We couldn't be happier

Heelllo!

(By the way, it is not Christmas, don't be confused!)

Well, it is high time for a big update on Lance. He continues to amaze John Michael and I each day with how much he is learning and developing. I happened to look back at some of the pictures I had of Lance my first trip to Ukraine and it is unbelievable. He now seems like a different child than the one in the pictures. Probably because I know a little more about the true Lance and how he looks at the world.

Anyway, I have to brag on my little guy for a bit. He is now signing "more, please, eat, drink, bye, all done, and baby" and saying "Bi Bi Bi" for bite. At some points, he will combine 2 or 3 signs to communicate effectively. For example: more eat please. He is trying to climb up on his high chair, can climb into his crib (when the side is lowered) and into the tub. Lance will eat most foods now if he likes the taste, but not as much of a concern for sensory issues. He can stack 5 blocks pretty consistently, too....just a reminder, he has only been home for 2 months as of tomorrow. I am proud of our little Lance.

Our lives have been completely blessed by having Lance here. He is now a daddy's boy big time so on the weekends and evenings I try to steal as much time I can to hang out with him.

Here is a comparison of Lance from March 06, April 07 to now July 07

Don't worry, Mattie got close, but never actually was able to share the beater with Lance.

Lance is(has been) 3 years old!!!

Well, we have definitely fallen behind once again on the blog posting. Sorry to those that keep reminding us of that. So without further delay here are some recent pics and commentary.

We've got an addition for the "Lance Don't Like'em" List. He was a little curious when they were far off, but terrified when they are going off in front of the neighbor's house. If you don't know about NW Arkansas and fireworks, it is common place to set them off several days before and after Jan.1 and July 4th inside the city limits. A little different than what we were used to!

If you know about our tornado drills then you know what's going on here. BTW, he hasn't climbed in and out like that since that day.
Lance and momma(rockin' the A's lid) at his birthday party. This day was pretty rough for Lance. He did have some fun at times, but we think it was just a little too much stimulation.
First attempt at the "gift opening" did not go well. This is later inside and a little more relaxed. He got a Fisher Price Little People Noah's Ark. He is obviously not the only one interested. Leks and Myrah were stoked as well.
We didn't get to the birthday cake on the 6th so that Monday the 8th we presented his first birthday cake to him. It is well docmented on video however, the quality and length of the video made the file too big to host on the blog....for free anyway. It didn't take much coaxing and he tore into it. Karen made the cake and did an excellent job. It was still very moist 3 days after.
Cake demolished. It didn't all go into his tummy but, the parts you don't see here were at one time in his hands. Baby Bjorn bib was a lifesaver.Karen caught him just wildin' out making some funny faces. These are also unprovoked. I guess the weirdness makes him normal, eh? Gotta love the hand gesture.

And another one. He has started to do this face a little more often. Everyday is at least a little different. New sounds and quirks. He was evaluated yesterday on his speech. Thanks Cindy! With the eval. and some pointers from Aunt Judy we are starting to do a few more activities focused on his speech. We might regret this later, but I guess we should probably teach him to talk. Ha.

Tornado Drill

This is real time posting here. I'm posting this within 6 hours of this actual event. It is unscripted, unrehearsed, and absolutely occurred under natural circumstances. Its hilarious.