Friday, July 31, 2009

Good job Emma!

This photo may not seem significant, but there are TWO wonderful things that it represents!  Well... four I suppose.  The first two would be the sweet brother and sister in the photo as they finish up their lunches :)

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Notice what Emma's drinking from?  It has a HARD SPOUT!  YAY!  Emma has been drinking from a straw for a little while now, but only disposable, small, bendy straws like the ones in juice boxes or those you buy in packs of 100+ at the grocery store (the thinnest ones you can get).  We've tried to get her to drink a McDonald's straw or one like that, and if they're thin enough, she sometimes gets the idea that she can drink from them without the 'bend' in them.  I've been trying to find any kind of reusable container that seals that I can send her drinks to school in.  She can't seem to get a hang of the ones with valves, but after I squeezed this one up a time of two... She did it! 

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See that gorgeous smile and twinkle in her eyes in the photo above?  That's the second significant thing about today's accomplishment.  Of course I jumped up and down and clapped and praised her when she started to drink from this container (um... ok, minus the jumping part! lol) BUT THIS... this SMILE and JOY that she's showing from the praise... It is true and absolute UNDERSTANDING that she has done something good!  And she kept on drinking! 

To have a child that responds to you in very slight ways and sometimes a bit randomly... to have that child hear you praise her and SMILE and KEEP GOING is such a great feeling!! 

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Not a fluke either, because when that juice was empty, she smiled again for the praise I gave her.  What a sweet girl. 

And just in time for school!

19 comments:

  1. That smile!!!! That knowing she DID IT. What a sight!!!

    Jan

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  2. Way to go Emma! And what a beautiful smile! :)

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  3. man I can not believe that this is the same limp vacant child she looks great. Praise God and praise you and Mike for not giving up on her.

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  4. That's sort of funny because we had the opposite problem -- Kayla could ONLY drink from those Rubbermaid juice box containers. Just last week was the first time she drank from a regular straw and a tiny juice box straw! She usually bites the flexible straws instead of drinks through them.

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  5. That's great! She's really coming along!!!

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  6. What joy! Way to go Emma! Way to go Meredith!

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  7. That is the most beautiful smile I have seen all day.

    Way to go Emma!

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  8. I just wanted to say that your family blesses me! I've followed your site for some time but never posted before. It just brings tears of joy to my eyes when I come to your website and see those beautiful, smiling faces! I also have 4 children - my oldest child, who is 15, has Down syndrome. May God continue to bless your family abundantly!

    Thirza Ritter

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  9. Yay Emma! You did it sweetie! You are one pretty girl! Your blonde hair and blue eyes are beautiful! You just keep going honey! You will be cruising and walking before you know it! :-)

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  10. That is so cute!!! She reminds me so much of Brianna, definitely meant to be yours!!

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  11. Emma is growing so much! What a beautiful smile! What a wonderful family you have!

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  12. what a beautiful smile for a beautiful little girl, you are so blessed to see that sweet face each day

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  13. Love, love, love that smile!

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  14. What a wonderful picture of her sparkling eyes!! Good job Emma

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  15. Oh if a smile could actually melt a heart, mine is dripping all over my floor right now :)

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  16. I love that smile!! She is maturing so much.

    Big YAY's for the straw thing. We use playtex sport cups- they have straws and no vavles but do close shut. I also have the thermos bottles. same thing, straws, no valves but close shut. I use those for the lunches.

    Cute pictures!

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  17. That's awesome, Meredith! She's come such a long way!!! She's doing GREAT!!! Go, Emma!

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  18. What a sweet smile. Good job, Emma. So proud of you, sweetheart.

    Hugs from the Philippines,
    Cheche Chavez

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  19. What a great photo! Her happiness and understanding shine through!

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