2nd grade - the year Gabe made friends

Gabe had an overall very positive 2nd grade year. His reading fluency has greatly improved. He wants to read books to us instead of us read to him. We are working on reading comprehension at the end of the book, not after a single page. He is able to identify 3 and 4 digit numbers. He is learning basic time and beginning to learn about money. He can identify all the coins and tell us how many cents each is worth, but adding different cent values is very hard for him. Gabe's handwriting has greatly improved...it is no longer very large, but when given boxes, he can write a letter within the box. He is also learning to type and use a calculator. He is able to use the restroom independently now at school and is beginning to carry his lunch tray through the cafeteria to the table. He gets his supplies ready and wears his own backpack, even though it's as big as him. We are continuing to work on transitions. When moving from room to room or subject to subject, Gabe often gets distracted or refuses because there is a demand. Also, when work is hard for him, he will sometimes shut down when things get difficult. I sometimes have to remind myself that his stubbornness is the exact trait that got him through very fragile times in the past and this is just him presenting his strong will in a different way - even when it challenges our patience and his advancement. The most positive thing that has happened this year is that Gabe has made friends. Gabe always did side by side play. As a toddler, when kids got rougher and more physical, Gabe was still wobbly on his feet, delayed with his language, and sensitive to loud noises - peers became a little scary to him. He has always interacted well to Alyssa (she demanded it) and says 10 word sentences to us, but with anyone else, he generally regresses. This year, there were some very patient and special kids in Gabe's class who included him, praised him, met him on his level, and made him feel safe. He's still kind of quiet around them, but he smiles, laughs, cheers them on, and is so happy around them. It makes me so hopeful of his future relationships and general happiness. When I was pregnant with Gabe, I often worried if he would have friends...would he be invited to birthday parties? Would he have someone to go to the movies with? Would he have plans on the weekend? After this year, I know he definitely will. Never give up on Gabe. (I intentionally cropped out his friends' faces from this public blog, but the real picture is 10x more adorable.) And as for Alyssa....She such a smart, compassionate, and happy kid. She rocked kindergarten and I'm seeing her understanding and patience of all kids with different abilities shine through because of her brother's influence. 1st and 3rd grades here they come! Can't wait to enjoy this summer.