Matthew's first Big Boy Christmas

It was fun to see Matthew get excited about some of the Christmas traditions. He helped Daddy put lights, ornaments, and candy canes on the Christmas tree. Every morning when we came downstairs the first thing Matthew did was run to the Christmas tree and point at the lights to turn them on. When we went on walks in the evening Matthew had some favorite decorations in neighbors yards that he liked to check out, namely a cute little Rudolph he liked to pet.

Alex had to work on the 25th and 26th so we celebrated on Christmas Eve. Alex's parents came to town and so we had the Tyus family, the Morans, and Granna and Jackie. We had to wait until later in the week for Marc and Amber to come home. We had a nice Christmas dinner and then opened presents. The boys were having a great time. They got trucks from Neno, pretty cool super hero action figures from Alex, and Matthew got a tricycle from Adina. Matthew has come to be very engaged with Disney and Mickey Mouse Club. His favorite is Goofy, whom he calls, "Goooof!". Daddy got Matthew a big Goofy, and Tio Mike got Matthew a dancing Mickey who does Matthew favorite, The Hot Dog Dance! The hardest thing about this vacation was sharing toys for the boys. We have PLENTY of toys but somehow they always seem to want whatever toy the other has at the time. They progressed as the vacation went on and did better by the end. We spent Christmas morning at home with the Grands. We played outside mostly and Matthew rode his tricycle, which he loves!

Marc and Amber came to visit at the end of Christmas week. They bought cool toys as always. Matthew got some wood blocks and a bench with a little mallet to bang on. In keeping with the "banging" theme, Matthew also was given a drum set by Granna. He likes it, especially playing the drum and blowing on the trumpet.

Christmas Cards

I was so late getting Christmas Cards out this year. In part because it was so dang hot and I wanted us to look nice in Christmas sweaters. When Aunt Lori came to town we finally had a photographer to help out. Lori, Noah and Granna came over and helped take some nice pictures of our family in front of a nearby pond. We had nice evening lighting and I loved taking pictures of Matthew and Alex playing together in the grass, Matthew climbing on Alex and cuddling with him.

Matthew Learns to jump

We went to a Christmas Party that one of my favorite McKitrick families hosts each year. We had good food and enjoyed time chatting with the Dugans. Matthew was a little fussy when we got there so we went outside and found a football to entertain Matthew with. That made him feel better but then we found the trampoline. There were some older kids jumping so Matthew wanted no part of that, but he watched as he always does, from the side. When the kids were done playing Matthew tried it himself. It was so cute to see him try with all his might to jump. He really couldn't get his feet off the ground but he would squat then reach for the sky. He liked bouncing and flopping all over the place.

It was fun to watch him enjoy himself... until Santa made his appearance. Matthew was content to be a blob on Santa's lap last year but this year he was more aware of things that aren't normal and he did not like Santa one bit. In the days after this and after Christmas Matthew came around. He recognized Santa pictures and figurines and even said "San-ta" in a precious little voice.

Thanksgiving

All the Morans gathered in Boca for another Thanksgiving. It's nice to get everyone together for this holiday and then when Christmas comes everyone stays with their other half of the family. We all took turns doing some of the cooking. Rachel made her stuffing and potatoes, Adina made her meat stuffing and fish, I made my corn casserole, Suzy made the drinks, and Neno brought home a well done turkey. We spent most of the time sitting out back on the lawn chairs that were set up. Matthew had a fun time running all around the back yard with the dogs and tossing balls back and forth. When we did come inside we were well equipped with toys, especially a gigantic remote control firetruck with lights, sirens, and a water hose!

Halloween

Alex's parents came to visit for the weekend. We picked out some pumpkins and Daddy carved a Gator jack-o-lantern.

Matthew caught his first sickness right before Halloween. Poor guy had a runny nose, a cough, minimal appetite, and his face looked splotchy. But that didn't deter us from making sure he enjoyed his first Halloween. He was the cutest little Charlie Brown. He had a football and a Snoopy to carry with him too. He was a little hesitant about the whole trick or treating thing at first. After enjoying a few dogs at the first two houses he was excited to go to more houses. After realizing his goal was to put candy in his bucket he was glad to do that, even though he didn't realize it was candy he was getting. He never really liked any of it, not even chocolate so we just ate it all for him.

Sport boy

Matthew went to his first Bucs game a few weeks ago. He loved all the people and the cheering and the cannons. He watched so quizzically and it was so fun to see him do something for the first time that I know he will do a thousand times in his life.

Today we went to our first Rays game. We had great seats and the game was low scoring so it moved pretty quickly Matthew danced to the crowd music and cheered when everyone else did next season he will be able to enjoy all the fun things they have there to entertain the kids, including running the bases after the game.

Master communicator

Matthew has been a communicating machine lately. We started him a few months ago with some simple sign language so he could express himself a little bit. Within the past 3 weeks or so his communication, both what he understands and what he can express has gotten better by the day.

What he can sign:
• please
• hi and bye
• more
• eat or food
• milk
• bird
• fish
• dog
• water
• all done
• his own sign for pacifier (pats his mouth)
• and he dances to music

What he says:
• Screams "mam" and "da"
• "boat"
• "go"
• "duck"
• "car"
• "Hi"
• "nak" for snack
• "ruff" when barking back at dogs
• "huff" (what a horsey says)
• and babbles all sorts of things I'm sure he is working on saying.

What he understands: A lot!
• He follows commands, like come here, put that here, or give that to...
• put on your shoes
• put that down
• help me close the door
• can I have that? (hands me object)
• something is "hot"
• clean up
• I'm going to get you (playing chase)
• throw the ball
• want watermelon?
• want a snack?
• want milk? (responds with sign),
• want a cookie? (responds with please sign and comes running for his cookie- a graham cracker)
• what do you say? (answers with please sign)
• do you want more? (answers with more sign)
• be gentle (when petting a dog)
• Don't eat it
• Do you see a bird? Do you see a fish? (responds with sign and looks for it)
• are you all done? (answers with sign)
• push the button- helping me turn things on/off
• horsey, and how to ride it
• throw the bread to the duck
• did you find a stick? (shows stick)
• how to brush his own teeth
• how to use a spoon
• Where's Matthew? (knows I'm looking for him)
• Where's your tummy? (pulls up shirt and pats his tummy)
• to dance to music
• How to use a remote control to drive a truck
• that he can see Alex when we face-time on the phone (he hugs the phone and points to Alex. Even played "Find daddy" when I hid the phone under some toys
• Can mommy have some? (asking for food, will feed me or pretend and pull it back at the last second only to feed himself. and laugh. at. me.)
• Give the bear a hug (snuggles teddy bear)
• We are going to go (walks toward door saying "go", recognizes this when I put on my shoes
• Get down (laughs at me like, yeah right mom, but knows what I want him to do)


.... And the one I say the most often that he still doesn't seem to understand...

DANGER! (Daddy says we must "Practice Danger")