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.

E-Aunties are the best!

Over the weekend, we got a package in the mail for Pookie. It was a box full of birthday goodies from a caring, intelligent, beautiful group of ladies I have befriended online.

What was in the box? Pookie was delighted to find, appropriately, a stuffed Pookie doll (a Sandra Boynton character), some Sandra Boynton board books, and a personalized Jeff Gordon outfit! It has been a long time since we've received such a thoughtful gift. I was just a bit teary eyed as Torin, Joey, and I opened the box and unwrapped each gem.

I hope to post some pictures here soon. It's the least I can do to show Torin proof that genuinely kindhearted people do exist and care about us.

Walk this way!

Last Thursday night (3 nights ago), we got a tremendous treat when Torin took several steps on his very own for the first time ever! He even repeated the feat then, only to fall and hit his head on the tile floor afterward (poor guy). And, well, tonight, he was at it again, taking 3-4 steps at a time. Even though we don't have any recorded proof yet, I'm making it official: Torin has walked!

This weekend was full of fun stuff for Pookie. We had a play date with his friend from daycare, Morris, on Saturday afternoon. He and Morris are like peas and carrots. Morris hugged Torin at one point, and Torin, not knowing what to do in return, fell against Morris happily. They both had a great time, eating snacks and playing with Morris's toys. I hope this is the first of many play dates for them.

Later in the day on Saturday, we met Andrew, Jennifer, Preston, Sarah C., and Hannah at the Plano Balloon Festival. It was hotter and more crowded than we expected, so we didn't stay too long. But it was good to see friends and watch Preston and Hannah play on the blow-up rides. Because the weather was unpredictable, we didn't really get to see any hot-air balloons, unfortunately.

Tonight, I guess all the walking made Torin thirsty, because he quickly learned how to use his new sippy cup with a straw. Within just a couple of minutes, he was slurping down water like a pro while he munched on his Cheerios.

It was a tiring but fulfilling weekend, to be sure. As we count down the days to Pookie's first birthday, we cherish every moment we have with our growing baby, who will be a toddler in mere days.

Of smiles and tears.

We're finally getting two more teeth (upper front), bringing the grand total to four. I'll miss that gummy baby smile. It makes me want to cry to think about how quickly our little Pookie is growing up.

Tonight, he began walking while pushing a toy--another first!

A couple of weeks ago, Pookie had to undergo an endoscopy because of his eating issues. The good news is that the doctor didn't find any problems. The bad news is that the eating issues are most likely behavioral. For this reason, we have set up Pookie to work with a speech therapist once a week to help him overcome his "texture aversion." Ideally, he'd be about ready to wean off the bottle and formula by now, but that's really his only source of nutrition until we get his issues resolved.

On a lighter note, Pookie has made a friend at daycare, a cute little boy named Morris. They only play with each other, the teachers say. They're like peas and carrots. In fact, we're meeting Moriss's parents next weekend for what will be Pookie's first official play date.

Also on the agenda for next weekend: the Plano Balloon Festival!

So, in less than a month, Pookie will be one year old. He'll be a toddler. When people say kids grow up so fast, it's true. I always thought that cliche was overused, but really, it is the truth. I'm sure Mom will shed some tears come October 6.

More firsts!

I just wrote the following in another of my journals:

Unmatched is the pride of a mother whose almost-toddler is learning so easily and quickly.

And I proudly have two new firsts to report here--they both happened just now. Torin said "Dad" when prompted by Joey, twice in a row! Also, Torin began shaking his head after watching me do it. It has "clicked" with him, and now he must constantly do it.

I'm not so sure I'll always be so happy about the second of these two firsts. But for now, I'm basking in the glow that only a proud parent can see and feel.

Clap on!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a clapper! Torin began clapping this weekend. Hopefully there will be a video soon.

It seems like it has been quite awhile since we last saw a new milestone being reached or a new skill being learned. I have a feeling, though, that these next few weeks and months will be filled with lots of firsts. Torin has begun to cruise a little bit, a few steps at a time, and he can stand up unsupported for 5-10 seconds before falling on his squishy little bottom.

We took a quick trip to Victoria this weekend to attend some friends' wedding vow renewals. Our little 10-month-old is quite the traveler! He does very well in the car seat, for the most part, crying mainly when he's hungry. He enjoys meeting new people and seeing familiar ones (such as Grandpa Brian). At our friends' party, he had fun chasing after the bigger kids and watching them run around. He'll be among those bigger kids soon enough!

I can't believe our little baby will be a toddler in less than two months. Where has this year gone? Time flies when you're watching a baby grow and learn every day.

Pookie on the dance floor, watching all the action and trying to figure out how to be a part of it.

Pookie likes Daddy's truck--but the keys are much more fun to nom on!

I wonder where Pookie got that curly hair?

Just like Daddy.

Crazy Pookie!

It's the little things.

I heard and saw Pookie stirring on our video monitor, so I went to his room to fetch him from his late afternoon nap. When I arrived at his crib, he was smiling so darn big, playing and cuddling with Scout while the toy played a soft lullaby. I might have cried a little. Okay, okay, I did cry for a minute or two.

Alas, I didn't get a picture of the scene that made me so uncharacteristically emotional. I was too caught up in the moment to capture a shot. But I will say, it's simple moments like this one that mean more than anything else in the world to me. I could never, ever imagine a life without Pookie now that he's here.

Strangers in a strange land.

This weekend, we took Pookie on his first out-of-state road trip. Needing desperately to get out of the city, we all headed north aimlessly, in search of nothing but a bit of bucolic peace. We found it in Oklahoma!

We didn't get out of the car much, but we enjoyed the view of the Arbuckle Mountains from the comfort of our air-conditioned truck. We drove around the Lake of the Arbuckles and cruised down many a curvy, hilly road, slowing down just enough to relish life outside the big city for a short time.

Pookie did so well--just like he did when we went down to South Texas when he was just 3 months old. He napped quite a bit and played quietly with his toys in his car seat, occasionally babbling and calling out to let us know he was hungry.

Seeing how smoothly it went, we'll be taking plenty more trips like this every chance we get!

Torin's first 4th!

For our first Independence Day as a family, we kept things pretty low key. We had lunch at Snuffer's, then we went for a peaceful drive through the East Texas countryside. Even though Pookie wasn't in the best mood today (he's either sick or teething--he has a runny nose), he still managed a few laughs and smiles, one of which we were lucky enough to capture on camera.

Pookie continues to crawl like crazy and pull up to standing. In the past couple of weeks, he has started to babble more. Also, I think he has been waving at me! I hope to post videos of his latest accomplishments very soon.

A fantastic first Father's Day!

Pookie and his daddy after bath time

Pookie had a few surprises up his stretchy little pajama sleeves for Joey's first Father's Day today. First, Pookie woke us up with smiles and laughs. Then he kissed his mommy for the first time ever. Next, after rolling around and playing on our bed for a few minutes, he and I gave Joey our greeting cards.

Afterward, Pookie presented Joey with a customized hardcover storybook about Joey himself: My SuperDad! The book features Joey's face on the body of a superhero. Of course Joey got a huge laugh out of this gift, and we could tell he was very proud of it.

Once we all finally got up and got dressed, we headed to Fogo de Chao, a churrascaria at which Pookie had made a reservation for 3. Joey and I feasted upon ginormous salads and delectable meats, while Pookie feasted upon his tabletop toy.

Having gotten more than our fill from the Brazillian steakhouse, we headed to my parents' house to give my dad a Father's Day card and hang out for a bit. My parents got each of us, including Pookie, an official Dallas Mavericks NBA championship T-shirt--score!

At the end of the day, Joey gave Pookie a nice splish-splashy bath, and then Pookie went straight to sleep. All of that gift-giving and planning must have worn him out!

Pookie and I are so lucky to have Joey for a dad and husband, and I hope we gave him a Father's Day he'll always cherish.

And our first word is...

..."edit."

That sound you hear is me sobbing with regret. The poor kid has already declared an interest in his mother's thankless, underpaying former profession. At least he's already used to the sleepless nights.

But seriously, I know it's not a "word" per se. I'm just thrilled that Torin is beginning to really babble now. This cuteness pretty makes up for the horrors of teething.

(Sorry, I can't seem to rotate the video for proper viewing.)

As a language geek, I look forward to seeing how his speech progresses. Oh, and now would be a good time for Daddy and I to start watching our own language and substituting our favorite four-letter words with a more child-friendly vocabulary.

We officially have our first tooth!

Yep, after over a week of agony, that first tooth has finally made its way through Pookie's gums. It's the bottom right central incisor. The central incisor to its left looks like it will be here in a few more days. I hope I can post a picture later--it's hard to get one because that goofy Pookie likes to stick his tongue out all the time, and we can't keep our fingers in his mouth long enough to get a snapshot.

I hope the next 19 teeth don't cause as much trouble as this first one has, but I have a feeling we're in for a few rough months.