New Mexico Vacation 2013

I haven't done as thorough a job as I would have liked documenting our summer but LB started preschool this week so I'm feeling the need to move on. However, I can't move on without posting about the absolute highlight of our summer. At the end of July, we boarded a plane for New Mexico and LB had the time of his life. We met my parents and my sister there and we all stayed in a rented house together. This was our first real vacation with LB. We have a traveled a ton with him but mostly for visits to my parents, which is like a vacation but not officially, and he's been to Pennsylvania for my cousin's wedding and St. Louis for my sister's graduation and we went to Florida when he was 11 months old but none of that really counts. This was a true vacation. LB experienced so many firsts and he still talks about them. I think it helped for it to feel like a vacation for D and me since we had three other adults, who happen to love LB and he loves them, with us. I highly recommend the 5 to 1 adult to child ratio when going on vacation, especially since some of his favorite people were with us. I was usually number 5 on the adults he came to for something. I was able to read a whole book. I read, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, which I highly recommend. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end.

LB did great with all the traveling it took to get to Taos. We decided to take a direct flight to Denver and then drive 5 hours to Taos rather than take a connecting flight into Albuquerque and drive for 3 hours. We're still not sure if that was the way to go since the Denver airport was such a pain but that's what we did. LB had a moment during the drive that was unpleasant because he had to go to the bathroom and there was no exit in sight but other than that he handled it all like a trooper. Air travel isn't so bad when you have a child obsessed with airplanes. There was even a time on the plane where I got a glimpse into the future. I hadn't brought anything to entertain myself on the 3 hour flight to Denver because I assumed I would be keeping LB happy and occupied. Well, at one point I looked over at him and he had the Ipad in his lap and some pretzels in his hand and he was perfectly content. I thought to myself, "I should have brought a book!" and "I could have bought a trashy magazine!" It was a crazy thought. But one I welcome. Oh trashy magazines, I have missed you.

The house my parents rented was gorgeous and ended up working out perfectly. LB called it "New Mexico." He is still a little unclear on the whole concept of geography. We we would be out and about somewhere and he would say, " I want to go back to New Mexico." And when we'd pull in the driveway he would say, "There's New Mexico." It was so cute that I hesitated to correct him. 

LB woke up the first morning at 4:30am. That was not fun but we expected it would take some time to adjust to the 2 hour time difference. The second morning he was up at 5:30am and by the third morning he was up at his normal time of 6:30am. So it wasn't too bad. That first morning he made himself right at home and set up his planes on the table on the patio outside. His New Mexico runway had much better views than his Ohio runway.

That first morning he was also very eager to check out the hot tub. I think he convinced my dad to get in with him before 8am. He loved it and I'm not gonna lie some days the hot tub served as his bath.

The hot tub was one of several firsts for LB and he responded to all of them with such joy and excitement. He saw a rainbow in the sky, a glider and a hot air balloon. The below picture is right after the rainbow. You can't see the rainbow but you can see the happiness in his smile.

He went on his first hike, saw a waterfall, got to sit in a helicopter and saw all sorts of new bugs. The rest of us had been to Taos several times so I think we all enjoyed viewing it from his first time perspective. He also forced us to notice little things that normally we would walk on pass, like butterflies along the trail or a "really big rock." Some days we would be driving and he would shout "Look at that really big mountain." I loved being there with him.

The food in Taos is amazing and D and I were talking about it before we even got there. Since Taos is such a relaxed place most of the restaurants are very chill and kid friendly. Several of them even have these big outdoor areas where kids can run around and play while the adults finish their beers. And, of course, they all have amazing views.

LB really had a blast. He wasn't perfect. He is three. There were some bedtimes that were challenging and a few times he wanted things he couldn't have but those aren't the moments that I think of when I look back on our trip. I remember the good stuff because there was so much of it. My mom and my sister both came armed with bags of tricks for downtime at the house, which helped tremendously. I was really happy that he was so happy. I guess that's how it works.

On our last night there we went into town to the plaza and there was a bluegrass band playing. LB didn't hesitate and went straight to the area where people were dancing. My mom danced with him for a while but mostly we just watched him.

Here are a few more of my favorite pictures from the week.

Hopefully, we'll go again next year.

First Dentist

At LB's three year well visit in January, our pediatrician told us to go ahead and schedule his first visit to the dentist. Did I mention that was in January? Well, I put it off and put it off some more because that's how I roll when I am nervous about something. I kept telling myself that as long as he goes at some point before he is four then it's fine. I actually do that think that is true but I would be lying if I didn't own up to some avoidance behavior. When my mom planned her visit for June, I decided that was the time. I thought LB would do better with her there and let's face it I thought I might need to hold her hand too. I have been dreading LB's first dentist appointment since the day I realized he had some oral sensitivities and defensiveness. I kept thinking to myself, "No way is he going to let a dentist any where near his mouth. He will just have to go his whole life without seeing the dentist." It was a long process for us to even get LB comfortable with a toothbrush in his mouth and we worked on that in our final sessions of occupational therapy. During his twos, he did get better. He also started letting us give him medicine and got less and less defensive. But I still saw potential for disaster despite the signs that it might be okay.

In the weeks leading up to the appointment, I started talking to LB about the dentist. I explained it was like going to see a doctor but they would only be looking at his teeth. We talked about how they would count his teeth and clean them. My mom got him a book, Molly Goes to the Dentist, and we read that several times. We happened to bump into our dentist, who is also our friend, at the Memorial Day Parade. LB has met him several times before, as he is a fellow Ethiopian adoptive parent, but I had never explained to LB that he was a dentist. I had actually talked to our friend about LB several times and he assured me not to worry and if LB couldn't do it then we would try again in a few months. It's nice to have a understanding and sympathetic friend who also happens be to a dentist.

The morning of the big day LB started to put up a fight. As he usually does, he asked if we were going to the "tiny airport" and I told him that we were going to the dentist. That got a big, fat "NO!" Can you blame him? So we talked and talked some more and came up with a plan. The appointment wasn't until 10am so I told him we could go to the "tiny airport" for a little bit, then go to the dentist and then if he did a good job we could go to the store and buy a new plane. He accepted that deal. (We make a lot of deals around here. He is one of the best negotiators I know.) As we were pulling out of the driveway he said, "Mommy, first we are going to the tiny airport. Then the dentist and then to the store. Do you understand my words?" My mom and I almost lost it. I told him that I understood.

When we arrived LB was in good spirits thanks to several jets we saw at the airport and he had his teeth filled with popcorn. Oops. Probably the worst snack you could have before going to the dentist. They called him back right away and he was clearly nervous but holding it together. The dental hygienist did a fabulous job with him. She let him touch everything and explained each step a long the way. LB loves to see and touch things before they go anywhere near the rest of the body so this was a great approach for him. And he did it! The whole check up! She slowly eased him into each step and he complied with each one. He was so brave I could hardly stand it. My mom snapped a few photos of the visit.

Can you see that his buddy, Mousie, made the visit too? So precious. His face in that first photo makes me sad because you can tell he is so nervous. But he really did awesome. I was flying high all day. Well, I was mostly flying high. Our dentist thinks LB will be making his first trip to the orthodontist at age 7. Did I mention LB only has 19 teeth instead of the 20 they are supposed to have? Yeah. He's got lots of dental work in his future. Oh well. This was a big milestone and I was so proud of him!

His Birthday

He's 3. I can't believe it. His birthday was fun and low key and he really reveled in being the birthday boy all day. LB woke up and the first thing I heard coming from his room at 6:30am was, "It's my birfday! Mommy, it's my birfday!" It was too cute. I went in his room and he asked me, "it's my birfday now? Now?" I am not really sure what he was expecting but I had to reassure him that it was, in fact, his birthday now. The night before I wrapped his presents and placed them at this spot on the table. I remember that my mom used to do that for us and so I wanted to carry on that tradition.

D blew up a couple of balloons and LB's been playing with those just as much as his new toys. Typical. I don't think LB knew what to expect but he was pretty happy to see presents on the table. We let him open gifts and before he opened each one he would ask, "maybe it's an airplane?" So obsessed! We did get him some foam gliders and he likes that he can throw them but they didn't go over as well as I thought. Oh well. He got a slide whistle, which was probably his favorite, some puzzles, drums and Evil Dr. Porkchop (from Toy Story). Overall, he was happy with his loot.

LB loves donuts so the day before I bought a few and had the idea to put candles in his donut so that D and I could sing to him first thing in the morning. He had the best look on his face while we were singing. I wanted to freeze time so we could make that moment last even longer. I captured a sweet picture just as we finished singing.

After the morning festivities, D had to head to work so LB and I just went about our normal morning. I had decided that for the most part I wanted to keep expectations low and not go too crazy with plans. I did plan a little brunch meet up at our favorite cafe down the street with LB's buddy and his mom, my buddy. LB's friend said, "Happy Birthday" as soon as we walked in and again the smile on LB's face was priceless. The boys did great at brunch and swapped planes and cars while we ate.

A boy's brunch isn't complete without planes, cars, Buzz and a mini Evil Dr. Pork chop, right? After brunch, we went to story time like we usually do on Thursdays and then our afternoon and evening were just very normal. It made for a nice day with a little splash of special here and there. 

LB has transitioned well to telling people that he is "free years old" and he holds up three fingers. He's already excited about turning 4 because I've told him that is when he can get out of the cart and walk next to me at the grocery store. He clearly thinks it is a universal rule. Patting myself on the back for that one. Unless, of course, he isn't quite ready to walk freely through the store when he is 4 and I have no choice. I've got a year before I need to start worrying about that though. This weekend we are having a small family party for him and then his birthday festivities will be complete.

I'll say it again. He's 3. I can't believe it.

Tomorrow You Will Be Three

Dearest LB,

Tomorrow you will be 3 years old. I have to say that this past year has been filled with so much growth and joy that I am sad to see the twos go. I'm excited for you to learn to do new things like dress yourself and use the potty but I'm sad that we are losing more and more of your babyhood. In so many ways, you were a textbook two year old. You would ask for a banana and then when presented with a banana you would scream at me for not bringing cheese. You would be happily playing with your planes one moment and the next you were throwing them across the room in disgust. But you overcame so much that I can't help but be filled with pride. We stopped working with your occupational therapist this year. And even though we were both sad to stop seeing "Kaka" on a regular basis it was a good thing that you no longer needed her help. You are still a crazy picky eater but you can chew and swallow alongside your peers. Your OT helped you overcome your fear of touch and being messy and today when I picked you up from preschool you still had signs of shaving cream on your face from the craft project. There have been many moments during your gymnastics class when I've been struck at how profoundly you have changed. The class gets very loud at times as kids are running around and screaming. You may not always want to join in the screaming craziness but last year I would have had to remove you from the room when it got too loud. Yesterday during class you and your buddy were chasing each other and fell on top of each other and even wrestled for a moment. I ran closer to you out of habit to make sure you were okay and you stood up with a big smile on your face and you were ready for more. I stood there in shock. At the end of story time at the library the librarian always gives stamps to the kids. You used to hold back and would never join in the scrimmage to be first to get a stamp. These days you are right in the middle of it all and could care less if you get shoved or pushed. A year ago you had a big meltdown when a girl fell on your toes at the library. The way you have overcome your fears blows me away.

I remember one day about six months ago, I was reading a parenting book all about two year olds. The author warned that around two and a half a lot of kids will start in on bedtime stalling tactics. And like clockwork you did the same. However, your requests for "one more hug" or "rub my back a tiny bit" are impossible to ignore. I'm always a sucker for it and probably always will be. The book also said that two year olds are lovers of routine and any change to that routine can be cause for a tantrum. The author even said some two year olds might get upset if you take a different route home from the store or school. Just days before I read that chapter you were yelling at me from the backseat because I turned on the wrong street to go home from the store. The fact that our street had a water main break and was blocked off was just not a good enough explanation. You have become quite the backseat driver, in fact, that yesterday you scolded me for turning on a red light. For the record, it was a perfectly legal right turn on red. You are still incredibly attached your blanket or "baba" as you affectionately call it. I don't dare leave the house without it. When you fall down or get upset you always ask for baba. The other day I stepped on one your planes and yelled a not so nice word as I grabbed my foot in my pain. You came running to me with baba and said, "Here Mommy, baba will help." And it did. I love how compassionate you are. You have a friend that has a stay at home daddy and you often bring up your friend's mommy in concern. Last week in the bath you asked me, "C no have a mommy?" I explained to you that C does have a mommy but she goes to work and the daddy stays home. It launched in to a good conversation about how families are different. Some families both parents work and other families have two mommies or daddies. I loved the way your eyes lit up when I told you that some kids have two daddies. You are still a total daddy's boy. I know the best part of your daddy's day is hearing you scream "daddy" when he walks in the door and you give him the biggest bear hug. I think you were ready to sign on the dotted line for the whole two daddy situation.

If I am being honest, I get really emotional around your birthday. Not just because you are getting older but because I can't help but think about your family back in Ethiopia. I think of them often, of course, but your birthday is a tough one for me. They lost so much and we gained our brightest light in this world. It doesn't seem fair. Yet I can't imagine my life without you. Life manages to be complicated and beautiful all at the same time. You already know this more than most. Your smile and laugh bring joy to everyone you meet and I wish they could experience that too. Someday. That is my prayer.

Tomorrow you will be 3. I can't believe it. Thank you for making me a mom. Your dad and I are possibly the luckiest people on earth.

All my love forever and ever,
Mom

LB's First Snow

My neighbor sent me the above picture the day after Christmas to give us an idea of what we were missing in our neck of the woods. I was not at all sad about it. D was hoping for a white Christmas in Oklahoma but thankfully that didn't happen. My mom sealed the deal on that one because she bought LB these really cute boots just in case it snowed. So, of course, it didn't snow. The day after we got back from Oklahoma all the snow was still here so it was time for LB to finally get the chance to play in the snow. It's a little surprising that just a few days ago LB had his first experience with snow. We live in Ohio for goodness sake! LB's first winter home we got a ton of snow but he was still just a baby and wasn't even walking yet so playing in the snow wasn't really an option. I know some parents plop their babies in the snow and take a picture but I'm not a snow person so even though that probably would have been a cute picture I opted out for my own warmth. Last year, I think all we got was a dusting or two. But all of that snow was waiting for us when we got home this year. D set out in the snow first to start clearing the driveway and I got to work on bundling up LB. He was a sport about it considering he isn't usually a fan of the whole getting dressed process. Once he got outside he was initially hesitant about stepping in areas where D hadn't shoveled. So he explored the snow from the comfort of our walkway for a while before venturing out. Sadly, the snow was super powdery and that made it really hard to build anything. LB asked me several times if we could make a snowman and I had to demonstrate that the snow just wouldn't stay together well enough to make one. We did manage to make a few, small snowballs and LB loved that, which isn't surprising since he loves to throw anything and everything. He threw some at me and thought that was hilarious. At one point he tried to climb the little incline in our front yard and made it about halfway up and said, "No me think this really safe." Ha! Always the cautious one. He lasted about 30 minutes. I thought that was pretty good. I think if it had been easier to make snowballs or if we could have made a snowman then he would have lasted longer. However, ever since I've asked him if he wants to play in the snow again, without hesitation, he's said, "No." I can't say it disappoints me. Thanks to my awesome new gloves from my sister I was able to snap a few pics of LB without totally freezing my hands off. First, you should admire my new gloves. They have changed my life.

Okay, now you can see pictures of LB.

As cute as he looked and as much as I like his new boots, my fingers are crossed that we are done with snow for 2013. 

Two Years Six Months

The Little Buster will be two and a half tomorrow! He has started telling people that he is two and a half. I am not sure he understands what the half means but he smiles when he says it. Here is a little snapshot of LB's favorite things halfway to three.

My mom and dad got LB a tee ball set when they were here in June and we play it several times a day.  I remember one morning soon after my parents left he woke up around 6:30am and per his usual he first asked about his dad. I told him dad was downstairs and then he asked, "tee ball?" I had to pull out all the stops that morning to get him to wait until 8am to go outside and play tee ball. When it is time for me to update my resume, I think I will consider including "Professional Ball Girl" as one of my qualifications. I know I am biased but I think he is pretty good at tee ball considering his age and size. 

The game of tee ball often turns into a game of golf. He is weirdly obsessed with golf. I recently got him a little golf set but it's been so bloody hot around here that I've been waiting for the right moment to give it to him. I know it will just increase my ball chasing duties and I am hoping for cooler weather.

LB's other favorite thing to do is play musical instruments or to watch other people do it. We try and go to the farmer's market every Saturday morning so he can see some live music. Sadly, neither D or I play an instrument. 

LB also has some favorite youtube videos where they do a lot of close ups of the instruments and the people playing them. He LOVES this one and this one. He'll prop the ipad up on the couch and pretend to play along and he'll switch between playing the guitar, the violin and the drums. We risked melting at the 4th of July parade so that LB could see the marching bands. Thankfully, there were three bands and LB was beyond pleased. Totally worth it! I took him to check out the preschool where he will be going one morning a week in the fall and we walked in the classroom filled with all sorts of toys and he immediately spotted some drums that were packed away in a bin. The preschool received his stamp of approval.

He's also getting pretty good at his harmonica. That was another present from my mom. She's gifted at encouraging LB's obsessions. He took the harmonica with him when we get to pizza one day and sat and played while we waited. I was kinda hoping someone would drop money into his harmonica case but that didn't happen. Maybe next time.

It's crazy to think that two years ago we were busy packing our bags for our first trip to Ethiopia to hold and kiss our tiny six month old baby. And now he's a happy, talkative, opinionated, smart and goofy two and a half year old boy. We love you so much, LB!!

TWO!

LB will be two tomorrow! Happy Birthday to my sweet boy!

I am embracing my inner nerd and am doing a pretend interview with LB in honor of his second birthday. Even though his vocabulary is expanding by the minute, I don't think he would quite understand an interview. But I think I know him pretty well and can answer for him. Here it goes.

1. What is your favorite color?
Purple

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A pilot or a soccer player or both.



3. Who do you look up to?
My friend, Griffin. See photos.

4. What is your favorite food?
Humous

5. What is your favorite song?
Down by Jay Sean and Lil Wayne. My Aunt Bebe introduced me to this song at Christmas and I request to hear it and dance to it several times a day. I know exactly where to find it on my mom's phone.

6. What are some of your best memories from this past year?
One would be when my mom and I were almost in a car accident on the highway. This was very exciting as my mom exhibited road rage and used the horn. I relive this memory daily as I say, "No no car. Beep beep!" It was awesome.

We moved to a new house this year and I didn't really like it at first. There were lots of new noises and I was very skeptical. It was a lot of change. But now I like it and there is a park right down the street from our new house. When the weather is nice we go there and I have learned to go down the slide by myself and climb several steps on the big toy. I can run around in all the grass and there are tons of leaves to play with. I ask my mom to go there even when it is raining and snowing but she says no.

I also got to take several plane rides to Oklahoma. I loved looking out the window as we went up into the clouds. The people I see when we get off the plane are pretty cool too.

7. What don't you like?
I don't like loud noises that startle me. I also don't like it when other kids cry and scream. It makes me do the same thing.  I also really dislike diaper changes and getting dressed.

8. What is your favorite show on tv?
Elmo's World

9. What are some things you have learned how to do recently?
I am starting to put several words together to make short sentences. Before Christmas I was at the store with my mom and there were two blow-up Santas. I call Santa, "ho ho ho." I had to say goodbye to the two Santas so I said, "bye two hos." My mom laughed and said it was good no one else heard me say that. I am not sure why it was so funny.
I know that if there is more than one of something then it is two. I learned to put two in front of a lot of my favorite words. I say, "two cars" and "two purples" and more stuff like that.
I am very adept at working electronics. Perhaps better than some of my grandparents. I can turn on my mom's phone and call people over and over. We used to have an ipad and I could use it very well but mom said I got carried away. She took it. She tells me that the ipad is at my grandma's house now. But I am not sure if she is telling the truth.
I can jump with both feet off the ground and I am good at hoping. I can recognize when I am going pee.
I may be small but I have a strong left footed kick.



10. What do you think your mom would say are some of her favorite things about you?
My mom loves the time we spend together before I go down for a nap. We sit on the rocking chair and sing each other songs. I sing songs about Elmo and my dad. We tell each other what we are going to dream about and I usually tell her something goofy like the humous store or cars going beep beep.

She also appreciates my good manners. I say thank you all the time, even when I give her something. Recently, I was sick and went to the doctor. When we got to the car I was a mess because I don't like the doctor poking and prodding and I had a fever and I was very tired. I requested juice and when my mom gave it to me I said, "thank you" in a very pathetic but sweet voice. My mom loved that I still said thank you despite my illness.

I am a great dancer and have some pretty legit moves. My mom loves it when we have a dance party.

She loves my big personality and giant belly laugh.

My mom says she could go on and on about all the things she and my dad love about me. My mom tells me all the time how grateful they are to be my parents.
Happy 2nd Birthday to me!