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.