Potato Chips

He can really get down on some potato chips. Ruffles, Pringles, Cheetos doesn't matter. He's a crunchin' little man.

14 months old

Rocco is 14 months old today. Here's many of the sweet things that he started doing since our 13 month blog post.
1. He now points to things and not just with his index finger. He uses his index, middle, and thumb. This lets me know what he wants; he points to Cheerios container a lot. I believe this will help him with his language development, too, because every time he points to something I'll tell him the name of it.

2. In addition to shaking his head "no" when he doesn't want a certain food and pushing it away with his hand, he now makes the proper sound to go with it. . . "Hmm, uhm."
3. When we say, "Head," he correctly points to his head. He also can point to his ears. When we ask him where his nose is, he'll point to his mouth. . . every now and then he'll point to his nose or someone else's. Learning these body parts has been a big first although he doesn't always get them right!
4. If he likes something, he'll take his arms with his elbow bent and quickly pull them by his side with his fists curled tight. He'll make a big grunt and then laugh. This one really cracks us up!
5. He gives high five, brushes his hair when I tell him to, and pretends to put baby powder and lotion on.
6. Rocco also has learned how to back away from us when we're playing "I'm gonna get cha'."
7. Currently, he is cutting his bottom canines.
8. If I ask him, "Are you hungry?" he'll do the sign for eat. If I'm giving him food and I run out, he'll push my hand away and do the sign for more. He's doing great with the sign language; we're currently working on the sign for ball, mama, play, bath, and good.
9. To my delight, he's taken more of an interest into books (especially pop-up books).

10. His new favorite. . . potato chips.

Things that haven't changed: He still takes a bottle (rarely a sippy cup), plays independently but mostly loves to be held and loved on, enjoys bathtime, and sleeps between us (we could break this, but I'm not rushing it - I don't care what the experts say - we've only had him 11 weeks and I'm enjoying our bonding time).

Family Portrait

Nap Time

Rocco's nap time only happens if I lay down with him; even then it is a long process. I don't dare lay him down in his crib. #1 If he is asleep when I put him in it, he will immediatly wake up and cry for me. No let me rephrase that, he will scream for me. #2 If he is not asleep and I put him in his crib, it is the end of the world! He just can't take it. He wails like I am going to leave and never return. Silly boy! After years of praying and waiting on him, he can be sure I'm not going very far at all. So, here's what a typical nap time goes like at our house.

"Rocco, are you ready for your nap?" His "Yes" is when he rubs his sleepy little eyes or places his head in my chest and rubs his nose back and forth. With his response, we'll go to my bed and lay down. He'll smile at me. "Go to sleep, baby." Ignores me. "Rocco, lay down." Knowing what this means, he immediately falls straight down, head first into the pillow. Two seconds later his head pops up and he's laughing. Trying to hide my smile, I say it again. "Lay down." He does it again. This goes on a minimum of 10 minutes. Then, he reverts to the wallering stage. This is where he rolls back and forth, side to side, and ends up upside down in the bed. That's when I have to kiss his toes. I'll pick him up and reposition him right-side up. He'll waller again landing face down in his pillow. When I put my face next to back, he'll laugh because it tickles. Obviously he thinks it's game time. After I've eaten him up on his neck with sugars, he'll turn over and try to eat my nose. I'm sure this is his form of a kiss. Here lately it's not good enough to lay beside me; he has to be on me. He'll lay his head on my neck (making it hard to breathe) or on my chest. I guess he feels more comfort this way knowing that I can't get up when he is on me. By this time 30 minutes has passed and I'm ready for him to get serious about taking this nap, so I have to hold him so he won't wiggle so much. The crying starts then. After holding him for 30 seconds I'll let him go and he'll wimper a little to let me know he's not getting his way. Then, I'll hold him for another 30 seconds. Five or seven rounds of this usually tires him out and he's asleep in no time. Did I say that 45 minutes has passed by now?

No wonder he loves taking a nap with me. I'm such a sucker for games and loving. Jason gets right down to business. Even though Rocco cries immediately when he knows his daddy is putting him to sleep, he usually doesn't play games. He knows mama is the sucker.

Family

Family is a gift from God. It is having someone care about the little details of your life. It is having people you want to always take pictures of. Family is having someone to call when you have a need you know they'll pray for. It's that feeling of belonging. It's going home to visit knowing they'll be clean sheets on the bed waiting for you. It's the people who share your victories and cry with you in the times of defeat. I'm blessed to have the best family. Family is what makes home. . . . home! And when your spouse's family is your family too, that's just a double blessing. And without a doubt I am doubly blessed!

Jason and I went back home to visit our families last week. I always enjoy going to his parents' house. This time was no exception. Since we've had Rocco, they have accepted him with arms wide open. This picture shows Rocco with his cousin Drew. They are about 7 years apart, but they have THE BEST time when they're together. When Drew walks into the room, Rocco just smiles and reaches for him. No doubt Aunt Tonya is going to spoil him; she's crazy about him. He loves to hold onto her fingers and walk around the room. Sometimes he gets to walking so fast he almost runs!

He hasn't yet opened up to everyone in our family, but it will not be too much longer because I know their love for him will break all barriers of any insecurities he may have. He's already opened up to Uncle Ben really well. One day when Ben was off work, he hurriedly finished up his work around the house so he could spend the entire day with Rocco. They always have a great time playing and wallering around on the floor; Rocco feels safe with him. I know it because he has fallen asleep in Ben's arms several times. Priceless!

Nana and granddaddy are both so good with him, too. Nana has given him a bath a couple of times, and she's introduced him to matchbox cars. It's funny to look at her table in the living room. We've only had him 9 weeks and she already needs another table just to hold the pictures of her two wonderful grandsons, Drew and Rocco. She always has everything he might need at her house, too (diapers, wipes, toys, pajamas, and his favorites . . . Yoo Hoos and yogurt). That's what grandma's are for though. . . spoiling. No doubt when he gets older he'll be begging to go to nana's house. Grandaddy has a farm that Rocco just loves. But even when they're just playing around the house, granddaddy makes him laugh. There's just something about silly grandaddies! If you don't believe me ask Drew!

Fun, Fun, Fun at Mimi and Papaw's

Rocco and I have spent the last three days at my parents' house. It is always such a treat for my parents, brother, and grandparents when we come up. Unlike many families that live in the same community, we live over four hours from them (so every minute is cherished when we get to spend it together!).

My dad took him out on the tractor today, and he LOVED it! For once he didn't want to come to me when I reached for him. Holding onto the gears and such he thought he was driving. The moment was priceless, my dad grinning from ear to ear and Rocco just a driving along. They had on matching overalls and green shirts.

Mom and I took him to the park for a memorable adventure. I am sure that we had more fun than Rocco because we laughed so hard we almost cried as I wallered around on the big tire and nearly fell. Mom had to sit on the other side to balance me out; the whole time I was holding on to little man. He just looked at us like we were crazy. Mom and I took turns taking him down the slide, sometimes he would like it and other times not. Of course swinging was his favorite, and when I swang him he fell asleep in my arms. Perfect spring weather, perfect park memories, just a perfectly fun time!

My nana and papaw came over on Thursday and spent the entire day with him. He just loves my papaw Billy and goes to him over me at times. They just play; it is a treat to watch him with his great-grandpa. He loves my nana, too, but he plays with her from a distance. Rocco just won't let her hold him that much. So I was very surprised and pleased when he let her give him a bottle and rock him to sleep. That nap was short-lived though when he woke up and saw that it wasn't me that was holding him.

He started something new tonight that made me laugh so hard I fell over! We were eating at Zaxby's and some old 80's rock music came on. Immediately he started his dancing, but this time he added an arm motion to it. He put his right arm up in the air and just rocked on! Rocco is certainly our little rockstar!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day. . . a day I dreaded to see come around every year. I have the best mom in the world, hands-down and no one could make me believe any different. I also have THE best mother-in-law in the world. So in this respect I appreciate the fact that someone set aside a special day for wonderful women like them. But the whole thing about standing up in church and being recognized for being the youngest mom, oldest mom, newest mom, and the mom with the most children did nothing for me all those years I suffered from infertility. In fact, spending this day in church sent me into a few days of depression. Sitting there in church just smiling and clapping for all the mothers while I was dying inside was a tumultuous experience. It was that same feeling I got when I watched ET at the movie theater as a child, crushed to the bone thinking ET was so sick and dying but didn't want anyone to see me cry. So much pain inside but trying so hard to hold it all in until you bout' burst. (Silly comparison I know. )
This year was different. Instead of going to church without a child, I stayed at home (with my sick baby) and took care of him. This year I had the best Mother's Day present I could ever receive. . . Rocco. Every time I look at his precious face I still can't believe that is the little face I kept looking at for so many months in the photos. There were times when I actually thought it would never happen. . . getting him and bringing him home. But then after so much brokenness, years of pleading and asking God, and all the pain that goes with barreness, there he was. Right in front of me. My precious, little boy. So the fact that we didn't get to go to church on Mother's Day didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. No, I didn't get to stand and be clapped for. . . the moment I'd dreamed about all of those barren years. Instead, I was at home with my little boy, nursing him back to health after a rough bout with a fever and sinus infection. Isn't that what Mother's Day is all about anyway. . . celebrating the endless sacrifices that mother's do for their little ones without any regard for what it costs them? I was glad to stay at home with him and just celebrate my special day with him in our pajamas. It's the little things in life that count. I love being a mom and cleaning up the mess underneath the high chair, picking up toys in the living room, finding little socks between the couch, and listening to children's music as I travel in the car. These are all little blessings that I savour throughout the day. Things I once thought would never be a part of my life.
So here's to all the wonderful women out there who so long to be a mother but aren't. You are in my thoughts and prayers. The road is long and there is no explanation I can offer. I just know that weeping may endure for a night (and a very long night) but joy comes in the morning.

Ten Tiny Fingers and Ten Tiny Toes

How did I ever get such a beautiful little boy with expressions so sweet and a babbling voice so precious? He's the perfect gift, and I tell him all the time he came from Jesus. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17.) Just look at those toes and fingers! I pray even now that God would direct his feet into the right paths and that his hands would do God's work. Rocco was specifically designed by God for a specific purpose; I don't know what it is, but I know God has a plan for his life.

We had some more "firsts" tonight. He drank from a straw really well at Ryan's Restaurant. I was amazed. I should have know he could do it because he has really good suction going on with his bottle and sippy cup. He also went to his first band concert (Kennedy Middle School to see Rebekah ) and, yes, he did dance! I got tickled at him because for half of the concert he held tightly to the hand of a cute girl with bright red hair. He also went to his first softball game. That didn't seem to capture his attention as much. I do hope he will be interested in sports one day and not take after me on that part. Basketball, baseball, karate, art, gymnastics, music, wrestling, football, track, tennis, soccer. . . only time will tell what he will like. But you can bet whatever it is, I'll be the mom on the sidelines screaming her head off and taking pictures like crazy. I'll try not to embarrass him too much.

Fishin'

These photos were taken by the pond at our church. This was a cute little outfit that was given to him. I just had to take pictures with him wearing his hat and his bathtub fishing pole. Looks like he's trying to eat the "big fish"that he caught!

Rocco Rockin' To The Rhythm

If the last seven weeks are any indication of what Rocco will do when he grows up, music will definitely be a part of his life. If he'll sing, play the piano or guitar, or keep the beat with the drums, I don't know. As for now, our little fella LOVES music of any kind. At church he can get louder than the choir. When we watch American Idol, he'll dance and sing with Bon Jovi. One time a commercial using a rap song came on TV, and he immediately started shaking his head. Anytime someone's ring tone goes off on their cell phone he is just rocking back and forth to the beat. Rocco just loves to rock! So after our first post-placement visit with our new social worker, we celebrated with our own band. A Sesame Street saxophone, Fisher Price tambourine and bongo drums, and an alligator xylophone were our instruments of choice. And boy did we get down! After pretending, we took time to play on a real piano. I put my P-150 keyboard on the demo mode so that Rocco would have some music to play with. It is wonderful having a son so in love with music. Even when I read him books with rhythm, he'll dance to it. (Dum ditty dum ditty dum dum dum is his favorite!)

Rocco's last baby shower

This week was a very busy week with all of the traveling, but oh so worth it. This afternoon, from 1 - 4, was Rocco's final baby shower. One of the cool things about adopting is that you get to have your shower AND take your baby to it. Showing our little boy off to family and friends has been a great experience this week for a very proud mama! My cousin Jana put together the shower today. Everyone needs a cousin like her. She is so creative and attentive to details. The party theme was jungle animals. She and her neighbor, Christy, could not find this theme at the store so they made everything from scratch. From decorating and personalizing cute paint buckets with friendly animals and pinwheels to making homemade animal and palm tree candies, she had it covered! Aunt Susie pitched in to make sure that we had some great food, too. The colorful balloons put the final touch to a very cute shower. At Rocco's party, we were able to see old friends that have forever put an imprint on our hearts (Dave, Jaclyn, Heather, Katherine, and many others) not to mention my nana and papaw Billy's side of the family. They came with great anticipation to see our precious blessing, Rocco. The little rockstar himself could only hold up a little while before dozing off for a nap. After he woke up, he enjoyed swinging on cousin Garrett's swingset outside. Jana and I reverted back to our ol' crazy selves and played on the see saw. Everyone was so generous with their gift giving and well wishes (even some of the people who work with my mom came out!). Leaving was the hardest part. With so much love from family and friends the four hour drive home was somewhat hard. Emotionally and physically! I guess I've spoiled my little boy somewhat. He cries if I don't hold his hand constantly while he's in his carseat. So. . . with a breaking back, contorted arm that felt like it was about to fall off, and a muscle in my shoulder screaming at me to turn around, I couldn't help it. I sat in the front seat and held his hand like any good mama would do. Jason said we need to break him from this habit. "Maybe tomorrow," I always say. "Maybe tomorrow."

Shower at Aunt Helen's

All the family gathered at Aunt Helen's house for a big party to celebrate Rocco! Aunt Helen is my Papaw Buddy's sister. He passed away when I was about 11. Although his time with us was short, we have been so blessed to have his mom (my great-grandmother) around for many years. She is the "Queen" that started this great big family and everyone LOVES mamaw! She is 90 years old now, and I'm so glad she was there to hold and sing the Choo Choo song to her great-great grandson, Rocco. We got this priceless moment on video. After she finished singing it, he clapped for her with his little hands.
Most of the family was able to make it out to welcome the newest member of the family as we ate subs, Jill's homemade candy, and cake. There were cousins, aunts, uncle Marty, my parents, and mamaw for Rocco to meet. I kept telling him, "This is your family!" Wow, this little guy has gone from having no one to having SO MANY relatives that love him. If we lived closer, cousin Kassidy would definitely be our babysitter. She is in 6th grade, and is unbelievable with children. She had Rocco laughing, playing, and having a good ol' time. He did so good to be surrounded by so many new faces. Once he warmed up to them, he was showing out winking, walking in his squeaky shoes, and clapping for them while saying, "Yeah!"

One family member that couldn't make it had a pretty good excuse. Jennifer had just had her baby on Monday and was at home recovering from that big event with Philip and baby Aiden. Even though it was late when we left the shower, I just had to go by her house and see him. He is so beautiful and sweet. . . all 8 pounds and 3 ounces of him! Jennifer and I are only 8 days apart; we went to school together and had so much fun together as "band buddies." It's amazing that God chose to bless us with children at the same time in our lives. I never thought we'd miss each other's baby showers, but when she had hers I was in Vietnam "giving birth" to my little boy. Boy am I glad those labor pains are over with!!
I truly believe that family is one of God's greatest blessings, and I am SO blessed to have such an extended family that loves and supports Jason, Rocco, and me.

First Haircut

Honestly, I never knew a haircut could be so painful! (Note to self: Do not schedule next hair appointment during nap time.)

Big Day in Cave Town

Rocco has come home to the big "Cave Town" and is enjoying spending time with Nana and Grandaddy. He took his first visit to see the farm today and loved it! Riding in the golf cart with daddy, nana, and mama, he saw cows up close and personal. Near the pond he watched some geese waddle by with their new babies. There were also horses, some big ol' catfish that daddy fed, and some beautiful butterflies fluttering about the springtime flowers. Rocco sat back and took it all in enjoying every minute of it. He and grandaddy sat next to the pond and watched daddy cut grass until he could stand it no longer. Being the first time he had seen a lawnmower, he wanted to get in on the action. . . so, he rode it with daddy. What a fun time!

After the farm experience, we took Rocco to the bank to see Aunt Betty Jean (whom he went to immediately with a smile). And then. . . it was to see Gloria for his first hair cut! What a big day with so many firsts! His appointment was at 1 pm (nap time) and he wasn't very happy. Still, he looked like a little man sitting in that booster seat with the hair cape around his neck. He screamed so much you would have thought he was at the doctor's office. Gloria loved on him and so did Vicki and Ms. Mickey (friends from our former church). It was so good to show him off to our close friends who had prayed so much for him and for us as we went through a LONG wait in becoming parents.

Later that night, we went to Papa's house to meet many of the family members for the first time. It wasn't the same without Papa there. His empty seat put a lump in my throat and a sad spot in my heart. Oh how we wish that Papa could have met and held Rocco. The rest of the family had a great time with him though. All of the little cousins huddled around him as he walked with his push toy. They were all about Rocco like he was a new baby doll. We had a wonderful time; it felt so good to be back home again.