Meeting Ella

We spent our Thanksgiving in Michigan, visiting with our families.  The highlight, for me, was meeting my beautiful niece, Ella.  The boys were quite enthralled with her as well.  "Ohhhhh, she's so pretty!" said Cameron.

"He wants me to hold him," announced Matthew, trying to dislodge Ella from my arms.  "He loves me tons and tons."

The boys had been looking forward to meeting Ella since she was born, and Ella proved to be as charming and delightful as anticipated.  She seemed quite comfortable with her cousins, which I credit to the letters of introduction that we had mailed to her. 

The letter briefly explained that the boys are Ella's cousins and requested that she not poop on them, as they had heard that she had done this to her poor mama and daddy.  Each boy drew a picture for Ella.  Matthew's expressed his interest in scribbling while Cameron's illustrated his interest in human anatomy.

Apparently, these drawings were a big hit with Ella and have even made their way into her baby book.

No Explanation Needed

Do I even need to write anything for a photo this cute? Cherrybrook Kitchens makes an allergy-friendly brownie mix. Matthew likes it.

Teaching Bad Habits

So, I'm pretty sure that when your kid does something that you don't really want them to do again, you are not supposed to laugh. And I'm almost positive that you aren't supposed to take photos. But seriously, how could you not document this?

Winter Isn't All Bad

Sometimes, instead of complaining about the snow and the cold and the dark skies before dinner time, we go play. And it's fun.

Bookworms

Matthew has now broadened his literary interests from the omnipresent "Panda Bear" to "More, More, More Said the Baby," "Five Little Monkeys" and "No David!" It is so refreshing to read something other than, "I see a . . . " over and over all day. I think that Matthew has also found the addition of other reading material to be a welcome change and now he is really thinking outside the box. Apparently, the current economic crisis peaked his interest and yesterday he selected a book we had never read before.Cameron has never shown much of an interest in economics. He's always been a bit more introspective, with a bent towards the medical field.

Cleaning House

We are doing some heavy duty house cleaning this weekend. I think it's really important to teach the kids to pick up after themselves. You know, teach them about personal responsibility and stuff from the very start. For example, if at 14 months we teach Matthew that he needs to recycle the cardboard holder when he is done with his beer, we won't have to be bugging him to do it when he's 21 years old! Brilliant!

Taste of Independence

Matthew has experienced his first taste of independence in the form of a famous circle of whole grain oats – the Cheerio. Over the weekend, instead of putting Matthew in the highchair for a snack, David poured a few Cheerios in a small plastic bowl and placed it on a low table. Matthew promptly upended the bowl and then scrambled madly to eat as many Cheerios off the floor as possible before David swept them up. David filled the bowl again, held it firmly on the table and guided Matthew’s chubby little hand into the bowl to select a crunchy O. For the next half hour, Matthew played, occasionally pausing for a visit to the bowl. Each time he found that the cereal was still there, just waiting for him, he smiled in mild surprise. When at last the bowl was empty, he squalled with disappointment. He followed David to the kitchen, whining, and watched as the bowl was again filled. Then, realization dawned.

This bowl – this portable receptacle of whole grained goodness – why, it was his ticket to freedom! No longer would he be forced to halt his play to be strapped down behind a tray. No longer would he have to choose between food and fun. No longer would he be confined and controlled – He. Had. A. Bowl. Now, now he could eat his beloved Cheerios at his leisure! He could munch on a handful between laps around the train table. He could take a few bites, break to play cars and return for more. It was revolutionary.

David placed the bowl on the table and Matthew’s bare feet pounded on the hardwood floors as he toddled madly to his bowl. He reached in, double fisted, and shoveled handfuls into his mouth with gusto. He clapped his hands joyously. Overcome with emotion, he spun crazily in a circle, chortling, then bent over to put his head on the floor in a kind of yoga baby downward-facing dog of celebration. His overwhelming exuberance at this simple step towards autonomy was adorable. It was heartwarming. And it was terrifying as I thought, “Boy, are we in trouble when this kid gets a hold of the car keys.”

More to Say

Yesterday, I lay Matthew down for a diaper change. As I pulled up his shirt, he began to grin and signed "more, more!" Confused, I said, "More what?" He continued signing, insistent that he wanted more of something. I was pretty sure it wasn't more diaper changing, as that ranks pretty low on his list of favorite activities. At a loss, I asked again. "What do you want more of Matthew?" Finally, he responded by signing "Eat, thank you." Sure enough, when I leaned down and blew on his chubby little tummy he laughed out loud and urged me on, "More, more, more!"

Our New Dog, Shadow

Is this wrong? Will Matthew grow up distrustful and disillusioned because we convinced him that David's shadow puppet magic is a real doggie? Should we NOT have laughed and taken pictures while encouraging, "Where's the doggie? Matthew, show us the doggie!"

Matthew's Day

Today Matthew got his fourth tooth, said "Thank you" (DANNKK OOO!) and learned to sign "Read." He's a genius, right? Well, he also crawled under the train table, stood up and bonked his head again and again and again.

You are dismissed

Yesterday was a beautiful, mild summer day -- just perfect for a visit to the park. While David and Cameron played tag, Matthew and I hung out on the grass. Matthew put this time to good use, practicing his latest feat: walking! He toddled unsteadily and laughed when he fell in the grass. When he tired of walking, he resorted to his patented Knee-free Crawl as the grass felt funny on his knees. He was so adorable that he soon attracted the attention of a family. The mom, dad and two kids came over to admire him. (He really is soooo cute!) Matthew obliged them with his three-tooth grin. After a few minutes, the family said good-bye and attempted to coerce Matthew into waving bye-bye. Finally, Matthew lifted a hand into the air nonchalantly, thrilling his admirers. Casually but with an air of finality he declared "Ahhh daaa." That's "all done" for those who don't speak Matthewese!

Cutie curls

LOOK how cute Matthew's hair is! So, here's something you may not have thought about: When you adopt transracially, you don't know how to take care of your own child's hair. We have experimented for 11 months with different hair products. Today, a friend who has also adopted an African American child let us try out her hair products on Matthew. And they worked! Look at those gorgeous little corkscrew curls! So, do you want to know how many products it takes to maintain this look? FIVE. That's right, five hair products for one little boy! I don't think I've EVER owned five hair products at the same time for my hair!

The one, the only, the BAHHH!

Matthew has suddenly grasped that sounds can be used for communication and he is doing his darnedest to communicate. All done (AHHH DA!), Ready, set, go! (SSSSSEH GA!) and old standbys like hi and Daddy are a part of his repetoire now. But yesterday he learned a word that has him fascinated.

We were at Cameron's soccer practice and Matthew couldn't take his eyes off the round black and white sphere that everyone was so intent upon kicking. "Matthew, that's a ball. Can you say ball?" I said in that rhetorical way we parents do. To my surprise he replied, "BAHHH! BAH!" I showed him the sign for ball and he spent the rest of soccer practice signing ball and repeating over and over "BAHH!" When we got home, he crawled straight to his basket of toys and triumphantly held up a ball. "BAHHH! BAH! BAH!" he shouted. And he kept at it. All. Day. Long.

He seems convinced that he needs to enlighten us all on his new discovery. Can't we see the perfect symmetry of this object? Do we not grasp the multiplicity of uses for this BAH? Licking, gumming, rolling, throwing? We clearly do not have a proper understanding of the BAH or we would never put it down. Here, he tries again, patiently repeating "BAH," holding the fantastical find in one hand and gesturing encouragingly with the other. "Come! See it! It's a BAH!"

What's in the fish bowl?

Everybody wonders, "What is in this fish bowl?" You see the fish, swimming so merrily about the bowl, but then you look in and . . . nothing! It's a mystery! A mystery that we've been trying to solve for four years.

Matthew on the move

Matthew loves to go to the swim club, but he is usually snug in a sling so I can keep a hold of him while also supervising Cameron. This evening, the whole family headed to the pool to watch Cameron's swim lessons. For the first time, we let Matthew roam free on deck. After a few experimental scoots, he decided that the concrete was too rough for his delicate knees. Yet, the pool was so alluring . . . finally, he elected to crawl with his knees off the ground!

So Awkward

It's always soooo awkward when somebody has something hanging off their nose. How to tell them without embarassing them? Or do you say nothing and just let them walk around like that?

He's got the beat!

We've been enjoying the long weekend by attending every musical event we can find. We began yesterday with a performance by a children's choir visiting the US from Africa. They sang and performed traditional dance, which was fabulous.

It was a hot day and you could see the sweat glinting on their foreheads as they danced. Taking shelter in the shade, I was amazed that these kids had the energy to be out in the blazing sun drumming and shouting! The crowd, whether due to heat or bad manners, was disappointingly unenthusiastic. No one dancing, no one clapping along, no standing ovations. Well, I guess I shouldn't say "no one." Matthew was gettin' down to the beat! In the evening, we went to see a military stage band perform. Seated next to another family, I was left thanking my lucky stars that we will never have a 14-year-old girl! I don't know that teenage boys are necessarily much more pleasant, but, wow, can a teenage girl put a damper on your evening! This particular girl was sulking, apparently because her mother had not specified to her that the military band would not be a bunch of hot guys in camo playing rock music. It's so hard to be fourteen!

Proof

Cute is not a big enough word

When I opened the mailbox today, I was filled with delight and anticipation when I spotted the CD mailer. Yes, it is the moment you've been waiting for . . . the latest round of photos by Steph Carson!

Matthew is just full of personality these days, and Steph really captured that. Here he is lookin' good in his diaper. I think this one may be my favorite of Matthew so far. Those big brown eyes just melt my heart!Steph is a big fan of baby toes -- here she gets a shot of Cameron and Matthew's feet together.

And then Matthew showing off his tootsies.

Finally, a few photos with clothes on.

Cameron looks like such a happy big brother in this one (and he is!).
I'm one lucky mama!

Jump for joy!

On Monday, Matthew received some hand-me-down toys. He's getting a little too big for the really little baby toys, like his swing and bouncy seat, and is moving on to bigger and better things. When I first put him in his new jumper, he sat looked at me uncertainly. He bent his knees tentatively and gave a little hop. This was quickly followed by squeals of delight, intensifying to excited screams. His little legs kicked and flailed as he propelled himself. I took several videos, which I have tried and failed to post here. Finally, after 24 hours, I have decided instead to admit defeat and post still photos. Not as great as the video, but I think it still captures his enthusiasm for the jumper.