it's been...one week

One week.
We have been home as a family of four for over one week now...and overall, it has been wonderful!

My lack of posting definitely does not come from a lack of desire to share all the wonderful (and not so wonderful) things that we've been up to since getting back from Korea; but comes namely from the fact that we've just been busy hanging out, enjoying each other, and figuring out all the things that need figuring out when you add a very mobile 13-month old to a pretty set and established routine of a family of three - one of which is a newly minted four year old.

The trouble with waiting so long to write...is that with so much going on, I almost don't know where to start or where to stop. When we were in Korea, I really wanted to document the trip well - for Leo's sake - and as a result got kinda wordy. I'm quickly learning that I won't have the time or energy to always be as "thorough" in my posts as I might want to be. And, that is going to have to be ok. I need to remember that what's important is that I share...just share something...for us to look back at this time and remember how incredibly wonderful it truly was So, one of these nights I just might start resorting to lists and pictures. But first, a very important message.

THANK YOU.

If there is one thing we have learned...remembered...this week, it's the value of friendship and how incredibly lucky and blessed we are to have such amazing friends. Our time in Korea and our first week back home with Leo would have been a hundred times more difficult if it was not for the unique and treasured friendship of all the lovely bloggy friends out there...your advice, encouragement, humor, and sincere interest and enthusiasm in Leo's homecoming has been nothing short of outstanding. Reading about your experiences and sharing our journeys together has made a world of a difference to us and to our approach in becoming All Accounted Four. We truly hope that in some way we too are returning the favor by sharing our journey. We so appreciate, and hope to someday meet in person, these wonderful families (if for no other reason than to give you a hug and say thank you!).

And, thank you to our friends and neighbors! Our homecoming has been just perfect! Signs, kind words of congratulations, eagerness to meet Leo, generous gifts - for both Leo and big brother Drew, and just genuine and gracious friendship. I seriously do not think we could have better friends and neighbors. We just feel so incredibly blessed...and know that Leo's easy transition has been in part because of all of the love we have been surrounded by from our friends over the past few weeks.


Now with that said...what you've all been waiting for...the One Week Report!

Aside from the excessive drool (most likely the affects of incoming tooth #7) and the unstoppable snot coming from his nose (again, either the result of incoming tooth #7 or a not so generous gift from that woman we sat next to on the plane) Leo is doing great! Like, so great I am constantly knocking on wood and beginning to look for things that could be wrong (for instance, he loves to eat...is he eating for comfort and will he be gaining twice his weight before his first doctor appointment?!?).


Eating.
Leo loves his bottles...his a swigger...throwing his bottle into his mouth and throwing his head back to drink...it's funny and cute...and I can easily picture how he'll be drinking a bottle of beer twenty years from now.
He loves all fruit - bananas, peaches, grapes, apples, watermelon, cantaloupe melon, pineapple, blueberries, pears...
He loves his veggies - peas, broccoli, corn, carrots, green beans (cauliflower is up next tomorrow)
He loves other healthy things too - yogurt, toast, waffles, rice, chicken, bites of turkey burgers, potatoes
He loves his snacks - puffs (any flavor), cherrios, goldfish, part of a donut from the apple orchard, and what's remaining of the treats from Korea
He loves sitting at the table with us in his high chair...and we love having all four sides of the table occupied!


Sleeping.
The first night was the toughest...jet lag and all. We had Leo sleep with us in our room...all was fine until we shut the door and got into bed. Then the crying started.  And would not stop. Finally, we decided to get one of the cats (since Leo just thought they were the funniest things ever and laughed like crazy upon seeing them for the first time) to change his mood. That did the trick...and then we realized he might be due for a bottle and crying due to hunger.  After the bottle, one happy camper again; when in doubt, feed the child.  Since sleeping with us went so well the first night, the next two nights we moved to Leo's room and one of us slept on the floor with him - he'd fall asleep on our bellies while we patted his back...and Damon and I would switching at the 2am bottle. Leo moves all over crazy when he sleeps - he like pivots around in a circle and rolls and it is just not a good for anyone sleeping with him to get any sleep. So, Friday night, we visited at a friend's house until bedtime...gave Leo his bottle...he fell asleep in the car and we put him in his crib when we got home. He slept there until his early morning bottle...and he's been sleeping the crib every night since. Awesome. So awesome, last night both boys were in bed by 9am and Damon and I actually got to watch the season premiere of Parenthood (love that show!). Totally. Awesome.


Brothers.
Leo adores Drew. And, Leo's shiny happy personality often doesn't peek out until he has seen Drew in the morning. I would be willing to guess that Drew is another reason why Leo's transition may be going so well - but, who knows.

Drew on the other hand has been having a difficult transition. And, quite honestly, it's been breaking my heart. He has not been the bestest of listeners, he's been rather defiant, and just not overly kind. I get it...I really do...it's all a normal part of adding a sibling. But, the part that sucks the most for me is that Leo takes a lot of my/our time and energy...so the time that I do get to spend with Drew I want to be Norman Rockwell pleasant. It's not...not at all. It has been full of arguing, and complaining, and rudeness, and aughh!! It has made me sad and stressed and just a mess. I just miss my Drew-man!

We are making progress though, Drew is warming up to Leo on his own. Yesterday in the car, Leo spit out his pacifier and started crying...and Drew picked it up and put it back in his mouth. My heart sang. He'll run up and pat Leo on the head...and give impromptu hugs and kisses. With this increased kindness towards Leo has come some increased kindness towards me...and it feels great to be reading and snuggling with Drew before bed again. Drew is back going to school three days a week...back to his friends and his routine...and I think that is going to help things too.

I just have to keep telling myself that it has only been a week....just one short little week...we've all come so far!!! And, in all honesty, things are not bad...they are just different. And different takes getting used to by everyone...at everyone's own pace.


Outings.
So, what have we been up to over the fast week (besides getting our sleeping patterns all adjusted and eating)? Through the weekend we played in the backyard...hit some parks...went and grabbed some food for dinner...did some family grocery shopping...and went to the shoe store to get Leo some new shoes! On Monday when Drew when back to school, Damon and I took Leo to the Agency to drop off some things and then hit the zoo for a picnic and stocked up on more goodies from Babies R Us. It really was great to spend some time alone with Leo...really getting to know our little guy. And, on Tuesday (Damon's last day off) we went to an apple orchard...both boys loved all the things to do there (the animals, the hay stacks, the pumpkins, the mazes...) and going through the orchard to find apples. It was a beautiful day and I am glad we got to spend it all together as a family.


Pictures.

Shoe size...7W!!

Rockin' at the park

Leo LOVES dirt...touching it AND eating it!

Posing (again) for the camera...and then wanting to see the results

My new helper...who knew sweeping could provide 15 minutes of entertainment?!

Daddy & Leo at the zoo

All snuggly for a walk to the orchard

Found an apple!!

Best pic of the two together that I've been able to get all week - nice faces

One happy Leo

Until next time...my parents are coming this weekend - timing could not be better - I think we need some respite