2011 - The year of more firsts.

2011 was a very good year with many firsts.

*Matthew had his very first birthday.
*Matthew learned to walk (run) and say many cute little words.
*Matthew started going to day care each day - and daddy survived.
*We had our first Mother's and Father's Day.
*We went to Kazapalooza for the first time and met some really nice families who also adopted from Kaz. Matthew also got his first kiss at Kazapalooza from a sweet little girl.

So far this winter we there hasn't been ANY snow. That's not normal for our part of the world. Today is December 31st and tomorrow we are supposed to get between 8" to 10" of snow. This afternoon Matthew got all ready. He absolutely loved running around the house in his hat and gloves.

Matthew's 2nd Christmas

Today is Matthew's 2nd Christmas. How blessed we have been to be able to share both of them with him. What a blessing he is in our lives. We love him so much.

This morning Matthew woke up at 6:30AM just as he does every day. We got up and opened his presents. He got one from the babysitter and one from us. He enjoyed ripping the wrapping paper off and playing with the boxes more than what was inside.

We got him "Let's Rock Elmo". Matthew loves Elmo a lot!!!

It's a "green Christmas" at our house and 42 degrees outside. Usually we have a thick blanket of snow way before Christmas!

Here are a couple pictures of Mattew posing for us with a gram cracker in his hand.

Matthew's 35 cute words

Matthew is changing so fast. He is learning a lot, loves to look at books and can say many words in a very cute voice.

I didn't want to let this time pass by without getting a video of it because I know that within 6 months he will be so much farther along. This morning at breakfast while Matthew was eating his waffle I decided to see if he would say the words he knows.

This week I took off work to be at home with Matthew. We are having a lot of fun playing chase, reading books and playing with all of his toys. There is absolutely nothing better in the world than being a dad!

1,685 mile road trip with a toddler

This past Thursday we left home and headed to the University of Alabama to see our daughter graduate from college. It was a two day journey to Alabama and a two day journey back home to Michigan.

Matthew has never been to excited to be confined to a car seat for more than 5 minutes (tops!). Boy did we find this out!

On Thursday we headed from home to Louisville, KY about a 7 hour trip that was half way to Alabama. Matthew had two major breakdowns and the tension in the vehicle was high.

We brought along some books that Matthew loves to read, his favorite bath-time duck, a stuffed dog and a DVD player with some neat movies. Let's just say that those things didn't keep his attention very long. For most of the trip he took off his Velcro tennis shoes and then had a crying fit because he couldn't get them back on his feet. When the shoes would come off, sometimes he would also take off his socks and would have a fit about that too. When he wasn't mad about his shoes/socks he would say over and over "Mama... IWannaACookie" or "Mama... IWannaJuice". The little guy pretty much ate or drank the entire trip!!!

On day two from Louisville, KY to Tuscaloosa, AL Matthew did a lot better. I think he finally realized that we were going somewhere and there really wasn't anything he could do about it. Also, I think "day 1" helped him get more acquainted with long car rides.

We made it to Alabama and had a great day on Saturday seeing Jenny graduate, spending time with her seeing and where she worked.

We started our journey home on Sunday, made it half way and then completed the drive home on Monday.

Below are some notes I made during the journey:
When traveling with a toddler -

Make sure to speak in code. If you don't and you say the wrong words you will pay the price. One that had us almost in tears laughing was - "if we stop at MD he'll want FF". (MacDonald's/french fries)

Don't use Velcro shoes on a toddler on a long road trip. Boredom will set in an he will take them off, then cry and scream because he can't get them back on. If a shoe comes off the sock won't be far behind. That too will result in the same window cracking screams.

If he happens to somehow fall asleep don't stop the vehicle for ANY reason! If the tank is on empty, so what. Drive on fumes if you have to!

If we could just have one dollar for every time Matthew said "Ma ma...." I want cracker/I want juice... We would have a million dollars and would have been able to charter a private jet for our journey.

One funny thing was almost every time Matthew would see the Golden Arches of MacDonald's he would say "shy shy" (French fry). That's pretty good for a 23 month old toddler. He's brand loyal and I'm sure I'll be stopping by many MacDonald's over the next 15 years!

My little Matthew got bit at daycare

It's with a very sad heart that I write this. Today at daycare my precious little Matthew got bit by a 2 year old little girl. I guess Matthew took the toy she was playing with and she turned around and took a bite right out of his cheek.

I was told by the daycare lady that Matthew cried for only a second as if nothing had happened. They put the little girl in time out and scolded her - yet that doesn't make me feel much better. My sweet little boy got hurt.

On top of that Matthew has had a very upset tummy and bowels for yesterday and today. He just doesn't seem like himself. He doesn't want to eat, and whatever we get him to eat just goes right through him. I sure hope he gets better soon and his little face heals quick too.

Ready to go swimming.

Is it time for Kazapalooza yet? Matthew is ready to go swimming!

Matthew tells Santa his Christmas wish.....

Today Matthew turned 23 months old! Wow has the time flown. We first met him on the day he turned 7 months old, and brought him home on his 10th month birthday.

This morning we took Matthew to see Santa. The line was long but Matthew waited really patient. Once it was his turn he sat on Santa's lap and let us take some pictures. I think I overheard him tell Santa that he wanted to see many, many more children be adopted so that they could have "forever" families.

Here are some pictures from today and one picture from last year when he visited Santa. Look at Santa's hand in each of the pictures you can see how much bigger Matthew has grown in the past year. Last year Santa's hand was about half the size of Matthew.

December 2011



December 2010