The Bebej Blog

This kid has grown up so much, and it is hard to believe that he is going to be turning 3 this month! We have a lot of really great memories, but one of the biggest events this month was Devin starting school full time. He started going to the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) classroom Monday-Thursday but will only start out going from 9-11:45. Eventually little guy will be going until 3pm everyday but Friday! It is very hard for this mommy to see her little one go off to school so young but I know that we are doing all that we can to have him flourish. We also enjoyed apple picking, pumpkins, trick or treating and lots of other fun. Here are a few of the highlights.

He held up his hand and sort of blew a kiss!
Devin and I played hide and seek with a blanket and every time the blanket went over his head he would begin to giggle.
Devin loves the feel of soft squishy things, unfortunately one of those items is poop and makes for a lot for mommy to clean up
When we walk around at Kyler's school, he loves to walk up and touch all the trees in the playground
Devin loves apples, but he also really loves apple chips!
We had a large group come to visit him during his Early On time, and was very quiet but eventually "waved" and gave hugs.
When given a bowl of cereal, he will often eat the marshmallows first and then not eat the cereal part, oh to be three again
We have been trying very hard to have him go through a tunnel at group and he finally put his head into the tunnel, its a small victory but it still happened
Devin loves to push his tricycle all over the place and probably would never stop if he could
At BSF he played with play-dough, a first for him.
He has been identifying different letters on his apple tablet.
We roll him up in the yoga mat to make a kid burrito and he loves it so much he kept bringing me my yoga mat
Devin actually helped me make cookies, but he mostly liked eating the batter
Devin loves to do handstands, and when he will sit on your stomach and point up you know he wants you to lift his hips up into the air while he puts his hands on your chest. He could do this for hours and just giggles the whole time.
When we took Devin to pick apples he enjoyed it for a very short time, but he would pick one and then "hug" the apple.
For his birthday he got a Bilibo chair and he loved to sit in it right away!
Shopping with Devin is often a gamble, going to Keegstra's to get birthday supplies was a nightmare and he screamed the whole time!
We had our last meeting with Miss Jaimiee and Devin refused to bounce on the turtle toy, but once she left, he was right on it, bouncing away.
For your last Early On group, we meet Shannon another teacher and she really liked meeting you too.
We had to pick up medicine at the Vet and it was cute to see Devin squat down by the kittens
Devin got his haircut for the second time and he did really well, still screamed, but not a lot of fighting.
Grammy and Papa came to visit and had a great time going out to lunch but Dev always gets upset when his fries are too hot.
We went to get some fresh pumpkin donuts at Post Family Farm but he did not want to go near the goats or feed them
For Devin's birthday party he loved his Bot cake from Team UmiZoomi and even ripped the paper off his gifts.
Devin has been getting onto his tricycle all by himself now too!
Went out to dinner at Red Robin and handled the restaurant really well, even enjoying picking out his school supplies too.
Devin turned 3 and I can still remember the day that he was born! Happy birthday kiddo!
We went to cousin Lawson's dedication and did really well sitting, especially with the weighted turtle that we bought and had on your lap.
Devin's first day of school was 10/17 and even though he did not cry and did not want school pictures, mommy balled her head off and counted down the minutes before I could pick my little guy up. He was so brave!
We had a special nugget and fries lunch for his first day of school
His second day of school the teachers told me that he loves the movement and music class but that he was pretty sleepy at the end of the day, so much to do and focus on!
Devin loves to help take the garbage cans in from the end of the driveway, he even pulls a bit
Kyler and Devin love to read together. They may not always play together but Kyler loves to read to him and he loves to listen.
At school Devin is starting to recognize his teachers and wave at them when he sees them.
Anytime I go shopping, Devin knows that I usually have candy and will reach for my purse and dig through it looking for some. I might have to remind him not to do that when he is older!
We have been working on communication with Devin by using Pects cards which are pictures of things he would like and help him to show us what he wants. We practiced together with Kyler using goldfish crackers and Kyler is a very patient helper
Devin does not often hug or do much for physical affection, but he reached behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck when I was sitting down and leaned into me. That was the most hug I have EVER received and I almost cried.
We tried to take family pictures but Devin does not like to smile when he has to sit still at all so that made them quite the adventure and a lot of funny not so great shots
At school he has been loving the teeter totter and wearing his backpack very well
Devin loves to look for Curious George on every page in his books
Kyler was able to get an almost hug from Devin after picking him up from school with me
On the weekends we have headed out to his school playground and Devin loves to explore all the things that are his size and show his brother the climbing areas.
We did trick or treating at Devin's school and even with the long line and the chaos, he actually did seem to have fun. He saw his teacher Mrs Shannon and did really well taking candy from her when he had to. I was so proud of you kiddo, even if you hated all costumes and just wanted to wear your U of M jersey
Daddy was gone so Kyler and Devin went with me to get pumpkins at Post Family Farm. Dev loved looking at all the pumpkins and seemed to be hugging or sniffing them. Kyler even took Dev for a ride in the wagon when we picked them out!
In the tub Devin figured out how to SPLASH, and had a great time in the tub with his brother. It was wet but so much fun
Devin has been "sniffing" flowers a bit which is exaggerated but he is still doing it!
We trick or treated again at Trunk or Treat at church. This time, Devin wore a lab coat and pretended to be his Daddy. He did really well walking around and loved the hay ride.
We visited Grandpa and Grandma's house to jump in their leaves. We do not have a lot of big trees and it was so much fun to see how excited Devin was to play in them! He loved it and did not want to get out at all.
Carving pumpkins is not Devin's favorite activity and hated the feeling of the insides
At trick or treating we did only a few houses, it was a bit much for Devin and there was a lot of pushing which he did not like. Next year he might just get to go on his own with me.

He had a great time picking apples...

...and loved eating them too.

He loves to take walks and explore

He loves sitting in leaves!

Looking up at the squirrel in the tree

He loves to just walk and look around.

Checking out the slide but not ready to go down

Yeah for leaves!

He loves to watch his brother...

...and then again maybe not =)

Exploring his school playground to be

Actually sat on the turtle after we tried and tried to get him to ride it.

Just going cruising mom

He looks so sweet, hope he never wants to go into politics though

He loves to push his tricycle. This kid is never happier than being outside

My little leaf treasure

Sitting on a bench for maybe a second

Watching Team Umizoomi, his favorite

Learning to do stickers, he had so much fun with it

How grown up with his hair cut!

Goofy boy

Mom, can we play with this?

practicing his posing?

Boxes are the best!

Brother's who nap together?

He loves his books...

...and having his brother read to him.

My little snuggle boy!

Ahhhhh...

Silly sweetie

Sure loves to play in the leaves

Those eyes =)

Grandma getting some giggles during our family pictures

He just did not want to smile for the pictures

Celebrating his 3rd birthday! With Bot from Team Umizoomi

Big piece of cake!

Not sure how much to take

Loves his new Bilibo Chair

First day of school, we all survived!

These two giggle in the tub together

Checking out the pumpkins at Post Family Farm

Which one do I like?

How about this one?

Professor Bebej ready to get candy

Hanging out with his cousins

Ready to go!

September is always a nice time of year. It is still nice enough outside that we can play but not super important that we have the air on and are hot. I also love the beginning of having a routine again. Devin loves to have a routine and seems to do better when there is some structure. We already miss the pool, but this month has brought a lot of fun, a trip to Princeton, more time with Early On and some challenges to face including looking into getting Devin into school to help with his speech. It has been a great month and a hard month but hopefully the Fall will bring more fun times too.

Here are some of the highlights

Devin could do bubbles all the time! I have to take a break due to being lightheaded
We like to put a tent up in our basement and Devin will bring book after book to read in there. I love our little special reading nook.
Speaking of books, this kid is TERRIFIED to go through the doors at the library and has to be carried. Not sure what is the reason, but just terrifies him
Tried a new food, onion rings and says "o" when he sees them
Devin loves to feed Mr Nibble pieces of apples, he giggles every time
We like to take bike rides as a family and Devin never wants it to stop
I have never met a kid that likes to cuddle more than Devin and sometimes he will just "pet" my arms or legs when we are snuggled up watching television
At Early On group time, the teachers from Hudsonville Public came to evaluate Devin. He was pretty sleepy from Labor Day weekend but they are all so very nice.
The teachers thought that Devin would best fit in an ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) classroom where he would have more attention and be in class four full days of school each week. This mommy had a hard time processing all this before Devin is even three!
Devin likes to "dig" in his diaper while napping and sometimes it is not all fun to clean up
We were able to get a silicon chewing toy for Devin and he LOVES to chew on it when he needs some sensory input
Whenever Devin gets food that is too hot, he has a complete melt down! Poor kiddo
We had a great time visiting Princeton for Ryan's reunion and a lot of snuggling early in the morning for this early riser with mommy
Devin continues to love sensory stuff, including being rolled up in a yoga mat like a burrito
When Jaimee and Bridgett from Early On came to do a speech assessment, Devin thought that it would be the perfect day to show them just how stubborn he can be
I hide a grape tomato in with his grapes at lunch, and he tried it but gave me a terrible face!
Devin has started saying what sounds like "go" when going down a slide
When we read a book called "Where is Baby's Mommy?" he will shake his head no on the pages that the mommy is not there
Devin does not like Kyler going to school and screamed terribly on that first drop off day, poor kiddo missed his big brother
We have been working with Pext cards to have him eat goldfish snacks, its basically a flashcard that helps us see what he wants
We had a great time going to the Calvin Women's soccer game but all Devin wanted to do was walk around and watch the squirrels.
Loves to climb up on the storage bins and likes to lift his little legs up too
Trying to get Devin to garden proved difficult in that he would only pick ONE tomato
Devin has started to accessorize, by putting play jewelry over his head and mine! Fine motor skills at work
Loves to sign more when I blow on his belly and making him giggle
Devin likes to drive cars on his tummy and with his brother
We have been practicing his body parts lately and he finds most of them, including those in his diaper
Visiting Wells orchard showed me that Devin loves donuts, but does not want to drink out of an apple.
Once Devin stopped screaming when we dropped of Kyler at school, he has started to lick all the door knobs and drinking fountains...hey its progress right?
We had a chance to visit Devin's future classroom and while he screamed most of it, he voluntarily hugged the teachers when we left and the just melted. He is a bit of a heart breaker.