Little Who?

I feel like I'm blogging all the time, at least every week, but there is always something new and exciting that happens in our family and with Matthew.

This past weekend we took Matthew to the "Little Folks Festival" it was so neat. The kids have fun with the sirens on the fire trucks, they meet alot of our local and state emergency officials, they get free books, face painting, food and ice cream,etc. Matthew done so good, he walked around some with me just holding onto one hand, he drunk his first juice box with the more stout straws and he got to meet Smokey the Bear, which of course didn't go well at all.

The picture above is my cousin, Jonathan and Matthew posing for such a handsome picture.

And our BIG news of the week!

Matthew is now at that stage where he thinks he's a "big boy" and not little anymore. I went downstairs to the basement yesterday morning before leaving for work while Matthew was watching his cartoons when I came back into the basement I heard this most terrifying bump in my life and I looked up the steps and saw Matthew on his tummy on the fourth top step.

Apparently, Matthew has now learned to open up doors ( the door was shut completely, I double checked it when I had went down) and he tried to walk down them when he of course fell. I was so worried about his head, due to his soft spot not completely being closed and the Dandy-Walker. I took him to the doctor for a check up and it seems that his only injuries was the scratch on his eye lid and under his eye.

Needless to say, Bradley and I baby proofed our doors. Matthew is everywhere now, he can stand up on his own without holding onto anything and he does more walking with one finger on something than he does crawling. Once he gets the hang of walking independently, he's going to give me a workout for sure.

My grandma says that Matthew's body hasn't caught up with his brain yet, it is so, so true. Matthew has also learned to say I love you and sign it, except it sounds like I wuw wu. He has learned also to wash his hands in the bath tub and to brush his own teeth with help. He's so funny.

Well, I gotta go, have to do our church bulletins for Sunday.

Til next time, Good Night and God Bless!

Precious Moments and a NEW Milestone !

GREAT NEWS!!!!! Matthew has taken his first INDEPENDENT steps :). He started yesterday during his physical therapy session with Holly. She got him to walk 3 steps on his own and he done that 3 different times. Today he walked 6 steps, fell, my aunt then helped him up and he took 3 more steps.

This is so amazing and I can't tell you how much I am praising God for this. I knew Matthew would walk soon but not this soon. He still has a little ways to go at walking confidently but he will do it in the upcoming weeks and months. As a parent you are so proud when your child hits a milestone, but when your child has a syndrome which can cause problems with balance,etc. and you see him do it perfectly- you are just in AWE of God's power and your child's ability. It's so precious! I pray that I will not take these precious moments for granted and that I will always remember this feeling of pure joy and being so humble to God for this precious child he has given me the privilege of being his mother.

Matthew has also learned 3 more things this week, he knows some of his colors (red,blue,green,yellow and purple) he of course can't say them but he can pick them out and give them to you, he has learned to smack-which no is not a word he is liking now and lastly he has learned to get out of his stroller. (another challenge in itself)

The picture above is Matthew posing innocently while misbehaving in the bath tub tonight. He is ALL BOY! Melanie and I were talking tonight and we don't know what we would do if we had girls, boys are so much fun! HAHAHA!

Gotta go, my show is on, "Parenthood" , Bradley and I LOVE IT!!!!

Easter Blessings

This past week has been so busy and yet rewarding in so many ways. First off, our neurologist appointment went very, very well. Dr. Hickling was very impressed with Matthew and all the things that he can do.

Matthew is a little behind but not by much!!!:) According to Dr. Hickling, Matthew's walking ability/balance is right where it should be for a toddler his age, the reason for him not wanting to walk is more of a "security" issue. Imagine that. I also asked about his speech, that too is from him being more focused on mobility and us not making him talk. Matthew is so spoiled. Matthew's fine motor skills are right where they should be which is a relief. Bradley and I are so proud of him but we know that this is all God's doing. We serve an amazing God, Matthew is a true testament that prayer does work.

Our neurologist also gave us a little bit of advice, he told us that just because Matthew is diagnosed with a syndrome doesn't necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with him and to challenge him and treat him just as if there was nothing wrong with him at all. Which we do challenge him but we always think about the Dandy-Walker and try not to get Matthew to frustrated when doing things. Matthew does have to learn to do things for himself and work through the frustration which is what we definitely need to work on helping him do.

Below are some pictures from our Final Four party with some of our neighbors. Glad our home team won ( Go DUKE) but it would have been nice to see Butler win

Melanie and Christie

Part of the Gang

Lily being silly

Matthew & Lily on their scooters

Matthew almost took his first independent steps on Easter at my Grandma's, we were so excited. It won't be long til he's toddling. Matthew has also started to babble alot more this week too. He said "baby" yesterday and he's signing alot more too. He's doing GREAT!! Below are some of our Easter pictures. Hope you enjoy.

Memmie, Matthew, & Grandma (my mom)
The sun sure is bright.

Good Night and God Bless.

What is this, Bunny Blues!

As you can tell, Matthew didn't do to well with the Easter Bunny. I just love this age. Sorry the picture is a little crooked.

My mother-n-law and I took Matthew to the mall to have his picture taken with the Easter Bunny, he done good at first until he turned and actually looked at the bunny. Poor thing. For the rest of the day if we mentioned the word "bunny" Matthew started to cry- so we had to start spelling it.

What an eventful day! Not only did he cry with the bunny he cried riding the carousel. He was not having a good morning and he loves to ride the carousel. As the day went on though it did get better.

We finished up our shopping and headed over to Tripps Restarunt.

It was nice and we had a really good time. However, we were served this liquid sauce in a bowl that supposedly we dip our bread in. Neither Dottie nor I tried it. You can tell we don't get out much. So, what is this? I don't want to know.

Matthew loves going out to eat, he flirts with everyone and loves the ceiling fans. He eats pretty good too, I believe he will try anything once. (Except the stuff in the bowl)

Matthew and his Grandma pose for a picture while we wait for our food.

Please say a prayer for us this week, we have ALOT going on before Easter.

Tomorrow we have Matthew's spring pictures done, so hopefully he'll cooperate. Wednesday is PT, Thursday, hopefully ST and we have our yearly neurologist appointment. This is always our most important appointment and our most educational too. Thursday night we have our county's "Farmer's Appreciation Dinner" at our local high school. Saturday, we have our neighborhood "Final Four" party and Sunday, EASTER!!!!

Until next time, Good Night and God Bless!!

He's so CUTE!!

A Defiant Walker

I believe boys in general are born to be "defiant" but yet so sweet they end up being "Mama's Boys". My little Matthew is just that, he sure does know how to turn it on when he doesn't want to do what he's being made to do. Take walking for instance, I know with the Dandy-Walker, Matthew will have issues with balance and coordination but with practice and strength building it can be accomplished. Matthew has decided he doesn't like being made to walk and either sits on his butt or drops to his knees. It's funny but yet aggravating knowing he's putting on a show.

However, he does good anyway. He'll get it with time and on his own time. It's just his way of telling me, "Back off Mama!!".

Matthew done GREAT!! in ST last week, he can dance to the song, "Wheels on the Bus" with him using his hands in a rolling motion and he moves his head and shoulders when he hears music he likes. It's so cute. I'm trying to get a video of it so bare with me. Matthew's ST is going to start out a little slow with his speech just to see what he can do. He has learned the signs of more with him taking your hands and making the motions.

Matthew is now scribbling well with crayons and can use either hand, he's now making the big long strokes. He has also learned to somewhat take off his shirt and pants now and he helps with his shoes too. It's a little tough for him considering the AFOs he has to wear but they are greatly helping his feet.

He does such a good job and Bradley and I are so, so proud of him. He makes our life so complete in every way.

Below is a video of Matthew slowly using his walker, it's not the best video considering the lighting. (it's a little to dark) but still it's worth sharing. Hope you enjoy.


Good Night and God Bless!!

Paci - BE GONE!!!!

We've had a very trying weekend. We've finally decided to take the pacifier away from Matthew. We've been doing it slowly, him only having it at night or at nap time and then taking it out once he's asleep. So, once we stopped giving it to him we end up with a irate little boy.
Tonight is night 3 and so far tonight he's done GREAT!!! I gave him his blanket and gave him a stuffed dog to go to bed with; he doesn't care to much for the dog but the blanket seems to be working. This morning after crying for his paci, he got himself so worked up that he threw up his breakfast. He has been so mad at me this weekend that today when I went to pick him up, he would hardly acknowledge me, but he came around eventually.
Matthew has been somewhat challenging this week. I've been pushing him a little harder to walking with one hand held and behind his push toy by himself. He doesn't want to do it but he needs to and HE CAN DO IT. Holly, his PT said last week during his session that Matthew could walk if he wanted to and that he's just being very stubborn. Which explains my child perfectly-besides he gets it honest. (from yours truly:))
Today my aunt tried something a little different to get Matthew to walk, she lightly held the sleeve of his shirt to make him think she was holding onto him & he walked perfectly with minimum balance problems.
Matthew is doing so good. I know I've put alot on him this weekend with the paci, walking, and spoon feeding but he does so much better after a little push.

Matthew starts speech this Thursday and I'm so excited and interested in how the ST is going to get my child to talk. Matthew's only way of communication now is pointing to what he wants and grunting or pointing to whatever we ask him where something is.

I talked to my sister tonight and she seems to be having it rough this week too. Nathan is all of a sudden refusing to use the potty at home.

AHHHH the joys of motherhood, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I just pray to God for His wisdom and guidance with the most difficult job in the world- PARENTING.