And the Menu Grows!

What a fun week! I am enjoying the visits from the therapists almost as much as my attention starved Natalie. Zachary on the other hand would probably be happier if we all just left him alone!
Last week it was so encouraging to see how impressed Mr. Clint had been with Zachary's progress since 2 weeks before. And this week we had the first visit from Ms. Teresa and Ms. Leann, who were mostly watching Zachary eat. First we served him something in the past he has regularly refused to eat, penne pasta with spaghetti sauce. And much to this mama's surprise, he ate it almost all up! Of course for me, he won't touch it opting to use his still full bowl as a Frisbee instead, but with Ms. Teresa sitting there to see his reaction he makes me look like I don't know my own son! Don't get me wrong I am thrilled to have another item to add to his meager menu of fruits and eggs, but its just like when you take your car in because of some funny noise, and as soon as you pull up to the mechanic its purring like a kitten.
While they were here we also introduced him to his first peanut butter and honey sandwich, his sister's favorite. After observation Ms. Teresa made an interesting note, when we offered him food in bigger pieces, he would take small bites and not over stuff his mouth. But if we gave him food cut into bite sized pieces he shoveled them in until his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunks. So from now on I will serve him food that is not too big, but definitely not too small that it would easily shoved into his mouth all at once.
While the therapist were here we also struggled and wrestled with Zachary to get him onto all fours as he scooted around the living room. He made loud protests and seemed to be quite upset, but within minutes of letting him go he was happily playing, all was forgiven. And the process then repeated itself. Ms. Leann also gave me some tips to work with Zachary on his speech before she left. I would have thought that would be pretty straight forward, but she told me to encourage him in motor imitation. Doing things like clapping, blowing kisses, pulling off his socks, and brushing his hair is supposed to help, which are all things he does with the exception of blowing a kiss, which he doesn't quite get yet. Instead of covering his mouth with his hand, as if kissing it, he puts his hand in his mouth, then follows through with the blowing of it! What a silly boy I have!
All too soon for Natalie, who desperately tried to monopolize the attention of our visitors the entire time, Ms. Teresa and Ms. Leann had to leave to go help other children on the island. Hopefully next month will bring big smiles from their visit as Zachary continues to make large leaps and bounds in his development! We certainly are excited watching the little steps in between as each day he does a little better and goes a little further towards walking on his own!