I'm soooo far behind!

Sorry, no excuse for it being so long since I last posted. Busy, yeah, somewhat. Lazy, more like it! Anyway, here are some pictures and videos of my little man along with updates on what he's been up to. I'll try not to be too wordy!

Catholic Charities has a meeting each month for all the couples who are waiting to adopt. Paul was out of town, I had to bring the celebration cake and gift (we have a celebration whenever there is an adoption placement). Eric spent the evening with Grandma and Grandpa so I didn't have to deal with him and the cake and gift.

Eric has a thing for gloves (and shoes and remotes and phones and ...)

Eric taking a ride on Avery's swing...my parent's next door neighbor's daughter, who's 2. One of Eric's many girlfriends.

Last month Eric had a cute day. At church, while standing in the back, there was a little Asian boy, a month older than Eric, who was looking out the back doors. Eric walked over and stood next to him and looked out the doors with him like they were best buddies. Then, he started hugging Mary Ann (also a month older). She didn't know what to make of it and got close to her dad for protection. Eric didn't give up, he gave her 5 or 6 hugs before I broke up the hug fest. We were able to rejoin Grandma in the pew for the sign of the peace. Eric joined in and shook hands with those around us, some multiple times. Later that evening at Grandma's, he found a vegetable brush in a cabinet and started brushing his hair with it.

Eric tries to help me with laundry. He'll carry dirty laundry to the doorway of the laundry room. I'm amazed at how much he can carry! He's trying to brush his own teeth. I brush them first then let him do it on his own. Sippy cup use is much better.

I threw my OSU shirt on him one night.

He wanted to get in his exersaucer.

Someone at church gave Eric a tissue, which he proceeded to tear up. He took a little piece and dabbed it at his nose. Mom and grandma are always going after his runny nose with a cloth diaper, handkerchief or tissue. I decided one day that he spends way too much time with me, especially in the bathroom, of course I can't use the bathroom without his assistance. He pulled a long piece of tissue, took a smaller piece and copied what mommy does with it. I about died laughing! He's getting pretty good with parts of the body. If you ask, he can show you his eyes, ears, hair, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, hands, fingers and belly. We're working on feet and toes.

On Thanksgiving, I was watching Eric with a 5 pound bag of potatoes. I thought he was going to drag them out to the family room. I turned away to tell grandma that he was bringing them to her to start peeling. Next thing I knew he was carrying them to her. Later, he tried to take the potatoes and put them in the oven, not turned on of course. They were a bit too heavy and ended up falling and getting a little cut on his lip. Grandma laughed at him, trying to put the potatoes in the oven, not falling. I put an olive on one of his fingers, he laughed and put the whole thing in his mouth. A few minutes later he decided that was a bit much and spit out tiny pieces into grandma's hand.

One family tradition we have is to cut down our Christmas tree the first Saturday in December. I decided this year we need to do it during the week. One, I always go to a craft fair that day and two, there's the Army/Navy game. So, we went on Friday instead. Good thing because we had light snow all day Saturday. Here are a few pictures from our Christmas tree expedition...

With grandma's tree...


Helping daddy cut down our tree...

After I got home from the craft fair I started to put the lights on the tree while keeping tabs on the Army/Navy game. Can you guess who we were rooting for? Well, Paul was for Army, but he's out numbered in this family!

Just lights...

Lights and garland...

Daddy and his Army ball. Didn't help in their 34-0 loss to Navy.
Today, Eric accomplished drinking from a straw. Since he never really drank from a bottle, his sucking skills are very weak. But he's been doing good with the sippy cup. He tried the straw in my iced tea, but couldn't quite do it, so I helped him by starting it. He got some, then tried on his own and did it. He thought he was a hot shot!

Mike and Kate left a sleeping bag that has a bear for a pillow, behind for Eric, when they visited last month. Here's Eric with the bear...

Paul had just emptied the diaper Genie. Eric is dragging around the "diaper sausage."

Eric is "putting on lotion."

Playing with Kalamazoo Karl Kat...

Eric helping me clean up...

He used to love the vacuum cleaner. He'd follow me around while I ran it. About 2 months ago, he decided it is not a good thing and gets very upset when it is on. So, he's checking it out very carefully!