November 2014- Let the Holidays begin!

This month started out with some promising changes at Matt's work. There were some management transfers and Matt is really excited to be working with a new like-minded manager in their small store. He hopes to spend more time home with family, less stressed out at work, and working in efficient ways that will profit everybody. We gave him breaks by going on day trips, just Otto and I. We went to Scottsdale together
 In the mean time, Matt's been blowing off steam practicing his drums again once or twice a week. Otto enjoys it, and they sometimes sit down with Otto in Matt's lap while they play the Djembe together. Well, Otto actually scratches and feels it while Matt is trying to play it.







We received a membership to the Phoenix Zoo as an early Christmas present so Matt, Otto, and I took advantage of a Saturday before things get really busy to enjoy an afternoon with the animals. Now that Otto is facing forward in his stroller, he can actually see trees, bushes, and the occasional fence or railing. I tried to lift him up to see the sheep but I'm pretty sure all he could see were rocks that moved. Well, we had a great time anyway.
Most of the month was spent preparing for the exciting events happening at the end of the month. November 22nd was National Adoption Day and also our assigned court date for the finalization of Otto's adoption. In case you weren't sure how it works, Otto had been "placed" with us at birth through the adoption agency's custody. Then, they h
ave a 30 day waiting period before we can petition for the adoption. This waiting period is an Arizona law having something to do with paternity rights, but we already had everything covered in that department so we just had to wait. Then, we signed the legal paperwork and petition at the Mesa courthouse. They told us that there is usually another 90 day waiting period for the actual court date assignment, but if National Adoption Day happens to fall before that time, they will waive the waiting time and allow us to finalize earlier.


We took the chance to get it done. National Adoption Day is a huge event, all the courtrooms are booked all day to do adoptions every half hour. There is food, bounce houses, games, characters, music, crafts for the kids and they take our family photo when it is all said and done.

We had a full support team of friends and family there with us. Tummy Mommy Marissa was all set to come, but unfortunately she had to work and was very disappointed. We missed her, but her brother and his family were there to get pictures.

As the date approached, I was more nervous than excited because I thought about all the people I had invited to come watch us fumble our way through this. I had no idea what to expect when we went into that courtroom. I also had a hard time getting too excited about the finalization because I never had any doubt that it was going to happen or that it changed how I felt about Otto. He was our son from the moment we met Marissa. Mostly, this is a credit to how great she made us feel. She included us and involved us from that moment on and I feel gratitude for that gift every day.


 All this was, was making it legal. I am more thrilled with idea of taking him to the temple. I think about how amazing it will feel to have him sealed to us for time and all eternity just like Matt and I were sealed to each other. Still, the finalization in the courtroom turned out to be very exciting and a lot of fun. Hearing the judge say his full name, Otto Joshua Earl and then have everyone clap and cheer was an incredible high.
 I am in such a debt to my good friend Sarah for being so excited for us, giving us adoption gifts, taking pictures. She has been there for every step of the way. I keep thinking, "What have I done for Sarah lately?" Well, I guild her into our morning work-outs every morning. Oh, I'm just the worst.
To dig that hole a little deeper, she invited us to join her family for Thanksgiving! It was delicious! I made sweet potatoes and bought the pies at AJs and they did everything else (did I mention that I'm the worst). She took photos of the kids!









The Saturday after Thanksgiving we packed up the car, dropped Lucy off at the kennel, and headed to Las Vegas. My parents and sister met us there to spend a few days visiting and relaxing. They even made us a Thanksgiving dinner there, too! Then, they babysat Otto for us while we saw a movie and walked around Caesar's and The Venetian. It was our first date out in months! We saw a restaurant called Otto Pizzaria.










Some things we learned about Otto this month:
1. He might just be the cutest little cherub baby ever, with rosy chubby cheeks, blue eyes, and adorable gummy smiles.
2. He could be recorded for baby commercials and voice overs because he had the sweetest little giggles, sighs, and baby noises.
3. Otto is rolling around the floor and play pen very easily now. He doesn't push his legs down enough to scoot yet, but he likes to lift his arms and legs and move them like crazy all at the same time for several seconds. It is hilarious and will try to get it on video soon.
4. He gets excited and squeals the most high pitched screams that sometimes only the dog can hear.
5. He might just be the most soggy baby. He spits up about every ten seconds, drools constantly, and goes through 5 burp rags and 3 bibs a day on average. The doctor says it isn't acid reflux because it doesn't bother him. No. In fact, he seems to enjoy it very much and laughs when I wipe his face.
6. Matt wants to claim Otto's first word is "Dad" even though I'm positive he doesn't associate it with anything and therefore doesn't count. It is usually, "DADADADADA" but sometimes he just screams the one syllable, "Dad!" and looks around matter-of-factly.

7. He LOVES bath time since we got the Bloomin Bath and he can sit up and kick his feet in the water.
8. Otto loves pretty girls.
9. He sticks his tongue out when he is nervous and doesn't know how else to impress.

10. He can pull himself up to sitting while holding onto me, and then to standing.
11. His red/blonde hair is coming in. He looks like his Tummy Mommy, but he could kind of pass for resembling me and the Reeder family and so I am just fine with that.
12. Although he is old enough to start trying "solids", we learned that he is not mature enough to handle it quite yet. His gag reflexes are sensitive (hence never liking pacifiers) and trying mushed banana resulted in throwing up all his milk, along with the banana. We'll have to take it slow.

I am amazed that he is a half-year old already! 6 months went by fast.

We are so excited to get ready for the Christmas holidays with a little one. I used to pass the "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments in the store and sigh and wonder when I was going to get to buy one. I am thrilled to finally get that chance! We may not have much to spend this year, but we are going to try to make it special.