Wonderful, OP! So happy for you.

-Aunt of an (awesome) kid w/ ASD

OP again. Thanks so much for the wonderful response. I knew you folks here would "get it" in a way that some of my friends do not. I'll admit that it cut like a knife when I'd hear another child say "I love you, mama" to their moms at daycare every time I picked up my son. I feel really guilty about it actually, but I just wanted so badly to hear it from my own son. The "I love you" is still a work in process, but the "mommy" came unprompted and he wasn't repeating after me. I was in shock at first, and then felt emotional as I hugged him. On the bad days, I wonder sometimes if he even knows who I am...but on days like this, I can rejoice in the fact that he connected with me in this beautiful way. Yes, definitely the best Christmas present I could possibly imagine.

To the PP who asked if he is still in diapers, yes, he is. We're planning on tackling it after the holidays (as we're going out of town), and hopefully there will be some progress....but like with all of you who are dealing with special needs kids, I am just taking things 1 day at a time, and enjoying the little (but huge) victories along the way.

You are a wonderful MOM.

Congrats!! Such an awesome feeling! My son called me mama for the first time 3 months ago. He is almost 4! It is an amazing feeling!

So happy for you! Just curious. Is your son still in diapers? Just want to let you know that toilet-training issues and ASD go hand-in-hand. We didn't know that "back then". Don't worry if he is.

That's great!!

Wonderful!!!

Awwwright! What great news. Glad for you and your son. Sending high fives and confetti across the interwebz.

Yay!!!!!!!!

Thank you for reminding me that we were there once and it really, really is a journey, step by step. DS is 15 now. And I still remember the first "mom" too!

That's AWESOME!!

Huge hugs op!

That's awesome, OP!

*tears and hugs* for you op!

Thanks for sharing... We need more good news these dys!

Yay, progress! You go, kiddo!