Joshua is officially smart (not that he wasn’t before, but now he’s really smart).  He’s able to predict what’s going to happen before it actually occurs.  This morning, we went for Joshua’s regular synagis appointment (which we have every 4 weeks for the winter).  He knew that he was going to get a shot & he freaked out when I put him on the scale to get weighed (he’s now 24lb 13oz).  The corpsman had to leave the room so I could hug him for awhile before getting him undressed to be weighed.  Then we had to back out to the waiting room & Josh calmed down, only to start crying again when the doctor came to get us.  When it was time to lay him on the examination table for the shots, he screamed just as hard as he usually does after he gets poked.  He really knew that something bad was going to happen to him.  He didn’t even bother flirting with the nurse & doctor like he usually does–he was just scared the entire time, & nothing could reassure him he was going to be OK.  Only after we hugged, he got dressed, & we left the clinic did he finally relax.

This afternoon, he still managed to have fun with his therapist.  He enjoys her playing sessions & actually followed directions & attended to the activities really well today.  He started signing “more” & “food” spontaneously in the last week, which was really surprising since Erick & I pretty much gave up signing to Josh months ago because he’d just look as us like we’re crazy.  He must have actually been paying attention because he started doing them on his own.  His therapist was impressed, even though we’ve not attempted sign language in his sessions.

Joshua’s new fun thing to do is spin in circles.  He’ll twirl around until he gets dizzy enough that he falls over, then he will stand back up & spin around again until he falls.  He especially likes doing this when we’re listening to music.  It’s his new addition to his regular dance routine of swinging his arms back & forth, bouncing up & down, & grinning the entire time.  Josh is learning body parts, although the only part he’ll point to on himself is his belly button.  He loves showing it off to anyone who asks (& even those who don’t).  He’ll point to others’ noses & occasionally ears & eyes.  The only time he’ll point to his own nose is when he puts his finger inside his nose.  I hope this habit doesn’t last long!