I mean, seriously!

Who is this cute?

Attachment

Thanks Margaret (mom of three) for posting this on her blog. This was
helpful to me if figuring out where we're going and how far we've come.

Signs of Healthy Attachment
*Even children who are experiencing attachment strain may have some of
these signs of healthy attachment. Knowledge of positive attachment
will help parents build on the areas that are strengths, but should
not be used to ignore indications—even mild ones--that a baby/child is
experiencing difficulty.

Joyful the majority of the time.
Seeks out primary caregiver for comfort and to meet needs.
Likes to be cradled and held facing primary caregiver.
Makes good eye contact with primary caregiver and initiates eye
contact--both close & distant proximity.
When primary caregiver makes eye contact, the child smiles back,
showing signs of being happy with the interaction.
Smiles and exhibits pleasure when seeing self in the mirror.
Frequently engages in playful interactions with primary caregiver
(interactions initiated by both parent and child.)
Uses different cries to alert primary caregiver of needs and wants;
easily consoled by primary caregiver.
Accepts limits placed by primary caregiver.
Willingly allows primary caregiver to hold bottle, hand feed, and
nurture.
Melts into primary caregiver when held; lays head on shoulder; holds
on when held; faces primary caregiver rather than away.
Enjoys cuddling, hugs, and kisses given by primary caregiver and
initiates cuddling, hugs, and kisses without wanting something in
return.
Can co-sleep without major difficulty.
Prefers primary caregiver to all others.
Imitates primary caregiver regularly (actions, language, etc.)
Content to sit on primary caregiver's lap or stay in primary
caregiver's arms for an age appropriate amount of time.
Settles quickly when held by primary caregiver.
Enjoys skin on skin contact.
Prefers close proximity to primary caregiver but not in an anxious,
desperate way.
Consistently sleeps well and peacefully.
Wants to please primary caregiver because he knows it will make his
parent happy.
Reacts appropriately to pain; wants primary caregiver to nurture him
when in pain or sick; easily consoled.
Uses food appropriately. Recognizes when hungry and full.
Shows true personality to primary caregiver and family and friends
(discovering a child's innate personality takes time.)
Initiates "sweet nothing" talk with primary caregiver.
Shows appropriate stranger anxiety.
Displays age appropriate anxiety at brief separation from primary
caregiver but is able to be reassured.
Reunites happily with primary caregiver with eye contact and physical
contact.
Show signs of feeling safe in social situations; able to play and
interact with others, but stays close and checks in with primary
caregiver regularly but not in an anxious or desperate way.
Is gentle to self and others.
Gets along with other children & siblings most of the time.
Is okay with primary caregiver leaving the room for short periods of
time. Conversely, cares that primary caregiver has left the room and
shows happiness when that person returns.
Speech/language skills are developing appropriately.
Angry outbursts/tantrums are infrequent, short in duration. Parent can
soothe child.
"Normal" discipline methods/parenting techniques are effective.
Child can identify his own feelings (at an age appropriate level.)
Child can identify the feelings of others (at an age appropriate level.)
Child can delay gratification (at an age appropriate level.)
-A4everFamily in consultation with Kali Miller, PhD

Code:

Red- Esias does this all the time

Orange- Esias does this most of the time

Blue- Esias does this none of the time

Black- Not age appropriate for Esias

Quite Ellyquent

Today, I was feeding Esias and Elly was going to the bathroom. She
yelled for me, "MOM! Can you wipe me?" I said, "Can you try to do
it? I am feeding Esias and I won't be able to help you." She said,
"Okay, I'll deal with it!" The phone rang, and i was talking to Tiel,
my sister, and continued feeding Esias. Soon, Elly came out and I
said, "Did you wipe?" Elly said, "Yes, I did! I used the Tinkerbell
cloth." Tiel started laughing on the other end of the line...I said,
"Where did you put the cloth..." She answered, "I hung it on the sink
to dry."

Oh Elly!

Then, when Dan got home, Elly was AGAIN in the bathroom. I bumped
into him carrying Esias and I thought I hit Esias. He said, "No it
was just my watch." Elly yelled from the bathroom, "MOM! Did you
know his watch is WATERPROOF? AND DOLPHINS ARE WATERPROOF TOO!"

Ato Esias Turns ONE!

Ato means "Mr." is Amharic, and we frequently use it to address our
sweetie pie one-year-old! We had a low-key birthday celebration today
with cupcakes and a mini cake for the birthday boy. Eden picked
Yellow Butter cake and I think Esias was pleased with her choice :)
Until today, he had yet to pick food up and bring it to his own
mouth...well all that changed when chocolate frosting was involved.
It started out with him just messing in it, then accidentally licking
the back of his hands and finding frosting there! Then he picked the
whole cake up off the plate and pulled it to his face! Nice! Our
camera kept dying, but we got some cute shots. He fell asleep before
gifts were opened (or should I say "gift") so that has yet to
transpire...the girls keep trying to open his gift for him.

Poor baby got a bonk today on his birthday! He was pulling up to his knees and fell down and hit the bed frame in our room...as Dan and I watched helplessly from a mere 2 inches away. I hate when that happens!

Marcus Edward! The Andersons joined us for cupcakes.

Hmmm...what is this?

Oh yeah!

I LOVE cake!

Mom, that cake was puke-tastic!

All my children :)

ENT Visit

Today Esias and I made a trip to the ol' Ear Nose and Throat doc. Dr.
Viner, you may recall, is my secret crush. Oh I guess it's not a
secret anymore. Anywho, he did not see any obstruction in E's
breathing- adenoid and tonsils looked ok to him. He wondered if maybe
Esias is aspirating his food. He thought that should clear up on its
own as he gets stronger and older. So we are off to the Pediatric
Pulmonologist July 13th to make sure his lungs are ok and them
hopefully we are done with doctors for a while!

Reasons Why Esias Was Meant to Be Our Son

1. It was ordained by God!
2. He is WILD.
3. He loves laughing.
4. He has the same birthmark as the girls on his upper thigh.
Seriously.
5. He eats a lot.
6. He is very active!
7. He is very determined and focused.
8. He is tough.
9. He likes repetition.
10. He's just him! Perfect!
\m/(>.<)\m/

Love. My. Babies.

Mommy and Eden, December 2002 (6 weeks old)

Mommy and Elly, September 2nd, 2005 (1 day old)

Mommy and Esias, June 24, 2009 (11.5 months old)

Esias and the Ball

Esias had a ball with the girls in the backyard...turn up the volume to hear the boy's sweet laughter.

Wow, we are camera happy folks.

This is Esias' favorite pose...he did this the first day we had him in Ethiopia!

Little Man is trying to pull up!

Snuggle with daddy!

We went outside tonight (it was SO hot today, like 96, and even tonight was 90) and played ball and on the swing set. Esias loved watching the girls and got in on a little action when the ball hit him in the head ;)

He thought it was pretty hilarious.

Whose cute kids are these? Oh, that's right! Ours!

Little gymnast in training...

Drama...

Wow, Dan. I am so lucky.

Love it!! He's a handful.

A handful of awesomeness!!