On How We're Doing

A lot of people have been asking how we're doing with a new little kiddo in house these days.
I usually answer this by saying, "Great! We're all adjusting so well and he seems to be coming out of his shell a lot!" Which is true, but there's a much longer answer that's hard to give every time we're asked.

Thus I thought it would be a good idea to blog about it. Since I am no longer able to think, talk, or write in complete thoughts you're getting a lists.

• Our little guy is coming out of his shell so much. He's talking a ton more, being more independent, exploring, etc. He went to nursery for the first time today (we haven't tried to take him until today because we thought it would be too much for him at first) and he saw other kids go in the room and he went right in! I was worried he'd be sad when we took him there and left, but we didn't even have to walk him in! It was pretty great. I'm so happy that he's comfortable enough now to leave my side sometimes. 
• He LOVES to help me make dinner. It's the cutest.
• I'm pretty sure his favorite food is waffles. Or maybe syrup. 
• His dancing might be my favorite thing.
• There's a lot of talk about Simba around our house. This kid is obsessed with the Lion King. I don't think it's a phase either, I think it's a true obsession. Today I was making some pasta salad and I turned around to see what he was doing and he was on our bench holding his lion stuffed animal on the edge (picture Scar Holding Mufasa on the edge of a cliff) and then he dropped him to his death. I yelled, "Mufasa, Nooooooo!" He thought it was the funniest thing ever. Also, sometimes we listen to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in the car and he always does the, "What?! Who?! Oh." It's the funniest. Also, the first time we watched the movie together he used Jayson's knee as pride rock and pretended to climb up it and roar just like Simba at the end of the movie. This kids cracks us up so much. 
• He loves to sing along to Disney songs. "What's This" is one of his favorites, which is great because it's also one of my favorites.
• He's also developed a fondness for turtles over the past couple of days and we read our book about sea turtles a billion times a day. We say "Mom! a kurkle!" "Yes, you're right! It is a turtle!" for years.
• I took him to see the ducks at Gardner Village (ok, possibly the main reason we went was because I wanted to buy fabric) and he was delighted. They come right up to you if you feed them. He loved it! 
• It's hard to know which words we've helped him learn and which ones he already knew but we just haven't heard yet, but I'm taking credit for "delicious" and "Christmas" so far. 
• A couple of nights he slept through the night for the first and only time so far. We were overjoyed! After we checked on him to make sure he was still breathing. You guys woke up a little worried the first time your babies slept through the night too, right? But then he didn't nap that day. So, there's that. 
• This morning when he woke up he called for Jayson, as he was the one that had woken up with him during the night. When Jayson went in he had his socks on his hands. I don't know why but it was hilarious. 
• He really bonded with Jayson this weekend and it has been the sweetest thing to watch.
• Jayson has been working like a billion (seriously though, at least 60) hours over the past few weeks, so things have been crazy-busy around here and our house might not be clean until after Christmas. It's fine. I've accepted it. 
• Jayson also just got called into scouts. He's over the 14-16 year olds I think? You guys, I never new scout leaders were so busy. 
• Ruby seems to like our little guy, but she's also chewed up some plastic animal figures of his. She's not normally one to chew up things she's not supposed to, so I think it's her way of acting out because she's not the center of attention anymore. Poor girl. She'll get used it I'm sure. But, she's really good with him and our little guys just loves her to pieces. 
• We have the most supportive friends and family ever. We've had so many people give us clothes and toys that their kids have outgrown and it's been such a blessing for us. And it's been so sweet to see how accepting everyone is to him. I feel like our friends and family have taken him in with open arms and poured out so much love to him already. Our people are the best. 
• I absolutely love being a mom. There are so many times when my patience is tried, I'm exhausted, and I'm not sure what to do, but there are also so many sweet moments that I get to see. And, for the most part, he's a pretty hilarious and delightful kid. I love watching him learn and grow. I love the way he says words. I love his weird little run. I love his obsession with animals (especially sea creatures). I love his laugh and his cute smooshy cheeks. And his snuggles. He gives the best snuggles. I'm just falling in love with this sweet little boy. 
• I have always been a scatterbrain, but I'm so much worse now. I forgot things much more and i get sidetracked so easily. Last week I gave a talk in Sacrament and I honestly completely forgot about it until the night before at like 11 pm. That's something that would normally be on my mind all week. Not this time!
• I now find myself starting texts like seven times before I actually send them. 
• I find that I now have a hard time holding conversations longer than five minutes, particularly on the phone. Seriously though, if we're on the phone for more than five minutes you should probably just hang up because I've stopped listening. 
• I'm quickly remembering what it feels like to be tired all of the time.
• I now understand the magic of nap time. 
• I'm so disorganized right now it's not even funny.
• The hardest thing is knowing that he might not be with us forever, just because we're getting so attached to him already.  The recruiter for foster care that first came to our house to talk to us that from all of the cases she has seen she really and truly feels like children end up where they're supposed to, whether that's back with their family or to stay with their foster family and I believe that too. It's such a blessing to have him in our home, even just for a little while. Mainly I just try not to think about the future and just enjoy the present. 
• But life is so so good. We're still figuring out this new lifestyle, but we're loving it.