From a Pebble to a Stone: Catch-up.

I think this marks the longest time period between posts for me. And that's pretty much a result of my life which is completely nuts right now. Work is as hard and stressful as it's ever been for me, it's allergy season big-time in Colorado and I'm behind in everything. Oh - and I have an 19-month old tornado (formerly knows as the pork chop). Thank God my skinny jeans fit or I'd be totally losing it.

I want to blog so I have record of all of the amazing things going on with Samuel. I've heard parents say it a hundred times "time passes so fast and they grow up so quickly!" But WOW - the changes we see in Sam in a week are really unbelievable. Since I'm strapped for time, I'll just list some highlights:

He continues to be a great sleeper. (Thank you, Sam!) He generally sleeps through the night for about 10.5 hours, then has about a 2 hour nap mid day. Wake ups are seldom - 2 nightmares to date, or when he's sick. Getting him calm enough to consider sleep is another story - he's usually in the crib for about :30 minutes chatting away after he finishes his bottle and lobs is at the baby monitor. No, I'm not ready to take him off the bottle yet. Not even close. (Please oh please oh please let this sleep pattern continue. Please!)
He's walking everywhere - and very quickly. He has finally, thanks to daddy, learned to go down stairs/curbs backwards, so there is much less road rash on his face.
He's super-active - always going, going, going (and usually throwing, throwing, throwing) but still loves books and being carried in the sling. We love the playground - especially the swings and slide. He's quite an adventurer.
Talking is the big thing right now! He's a real parrot and he learns new words every day - sometimes every hour. Some current favorites are: tractor!, car!, Jackson!, tree!, apple!, nana!, agua!, up! (which sounds just like apple), boo!, wow!, ought oh!, hi mama!, (although he doesn't call me mama, he does say hi mama! (as one word) when I walk into the room. Oh - and of course no, no, no!, door!, ball! And a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. When I say the alphabet, he's in charge of saying the letter "D!" And yes, he says them all with explanation marks at the end. He loves to communicate, is signing less but still signing for water, more, light and food. There is not more than a minute or so during the day that he's awake that he's not talking. He might be the chattiest, most animated person I've ever met.
He's showing more affection to us, his loveys, his truck and Jackson. Very sweet.
He's also currently a hitter - and swings at us multiple times a day. I think it's to see what we'll do - because he's always looking us straight in the eye while he does it.
He's gets fussy - but is easily soothed or distracted most times. Mostly, he's fussy when telling us his opinion. Generally, he's very, very happy - and crazy funny.
He loves all things boy: throwing, dirt, trucks, tractors, cars, motorcycles. It's amazing how hard-wired this stuff is.

I know that might sound like a glowing assessment of new-parenthood, adopted at that. Is it hard? Hell yes. But because I'm used to being a spoiled, selfish 43-year old, not because Samuel is hard. Mommy has lots of work to do in learning how to do all of this. And I know it will get infinitely harder.

My mom and dad are coming this week for Memorial Day and I could not be more excited! Coincidentally they'll be here on the six-month anniversary of of the last time they were here - when we brought Samuel home - Thanksgiving day.

Love hikes with mama & daddy