Meanwhile, fair warning - this entire blog is both to share the gift of our son and life with him, as well as to document for him our lives together... so he can look back at his book and know his life with us and how much we love him. So, without further ado, I warn you clearly: this is a long post and update, as our boy deserves a solid "you got home 1 year ago today, "All about you" post...
We had our first ever family camping tripped planned for this particular weekend. As life happens, a very unexpected opportunity happened upon us, which shifted our lives and potential future... the opportunity did not finalize as we'd all hoped, but i KNOW that it happened to us for a reason, and has somehow turned us in the direction we are supposed to be going... and so, I am starting this post with a photo from part of that and a place where we went, so someday I can link the stories back for our children/family.
My Cute Men! I just love capturing them being silly together!Now, to the point of this very very special week for our wonder boy --
Dear LM -
This week marks 1 full year on the US soil with us -- At this point, we really can't remember life without you --- thank you for your joy and light in our lives.. and for your patience with us as we learn how to become parents and as for your patience with yourself as you learned how to be a part of a family...
You LOVE to MOVE... You can't get enough of:
- Hockey... You are getting good at Papa's stick, and passed the puck back and forth with me with good aim several times... Amazing.
- Soccer. Well, talking about it and you want to stop every time we drive past soccer fields.. Not that you've ever played and I still cant' figure out when we told you that is what they were playin gon those fields but you surely didn't forget it.
- Your bikes...and scooter -- all you want to do every afternoon is "Mama, Matt" (meaning, Mama, let's go play with Matt and bikes/scooters)
- "Hiking"!! We even went the other morning with our mom's club buddies on a hike.. While you were shy to run ahead with the other boys, you would go for bits at a time with them, then run back and hang with me, holding my hand or one of the strollers of the other moms and my hand... But then, all the boys tore off and you all found some mulberry bushes -- you gobbled them up saying "More molerry please"...
- Jumping off anything that is 1/4 inch or more off the ground. you need to scale up to it, then leap off of it. Thankfully you still think to ask Mama or Papa for help on the higher levels!
Game on! Hockey Match with Papa!You should see his slapshot!!
You are now: talk talk talking as much as you can -- Things you said this week that made us crack up include:
- Mama... Me play Matt outside NOW.
- Sorry Mama.. Sorry Papa... Sorry Ashton.. Sorry Me... Sorry Gamma... the list went on... (after you whacked me, you then apologized to just about everyone you knew)
- Slide... dog go down slide.. Mama, I do it. (yes, the dog walked down the slide -- not Ashton, another one on the playground... and yes, you took about 10 years off my life when suddenly YOU were walking down the steepest slide there to follow the dog)
- Mama - KK barn BERT... .pause... KK RIDE Bert Mama.... pause... I do it. (aha, you wanted to ride Bert. And guess what? You did!! Megan let you go around almost 2 full times up on Bert -- you had KK's helmet on, and your balance was amazing. Gamma was your side walker, and we were so proud of you... At the end, your "Hi Mama" was so sweet and full of pride...
- While you are full of independence and random tantrums, you give me great smiles and pride with some of the things you say...and on these occasions, I really think you must know that my heart and mind need validation that for every mistake I've made as a mom, I've made many many more far better learning and life lessons for you for the positive... for example, the after a particularly rough (ie: you woke up on the wrong side of the crib and I was beginning to feel the same by association) morning, we were driving home from an outing, You asked me for "Snack Please Mama".. You then had a few, and then you handed me a box of raisins and said, "No more aisin Mama no thank you". ah.
THEN...
NOW....
What? Cut them? That almost seems criminal at this point...
What? Cut them? That almost seems criminal at this point... You still love to read... Just about anything...
- In fact this week you sat and we "read" a people magazine together -- you were fascinated with the dresses and seemed to really find the stories interesting... Will William marry Kate Middleton you wondered? Hm. only time will tell.
- You also brought the 2009 Almanac to me to read on one morning -- so, we sat and looked and you were fascinated and pointing out all the farming pictures....
- You love your "Go Go Go" book that Bubbe Gail gave you (and we repulled it out for you to read - you can even flip the "open up" pop ups yourself now!)
- Other books you like to read now: I love you stinky face, Elmo Counts, Elmo Color Carnival, Thomas A Crack in the Track (we must admit, we don't have this one in plain view anymore as it's been read a thousand times already!),
Cheers to you, LM -- We LOVE LOVE LOVE that you heart, soul, and smile light up our days!
You just love life in general...
- You are an enthusiastic little boy who takes in everything. And I mean, everything.
- You are persistant and use typical toddler attitude to try to get your way when you've decided we are not going to let you without the extra "force" of proving your point. But, we know that is just part of learning to express yourself and be independent, and thankfully, you've learned to say sorry when you go too far -- without us prompting you... we wait anxiously for the day you think first before winding up to whack us or screech at us, rahter than have to say sorry! :) But your sorries and gentle touches sure are sweet.
- You love to play with other kids now -- still learning how to, but you are so into anyone who will "Chase you" (although this week you said the right pronoun for the first time... "Chase Me!")
- You love your trains. Can't get enough of them.
- You love fixing things...if it's broken, you get a hammer. If you can't find a hammer, you make something into a pretend hammer... and, if it's not broken but can be hammered, you hammer.. if when reading a book and you see a shape that looks like a hammer, it's "Mama, HAMMER"...
- You love playing with your little animals
- You cannot get enough of being outside and tearing around -- you are hopping on two feet and trying to hop on one... You are trying to gallop (and are getting good at it) and skip (so cute to watch you try to lift a knee and hop!), and you love anything that is a balance beam!!
- You get it when we are teasing you now, and you say "No Mama, not right" and tell us what is right... Often times you follow it with a "Silly Mama and Silly me"...
An Ice Cream Cake, of Course!I couldn't pick my favorite this week... Each photos is so much our LM -- I need to audiotape his "squeals" as they are just that, when we do something... he is really into the whole 5 O'Clock photos on most weeks, and this week thought the "set extras" were so funny!..
so, I give you a series... 51 full weeks home and...
"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" YAHOO Attitude!As an aside to boast and thank my awesome handsome husband and knight in shining armor -- not only have I found a love I never knew could be so deep for our son, but in this past year, a love and respect for you and your amazing self greater than I thought possible. It has not always been easy our new roles and "shared parenting' thing, but your calm and steady approach to each of our lessons, and your joy in our LM make me smile deep in my soul... you are an amazing papa!
To all our LM adoring fans -- this year has continued to amaze me at the good fortune, family, and friends that adoption brings together and keeps together -- THANKS For following along for this year! I am working on his official "52 Weeks of 5 O'Clock Somewhere" Movie for us all to enjoy him growing up so much in the last year! stay tuned for next post!
9 comments:
How you ALL have grown in this past year! I mean, LM has grown wonderfully in size, personality, motor skills, etc., but you & Jeff have grown so naturally into such terrific parents. What a great family you've been for a year now, & I know you'll have so many, many more happy years together. God bless you! Love, AN
Where has the year gone? I can't believe it's already been a year, it seems like yesterday that you came home!! LM has grown so much, in so many ways, and that has everything to do with you guys being awesome parents and becoming such a supportive, loving family for him (and him for you).
What is this hockey of which you speak? Some sort of East Coastian sport that kids start young? Out here, it's all about soccer. In fact, I think California might shut down for the World Cup. Ha! That picture with LM and the hockey stick is amazing. And more amazing still is that cool scooter. I can't believe he went from being a wobbly walker to all that in just one year! Pays to have an OT as a mommy. heh.
Congratulations to you guys and I am waiting with baited breath for the 5 o'clock somewhere movie. :)
Congratulations on being home one year and your one year as a family!
LM has just blossomed and it's been wonderful catching up with him when it's 5:00 somewhere.
Now we're eagerly awaiting future chapters as your life as a family. Continued blessings to you ALL!
xoxo,
Laura, Jon and Kristina
Yes, it has been an amazing and all too fast year! In LM's words, it's been a very "happy, happy" year with lots of reasons to have "iceam cake". You ARE terrific parents and he is turning out to be such a great kid, in no small part because of you. Not a darn thing wrong with a kid knowing his own mind and he sure does! He is sweet, loving (if not stubborn sometimes), athletic, adventurous, and just a downright pleasure to be with. Thanks for the last year and for sharing with all of us, one way or another. Here's to many more years---"Cheers"! Love, M
He is such a cutie! I can't get over how much hair is has...not fair! ;)
-Ashley
wow...a year home already. AWESOME POST! He is such a darling lil boy..and the hair..NO WAY CAN YOU CUT IT. :)It's longer than Leeza's...but i bet it wouldn't look as cute in pigtails. :)
What a wonderful year and how far you've all come. It's been a blessing to follow along. :)
you are AWESOME dedicated parents and i lOVE IT.
Wow!!! A year goes by so fast doesn't it? Your little man is growing so fast and so much. It is obvious he is in the right place with wonderful parents.
Keep having fun in your adventures and take them as they come!
ps-I gave the boys buzz haircuts a few weeks ago. Peter has no idea that his little buddy from Kirov is living large with long hair!!
Way behind on the comment--I always try to read everything to catch up and then go back and comment and that doesn't work for me!!!
In ANY event, congrats on LM's year with his fabulous fam. I absolutely adore all the pictures and LOVE the hair.
LOVE it!
Nicholas has the same scooter, he loves it too! and the Stinky Face book has been one of Milana's favorites. I am so excited to see what the next year brings for your wonderful LM!
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