A is for...: 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Where has the time gone?

And I am not talking about being a bad blogger (which I am), I mean how can AnnaKate be 5 and a half years old? For so long I wanted her to grow, to meet milestones like crawling and walking and now I find myself wanting her to slow down. She is losing her “babyness” that she had for so long. Today we had some milestones that need reporting:

A loose tooth!

AnnaKate lost her first tooth about a year ago due to a trauma to the tooth. So this is her first “real” loose and wiggly tooth. It makes me sad that she is growing and her perfect baby teeth will be replaced with big silly oversized teeth.

We had a regular dentist appointment today so during the drama of the cleaning (and it is high drama with AK) I told the hygienist that it would be ok if it just”fell” out. After a little rocking it came out and the tooth fairy will pay AnnaKate a visit tonight. And by the way, there are 2 more loose ones….ugh!

“Show me your teeth AnnaKate”

Beau had to jump in the picture…

Potty Talk

AnnaKate has been making great potty progress since May. If you put her on the potty she will go but she rarely initiates. So I have stopped pushing so hard and she seems to be coming around on her own. She has only done her “big business” in the potty once until today. She got out her little potty, sat in front of her mirror with a few books and voila…! I was so happy and danced around…she seemed a little confused as to why that yuckiness would make me so happy. I do see a light at the end of the diaper tunnel!

Communication

AnnaKate speaks, signs and uses a communication book to get heard. Her signing has boomed lately and we continue to hear new sounds as well. She just got the t sound which opened her up to lots of new words like, teeth and “TT’ (her grandmother). She can say Beau, eat, hi, up, bye, A, B, C, D, E, go, home, juice, dada, mama, pop, lala, and a lot of approximations. We are really proud of her progress and love “hearing” what she has to say.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Gymnastics!!!!!

AnnaKate started gymnastics last week. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive community. This amazing gym does this class for special needs kids and even has a Special Olympics Gymnastics Team for the older ones.

AnnaKate loved it so, so much!! She even had a temper tantrum when the class was over.

*These pictures aren’t that great since I was taking them through glass…sigh…

They started out with a warm up. AnnaKate did great following directions like, put the bean bag on your elbow.

Walking with the bean bag between her legs.

Now off to the gym…

AnnaKate did the floor trampoline once…it made her very nervous not to have a bar to hold on to.

Her coach did a great job trying to convince her to try it again….maybe next time!

It was great to see AnnaKate trying and LOVING something new. I know she can’t wait until next week.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Horse Show

Eden Farms had a horse show for their therapeutic riding program, Happy Hooves. It was such a great day for all of us!

AnnaKate anxiously awaiting the riders and the horses.

David is usually one of AnnaKate’s volunteers during her lessons. They have a special bond. He placed first today!

While we waited on her events AnnaKate played and ran and played and ran some more…

“Mary Rebecca” was one of my fourth graders years ago. She and her mom work at the barn now. I love that we get to see them.

AnnaKate and her friends from riding! Smile

Getting ready to go in the ring.

Practicing jump seat…this will not be judged but you can’t blame her for being ready!

Rider number 112, assisted walk.

Hmmm….maybe if I wave to the judges that will get me some points.

Lining up in front of the judges. Fourth place for rider number 112!!

Clapping for fellow riders.

Wow…a ribbon!

We had such a special day! A huge thanks to all the volunteers for making the event possible.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Singing in the Rain!

Monday, July 25, 2011

One Lucky Community

Today our community just got a little bit luckier! We have the first Boundless Playground in our state. A Boundless Playground is an inclusive playground where children of all abilities are able to play and learn together in a fun and welcoming environment. One of the best things about this project is it the community teamed up with businesses to fund this project. In a time of government cut backs this is proof what a community can do when they work together towards a common goal.

Our governor spoke at the ceremony as well as other important local officials.

To me, the most important speaker was a parent. He is disabled as well as his child and he was very emotional talking about how wonderful it will be for him to be able to join in on the fun with his child instead of watching from the sidelines. It was very touching.

After the ribbon cutting the children charged the playground.

My cousin’s husband, Joe, was helping AnnaKate climb up the climbing wall.

My cousin’s daughter, Elise, loved playing with AnnaKate. It was truly special to see all the children playing together in such an inclusive environment.