I remember when his sweet little voice went silent.
I remember when the only words he said, were echoes of what was being said to him.
I remember when he mastered requesting items. "More", and "Please", seemed like major victories.
I remember when he began (yelling) "Help me please!" when he got frustrated, rather than having a meltdown.
I remember when he started saying when he liked things.
I remember when I started giving him the option of YES or NO after questions, and he was able to choose which answer he wanted, and it felt like we broke through an enormous wall.
I remember when he began answering yes or no without being prompted.
I remember when he started answering "W" questions.
I remember when he started ASKING questions.
I remember when he started calling me "Mommy" when he would talk to me.
I remember when he started having conversations simply because he wanted to share something with me that he thought was cool.
I remember when he learned negation: "I don't want to do that" and "I don't like that". There is so much power in those words.
I remember when he figured out what it meant to miss someone, and then saying it in appropriate circumstances.
I remember when he started adding in his own cute phrases, "See ya' next home!" (instead of see you next time), "I'm sleeping on the stars!" (when he was laying on a blanket with planets and stars), and "Easy squeezy!"
Jacob has worked so hard over the last two and a half years. He has been challenged and encouraged, and I am so proud of how far he's come. In several weeks he will start kindergarten in a mainstream class, with time for sensory breaks. I find that I get more nervous with each day that brings us closer to starting this new and uncertain journey. When I start to doubt that he can handle this transition though, I will look at this list of all he has accomplished already, and I will remember.
Stanwood, WA
