"A perfectly normal boy"

I guess since Leo was born with a relatively severe "defect" (I think he's perfect, but he DOES need a plastic surgeon!), I've kind of worried that maybe there was something ELSE wrong with him. I mean if this could happen, why not something else? Stupid, I know. Plus there's absolutely no reason to believe anything else is wrong. And I really don't.

But it SURE is nice when I hear Leo's speech therapist rave about how he's a "perfectly normal boy." He's doing everything else normally. Hitting all his milestones. Imitating her with movement and speech. Today she called him her "poster child." He's amazing! He does everything she wants him to. He improves every week! She told me that she will write a report for his surgeon about his speech and eating. She said sometimes she gets to tell the surgeon that cleft palate babies are eating well. But, she said, Leo is a STAR. :)

So when I'm standing in the back of church holding twenty pounds of squirming chunk, I'm so grateful he's a "normal boy." When he crawls around the house putting every single little thing he finds on the floor into his mouth, even if I've just swept and vacuumed twice, I'm thankful he's a normal boy. When he screams whenever I walk out of the room he's in, say, to cook supper or go to the bathroom, that is normal for a 9 month old. And I thank God.

His surgery seems to be getting closer, although it's probably still 5-6 months away. We can get through it. He will be fine. He'll be better than fine!

And, have you ever seen a cuter baby??

I love my little Star!