Learning about my son....

Calvin gets very frustrated when he tries new things and can't do them. There is usually tears, anger and frustration. He is learning puzzles, the type you put the piece into the matching piece. He has mastered the zoo animals (putting the lion into the lion). Today we did farm animals and he couldn't do it. Many tears.
I remember when he first came home and didn't know how to push his legs to climb the ladder on the swing set. Help mommy, help. I am there to assist, encourage, but he needs to accomplish it himself and feel good about himself. He gets the cutest little grin when he does accomplish things on his own. We say good job and high five.
The other thing, he loves being surprised. Peek a boo, chasing, jumping out from behind somewhere, makes him so excited. We started occupational therapy  (1 session so far). Boy does he get overstimulated when we get there. So much to do. He is not a big fan of the ball pit. He has to use his stomache muscles to get up and out of there. I would say his favorite thing is the tricycle, which he hasn't quite mastered yet. He got to try scissors (didn't last very long because he got frustrated that he couldn't do it). He is now able to open the scissors and make a cutting mark, after practicing at home. He is so proud of himself and wants to show daddy when he gets home. The therapist did show me how to do joint compressions for him, which we have been doing every 2 hours since Thursday. Can't say I see a difference yet. We were going to get an evaluation with an attachment therapist, but I decided to wait until he was home for 6 months. We feel he is doing very well. My social worker did recommend the Connected Child book, so I just ordered that on Amazon. Can't wait to read it.
 Calvin has come so far, and yet I also realize how behind he is too. We recently had a friend over (I babysat him for a couple of hours) who is the same age as Calvin. He was talking my leg off. At one point he said, 'I don't understand Calvin when he talks". It was very funny. Calvin only speaks 2 words together most of the time and he is more at a 2 yr old developmentally. He cuddles toys, and his little friend is fighting with swords and slaying dragons. Calvin wants to watch Elmo and his friend doesn't. They do paint a lot alike though!  So this is where we are at 4.5 months home.