All about MAKILY.

I realized after I re read my last entry that for the most part that was just the medical stuff about ES. I know that information is invaluable but as a newer parent I know they will want to know what the child will be like. I remember CRAVING and desperately wanting to see an older child so I had something to expect or go on. Hopefully this will help another parent.

ALL ABOUT MAKILY.

Makily LOVES Spongebob. She will clap and kick and squeal when it comes on. She does the same throughout the entire movie Finding Nemo. She also enjoys Lady and the Tramp, Up and anything with Tom and Jerry. She tends to laugh hardest when Tom gets injured. We have also noticed if we watch "extreme chases" or something of the like, she likes it when the cars crash she will clap or giggle.

Makily also gets a kick out of hair.....strange hair that is. The first time I realized this she was not quite two. I was watching the home shopping network for a hair straightener. The woman had HALF her hair frizzy, curly and half straight. Each time they showed this woman Makily would crack up. Later on I met a lady with dread locks and Makily just giggled the entire time. I told her that Makily must just realllly like her. Forget it if we see a clown with a wig........she's hysterical then.

Today Makily is almost eight (b day is less than two weeks away). Makily learned to sit up when she was about (tripod sitting) 18 months old......it took her until she was two'ish to be able to sit independently indefinitely though. She can stand up with help for her balance. She can also take steps with help for balance and a little help to shift her weight. She was recently measured for a TAOS walker and we are hopeful this will be the tool to get her walking!

Makily loves to be told she is wonderful and beautiful. She will just BEAM and smile at you and will do this as long as you continue telling her how awesome she is. I have an entire speech I say to her that I will detail at the end of this. She is definitely a girly girl. She enjoys toys that have lights and music. She will beat the hell out of a toy with music to get it to play. To show affection or to get your attention Makily will grab or patt you. She also loves to be cuddled.

If you get in her way while she is watching TV she will lean over to see around you. If she still can't see though she will cry and whine UNTIL you move. Same with the TV if it's turned off she will cry until you turn it on and PUT ON HER CARTOONS. Needless to say it's rare we watch ANYTHING but cartoons when the Princess is awake.

Makily does have some stims/ticks whatever you want to call them. It's funny when she was little all her odd movements made me cringe in public. I knew people would stare and know she was different. Now those movements are just part of her and I find them endearing if you can believe that. Makily likes to shake her head back and forth no. She also LOVES her hands and has literally since birth. She holds them together a lot like you would if you were praying. This is typical in ES and I have to say when I went to the first conference I was in awe of all the other sweet kids holding their hands. She also likes to what we call "clap feet". And it's exactly what it sounds like...she claps her feet together typically if she is happy and excited or REALLY pissed off. Allen and I used to put her between us and when she would clap feet, then Allen would, then I would. It was a game that connected us since she is non verbal and at the time one of the only ways we could see that she understood us. She also likes to clap her hands in excitement.

As far as what Makily understands we aren't sure. Sometimes she surprises me and shows me what she understands and it's more than what I imagined. Honestly I won't even let myself guess what all she understands. I just know it's a lot more than most give her credit for.

My "your awesome Makily" speech:

Makily you are just gorgeous.
You have the most beautiful porcelain doll skin
Your eyes are so deep, dark and topaz blue. I've never seen anyone else with eyes quite like yours.
You have the sweetest little button nose,
rosebud lips that are just perfection.
Your hair is like pure SPUN GOLD and many women would pay lots of money to have hair as golden and beautiful as yours.
You are perfection and you always will be.

By the time I finish this speech she is grinning and patt patting me like a maniac. This kid knows what is going on around her and she understands.

You have no idea what I would do to be able to get into her brain, walk around, see what she understands, what she knows and how to help her learn more. I'd give my right arm.

I love you forever and a day Makily.

Mommy.