We are doing our best to bond with him...let me also say this goes both ways. A lot of our training focused on how to get him to bond with us but it doesn't touch so much on how I should bond with him, I have had 3 children by giving birth to them. I carried them for 10 months it's impossible for me on all levels to not love them with my whole being. Theo on the other hand, he is just as much a part of our family now but not on that chemical/physical level that the others are. It's HARD to be quite frank about it. There are times I feel like a referee or a babysitter. There are times I have to make myself just pick him up and hold him because that is when I feel most like his mom. I brush his teeth although he can do it on his own, I help him get dressed even though he can do most of it on his own (and he will when we are rushed to get out the door), I wash his hair, do lotion before bedtime, hold his hand while saying prayer and kiss his cheeks before he goes to sleep...all the things that I have done with my kiddos since they were born. I am doing it with him too, he missed out on some of that although he was in and out of many homes who probably held and rocked him. This mama did not get to do that. So we start over.
He knows no strangers at this point and that is something we are working on so please do not be offended if you are not immediate family and we ask you not to pick him up. We are learning that mommy is here to hold you if you need it and is the main caregiver/comforter/protector. He will give you high fives and fist bumps and that is GREAT!!
So what we know of Theo so far is that he might possibly be the happiest kid I've ever met in my entire life, there are very few times when he is awake that you will see him without a smile on his face. He has THE best true belly laugh I've ever heard and when he is in full blown belly laugh mode it is impossible not to smile along. He loves all food except Ranch Doritos so far. He still tries to put all his food in his water cup so he has to keep lids on all his drinks. He is our best clean up time kid, he knows where most of the toys go already and never gives us lip...the other 3 could learn from him on that one! He loves to play outside and is a really good peddler with our tricycles.
He is a GREAT sleeper, once we get him down; he talks lots to himself and I sit in the boys room at night reminding him that brother is trying to sleep right above him and once G is snoring I will leave the room and he's almost out by that time to where he will sleep ALL NIGHT LONG!! Huge answer to prayer as most people know sleep is my BFF.
He is doing great with the car and the car seat. He is also into week #2 of potty training and we have only had 1 mess while awake!! He still doesn't come get me to go but if I ask him every hour or so he will shake his head yes or no that he needs to go.
He is starting to understand our everyday routine words like: eat, Theo's seat, drink, snack, nap, potty, upstairs, downstairs, playroom, get dressed, find your shoes...all the good stuff. He has not quite started parroting words as much as I had hoped but you can tell the wheels are turning and his mouth just can't quite make our sounds yet. He has been to the doctor and will go back at the month mark to double check that he is gaining weight and things as she would like and then the dreaded vaccination catch up will begin. He hates the doctor so it will be a rough go every time I have a feeling but his response times at being sad are getting better.
We have lots that we are learning everyday and the other 3 kiddos are really doing pretty good, Colbie has had the hardest time and we have lots of hysterical breakdowns and clinging to mommy. They started out as enemies, became frienemies and I just got a video of them holding hands yesterday dancing..so we are moving in the right direction! Garrett and Lydia just need their time a lone at moments when he forgets about personal space or tries to steal their kindles that he doesn't know how to work yet and messes all up or forgets indoor voice (well he doesn't really have an indoor voice so when he is too loud). We have had to have lots of reminders of how to treat the dog but good news is he is not terrified or allergic...all answer to prayer! We can learn and teach how to keep out of faces and pet nicely, we can also keep Ellie away out tackling reach (yes he tackled our poor 12 1/2 year old pug with a back injury, so she goes to her quiet place most of the day) He has been to 2 birthday parties and met lots of family so far and I know everyone comes away smitten with him.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we move passed new issues and milestones with him everyday. We are learning what our new normal looks like and I have a feeling the new normal will continue to shift and change as the months go along. For now, we are so happy to have him home, to have us all under one roof and just start the process of healing and being a family of 6.
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