Petting Bella and other fun interactions

This evening we were walking Bella (our dog) with Ian in his car and Lila on her scooter. We were walking and chatting with a new neighbor, a major strange connection which I will discuss in a minute. When we stopped in front of her house, her and I were chatting away and Ian was trying to get my attention. He looked from me to Bella and back again and kept doing this. I responded by saying and signing dog, Bella. He then reached out and stroked her nose! He pet her for the very first time with intent! Amazing.

Then we were going through our nightly bedtime routine at the book stage. He chose the Baby Touch and Feel Quack! Quack! book, which he loves but usually doesn't partake in the feeling part, although sometimes I'll bring his hand to the texture, which he usually pulls away from. It's one that asks you to interact with it; rub the ducklings feathers against your cheek, tell the puppy a secret, put your nose to the piglets nose, you get the idea. I always do all that it asks. And tonight, Ian actually kind of followed what I did! He let me rub the feathers against his cheek. He pulled the puppy's ear to his mouth. And he put his nose on the piglets, on his own!

I remember when Lila first did those steps and of course I was surprised as well but I just kind of took it for granted that all of those things would just fall into place. And it is so absolutely exciting that these kinds of things are starting to connect for Ian too!

Videos above were taken Thursday.

We finally finished the intensive. It seemed like forever and we only did two weeks instead of three and we missed two days. But it was hard work for both of us. And he was completely whipped by the last hour. For the next two weeks we will have 2 hours each of CME or PT and OT. Then a week off and then another intensive for two weeks. After which we begin at UCLA for 3 days a week.

On the subject of the neighbor. We've had a lot of activity on our street in the last month. We are always hoping the people moving in have kids. Sadly, most have not. But one house around the corner I had heard was sold to a couple with a 1 year old. I rcvd a text tonight from a Mom I know who has a little boy with PMG. She and I have connected a few times, gone out for a drink, kept up by phone calls, after realizing we lived close. Turns out it's her! Ian will have a neighborhood boy with PMG! Crazy small world it is!