Her bag of tricks

She's good! Her tactics are tough to go up against. She has a bag of tricks and she isn't afraid to use them. Let's discuss just what Ashley Kate has been up to this week to manipulate and avoid therapy.

1. She is just so darn cute! (well, not exactly a new tactic but one she uses well)

2. She is still little. (who wants to make a baby work hard?)

3. She cries. I mean cries hard. Big, fat, crocodile type tears. It is so, so sad.

4. She pulls her hair and pokes her eyes breaking the hearts of those who are trained and determined to teach her how to move.

5. She's happy. That is until you bring in a therapist. The minute they walk in the door she becomes very, very sad. I tell you it's heartbreaking and tough to be a part of.

6. She is stubborn. Even more so than her big sister and any of you who knew what my beautiful Allie was like as a toddler knows that this one was hard to beat. Ashley takes the cake. There is no making her do anything she doesn't want to do.

7. She gets sleepy. Instantly. I mean how I can't manage to get her to take a nap but the second her therapists sit down she can't keep her eyes open is baffling to me.

8. And her newest trick...she throws up. She makes herself throw up. I am not kidding! Tonight she pulled it with her daddy as he worked with her on the mats. What can you do? You can't work with her while she is covered in vomit. You have to stop and clean up the baby and then while you are doing it she FALLS ASLEEP! I am telling you this child is good!

So...whats a mom to do with a toddler like this? Quiting is not an option. Giving in to her nonsense will serve no purpose. Somehow, someway, we will convince her to cooperate. I just don't think its going to be easy or happen anytime soon. Every day we continue working. Its fun as long as she doesn't catch on, but the minute she does its all down hill from there. Because I love her so much I will keep waking up each day and encouraging her to learn to move. I believe in her. She'll get there. She's come too far not to. Whatever He has planned for her life will be accomplished in His time. Because I know that His timing is perfect I will learn to wait on Him. Its easy to say, but not so easy to do. We continue to grow as the pages of her story are written and some days are easier than others. We still have days when I cry because I struggle with all that she doesn't yet do, but then we have those days when all of that pales in comparison to who she is and what He is doing with her life. That stubborn streak she has is what has kept her going through some really tough times. I have to be honest and admit that I am thankful she is as stubborn as she is.