It's starting to look a lot like Christmas....

...well sort of....the snow came, and then went....but the tree did go up....and is being enjoyed thoroughly by all of us...

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A week to celebrate....

Tonight Matteo and I celebrated the anniversary of his adoption, one year ago on November 22, and my birthday today on the 24th.  Of course Matteo becoming my son has been the best birthday present ever.  On his adoption day last year Matteo wore a little duckie outfit so ducks will always remind me of that, and if I remember correctly, gack, gack, for quack, quack, was Matteo's third word!!....

Anyhow tonight I chose a little cake and used two little duck candles, one for me and one for him. Then to celebrate the 1st year  anniversary of his adoption I chose his one year old candle from his birthday cake this past May.  It has been a very special week and so wonderful to relive memories from last year. I think when we returned from Vietnam I was probably operating on adrenalin, jet lag and not sure if I appreciated every moment.  But this year it is wonderful to be able to allow myself to relive it through my memories that resurface and really let it sink in that I am now a mother and that Matteo Bao is really my son!!..

...It was a roller coaster ride getting to that G&R moment, and another roller coaster ride since.  I definitely prefer the latter roller coaster though. Matteo is blossoming, and so wonderful that he is understanding so much, and learning new words such that we are able to understand each other most of the time now...not always, but so so so much more.  It is very hard being a mom, and definitely there are difficult times, but really as everyone has said before me, this time and this little boy, was worth all of the wait and all of the never ending paperwork!! Ti voglio bene Matteo!!

Happy 1st Adoption Day Anniversary Matteo....

I love you so much!! xooxox

Last year at this time....

...this is what I was doing... it was actually on the 19th that I met Matteo for the first time.

Words....and things to remember.

Words that Matteo Bao is now using....he is now also trying to pronounce words sometimes when I ask him if he can say it...other times he just repeats or seems to be try to repeat words that I say when we are looking at his picture books.

1. Us....meaning Bus
2. Mama
3. Gack Gack Gack meaning Quack Quack Quack
4. Babo meaning Bubble
5. Ba....Ball
6. Ca....Car...seems to be pronouncing the "r" a little bit
7. Ca....Cat and Dog I think
8. Cacker....Cracker
9.  Go...Go
10. Giu....Juice
11. Nana ....a nickname for my niece Madeline, Mana...
12. In addition to waving bye bye, he now says Bye.

He is able to sign ..."more" as well as sometimes signs for "help me" as in says Mama, and then signs help me....hands to his belly.

He nods for no, and seems to sometimes nod for yes...still points a lot to communicate but sometimes gets even more frustrated when he is trying to tell me something that I can't understand.

He is babbling a lot more now that seems different...

He knows the names of all the cats, but doesn't try to repeat them. He is starting to be gentler with the cats now, and pets them gently and even tries to give them kisses. When he first started walking, he was chasing the cats so they started spending a lot more time in the basement when Matteo was around...but two of the cats are starting to feel more comfortable again as they did in the past....Matteo is now even helping me give the cats treats, which is one of the things we do during our morning routing....in the past they would usually run away and give up the treats....I love this photo as it says so much, love how Matteo's hand is on Bice's paw and if you knew Bice, he's the cat that likes being touched the least..so this is amazing....I'm so happy all my boys are getting along....I think it helped that he started to feed them treats!!!

My first error on the Name Change application...

...I used white out and this is a big no no!! I read that after and even as I used the white out I think I recalled some messages that parents had the application returned if they used white out...I understand the reason for it, but I did it anyway so will have to request a new application. It looks pretty easy to fill out...so again am hoping to have it in the mail so it will arrive at their offices on /or near Dec. 6....so more paperwork again!!...

Change of Name Application...

Well today I received the application package for Matteo's name change.  I called last week and was told I could use the Vietnamese translations as long as there is an affidavit attached to each, attesting to their authenticity.  There is. So hopefully I will have the application filled out and sent by Dec. 6, which is the earliest date I can apply, as that is the one year anniversary of our arrival in Canada and more specifically Ontario.  As it is more paperwork, and still deals with the process of Adoption...I will continue to docuemnt it.  I still can't believe it has almost been a year that we have been togther. I will keep everyone posted on whether the application is processed without difficulty or not.

Fall walks.....

...always bring great surprises....like finding balloons and beautiful sunsets...

Matteo and his chicken soup!