A Happy Boy

It's been a few days because gardening needs have been taking up what little spare time I've had.

Mark is a very happy boy.  He's really enjoying making his own cards, even if he doesn't understand it.  Working on the cards gets big grins.  The only thing that gets bigger grins is another new math activity.  I have some origami boxes that now have dots on the covers.  Once a day he gets asked to give me the box with one dot.  If he gets it right he gets the piece of candy that's inside.  This is helping both with Math, and with focusing to give the correct answer the first time.  As we do more numbers, I'll add more boxes and vary the question.  It's a good thing that I can make small candy treats for him!

The weather has been good enough that Mark has been able to enjoy playing in the backyard.  He's been getting lots of great exercise.  And we've been working on him learning to put things, like his glasses, in a bag that I've attached to the trampoline net.  For some reason, at random, he decides he doesn't want to wear his glasses, or tags.  Or he gets a drink and finishes it.  And he drops these items on the trampoline, which is dangerous for him (and for his glasses!).  So I attached the net bag and have been working with him on putting things into the bag.  So far, so good.

Another interesting development has occurred.  Unless Mark is in the backyard, he wants to be wherever I am.  If I'm working in the garden, he's in the backyard.  If we are in the house, he is wherever he can be closest to me, or completely see me.  He knows not to come in the kitchen while I'm cooking, but he makes sure that he can see me.  If I go sit in the bedroom, I get pounced.  Fortunately, he has realized that this is not appropriate behavior for the bathroom and will leave me in peace there.  I figure this is a side effect of spring fever and the new activities.  It will probably fade over time.  But I'll enjoy the extra tickles, cuddles, and hugs while he's giving them out.  And yes, he is trying to tickle me.

Oh, and while he's being somewhat slow to catch on to the XOOM, he has been using his communication cards a lot.  But not in the expected way.  He has been taking off all the cards except the one he's trying to use.  So far two sets have blown away because of this, so I'll be visiting Staples again soon.  And we'll have to work on this some more, or in a different way.

And lastly, but definitely not least, he tried to say "A big boy" today.  He got boy and big flipped around but he did try.  I love hearing words come out, and phrases/sentences are absolutely stellar.