Other December pictures and happenings...

Going back and looking over what else happened in December, there are only a few things. Christmas with Paul's family is another post. We celebrated Eric's 1st "Gotcha Day" anniversary on the 20th. It was a year since Eric's adoption was finalized and officially became ours, even though he was ours since the day we first laid eyes on him. Paul was out of town, so I was just going to take Eric to one of the two restaurants went to that day. I opted for LaRosa's, since I didn't feel like driving to Kentucky to get to Joe's Crab Shack. When David heard what I was doing he invited himself and mom along. No problem, especially since David ended up paying, thanks bro!

Eric didn't eat very much of the fruit I brought for him, nor the spaghetti that was ordered for him. Anything off of other plates, especially Uncle David's, sure. He loves bread, so the bread sticks were a hit. Uncle David's sausage hoggie, including the green pepper, cheese, lettuce and whatever else was on it. He was hilarious with the pickle. Don't mess with his pickle! He held onto that thing for dear life. He had a hard time eating it. David was able to eat most it, kept picking pieces off. Next year, we'll do a little more with him. Make it a special day.

On to some of his antics...at my parents, (yes I spend a lot of time there, especially around holidays and when they have visitors) Eric climbed onto the love seat, with the help of David's laptop computer case. He proceeded to take anything on the love seat and the vicinity, and shove it behind the love seat. Not sure how much he crammed back there. But he was up and down gathering things.

Eric has been taught a couple of sign language signs, like eat, drink, more, all done and please (a couple are his adaptation of them). One night, while sitting on Grandpa's lap at dinner, he signed drink and then grabbed a napkin and held it up under his chin. Dad didn't catch it, mom and I laughed. When we are in the family room, if he's mooching a drink off of one us, we always use a cloth of some sort as a "bib." So, we are always holding a cloth under his chin, in case of dribbling. Can't say he doesn't pay attention!

Eric loves cell phones. He now has my old one, Paul's old one plus an old one of David's. He prefers one that's operational, but that doesn't happen often. At the family Christmas gathering, Eric had Paul's phone and was "talking" into it. This was a first. He usually just holds it up and we say"hello," he doesn't say anything. He was so cute walking around, talking into the phone, then close it like he was done with his call. David would called Paul's phone, Eric would either open it and then close it right away or hold it up to his ear and the close it. Not sure if he ever heard David on the other end. It was cute. My dad should have gotten a video of it.

Here are some more December pictures starting with Lucifer and his "bling"...


Hard to see, but Eric is pointing out a Tigger ornament....

Children's Hospital Outpatient Eastgate, where I take Eric for speech therapy, has a Santa Claus, for one evening for an hour, every year, available for picture taking and then the kids also get a small gift. That's where the picture for last year's Christmas card was taken. It's in the waiting room, so the background isn't the best. I try to get as much of the Christmas tree in the background as I can. I haven't seen the pictures dad took. Maybe he got Eric with a smile, but he loves his Beanie Baby puppy, Fetch. The one of the three of us is good.

Christmas 2008

On Christmas morning I awoke to the sound of Eric in the other bedroom, with Paul, at my parent's. I quietly got up and listened at the door, daddy was asking if they could sleep for another 2 hours. Ha! Eric had a couple of surprises from Santa...a new tricycle (a little big yet) and a new chair.

Uncle David had to work, but he got off earlier than he was going to originally. So, we were able to have Christmas dinner and then open all our "loot" after.

Here's the little emperor on his throne Christmas night at home...

And here are the kitties with their presents, catnip bags...

Monster

Lucifer

Kalamazoo

And finally, daddy taking Eric for a spin.

Christmas Eve

Here are a couple of pictures I took on Tuesday night...

The three of us spent last night at my parent's house. After a homemade yummylicious dinner made by my mom, her sauce and pasta shells, Paul and dad went to their church's Christmas Eve services. Mom and I entertained Eric and did some kitchen prep for some of today's cooking. Someone gave me the idea for a new tradition, the kids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve, a new pair of "jammers." Eric got to pull his "Handy Manny" jammers out of a bag, take a bath and show them off. Then we read "The Night Before Christmas."

Next, it was time to put milk, cookies and a note out for Santa. We had to taste test everything to make sure it was good enough for Santa.

And lastly, here's a video of Daddy reading. Amazingly, he sat through much of it.

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!

I love my family!

Last week I spent quite a bit of time at my parent's house, more so than usual. My second oldest brother, Rick, arrived Sunday Nov. 2. Of course we had to have Skyline for dinner! Service left much to be desired, which is very unusual for Skyline, but food was great. Tuesday, Paul, Eric and I picked up a couple of LaRosa's meatball hogies for my parents who were working the polls. I voted while I was there, in and out. Picked up Rick and my oldest brother, David, and had lunch at Red Robin. Eric enjoyed playing in Uncle David's iced tea getting the ice cubes, which ended up on the floor. He also ate his first french fry (he's had little bits before). While the guys were fixing tacos for dinner, Eric and I munched on tortillas and salsa, well Eric just took the salsa off the chip.

Eric and Uncle Rick

The youngest of my three brothers, Mike, arrived on Thursday with his wife, Kate. After a delicious dinner of my mom's spaghetti sauce and LaRosa's meatballs (yes, there was spaghetti too), we took pictures of the family. This was the first time the six of us, my parents, brothers and I, were all together since my wedding six years ago. Paul was working and Rick's wife, Dianna, who didn't accompany him, weren't in the pictures, so we didn't have the whole family.

Mike and Kate

Mike, Kate, Me, Eric, David, Mom, Rick, Dad

Mike, David, Rick, Me

Friday Nov. 7, was my parent's 49th wedding anniversary. It was also Mike and Kate's 11th anniversary, hence their visit. And it was also the anniversary of a couple my parents know from my dad's Navy days. They live about 45 min. away. So, on Saturday, the three couples went to a very nice restaurant to celebrate. David, Eric and I went to Red Lobster (Paul was flying and Rick had already left). Eric already had his dinner, but he proceeded to munch on various items we put in front of him...biscuit, broccoli, rice, pasta and calamari. Not sure if David gave him any shrimp.

I have other pictures and "stuff", but I'll stop and end with a video of Eric and the leaves followed by Eric helping Grandma dishing out dessert.

Ladybugs...Beware!

We survived the week without Daddy, for the first time in four weeks. Some days were longer than others, but mommy got an occasional break. Thank goodness for grandparents only a mile away! Eric is a very active little boy and into everything. He scales the stairs in a flash, has finally started to come down on his own. He's still hesitant about that. The sippy cup gives him problems, mommy has to come to the rescue. Half the time he has it turned to wrong way or he just doesn't tilt it enough. But he's drinking from it more, although milk is not a favorite.

His plastic jack-o-lantern was a great source of entertainment this week. He had everything from balls to a pancake syrup bottle stuffed in there. Non-stick cooking spray cans were carried back and forth in the kitchen and living room. Anything he could put inside something else and shake became a great rattle, the louder, the better. Mommy's witch's hat was pretty cool. I couldn't get a picture of him with it on but did get a short video...

During his in home speech therapy Wednesday, Eric took a liking to the therapists sunglasses. He thought he was a cool little dude. He also ate a whole piece of salami and 2/3 of a slice of bread for her. He's into sandwiches right now, salami or cheese.

Paul made it home for Halloween. He stayed and passed out candy which allowed Eric and his lady in waiting to cruise the neighborhood for goodies. He was really good. Quiet the whole time. The last we stopped at he gave his one and only wave. Guess he knew this was the end of the line. We hung out in a neighbor's driveway for a little while before going to the grandparents so they could see the little "Smokey the Bear type ranger guy." He had a hand-me-down bear costume from the Hopester, with a Junior Ranger hat and Andersonville badge on (both bought by grandma).

Here he is with daddy before trick or treating and grandma and grandpa after. The pictures with me are on grandpa's camera.

Playing with his Halloween candy.

And finally, the title of the post...we were out on the deck and I spied some ladybugs, because it's that time of the year. I picked one off the screen and Eric tried to pick it up, but he either dropped everyone or it flew off. I went inside to get my camera in case he was ever able to hold on to one. We found some more and just as I started to film...pop!...into his mouth it went. The kid who hardly ever put things in his mouth and who we thought would never eat by mouth, tried to eat a ladybug (I did catch him spitting out a leaf a few days ago). I guess you could say, he's a true toddler now and all boy.