Our first official word is...

..."uh-oh!"

As of New Year's Day, Torin is officially talking, saying "uh-oh" all the time. Also, as of today, he can say "ca-ca" (for "cracker"). The folks at daycare have told me that he can also say "mo" (for "more"; he has been doing the sign for "more" for a couple of weeks now) and "meow" when shown a picture of a cat.

Just within the past couple of weeks, he has begun to make strides in his speech. We'll continue with his speech therapy to strengthen his tongue and facial muscles, and I'm sure he'll be saying plenty more in no time at all.

No more bottles = one sad mama

It's been 36 hours since Torin has had a bottle. I don't know whether I'm speaking too soon, but it looks as if we're finished with bottles for good. The transition has been a lot less painful than I had imagined. He has protested a little bit, but I think it's mainly because he's teething. We've been able to preoccupy him with toys and books and Yo Gabba Gabba. Because he is now able to eat three solid meals a day, plus snacks and sippy-cup drinks, it's simply time to move onward and upward.

My little Pookie isn't such a little Pookie anymore. He's my big boy. I'm so proud of him.

Happy New Year from the T family!

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were a quiet affair for the T family this year. Joey and I watched several episodes of The Walking Dead last night, and we toasted 2012 with scotch (for me) and Diet Pepsi (for him) at midnight. Then today, after an oatmeal breakfast for Pookie, and later, lunch for us all at Culver's (one of our favorite places for burgers), we drove around in the country for a bit. Then we headed home and played outside with the Cozy Coupe. All was good and happy and peaceful. Just what I wanted.

With the arrival of 2012, I look forward to more loving and learning and living. Pookie has helped us all to grow so much as a family over the past 15 months, and just think of all the growing we still have ahead of us!

Merry Christmas 2011!

Santa and Torin at Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth, December 18

It was a very merry Christmas in the T household. Pookie is now quietly slumbering after a magical gift- and smile-filled day.

Last night, on Christmas Eve, Pookie got to open one present--a set of four Edushape Sensory Balls. He liked them, but of course the box and wrapping paper were equally (if not more) entertaining for him.

This morning, he woke to find that Santa had left him some major goodness: a Mega Bloks wagon filled with Mega Bloks, another separate package of Mega Bloks, and a huge ball pit filled with 200 colorful plastic balls!

After opening up the rest of his gifts--a Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Zoo (from his Aunt Sharla), a Melissa & Doug toolbox, some Viking Super Chubbies vehicles, some bath toys, and some books--we headed over to my parents' house with Grandpa Brian. (Grandpa Brian has been staying with us this week to help make things even merrier!)

At my parents' house, Pookie got to hang out with Aunt Sharla; her boyfriend, Brad; Brad's kids, Ethan and Erin; and my grandmother, Pookie's great grandmother, Kathy (Nana).

Nana got him a super-cute giraffe Pillow Pet and a sweet Playskool push-button toy. And he continued to score more gifts: My parents got him a LeapFrog My Own Leaptop, a LeapFrog Chat & Count phone, a sock frog, a Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway, and a Cozy Coupe!

In all, I'd say Christmas 2011 was a big win for Torin--and for his proud parents.

After we unwrapped gifts, we all headed to Luby's for dinner. Then we went back to my parents' house and relaxed while watching Torin play with his new toys (and the boxes they came in).

I haven't felt the warmth and coziness of Christmas for at least 10 years. However, Pookie has brought back all the wonder that I've been missing. I can't think of a greater joy than the joy of my child. With his smiles, I smile. With his laughter, I laugh.

Now, Torin sleeps and I prepare a small after-dinner scotch drink, I kick back on the couch with my husband and my father-in-law, and we watch a movie. And all is right in the world, at least for tonight.

The harvest is upon us once again...

Halloween 2011 saw no trick-or-treating for us (maybe beginning next year), but we did witness the cutest little vampire baby one could ever imagine. Mom and Dad were the ones who really got the "treats." Of course, Pookie is never not adorable.

A couple of days before Halloween, we took Pookie for his first pumpkin patch visit. We went to Hall's Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine. He had the best time crawling around among the pumpkins:

He also got to sit on a tractor for the very first time (there will be many more times, if Dad has any say in the matter):

In all, we've been having a fun fall so far. Grandpa Brian has come to visit once, and he'll be back for Thanksgiving. Also, Pookie has been toddling about, getting better and better at walking on his own. What's more, he seems to have gotten more reprieves from illness lately, having had only an ear infection within the past few weeks. (Knock on proverbial wood!)

We've also made progress on his eating issues, as he is now eating Goldfish, Cheerios, wheat bread, and other small items. He'll be moving up to the next class in his daycare soon, so we're hoping he progresses to other table foods very soon.

Just as with last autumn, this one is filled with thanks for a happy, healthy, beautiful boy. We couldn't be more proud and grateful.

Happy first birthday to our Pookie, our Torin!

Dear Torin,

Today's technology allows us to speak to a computer (or smartphone) and have our words translated into text. However, no such technology exists to translate emotions into text. I guess this is just as well, because there are no words powerful enough to convey how I and your dad feel about you.

You entered our lives exactly a year ago today. Lying there in the hospital, I was transformed from a woman to a mother within an instant. I am just as affected by that moment now as I was then, at 3:03 am on October 6, 2010.

To say Dad and I love you is appropriate and true. But what is there out there that's bigger than the word "love"? Because that's what I'm feeling. You are me. You are your father. You are the wind blowing all around us, the water washing away the silt of past mistakes. You are life.

I've watched your eyes turn from blue to brown, your hair from black to strawberry blonde, your smile from gummy to toothy. I've cheered you on as you began rolling over, sitting up, standing up, taking steps. I've marveled at your innate ability to figure out how your toys operate, how to get to things you're not supposed to touch, how to get what you want from me and Dad.

If this first year has brought us this much joy, what do the upcoming years hold for us? I am at once overwhelmed and anxious and excited just thinking about all the we will experience together for the first time as a family.

It's unclear to me whether this past year has gone by slowly or quickly. I'm not sure which moments have been among my favorites. I don't even know how I'll feel about having a toddler when I go to bed tonight. But this I do know: I was incomplete before 3:03 am October 6, 2010. I am now a mother to an adorable, clever, buoyant child with the world in front of him.

Happy first birthday, Pookie! We extra-love you.

Mommy and Daddy

Love is...

...when Pookie lights up when I arrive at daycare to pick him up. He comes crawling at me from across the room, not letting anyone or anything come between him and his mama. He demands to be picked up and kissed immediately.

...when Pookie likes to sit quietly in my lap. Granted, this doesn't happen very often, but when it does, I treasure every second of it.

...when Pookie imitates me and Daddy, whether it be by clapping, waving, shaking his head "no," or "talking."

...when Pookie stops playing with a toy and looks up at me and smiles. It's a knowing smile. It's a younger, carefree me smiling back at myself. In that eye contact lies something cannot be recreated between and two other people. It's a mommy-and-baby thing.