another, baby step

It seems that every time I go to write a post about how things are going with Jenna, I want to title it "baby steps". We've been home with her 8 months now, and one of the hardest things I've done to myself is having had expectations that having been met, and that's hard.

The progress that we've made certainly has been only by inching forward up to this point. I remain hopeful for a giant leap one of these days. But I'll take anything, because forward progress is indeed, forward progress.

Two things happened in the last few days that are standout-ish...and actually as I look back on them, pretty giant steps compared to what we've seen up until now...

1) We were eating dinner at some dear friends to celebrate their son's birthday and as the table was being prepared, Jason put Jenna in a seat to wait for the rest of us as we were still bringing in things from the kitchen. One of the hosts asked Jenna if they could sit "here," pointing to the chair next to her, and she replied with a head-shake "no" and pointed to that same chair and said "mama"!!!!!

I didn't even believe it when they came in the kitchen and told me, but this is really a huge step for us!! And when I told our therapist about it a couple days later she confirmed that yes, while Jenna doesn't seem to "like" me most of the time, she at least does know that I'm safe!! WOOT!

For her to show a preference for me over anyone else is awesome and new, and a really big step for her and I! Praise God!

2) Just this morning, I went in to get Jenna up for the morning and grabbed her out of the crib and hugged her a little as I said "Good morning!"

She said "hi" back, and after our hug, gave me a kiss on my cheek! Again, first time she's ever initiated affection on her own. And at first, I didn't think much of it, because I did initiate the hug, but kisses until now have only come when we've asked for them...so it really is huge!!

Hoping that the giant steps continue, and if I could be so bold to pray specifically, giant steps in the communication area would be most desirable! But hey, I'll happily take what we can get!