Dear Roman

Dear Roman,

Today marks five weeks since we got off the flight from Moscow and arrived home.  In this time you have amazed and delighted your new family way every day.  

You are the most curious child I have ever  met.  You love to explore every inch of your new world and keep us busy keeping up to your boundless energy.  You love doors, specically opening and closing them and now you do a little skit where you wave goodbye before you open a door and disappear to the other side then delight in reappearing to a warm welcome.  Your favourite song is itsy bitsy spider and you do the itsby bitsy finger motions with me when I sing.  Next in popularity is "When your happy and you know it" and "Twinkle Twinkle"

You can climb stairs and do at least a few flights every day, usually after dinner.  We follow close behind but it's completely self taught.  You can scramble up those stairs at a breathtaking pace.  You are into EVERYTHING. No cupboard, drawer, lamp, plug, table or shelf is off limits.  Well we try to keep them Roman safe but its a bit of a hopeless pursuit because you are smarter then all of us combined.

You have gone from eating purees to eating some solid foods with your four little teeth.  Ham is your favourite finger food and when it's time to eat you squeel with delight.  You have gained two and a half pounds since we arrived home and drink two bottles of milk and three meals a day.

Night time baths is always a fun and wet experience for all involved.  You love to play with the tap and try to catch the water.  You don't mind water on your face and can play peek a boo with the washcloth endlessly without ever losing an ounce of enthusiasm.

Mama never knows how bed time will go.  It is always a surprise.  Some nights you want to be rocked until you fall asleep, other nights you like to roll and stretch and poke your feet through the crib slats until you are overcome by sleepiness.  Sometimes you like to "read" a book or listen to me read and sometimes you babble to yourself.  Two fingers go into the mouth and the other hand over your eyes or scratching your head.  Sometimes you are asleep in ten minutes and sometimes it takes over an hour.  Whatever the activities, what never changes is that we stay with you until you are in dreamland.
You are home now sweetheart and when you need us, we will always be here.  You still wake up in the night and since mama wasn't a big fan of doing the half asleep walk down the hall in the middle of the night I pick you up from your crib when I go to bed and we spend the rest of the night sleeping in my big bed.  I get to wake up each morning to your sweet smile ready to start your day.

You love our dog Jack.  You nuzzle your head into him, kiss him and always want to cuddle.  His ability to lick is fascinating to you and you have learned to mimic him and do your own little puppy tongue.  Clearly Jack is your BFF even if the love may be slightly one sided. ;)

You "read" one book called "Peek a Boo" with flip pages that over the last few weeks you have learned to flip the pages and look for the babies.  Your favorite part is the last page with the mirror.  You delight in seeing your image and kiss the page in delight. 

Your dance skills are just developing.  So far it's head nods, hands slapping and a one armed swing.  Just like everything else you do it's full of enthusiasm.

Baby boy you have a magical smile that lights up your whole face and whoever is lucky enough to see it.  You continue to say mama and have shortened sometimes to a very clear "Mom" and each time you call to me you melt mamas heart.  I have waited my whole life to hear that word and every moment of the wait was worth it to hear it in your adorable little voice.