I made a picture!

Today Liam made two very significant statements.

This week he has been at Friends for his second session of summer camp. BTW, the school had a meeting last night to discuss expansion. The meeting invite was "Help us grow, K-1 planning meeting." Now the school already has kindergarten and first grade and it used to go through eighth grade. Anyhow I asked Kris, the director of the school, if I could come. The purpose of the meeting was to talk to families to see if a commitment might be there for expanding the school. I of course am all for it. I would love to see Liam stay at Friends for as long as possible...even if I have to sell my plasma to make it happen. :P The more I deal with JCPS over his services the more I realize that it probably won't be the place for him. Anyhow, moving on.

So he's been at Friends this week and the theme was Animals. Today he made a mask (a rabbit!) and wore it for Beckett (who tried to eat it). Tomorrow they are going on a field trip to a pet store. He came home from occupational therapy today and started drawing.

Liam: Look, mama, I made a picture.
Me: Oh, it's beautiful!
Liam: It's a rabbit.
Me: That is a beautiful rabbit. You're a great artist.

Not only did he come and share his work with me, but he NAMED his work. I'm sure this has rubbed off on him from school...he brings home a drawing every day. I just wanted to cry because he shared his work with me, he was so proud of himself...and in his little brain he was creating a rabbit, not just scribbling.

Later on he asked for a sucker.

Me, holding up two suckers: Pick one out.
Liam: This one. (grabs sucker)
Me: Please put your wrapper in the trash.
Liam, as he takes off the wrapper: Blue sucker, mama!

That is also a big deal for Liam...his speech has mainly progressed in this way--

single word utterances (labels mostly)
words to get something (more)
two word phrases to get something (more apple, help please)
spontaneous comments (Look at the sky mama! he said this to me yesterday)
spontaneous comments with descriptors (Blue sucker!)

I love to pick him up at school...he comes running to me with the most amazing look of joy and admiration on his face...sometimes I don't feel worthy of such a gift, this child.