Update from another week

I love sharing the power of God with you.

This week I have seen SO many positive things in Blake's development that I do not even know where to begin! It is very exciting to see and I am beyond thankful to God for allowing him to grow in these areas.

I will start with a car experience. While getting into our car, Blake climbed in and looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm hot. I want to be cold." I was so excited to hear him express himself so well and to tell me what he wanted (rather than crying and me having to figure it out... let me tell you, that doesn't work quite well). He even last night told me while driving, "I'm cold. I need to go home to get my blankie." I love that he is using problem solving skills and attempting to find solutions... and verbalizing them to me!

Another example would be while we were in the waiting room at Speech Therapy. He picked up 2 random weird looking blocks and said that they were Kade and Mommy. If you know my son, he doesn't veer off the path of predictable and logical. So the fact that he used his imagination to make 2 objects something that they are not really made me smile! I can see his imagination and creativity SO much more this week. I feel like something has finally switched on, although not completely.

Speaking of imagination... this week Blake has been starting to dialogue with his toys. It started with basics of "My car is jumping" and it has progressed to him saying things like... "Let's go over here! Come on!" He has played with his 2 little owls (One a mommy and one a baby) and had them drive a truck, go down a pretend slide (car ramp), and sleep. He added at the end, "Baby swoopy needs a hug from mommy...." He dialogued between the two and had the mommy owl say things like "You need to be a good listener. Did you have fun at class today?" Things he has heard me say often! I have witnessed situations like this many times this week, and each time makes me SO hopeful and fills me with so much joy! Isn't God good??

He has also started playing with toys more the way they are intended to be played with. He made the trains ride the tracks at Speech on his own, has used his car ramp more often, takes his school bus and people for rides, plays more frequently with his kitchen in a more meaningful way, and he even lined up alls his cars with a stop light and said to me, "Mommy! I lined all my cars next to the light!" I love how he was showing me what he did! This boy has come SO far in a few short weeks.

This week he also got into some of my baking supplies and pretended to bake his own cupcakes. He even went and put them into his oven and pretended to turn the oven on. When he pulled them out he yelled, "The cakes are done!" or something like that...

While driving, he also pointed out a group of bikers. Something new that I held my tongue to see if he would say anything. And he did! I love how he is trying to talk to me more with his thoughts or just telling me what he sees.

We also notice he is more creative in his actions. For instance, he hid under my shopping cart while we were shopping and looked up at me and said, "MOM! I'm hiding under the cart!" He was insistent that he jump off a parking curb and ran back to do it when we just had helped him down. He makes his opinions known more and wants to be more independent. This has been an area of struggle in regards to how to allow this and when to step in and say "Mommy makes the rules." I love that he has his opinion and it has been something he hasn't shared frequently. But I have a feeling this is going to become an issue quickly in some situations. Please pray for wisdom.

His whining is getting better too. Instead of melting down to a point where he just cries, I am usually able to say, "Use your words" and he will try to tell me what happened or what is wrong. Instead of taking 5 minutes, this is happening very quickly which is very nice. I think he is seeing how using his words accomplishes much more!

Some areas he still needs help in are, of course, finding new ways of saying things. His language still isn't new. But HE is being more creative which I feel is a positive step in the right direction. He still says often, "I don't like....", "It's too scary...", "I'm too big for that....", etc. when he really means nothing to that extent. He is getting SO good at asking questions with pleases and no whining. "Mommy, will you come with me please?" (although the will is often left out... something I'm working on helping him correct).

Anyways, I thought I would share this update with you that was very encouraging to me. And also a verse that I read with Matt the other night and have been thinking on it...
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act." -Psalm 37:5.
I want to have faith that God will work so mightily in Blake and help him communicate better. I have tried to commit this all to God and to trust Him in this journey. And I know He will act. As I was mopping my floors yesterday, I was wondering how "He will act." I want to say that this will mean God will make Blake all better. I hope and pray that! But I don't know that for sure. Yet God says He will act. I began to realize that even if God doesn't "act" in the way that I want through Blake, I know God will act in me in a way to change my heart and give me peace. It is so comforting to remember God is for me in this and my good is in His mind and heart.

Be encouraged friends! We have a God who is WITH us and who is FOR us. How amazing is that? Thank you for your prayers... please keep them coming. I know God is listening.