The return of the climber...

Oh my...the climbing has gone into full swing the past couple of days! It was almost as if he'd forgotten that skill...until he realized he could STAND up on a little motorbike that he has in the house. Then it occurred to him that he could actually MOVE the motorbike different places, use it as a booster, and then he's up! He's now doing this onto the twin bed that is in his room. Oy. I left his room for about 5 seconds this morning and I suddenly heard the telltale grunt of a climb. Yes, when I ran back into his room, my boy was teetering on the edge of the twin bed, arms up in the air, and loving every minute of it. Yikes! No more leaving the room, I guess...

Don't have any photos of this event, but here are some recent ones of the man, the myth, the legend....BEAR CUB!!!

Giving hugs to his new bunny, Brownie...

Cruising outside on his motorized 4-wheeler! He still ends up in the grass most of the time...There should be a law against this...My cutie-pie!

The wild man look...this is very close to the look he had while balancing on the edge of the bed! Crazed, I'd call it!

The sweetest thing...

Just a quick story about bedtime tonight. After Daddy does the nightly bath, we read some books together, and then BC and I head to his room for his bottle and some snuggle time in the rocking chair. He sort of straddles me, with his head against my chest or on my shoulder, but tonight he kept picking his head up and I could tell in the darkness that he was looking at me. As my eyes adjusted, I could see that sweet mouth of his ready for a kiss as he leaned towards me. This literally took place 10 times...maybe more. What a loving little boy we have here. I could hardly stand to put him down in his crib tonight. Those kisses make the world melt away. What an angel he is!

Some new pictures...

Reading with Mimi is always fun!
Ooohh...check this out, Mama!
Having some fun today on the golfcourse.
Zoe goes for another walk...don't worry....she got herself into that position. No dog was harmed during this shot! :)
Best buds...

Another weekend is here...already!

Hope you all have had a nice week! Ours was another busy one! Wow...I guess that is just our routine now. My mom came over for a couple of days and we had fun just hanging around, doing a little shopping, and enjoying Bear Cub, of course! We're looking forward to a quiet weekend at home...no plans and that is a great thing! Have a happy weekend!

The weekend buzz...

It was a busy and eventful weekend around here! Well, I guess Sunday was the big highlight of the weekend. We went to a couples shower for my sister-in-law and her soon-to-be. Bear Cub had a great time! The hostess has a pool, so Daddy and I spent most of our day keeping BC away from the edge and fishing out his toys, the dog's toys, and basically whatever else he threw into it! Oh my...at least he didn't throw himself in. ;)

The soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.

A quick family photo before the toy tossing began!

Having some fun with Grandma and Grandpa!

Time to play ball!

What a week!

Here's a little rundown of our very busy week! Time is flying by and it seems like our weeks go quicker all the time. It was a fun one, for sure!

Monday -- I had to take Bear Cub to the dentist with me. Ok...so that might be the last time he comes to one of my appointments! He got upset in his stroller pretty much as soon as I sat in the chair. So he got to sit right on top of me for a bird's-eye view of all the action. No photos of this moment, but here's a picture of the little man in Russia...fascinated with teeth. Maybe we do have a future dentist here!

Tuesday -- Tuxedo Day! We headed over to buy BC's tux for his aunt's March wedding. He stayed very busy playing with his truck while I completed the transaction. Let's see...he was throwing his truck through the racks of vests, rolling it all over the floor (while on his belly) and just cracking himself up by tugging on the sleeves of the poor manequin. Is this what we have to look forward to as far as wedding behavior? Oh my! Hey...he's going to be so handsome that those little issues won't matter a bit! ;)

Wednesday -- We went to a birthday party! We've become friends with a little girl and her mom from our Activities class, so we headed to their house to help her celebrate the BIG 2. BC had a great time with the birthday girl and the other guest. He loved the toy dinosaurs that were out and all of the balls out on their porch. Oh yes...the balloons were a hit, as well! He was konked out not even 5 minutes into our ride home.

Thursday -- Happy Valentine's Day! We celebrated in our weekly Activities class by having cupcakes and doing some Valentine art. BC really got into stacking the big blocks today and he loved jumping on the trampoline. He's coming out of his shell, for sure! We've signed up for another 4 weeks of this class. It is a lot of fun!

And today -- well, we just met some friends up at a local park for a quick playtime, and then it was into the stroller for a long walk along our trail here in town. I think we did about 4 miles today! So now he's sleeping and we're happy that Daddy will be home early today. We have a busy weekend ahead. Hope you all have a great one!

Love is in the air...

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Tomorrow I will post more pictures from our busy week, but I had to share just this one from today. Bear Cub and I have joined a Toddler Activities class that meets weekly. This class has brought him out of his protective shell so much. It is amazing the social growth I have witnessed in the past 4 weeks. Here he is...looking (lovingly, perhaps?) at one of his little friends in class. May your day be filled with love and happiness!

A Look Back...

7 months ago today...my husband and I woke up in Vladivostok and got dressed in business suits to attend Russian court.

7 months ago today...we held each other's sweaty hands as we waited anxiously for our turn to go into the small courtroom.

7 months ago today...we nervously answered the judge's and prosecutor's questions about parenthood and the challenges that laid ahead.

7 months ago today...a precious baby boy became ours forever.

7 months ago today...he was brought down the hall to us in nothing but a diaper and white t-shirt, ready for his new clothes and his new Mama and Daddy.

7 months ago today...his caregivers said good-bye and took pictures with us.

7 months ago today...we carried our son down three flights of stairs and out into the fresh air.

7 months ago today...a little boy sat on my lap, his hands on mine, and stared...wide-eyed, out the car window at the sights that sped by as we whisked him away from the life he knew.

7 months ago today...a dream came true.

I thank God every day for that day...seven months ago. I love you, Bear Cub!

Just a few new photos from yesterday...

Bear Cub was just so excited about this Valentine's firetruck card from his great-grandparents! He played with it for a long time! He pretends a lot now -- which is so cute to watch!Here he is opening his Valentine gift from Grandma & Grandpa - he loves his new book...and especially the musical "Cars" card! Thanks G & G! Love those baby blues of his...
Look at those pearly whites!
Getting cleaned up...and he needed it after his THREE helpings of spaghetti and sausage last night! He loves it!

A little credit where credit is deserved...

Ok...so I may have gone a little crazy with my germ description in the doctor's office in yesterday's post. My very best friend is a great pediatrician (who unfortunately lives 3 hours away from us!) and I have to say that I meant no harm in my paranoid Mommy ways. ;)

So to Dr./Auntie E and to our own nice pediatricians here at home... thanks for taking such good care of us! And for at least trying to kill those floating and flying germs in the office before they reach the rest of us... :) Hee, hee!

A strange outbreak of polka-dots, a trip to see The Mouse, and a new look in the bedroom...

Now if that headline doesn't hook you, then I don't know what will!

It was a very busy week last week --- it seems like we had something to do just about every day. Things did slow down a bit when Bear Cub's cold got more annoying for him. I guess it was Tuesday when he woke up with some little dots around his belly button. I attributed them to a very wet diaper, which had leaked to his surrounding areas. But throughout the day, the dots came and went -- in all sorts of places! We tried some Benadryl, which helped for a bit, but then the dots would reappear and then disappear, almost as quickly as they came! Very strange...

I've taken pride in the fact that I have not overreacted (too much, anyway!) to the bumps, bruises, and runny noses that we have encountered with BC in the past 7 months. But I will say that I was a bit nervous when I couldn't get those darn spots to quit coming and going. So I ended up taking him to the doctor -- our first "sick" visit that we've had yet. I wish we could have oxygen masks in those offices...I can almost see the germs spreading with every sneeze and cough in there. It must be a sick time of year because the waiting room was packed! We hovered in our little corner -- backs against the flying germs -- and played quietly with the books and toys that I brought with us. Ok...you can see that I'm a bit paranoid about the germ thing in the doctor's office! ;) Now remember, these spots had a way of coming and going so fast that I was HOPING that he'd at least have a couple for the doctor to see. Sure enough, he did, and she told us that it was just hives and probably due to a reaction to whatever virus was causing his runny nose. Wouldn't you know...after my $30 co-pay and over an hour of fun at the doctor's...those things just up and disappeared for good! I think she scared the hives right out of my boy! Anyway, long story short, he's fine now and even the goopy nose is getting better.

So there's my polka-dotted portion...now on to the mouse!

We are VERY lucky to live within 45 minutes of the famed Walt Disney World. I'd say that we are even luckier to know kind Disney employees that were willing to get us into the park for free yesterday! So Bear Cub had his very first Magic Kingdom experience -- and I do believe it was magical for him. He loved it! I started telling him on Thursday about going to Disney and Mickey Mouse. He can now finish the phrase Mickey ___ with Mickey "Mow" and a big grin. We rode several rides and he was just in awe of it all. He LOVED "It's a Small World" -- I think we could have ridden that all day long and he would have been content. It really is a wonderful place and I feel like a kid myself when I go there. There's something about it that just takes you back in time to your own childhood. Now granted... being there with a 19-month-old did have some challenges. He didn't like waiting in lines, he wanted to run most places, and he got really antsy when waiting for the parade to begin. But all in all, I'd say his first trip there was a big success! A special thanks to our friends who got us into the park -- what a treat for us all!

And now...onto the new look in the bedroom! (Remember, this is a family show here... )

Friday afternoon we went to IKEA and bought ourselves a brand new bed! I am so excited about it because we've never had bed "furniture" before -- it's just been a mattress and box springs for these 7 years that we've been married. So we finally have a grown-up look in our bedroom and even a new comforter to boot! Yippee!! It's amazing how one new thing can change your whole outlook on life. Ha, ha...just kidding. But it sure is fun to have something new and purdy!

There you go -- a long post about nothing, really. A lot like Seinfeld, actually! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead. I'll post more soon!

Waiting for the parade to begin!

Arrrrghh, Matey! Pirate Bear Cub about to the lop the head off of his father!

Sitting like a big boy between Mama & Daddy on one of the rides...

Tuckered out after a full day...but still hanging on to his cup and his new Mickey!

Yeah for our cool new bed set! And it's low enough that Zoe can jump up and down without our help. This will prove VERY nice at 2 a.m. when she's whining to get back in bed!

Just hangin' around...

Here is a picture of my boys from the other night. Bear Cub was hamming it up for the camera while Daddy was trying to give him a lesson on tossing the football up in the air. What a pair!

A weekend with grandparents...

This past weekend we headed over to the town where both of our families live. Bear Cub did great on the almost 2-hour drive there and remained a very happy camper for the whole weekend. Saturday was the beginning of my sister-in-law's wedding events -- bridal shower #1. While the girls were away at the party, BC got to spend some quality time with Daddy and Grandpa Bear. I don't have any evidence of this...as I had the camera at the shower. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall during all that male-bonding time though! My husband is the BEST daddy ever -- even better than I ever imagined. So I know Bear Cub had fun and was taken good care of. I did start to really miss him after almost 6 hours away! I'm so used to it being him with me ALL day long. I had a great time at the shower though and I really enjoyed eating my meal without having to throw my arm out to catch a flying cup or piece of food! :)Here I am with my mother-in-law and 2 sister-in-laws at the shower.

The beautiful bride-to-be is in the turquoise and black dress next to me. :)

We spent the night with my mom and BC had lots of fun playing with Mimi Bear and the new fire truck that she bought for him. He was making his firetruck "woo-woo" sound all over the place!

Bear Cub checking out his new fire engine. Wow! Thanks again, Mimi!

Here are a couple of pictures from our fun family weekend. We've got bridal party #2 coming up in a couple of weeks, so there will be more to tell then. Oh...did I mention that Bear Cub is the ring bearer in this upcoming March wedding? Can't wait to see that little guy in his tuxedo! Oh my...watch out!

Having some fun and dancing with Mimi!

Almost 6 months at home!

Tomorrow we will have officially been back in the good 'ol US of A for six months with our Bear Cub! Time has flown by -- it has been an incredibly wonderful and busy six months at home - full of learning (on all of our parts!) and fun. BC has changed so much - it would be difficult to summarize it all. But I'll give it a try! Since we've been home, here are just some of the things he has learned to do!

• WALK!!! That happened when he was just about 14 months old.


• Say "Mama, Dada, Zzzz for Zoe, mo for more, ta-ta for water, moo, uff for Ruff, tur-tur for turtle, mmm-maa for football and soccer ball, maa for ball, and he can say the letter sounds for 'a,' 't,' 'm', and 's'


• He can identify a huge amount of objects, pictures, photos, you name it! He may not be able to verbalize it all yet, but boy, he can point it out!


• Drink from a cup


• Feed himself with a fork - well, parttime and sort of - but he's getting there!


• Give hugs and kisses


• Pet Zoe gently


• Wave hi and bye


• Blow kisses


• Do patty-cake motions and The Itsy-Bitsy Spider motions -- too cute!


• RUN! THROW BALLS!


• He can put together puzzles and build block towers (although he crashes them down pretty quickly these days)


• Throw little fits when he doesn't get his way -- my Bear Cub can actually be a real Bear at times -- look out...the 2s are coming fast!

He learns something new each and every day - so much that it is hard to keep track of. All I can say is that he continues to amaze me and my heart just bursts with love and pride at all times. I can't wait to see what he'll do next -- just imagine where he'll be in 6 more months! Enjoy the photos -- some are from when we first arrived home with him in August and the others are from yesterday -- just a little fun on the porch! Have a great weekend!

We had about a month of back-breaking walking (for us!) around the house! But once he got the hang of it, he learned fast!

He was fast on his hands and knees. Look out Zoe!

He looks like such a little guy here!

Yesterday...giving Zoe some love.

And then...giving himself some love! He loves to kiss himself in any reflection.

Great self-esteem...or big ego? :)