Hotlanta

We spent this past weekend in Atlanta visiting Aimee, Allen and Amanda in Atlanta (see group photo above). We had a great time, and David and Amanda played well together. Amanda has an impressive collection of toys that David was happy to help her spread throughout the house. They had a music parade and invented a new sport that involves several balls, a bat and a tennis racket. Here are some pictures of them working on a fantastic mess.

Aimee and Allen also have two dogs. David was a bit confused by how little they are at first but quickly set about trying to pet/harass them at every opportunity. In addition to tearing up their home, torturing their dogs and consuming large quantities of food, we went to a park where David got to splash in some fountains on Saturday and another playground on Sunday. Here is David at the playground making some sweet faces.

In other random David news, we have gone one week without a major head injury. Last Tuesday Snoopy had a cd case in her mouth. When Kevin tried to grab it from her, she whipped around to run away and nailed David under his right eye. The black eye is much improved, so I assume we're due for a significant fall any time now. Along those lines, David is proud to inform you that he can jump, probably less than an inch, but both feet leave the ground at the same time.

Because I know my mother is wondering...

...and I might get home too late to call.

David's plastic surgery appointment went very well this morning, and he doens't need to go back for a year. His surgeon was obviously impressed with his belly and said that it didn't look like we had any trouble getting him to eat. Based on the sounds and words he is currently making, all indications are that his palate functions well. As he talks more and more, we still need to listen for nasal speech or funny sounds because the palate, like any muscle, can fatigue. As teeth come in around his cleft, he'll need to be followed by a pediatric dentist because he'll be at higher risk for cavities near or above the gum line. Other than that, no worries.

Block party video

Watch David spit milk at his father and practice for those Jell-o shots in college.

Block party, part deux

The block so nice, we party twice. This weekend was the second, and larger, of our block's annual parties. As I have mentioned before, our street is overrun with small children, and these parties are always entertaining. I had to work this weekend, and when I got home yesterday afternoon, there were a couple dozen kids searching through bushes and under stairs looking for hidden prizes. That was followed by smashing a pinata with a baseball bat. Miraculously, no one's nose was broken. I apparently missed a water balloon fight. One boy came up to Kevin with his balloon and proudly informed him that he was "saving it for an emergency." Good thinking.


David, of course, loves all the action and the fact that the street is littered with toys all day long. He is quite the ladies' man. He played hard to get with both Olivia, who wanted to hug him, and Fiona, who wanted to hold his hand and boss him around. Here he is running away from her and then, after he was captured, explaining to her his feelings about personal space.


There was quite a spread for dinner. David enjoyed dining at the kids' table with Jackson, Malcolm (who lived in our house before we did and now lives a few blocks away), Fiona and Olivia. This picture was taken shortly before Jackson provided some dinner time entertainment by peeing next to the kiddie table.


After our delicious meal, David attempted to drink milk from a regular cup (look for video of this soon), and Fiona helped herself to some jello. Why use a spoon when your hands are so efficient?



This morning the Oak Park fire department came out and let the kids (and adults) put out a fake fire in a cardboard house. David was afraid of the hose. Uncle Dave was not. Also of note, Dave and Kevin look so much alike that Fiona believes David has two daddies.




In other news since my last post, David is working hard on his toddler attitude problem. When the dogs get in his way, he often whacks them in the face. He did this to Pete last week, and I grabbed his hands and told him not to hit. He looked me right in the eye, pointed his finger at my face and shouted "NO!" It was all I could do not to laugh. Totally hilarious. He also made an announcement in church last week. After the priest finished hers, she asked if anyone had any other announcements. It was very quiet for a second, and then David, who had been playing with some animal toys in the back, said "RAAARRRRR!"

We have started going to a music class on Monday mornings. I can go with him most weeks, and Alma takes him when I'm on call. He really loves the parts of the class when he's supposed to get up and dance, but he has little use for sitting in my lap and doing hand motions while we sing. He often spends those times running around me in a circle.

Go go, Gamecocks!

Beat Georgia!

David (foolishly) predicts many touchdowns for the Cocks today.

David's first tropical storm

We kicked off the weekend Friday evening with a cancelled flight. We were told that RDU was closed due to weather (tropical storm Hanna). We were initially rebooked on another flight to Raleigh Saturday morning arriving at noon, but the weather was supposed to be worse and not better at that time. So we decided not to take a chance on that flight and flew to Washington, D.C. instead. David slept for most of the flight and was wide awake when we got to our hotel at 12:30 a.m. Here he is taking care of some important business before settling down to go to bed.


Everyone, including David slept much later than normal (all the way until 8:30), so we got a late start Saturday morning. We left around 10:00 and drove (through tropical storm Hanna) down to NC Saturday. The drive, especially the first two hours, was rough for Kevin, but as you can see, David was rather unimpressed by his first tropical storm.


David was a trooper and really did well considering what a long drive it was with only one stop (at Chick-fil-A, of course). Still, we decided that 6 hours in the car in one day was plenty for a 19 month old and had to omit the Raleigh/Chapel Hill portion of our agenda. We were supposed to have breakfast with some of my college friends, Erin, Susan, Susan's husband Peter and their beautiful baby boy Jack. After that we were going to head over to Raleigh and meet up with the Breakwell family who travelled to China with us in May. We were sad to be so close and not see them, but we'll make another trip down there soon.

The good news is that, despite some crazy wind and rain, we made it safely to the Heath's house around 4:00 Saturday afternoon. By the time we got there, the weather was beautiful. Marsha and Paul have two daughters, Rebekah and Emily, and adopted 4 year old Jackson at the same time we adopted David. We have kept in touch in the 4 months since we've been home. and we couldn't wait to see them again and see how Jackson was doing with his new life in NC. I think they were excited to see us, too. We spotted their house because there were three faces pressed against the screen door. We had a short but super fun visit. We went swimming and got to see a little bit of the area where they live. The Heaths were great hosts, and we all had a fantastic time. David in particular had a blast. We were curious to see if he would remember the Heaths, and he did. He got mad any time he was separated from them for bedtime or trips in the car. He refused dinner Saturday night because he wanted to sit at the kids' table with Rebekah and Emily. He cried and screamed for the first 10 minutes of our drive to the airport and hasn't let go of the teddy bear Emily gave him since we left (see picture at top of the post). It was very very sweet. The families we travelled to China with are an important part of David's connection to his life there, and we feel fortunate to be able to keep in touch with these special people.

Playing with Emily and with all the Heath kids.


Beating the heat with a dip in the pool. David showing us who has the worst table manners.

August photos are up

Seventy-three must see photos from August are now online for anyone interested (Mom). Just click on our photo link in the right hand column.

Not much new since last I posted. Here are the bullet points (literally).

• David said his first two word phrase. Any guesses? That's right. "Hush, dog!"
• We had a fun Labor Day weekend with a trip to the lakefront, Brookfield Zoo and Navy Pier, not to mention multiple trips to the park down the street.
• We rode the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and David's eyes were huge taking in all the machinery and lights. He is especially fond of the roof of the Skyline Theater.
• David discovered ketchup for the first time this weekend and spent most of Monday night's dinner licking it off of fries, which he promptly redipped and relicked.

Finally, on a personal note, if anyone out there ever has to call your pediatrician at 3 a.m., let me assure you that she does not want to chit chat. An enthusiastic "Oh hi, Dr. So-and-so! How are you?" does not make up for the fact that you are waking her up for symptoms that in no way represent an urgent medical problem and that have been going on for the last 6 days. I beg you, ask your question and get off the phone. If she suggests an office visit in the morning, please do not think that describing what your child's throat looks like to you for a fourth time is going to change her mind. It will only make her regret that she didn't decide to be a kindergarten teacher.