Can You Feel That?

Those are the winds of change!

Emily has really been shaking things up a bit. Back on June 23rd we received strawberries from a neighbor and Emily asked Daddy to have a bite. "I love them!" she said. He and I looked at each other in shock but said, "SURE!!" I didn't take a picture (a video, yes) but she took the end right off and chewed it up. She also had chills run through her body as the slightly sweet and sour taste hit her and then decided she didn't want any more - but it was something! We celebrated!

Then, on Monday we went out to lunch and Daddy asked Emily what she wanted. We expected the normal, "nothing," but instead she said, "hamburger!" WHAT?! We knew there was no guarantee that she would eat it but we let her order it anyway. When it arrived we held our breath as she raised it to her mouth...

and let it touch her lips (the way I had just checked the temp of it). She didn't take a bite then or at all during the meal but that hamburger was closer to her stomach than any hamburger that has come before it! We celebrated!

There have been several other little things she has eaten, or at least tasted lately. She is finally willing to try more and more and allowing some of her old favorites back into her diet.

Also, she has talked about riding on a pony off and on ever since her birthday. She has looked at pictures of other people riding on horses, has asked to see my pictures of the horse I used to ride a lot, and has been talking aloud about her fears. She thought that the pony would bite her (there was a sign stating that at the stables - oops, shouldn't have read that one to her) and so she has had to take some time to believe that they wouldn't if she didn't stick her hands in their mouths or bother them.

On Monday, when she woke up she announced excitedly that she wanted to ride the pony... she was ready! I called Daddy at work to see if a lunch break at the stables would be possible and then checked on the pony schedule. Surprise! They are there every day BUT Monday. (moan) We weren't sure if a delay in riding would set her back or not. She didn't talk about them on Tuesday or Wednesday but did again on Thursday. Too bad Daddy had a meeting at work. A date was set for Friday. It could have gone awry at any time but she seemed ready. She was excited and said that she wasn't going to cry.

We made it to the park.
She waved to the ponies and all of the people there.
She was smiling.
(We were all wide eyed in anticipation.)
She continued to smile AND pose.
And SHE GOT ON!!!!!!

It didn't even bother her that Jack (the pony) had hair in his eyes this time...
and she willingly let go to give me a little "yee-haw!"
Three laps around the track with Daddy as her guide...

and then it was back to the starting line.
She did it! We celebrated!