December 7th, 2011

This might seem like a very ordinary picture.  A toddler and a juice box.  However in our house, this is the first time Colby has ever held a juice box let alone try to drink from one.  You might remember that since his palate was open when he was born, he wasn't able to suck or have suction.  Once his palate was repaired (June) theoretically he should have been able to have suction.  From everything we have read and talked to others about, it can take months to years for kids to learn that they can suck.  Well for us that day was December 7th, 2011!
I have been working with Colby using big Starbucks straws every now and then to see if he was interested or even wanted to try to drink from a straw.  Most of the time this just resulted in him taking the straw, chewing on it or gagging himself.  I'm not sure what gave me the idea to try with a juice box, but I just had this thought that if I could get the liquid going (by squeezing) then maybe he would pick up on it and take over.  This thought (my stroke of genius I'm calling it now....hahaha) worked!  I tried not to squeeze too hard and overflow his mouth and next thing I knew he was sucking it up through the straw by himself.  And he really thought he was hot stuff when I started clapping for him!
This was one very, very, very proud mama!  Just to know that he can do the most simple and normal things that most people take for granted is priceless to me.

All done and playing with the straw!

On Thanksgiving day we took a little trip to see Santa.....Bass Pro shop style.  What a fun trip!  I was not the least bit surprised that Colby wanted nothing to do with Santa.  Luke tried to pass him off and Colby gave us that "Not only no, but HELL NO" look so we took a family picture instead.  As you can see, he still wasn't digging it.  Oh well, I'm sure we will try again next year.  We paused at the "North Pole" and also at the fish tank.  Colby loved watching the fish!