Our House is a MESS!!!

But who cares when, at the end of the day, we have this -- the sign of a fun, fully played out, well earned rest:Sleeping -- Don't ask how long it took to get to this point!

All that matters is he is sleeping!

What a week!!! LM is amazing -- he is flexible as all get out, and boy did he meet a lot of people who have loved him a long time!!! In his first 10 days home, we had a lot of action at our house and my mom's house (thanks, mom!!) as so many people who have waited along with us came to meet LM!!! Yes, quarantine is now in full effect, but we understand and wanted everyone who could to meet him, and he did AMAZING with it all!!! We had family in for my graduation, and my mom threw a wonderful shower --- so wonderful to see so many great friends and family!!
What have we learned about LM since the last post?
1) he is SMART. Smarter than smart. Amongst his accomplishments include: shape sorter, an action song "Shake It Up" (which he brings his tamborine over to me to start then just smile and starts shaking in up!), waving hello and goodbye (in English! including when I say, "OK, time to go" and then he starts waving!!), signing more, me please, and all done!... there is more but how much can I gush??
2) he LOVES LIFE... as I type, he is shouting loudly at Jeff as they share lunch together in the other room --- his giggles make us just laugh so hard! he really is a carpe diem kind of kid!
3) he LOVES spicy foods. No kidding. After several weeks of "what will he eat" and Jeff making "super porridge" (from Super Baby Foods book, which is GREAT for anyone out there wanting to go "all natural" with foods like we are!), I had poached tilapia to try with LM... Well, every time I reach into the fridge and am holding him, he always grabs a condiment --- Yesterday he grabbed the spicy mustard and I thought "well, why not?" and squeezed some onto his finger -- he popped his finger in his mouth and then could not get enough... Bland poached tilapia suddenly became spicy mustard tilapia and WOW is it amazing how spiking the flavors really can both increase interest, but also speed of chewing and swallow time for more solid foods! (we have been slowly working him up from mushy to chewable b/c he didn't know how to chew 3 weeks ago!)... gotta love it when OT meets Mommy are a HIT at the dinner table!!
4) He is just adorable. But, we are biased.
Enough words -- here are pictures from our week together...

At my shower -- Me, my mom, and our niece Katie

THANK YOU MOM will never be enough -- for all my mom's support across this journey called my life (and now our son's!) and, of course, for an incredible bash!!! My mom is truly the most incredible woman I know -- she is kind, giving, caring, loyal, funny, beautiful and truly has been a fabulous mom... As I start down this road to be a mom to LM, I hope that in the end, he can look back and I will have done at least half as good a job as she has done... The shower she threw was beautiful -- with not a detail lost -- balloons with pictures from the 2 trips taped to them, cupcakes for all the kids with a lion theme, and a gorgeous cake... Certainly the guests loved the little absolute-ly clever "party" gifts, as well as the tasty grub, free flowing wine, and great company... My mom has been thru it all with us, and I think ever rough patch took a bit out of her, too, but she never let us see it --- to say that I look forward to the years ahead of sharing the joy of LM with her is an understatement...
The shower was wonderful --- I so appreciate the support, kindness, love, and generousity of the people we are lucky to know as our family and friends.... And, it was so cool to see all my friends little girls running around playing together!!!

Meeting Grandparents Nesbitt and Aunt Linda down by the river!!

Captain Jeff and First Mate LM:
First Boat Ride

We have made a clear decision to adventure and enjoy life every single day with LM -- we have been on a hike, many walks, and of course, we needed to get him out on the river!!
YAHOO! ON the river! Of course, I will take this moment to bore avid readers with a spot on Captain Jeff -- I'll make it short -- He is one stellar dad. Truly - has this guy been a dad before and somehow I didn't know it??? It gives me such joy to watch he and little man play and giggle together!!

Granddad Pete and LM Play with Ashton!
My dad is so great! He flew in to play with LM and Ashton for the weekend, too! Oh, and see us, he tried to say, but we know the real truth! It was really fun to see him goof off with LM and watch LM play with him... "Cya on the slopes soon", Granddad Pete, I think I heard him say!!!
Woodstream's Second Generation

My brother and I grew up in a typical "neighborhood", Woodstream... Joe and Bill were Brian's best friends and so, by default, got me tagging along as the annoying little sister, just close enough in age to be a nuisance... We all went to high school together, so I even got to ride in Brian's cool mustang to school!! Brian, to this day, is an amazing brother and an overall great guy... He is a great friend, a fun person, and will be a phenomenal uncle..... He came in to meet his new nephew, and you should see the influence he had on LM... LM could almost do an underarm fart by the time Uncle Brian was done. Nah, just teasing, but I swear I heard something about how to light a mean bottle rocket come out of his mouth.. but that is for another post on another day.... Bill & Liz and Joe & Maria and their crews came over! It was a wonderful, wonderful day!! LM and Andrew (adopted from Romania!) really hit it off! Andrew was really good with LM.. showing him how to taunt Ashton with a bunch of tennis balls, sharing pizza, and playing cars on the deck together... It was cute!

LM and Uncle Brian -- LM won the "I can chew better than You" contest, but Uncle Brian did put in an impressive chewing fight!

LM and his Cousin Jack -- Exactly 1 year older, Jack is sure to show LM the ropes!

Just a little stroll with Gamma & Granddad Carl!

And Ashton..

Speaking of Ashton...

Silly Ashton decided he was going to flip open a pizza box and steal himself a slice... Unfortunately for him, a few of us were watching.... How bad is it that his Mama decided to first save the memory on digital before removing the pizzal from his clever mouth? He and LM together are going to keep us on our toes!! LOL

LM Teases Aunt Joan with is winning smile and "I found you" ways!

Lucky for us, Aunt Joan has made the wise decision to go back for her doctorate at Misericordia!! YAHOO! This means we get to see her every few months! LM loved Aunt Joan instantly... anyone who knows Aunt Joan wouldn't even doubt that, or begin to question why!

Honorary Bubbe Gail (AKA: IA Champion Dr. Gail Farber) with LM and I...

it was a moment. And, for those of you wondering WHEN I would well up, this was it... Gail and I have been "together" for 10 years this year, doing international adoption -- we have shared some amazing ups, some difficult downs together personally and professionally -- and we may even have survived moving to electronic medical records together, which is a huge feat if you ask me given the current system for moving into such "fun".... For years, I have watched Gail be amazing with other families. No other word for it -- her professional knowledge paired with her personal experiences, spirit, and shared love for these amazing and resilient children astounds me over and over... she helped us make the hardest and yet best decision of our lives...and that decision led us to LM.... and, she surprised me at our shower.... and it was just so wonderful to introduce her to LM... and him to her...

Bubbe Susie & Aunt Michelle! Our dear cohorts in IA Crime!! :)

On Wednesday, we went into the city to show off LM... Oh, I mean, to have an IA appointment with our esteems IA program at CHOP... and perhaps take a cruise around the mini-city to meet a few people! ha ha ha.... It was so great spending time with Bubbie Susie (ie: Dr. Susan Friedman, IA doc extraordinare!) and Aunt Michelle (ie: Michelle, the OT efficianado wielding her sensory "try this to get him to sleep" ideas!)... The appointment ran a little long... I wonder why? thankfully we were the last visit of the day (apparently we had a little pull in the schedule!) ha ha ha....

Yes, we've had more parties than is probably "allowed" during quarantine -- small and controlled, mind you, with solid daily routine and activity packed around it... Our hearts are full and our hands are busy... And I will try to get better at regular posts vs. long, meaty picture filled ones!! And, yes, our house is a total mess right now... But who cares when we all know it's all abou this:

"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" Home 2 weeks picture
can you see the changes already??

Much love and many thanks to all for your continued support and sharing in our sheer delight of our little man!!