Ava is Moving Forward!!!

Ava is just over 11 months and is finally moving forward.  She has been spinning in circles and moving backwards for quite some time now but not forwards.  We cannot really call it crawling but she is definitely moving forward! 

Kiara started crawling a little before 11 months at the same time she began walking around tables.  Since she started both at the same time, she never spent too much time crawling because walking was much more exciting.  Mckenna never crawled.  She scooted on her butt and then began walking after her 1st birthday. 

As you can see, Ava is not much different from her sisters but this journey has been different.  Her older sisters did not have eye issues and did not spend once a week at a physical therapists office.  She began physical therapy because she had muscle problems in one side of her neck.  We took an aggressive approach because we did not know what difficulty she would have with development because of her sight issues.  As we began physical therapy, she tested in the 5th percentile in her development and has retested at the same percent a few more times since.  When we went to Ava's 9 month check up (at 10 months old), we had our first positive and FUN doctors appointment in a very long time.  Our pediatrician was so pleased and excited about where Ava was at.  She was ok that Ava was not crawling, and couldn't believe the progress she had made in every other area.  I explained to her that Ava is just a content baby and if she can't reach something, she just moves on.  She listened and confirmed what Tom and I had felt, that Ava was doing ok.  My favorite part of the appointment was when her Doctor said "I think Ava is just fine, she is looking at herself in the mirror right now and waving!"  

Ava's physical therapist did not feel the same way.  She felt that Ava was still pretty far behind and wanted us to continue with PT.  So we have.  In our hearts we knew that Ava would catch up, like her sisters.  But in the back of our heads we would still wonder if something more was going on with her development.  What if her eyes are causing some perception issues or what if there are neurological issues.  That being said - we have had a VERY exciting weekend around the Headlee household.  Ava is moving forward.  It started yesterday and now today she is moving pretty fast! 

YEAH AVA!!! We are so excited for her and excited for this next phase  (swiping her mouth of all the little toys she is putting in it :))