Clear progress last couple days

These last few days Ian has been walking so confidently I swear it feels like he's just about ready to go it on his own. I don't want to jinx him as it seems I've done in the past. But the difference is clear in how little help he really needs.  

He's so much more interested in his environment, wherever he may be. I took he and Lila to Art Zone yesterday after school and they both loved it! He sat and played with dinosaurs in Gak for the longest time. He's never been at all interested in even really touching gak or playdough or anything of that nature. He painted a bit with brushes and stamps and played in the mud room, feeling the mud, splashing water and checking out the whole place with his feet and hands. 

Today in class he was taking pieces out of the puzzel and putting them back in their correct spots on the first try. Many different shapes, not just the favorites. And he's never played with this particular puzzle before. He's also learning to clean up when it's time. 

It was also our first pool day. It's when whomever wants to, from the program, can go to swim class. It was amazing! He loved being in the pool and was so relaxed. He was letting me woosh him all over on his tummy and back and his body was floating. He seemed to be in an altered state of peace. It was beautiful to feel his energy. 

And in speech later in the day he was responding to the therapist's cues to pat his chest when he wanted something as if to say "for me". We've been working on this for a bit but it seems to be finally starting to kick in a bit. And he's pointing again, shaking his head yes and no. Hopefully these will last this time. The signs for "all done" and "more" are pretty consistent as well.

All really good progress and we'll take it :-)