AJ's Strengths

I have been thinking today of the many strengths my little guy has. He is amazing with spatial relations. He can do a 25 piece puzzle in record time even if her has never done it before. He configures his wooden train tracks in amazing patterns with no assistance from me.
His small motor skills are fabulous. He can cut with scissors, draw faces, and build with blocks to dizzying heights. He can ut on his own mittens and almost dresshimself completey (darn Zippers and shoelaces)
His large motor is great. He climbs three flights of stairs every day to get to our apartment. He can throw a ball and hit you between the eyes. Catching is a bit shaky but hey, we're working on it. He can jump and climb like a little monkey.
He wants so desperately to talk. He speaks often but not intelligibly. He initiates coversation, and has a great sense of humor. He enjoys being silly and making others laugh and he cracks himself up all the time. He loves to hear stories and often "reads" them after I do.
He loves fire trucks, fire fighters, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers and anything dealing with firefighting. He also likes trains, contruction barrels and cones (plenty of those in Michigan) and helicopters. He is fascinated with Bowling, he plays with his toy bowling set daily and loves to go bumper bowling.
He loves Noggin and Sprout especially Thomas the Train, Fireman Sam, Piggly Winks and Little Bear. His favorite movies are Cars, Curious George, and Rattatouie. He loves songs but only sings sometimes. His favorites are ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
AJ loves his sister "Didi" (Katie) and his cat Paws. His best friends at school are "Doobie" (Drewby) and "Beady" (Brady) He loves his cousins and is very gentle with younger children especially Baby Eve.
We have an awesome bedtime routine which ends with us whispering a secret. I tell him "I love You AJ" he whispers back "I ub oo too!"
For all the challenges that are ahead, the frustrations and exhaustion and worry, I just need to remind myself what an amzing and wonderful little guy I have. How lucky we are that he is healthy and happy and bright. Perspective like this is what I need to have as I move forward through 08. Hopefully I will never lose site of these things.