New Year!