25 Months Old

Rocco turned 25 months old today. (Yes, I'm still taking his picture in his blue chair every month on the 29th in his white onesie. I guess I'll have to quit this eventually. I don't think they have onesies for 3 or 4 year olds.)

Here's the latest. . .

He went to the doctor this month for allergies. When they weighed him he was 21 pounds.

Gum is a new treat that he loves. The first piece I gave him was a tiny piece of Trident. He chewed on it for 20 minutes or more until I asked him to spit it out. Only problem was that the next morning he chewed on his bacon for that long and never would swallow it.

The Wiggles are still his favorite TV show, and he thinks he has to watch them every time we get in my Tahoe. In the morning he usually watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

His favorite foods are french fries, Pringles, Ritz crackers, cucumbers, and Kit Kats. He's really into candy lately though we limit his intake of it.

His speech is slowly coming along. In the last month he's managed to add to his vocabulary ride "RRReye", slide "SSSeye", bubble, cookie. And he says "Bookie" a lot, but we're not sure what a bookie is. When you greet you on the phone he has a high pitched, "Hey!"

The play room upstairs is finally organized. Rocco has learned how to go up stairs without crawling. Instead, he holds onto the spindles with his left hand as he walks up them.

He still takes a bottle. . . but only at night. As soon as it goes in his mouth his right hand starts rubbing his right ear. It's really sweet.

His naps are usually 2 1/2 hours.

In the past when he's tried to blow bubbles, he couldn't do it for putting the wand in his mouth. Now he knows how to blow the air into it. And his newest tub toy is a bubble machine that constantly blows out big bubbles into the tub.

He's really into the rev-up cars that spin their wheels.

Working on puzzles comes much easier to him. With his big board puzzles, he can now take the pieces out and put them back where they came from (so long as they have a matching picture that goes with the piece.)

Sometimes at a restaurant or during church we have to take him out and "have a talk." He shakes his finger back and forth as if to say, "No, no, no." He's certainly mimicing what he's seen us do.

Although he's not totally potty trained, he will pee pee in the potty most of the time when I set him down on it. He did this 3 times on April 17th.

Saddened by the News

I've known for some time now that the adoption agreement between the US and Vietnam was shaky. Many questionable dealings with adoption have occurred in VN. Due to the horrible things that have happened in some provinces (giving children away without the birth parents' true consent, child selling, and other things I don't even want to mention) all American adoptions in Vietnam will cease this summer. Adoptive parents who have a referral by the end of August will be able to finish their adoption journey. . . but the other families will have to start over, find a new path/country, or quit their adoption plans altogether. My heart is saddened by this news. I still remember the faces of the orphans that were left behind in the dust as our bus left Ninh Thuan's orphanage on March 14, 2007. It was the only time I really cried on our trip. Now to think that so many children will not have forever homes just kills me. And for the families that have gone through mounds of paperwork, paid thousands of dollars, prepared their hearts for a child, gone to the end of the great roller coaster ride of adoption only to have the dream of a Vietnamese child come to an end. . . you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Spoiled Rotten All Day Long

If you've read this blog any length of time, I'm sure it is obvious how much we love on our little boy, Rocco.

But did you know that he still gets loved on when Jason and I are at work? That's because he gets to stay with nana and granddaddy. Every day is an adventure at their house. Their living room looks more like a playroom. Puzzles, books, cars and ramps, balls, tractors, push toys, pop up toys, sit on it and go toys. . . you get the idea. One of his favorite things to do is line up the toy horses and trot, creep, and run around them. He claps to celebrate when they're lined up just right. Now that the weather is getting warmer, their adventures have moved to outside. The other day when I drove up to get him he was sliding on the swingset with nana. He also showed me that his legs were getting long enough to ride a tricycle.

Today he went to the family farm with nana and watched granddaddy stock the pond with fish. And of course he had to ride the golf cart while he was there, too.

There's just no telling what he's going to do each day at nana and granddaddy's. It's no wonder when I ask him, "Are you ready to go home?" he shakes his head no.

Bubbles!

Bath time is bubble time at our house lately, especially since Rocco got a bubble blowing machine from his Nana Helen. When he gets in the water, he immediatly wants to push the button that sends a continuous stream of bubbles into the tub. He's learned how to catch them and hold them in his hand. It's really sweet because he'll grasp them and then gently blow to make them pop! Rocco gets beside himself; he squeals, claps, and does a quick dance of excitement every night when we begin the fun.

What a blessing it is to have this little explorer in our lives. He really makes us pause in wonder and amazement at the things we used to not even notice and even take for granted.

Music Class

Just two more Monday nights left and we'll be through with Kindermusik. The class has been so good for Rocco in so many ways. Thus far he's had perfect attendance and has managed to bring a lot of friends and family with him on several class nights (Nana Carolyn, Gloria, Drew, Papaw & Mimi, and Grandnana Helen). His teacher, Ms. Kay, calls them "Rocco's Fan Club." Below is a picture of Grandnana and Mimi swinging him in a towel (one of his favorites!). This was a special night because we had 4 generations present!

Not only has it been a wonderful time of bonding between Rocco and mommy, it has been a great way for him to interact with other children in a non-threatening / laid back environment. Check out these 2 cute peas in a pod (Jada Joy was also adopted from Vietnam).The class has taught him many movements, such as patting, bouncing, trotting, creeping, running, swooping, shaking, marching, and following the leader. During each class he would carefully watch the teacher and follow her cue. Even when she would tell us it was time for intentional touch / baby massage, Rocco would rub the floor just like she was doing. Every lesson had a goal and Rocco learned them with much ease (high vs. low, fast vs. slow, short vs. long beats, & moving and freezing). Throughout our lessons, Rocco also learned how to share musical instruments and not to cry when it was time to put them away. He was such a big helper when it came time to clean up!

Kindermusik also came in handy when we had photo sessions, and I needed him to smile. A familiar tune would always do the trick! I'm so thankful Kindermusik has been a small part of the shaping and molding of our little boy.

PS I must admit one of my favorite parts about Monday night is that we would always go out and eat afterward with the family member that went with us. It was a great "date night" for mommy and Rocco and friends.

Uncle Tyler Goes to Prom

My handsome brother went to the prom tonight.

He graduated last May and is in his first year of college, but his girlfriend is still in high school. Although this is his third prom, it was the first time I've been able to be at my parents' house for the picture taking. I dressed up Rocco in his tux, too, and we had a great time seeing my brother and his friends off on their big night. I love this shot because it looks like Rocco is thinking as he rubs his chin, "Hmm, we sure are handsome aren't we?"

This cool truck Tyler is standing next to is my dad's. He didn't get to drive this antique; dad only got it out for the pictures.


While my brother was getting ready to leave, I snapped this shot of Rocco blowing his first dandelion. Oh to be a child again and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. No worries, no rushing here and there, only time to play. . .

Three Generations of Farmers

Rocco and his daddy plowed for an hour or more in our back yard this afternoon. They were working hard to get the ground ready for our garden. Little cowboy just sat in the buddy seat enjoying the ride and making tractor sounds with his lips. When the tractor came to a stop, he said, "Gin!" Jason has got one more farmin' buddy.

Mama's Cowboy

Here's our handsome 2 year old in his new cowboy hat with nothing but a diaper on and showing off his muscles. Now you know what a handsome cowboy looks like!

And if one weren't enough, I have 2 handsome cowboys!

24 Months Old

Rocco is 2! And here's the latest. . .

1)I think he may finally weigh a little over 20 pounds, but he's still in a size 3 diaper.

2)He still takes his 2 - 3 hour nap during the day.
3)No more morning bottle. The only time he gets one is at night before bed. . . and sometimes right before nap.

4)At the sight of bubbles he does a dance. He also enjoys playing with cars on ramps and his horses which he lines up and creeps/runs/trots around.

5)Although he's not talking much, he does have his own cute way of saying, "Mama," "Again" (Gin), "Please" (Eees), "More" (maah), "Drew" (Zhoo), "Nana", "Dada", "Papaw", "Hey!" and "Bye bye" (Bye, Bye, Bye).

6)By far his fine motor skills are his strongest strength. His gross motor skills are also very impressive; he can throw a ball really well.

7)Rocco is the most loving child I could ever have. Often he'll turn his head close to my cheek and kiss me for no reason.

8) Rocco and his daddy love to wrestle, ride the tractor, and they even went on their first fishing outting the other day.