I'm so glad that I gave myself grace last fall for updating. Sammy worked through a lot of transition last summer and fall. I don't dare tell you that portions of that were easy as many weren't. Last July and August were very difficult while he grieved. Sammy seemed rather well adjusted during the day, but his alter-ego "Alejandro" came out in the evening between 12a-5am. It was during this time that he wanted to be with us, but didn't "know how" to be with us. This made for a lot of restless nonsleeping for all. We seemed to turn a corner in September and the routine of the fall was upon us. We were really cruising until the holidays when "Alejandro" again came to visit us every evening from the week of Thanksgiving through January. Again, a rough time when Mom and Dad aren't sleeping much. About a week after being back in routine in January we were smooth sailing again.
Just today I was looking back at our photos of him from last summer. He has grown SO MUCH people. Although we still use Spanish at times around the home, he fully understands English now. He is still rather behind in formation of understandable words, but he tries to repeat about everything. He can say "Mama","Daddy", "please', "more", "milk", "puppy", "baby", and I'm sure a few more that I am forgetting. He climbs stairs on his hands and knees and uses railings. He climbs up into his own booster seat at the table as well as on and off the couch. Sometimes all of the climbing can be a problem if you know what I mean... He loves his brothers and always wants to be doing exactly what they are doing. No baby stuff allowed and don't you try to get away with it. We are moving more and more into the "normal"s of toddler-hood. He has figured out his has a voice and opinion on many things and he will let you know, perhaps even with a flair of defiance. Yes, discipline and required respect have kicked in and sometimes this is a battle.
Over all, we couldn't have asked for a better transition. We know him well enough to know that when he is "dealing" with things or becomes unsure, he will summon us unto himself late in the night to work it out. Here are a few highlights of our fall!
First, his first baby pictures and new family pictures taken by my beautiful friend Carmen who even gave us an "adoption" discount. THANK YOU Carmen!
Can I get a cumulative "AAAWWWWW" ? Yes, he is adorbs. Totes adorbs.
Everyone went home and took a nap after that shoot.
Although we missed the best portions of the summer, we were still able to soak up a little bit of it. Here are some highlights from Sam's first Independence Day, our trip up to MN for the Fana gala fundraiser with the Colombians, and some other random stuff.
Here was some of our time in MN meeting the extended Sibley's as well as our Fana weekend
We made it over to see Friends from FANA too
Meeting new Great Grandma and Grandpa Black and the Iowa State Fair!
We also spent a weekend at Adventureland in Iowa, which was a very big deal.
My baby left for M-F full time preschool at Traditions. Sniff. He obviously had no problem posing for his pictures.
We celebrated Sammy's 2nd Birthday too!! We went to the big Dinosaur restaurant in Kansas for a low key family party. He thoroughly enjoyed his chocolate cupcakes and his new Chuck Truck
Lucas started his professional career in soccer through the Upward program in Raytown. I spent my Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings with little boys in tow to watch Lucas on the soccer field. We loved Upward (Christian and teaching sportsmanship values) as well as the level of diversity there was in Raytown!
Halloween was just as epic as it looks.
Sammy and I were lucky enough to fly to San Antonio and see all of his new Aunties in November, for which we were very thankful!
It is at this point that I realize our Christmas stuff is backed up on another computer. My internet never fully recovered from Colombia and we finally sent my computer into the shop at Christmas and just got it back! So for Holidays 2013, stay tuned.
It this very moment I am tucked away in a lovely hotel room in Phoenix, AZ while my man is at a medical spanish conference for work. We are so thankful for this opportunity and I have gotten so much work done! We haven't been smart enough to take any photos (and also, we are well aware that expense paid vacations are a thing dreams are made of, so we really don't want to rub it in my taking pictures and making folks back at home in the cold look at them on this February day). Even more updates to come everyone!
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