Taking Our Show on the Road

Mackensie has been performing in quite a few shows, lately. We go to a wonderful church, with a wonderful youth program. They give the kids lots of opportunities to get involved and show their skills. This hasn't always worked for us in the past - I'm sure everyone remembers last year's Christmas show that involved Mackensie running from stage to audience a record number of times and ultimately taking and throwing one of the necklaces meant for baby Jesus. I was going to keep her out of the play this year just to be on the safe side -- Mac is a great performer, but a bit unpredictable in the behavior department. However, they asked her to be in it, so it's on them. In the meantime (I suppose gearing up to the holiday performance), Mac has sung in two different church performances over the last three weeks. The picture is from the first performance, in full choir get up. The video clips are from this past Sunday. It was a surprise to me and Mac -- we had no idea she was going to sing. But she picked up the words quickly, and gave it her all. One of the other parishioners even said she was the "most enthusiastic." Check out clip number 3, "The Finale" for her most enthusiastic performance.
The Opener

The Middle

The Finale

When Princesses Meet

Very rarely is Mac rendered speechless...

In Case Ruling the World Doesn't Work Out

Mac can always be a director.

Baby Steps

I'm so proud of Oliver! Today he walked from his bedroom, through the living room, and to the door that leads into the hallway to the playroom. Last night, he walked from the living room to his bedroom. I have recently started to instill in him the idea that the walker isn't just for exercise or small steps, but rather a way to get from room to room. It takes him a while: partly because it is hard work, and partly because he gets distracted and stops everywhere to touch things. It is cool to watch him, because he seems to happy to be standing and is so curious about the various things he sees on his walk (the piano, his books, stickers, etc.). I think that he is starting to enjoy standing and walking.

After he walked through the living room, I carried him through the hallway to the playroom. I gave him the choice of walking on his parallel bars or playing with his trains. He chose trains, so I set him up halfway across the room from his train table and let him walk to it. Not only did he walk across carpet, but he finished it up with the elusive swing through gate that the therapist at CHOP wants him to use! It was so great to see -- we had high fives all around.

When I told him it was bedtime, there was much crying, but he actually asked for his walker through his tears. Granted he didn't use it when I put him down with it, but I think that was more because he didn't want to leave the playroom and was preoccupied making sure that Mac, too, had to come in for bed than because he couldn't do it or didn't want to walk.

I can't wait to see what he will do next!