Millie's Faces

Pardon our dust.  I've started on my blog reconstruction, but haven't gotten very far.  I can't seem to find that article I read!

Millie is still, and probably always will be, afraid of the flash.

(do you see sunlight behind her?)

She's patient with me while I try different settings on the camera.

She very much loves to laugh,

and is so good at the perma-smile!

But she really really loves to be right in her Momma's arms.

It's easier to pull her hair that way.

I feel so busy these days!  I should rephrase that.  I feel like Millie is so busy these days.  The poor girl has to run (crawl) laps all over our tiny apartment all day just looking for something new to chew on.  Her new favorite place to be is right beside my blow dryer.  She recently learned how to be chased, which I think is so funny!  Whenever she sees me walking down the hall towards her she jumps (out of excitement) then starts clawing at whatever she was standing up holding on to (usually our bed) and buries her face while she squeals.

She was getting so great at walking behind her push toy, but darn if I didn't teach her how to be chased!  Now if I try to get her to walk she just thinks I'm chasing her.  So for now, Buck is the only one that can practice walking with her.

I realized after all the feedback on her Synagis situation I really haven't been good at filling y'all in on everything!  Millie gets a visit from a Physical Therapist twice a month through a local early childhood program called PEIP.  The therapist noticed Millie does not copy anything (but we already knew she does her own thing, right?),wave, or clap and thought it would be a good idea to have a Speech Therapist pay her a visit.  She is still as social as can be, she just isn't interested in copying.  So for now, I've given up on sign language.  She likes looking at it, but if she won't even copy me doing simple things I think sign language is out of the picture for now.

I also had a few concerns with her eating (she's eating pretty good and gaining weight, the poor girl just has a time going to the bathroom) so we are also set up to see a feeding specialist.  I just talked to her on the phone tonight to set everything up.  She wants me to try Millie on almond milk for 4 days and note the difference.  She still gets enough liquid every day, and I think enough food, so I'm not super worried.

At this same visit I learned that PEIP has a water therapy program here in Provo.  Hmmmm....wasn't I trying to teach her to swim?  Yep.  Did I shamelessly hint Millie should be in that program?  Yep.  We shall see if anything comes of it.  I even spelled out that she has tons of swim diapers.

I am so thankful for these programs.  We get so much help with every little thing!  I know communication skills aren't little, but you know what I mean.  Hopefully this therapist will come up with some good ideas to get Millie into clapping.  Bless her little heart.  I know she wants to keep up with everyone else, and some day she'll get there.  She's already accomplished so much.

By the way, the PT said to do "Patty Cake" type things with her to practice clapping.  Since she mentioned "Patty Cake" that's the only one I can think of!  Don't you hate when that happens?  What are other rhymes I can clap with her?

We go to the doctor on Thursday, so I'll have an updated weight for you soon.  I doubt she's up to 17 lbs yet, but who knows?  I'll be sure to feed her right before we go.