January 11 - What's best for Riley

So like I said before Riley hasn't been interested in walking since she took those first steps last Thursday, the 5th. I thought this was supposed to be easy. I thought once she figured out she could do it she would be taking off and running into my arms. You'd think I'd learn by now. Luckily yesterday she kept me from jumping off the cliff of madness by deciding she was ready to give it another go. At first I had to bribe her with toys, milk, snacks, my iphone, etc... And then she realized just how cool it was and was walking about 8 feet at a time to get to anything. Slow and steady, she concentrates so hard on not toppling over. I love it.



She is doing so great. I know that once she does really take off walking she will blossom all around. Being able to get into more things and do more for herself will really help her cognition and language.

She started school yesterday for a 2 hour trial period. I tried to get her into The Rise School, the denver area special needs school that has 50% special needs and 50% typical classrooms to encourage natural development. Unfortunately, is is the only one, so everyone wants their child there and they were too full for the spring session. In a panic, I called every child care facility within 20 miles trying to find a good fit. They were either a) too expensive or b) too limiting. Because she is not walking steadily on her own they all wanted to keep her in the infant room until she could keep up with her toddler peers. I found one, Active Learners Academy that was willing to put her in the toddler room for a reasonable price! I think it's going to be great for her, she isn't going to grow at all watching babies flop around on their tummies. She did so good, she had snacks in a big girl chair and painted me a picture that I will keep forever and ever. <3




So we'll see how it goes, but I think it will be good for her to be around a bunch of typically developing kids. They said that her physical therapist could do a session there so they could learn how to best work with her. It is against everything I want. I want so badly to just stay home with her, but as her mom I have to put my desires aside and do what is best for her and I really think this is it.