Maddie Claire, a retrospective

I am amazed at Maddie's progress almost daily. I truly feel she is near her peers levels regarding verbal and communication skills. I am still concerned about her inability to raise her eyes upward but her vision was checked and it is fine. Her therapists are all thrilled with her progress as well. Not sure she will qualify for state services at age 3 she is doing so good!

As a parent you are always concerned how your child is doing academically and physically. Maddie knows her colors, can say her alphabet, knows her numbers up to 13+, knows up, down, front, & back, all parts of her body, can make various facial expressions, able to climb, jump, etc., doing good with "matching", and starting to count. She is right up there with other kids her age. Interaction with the kids at school is much better, although still copying versus initiating behaviors.

What really warms my heart is Maddie's personality. Yes, she is a typical 2 year old thus can be fussy, sassy, and a little hardheaded. BUT, she is also a very organized child, very compassionate & loving, very musical, very methodical, and very cooperative. I often think, is there something wrong? Does she have OCD? Is there some condition that she has that makes her so organized? It's like she is a little adult..... In the morning she goes into the bathroom and takes out Gerald's shaving stuff making sure the labels face front, same with my vitamins. She will get herself things and then dispose or place them where they belong. She willingly gets herself dressed (from head to toe) and wants to "do it herself". When asked to do things she willingly comes and does requested task. She loves to help with dishes, laundry, setting the table and sometimes do things without even being told or asked. So much more to list....but the point is she is a child after my own heart! Like a mini me. (Not sure if that is a good thing or not.)

You know I love my Abby and you know she is a handful. I am sure I did "too much" for her thus rendering her more needy than most kids. Throw in the ADHD and it's even more a challenge. With this said perhaps this is why God gave me another child that appears to take pleasure in doing things herself. So when I was worried about Maddie and her hydrocephalus & wondering why God gave me such a load, I am slowly seeing he righted the situation and is well aware of what I "can handle'.
God Bless my Maddie and thank you Lord for all my blessings!!