Home for a Year!

Today marks one year since Rudy walked into our house. Here is the link to my description of that day.
It has been an amazing year. God really knew what he was doing when he gave us this child - he is goofy, crazy, and hysterical and fits right in with us. He is the perfect child for us - easy going, willing to go anywhere and do anything and very social ( after the first few minutes when he likes to play shy!).
It is still upsetting that it took so long for him to come home (I am going to start a counter of how long he has been home so we can mark when he's been home longer than not.) but the actual pain of that has faded. It is sad that Guatemala is not open for adoptions because if we could afford it (and find a GOOD agency), I would definitely do it again so Rudy would have a sibling with the same background.
Here is our boy getting ready to shake his groove thing and honk his nose:

Exercise

In our basement, we have an elliptical machine. Rudy has never seen either of us on it, but he knows we use it for exercise. Lately when he goes downstairs with me while I do laundry, he has been doing his own exercise. This is how he thinks the elliptical gets used:


First he pushes down on one side....





then he walks to the other side and pushes it down.





He continues to repeat this until we go upstairs. Once he told me "Mommy and this side and Poppy on that side."
I want him never to realize that we stand on it because then I will have to worry about him climbing on it when we go down there!

FFF - Octoberfest

When I think of Octoberfest I think of hayrides and pumpkin picking. These pictures are from last year since we haven't gotten our pumpkins yet this year.





For more FFF pictures go to Kiss the Frog 4 Me.

ONE YEAR!

One year ago today Paul and I flew to Guatemala and Rudy met us at the hotel for the last time. In the past year he has spent just one night away from us (Aunt Patti was dying to have him to herself!) and it has been the best year of our lives. I truly believe that the adjustment was harder for Paul and I than for Rudy and that Rudy came home at the best time and age for him. He adapted to english very quickly and accepted us as Mommy and Poppy from the beginning (although definitely more so to poppy at first). I won't rehash our trip again but if you'd like to reread it here it is.
Here is a picture of us in Guatemala last year





and on vacation last month.

Jumping

Rudy loves swimming lessons and he loves to 'jump' into the pool. Here he is 'jumping' in. As you can see he was very eager to do it, although he doesn't exactly jump in himself.





If Rudy (or either of us) had a different personality, these swim lessons would be horrible. But it doesn't phase him to be tossed into the water and I really believe he is learning a lot. This was the first time he jumped in without his floatation belt on.

FFF- Summer Memories

I am actually going to post just one picture this week - the epitome of our summer memories. The best part of our vacations is spending time with my brothers and their families and my dad. This was our second vacation all together and we have survived both with 7 adults and various amounts of kids all living in one house together for a week. My only regret is that my mom's not with us because she would have loved these vacations - family, relaxation, swimming- what would be better? So here's a picture of all of us.

Trust and a New Trick

How do you trust a two year old? It is very hard to do but sometimes you just hit that point where it has to be done. And we were actually very successful. Now we are probably a little crazy, overly cautious, whatever word you wnat to use, but this week is the first time either of us have ever taken a shower when we were home alone with Rudy. For the past year we always coordinated our morning schedules, I would get up early even if I wasn't working so I could shower in the morning. Yesterday Rudy and I were off (Happy Rosh Hashanah) and I completely forgot to plan ahead. We had plans for the day so I knew I couldn't just be a bum. So after Paul left for work I told Rudy I needed him to play in his room while I took a shower. The shower is on the same level as his bedroom and I brought the monitor in so I could hear what he was up to. It worked well and Rudy stayed upstairs the whole time. So today we're off again (Happy 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah) only this time he protested when i suggested he come upstairs. His exact words: "No, I play downstairs." So I decided the time had come to put some trust in our little monkey. I bolted the doors, even though I don't think he can quite open them, made sure the basement gate was solidly locked, closed the dog in our bedroom, and went upstairs to shower. Once again it went well. As I got out of the shower he was coming up stairs calling me but he seemed to just be checking on where I was because after peeking in to say hi, he went back to playing. Another parent hurdle safely crossed!

As for his new trick, yesterday we drove to meet Vincie, Tyler, Noah and Sean at a coffeehouse/ indoor play area. As usual, in the car Rudy told me he was taking his shoes and socks off (he is a rare Guatemalan who prefers to be barefoot). After driving for about an hour, I stopped at a traffic light and decided to turn around and look at him to see what he was doing. This is what I found:



For some reason, only in the car, when he takes his socks off he puts them on his hands like mittens. Very impressive since he hasn't yet mastered putting socks on his feet but apparently putting them on his hands is easier.

And here's a picture of Rudy reading a book to Noah.




And Tyler, Noah and Rudy all playing together.