Otto and I got creative this month during "Art Time". I made decorations for his upcoming birthday, worked on putting together Otto's year of videos into a home movie, and did a little doodling and sketching with different mediums just for fun.We did manage to get a few of our Mommy friends together for a playdate at the park during "weekly" Mommy Art Time. It hasn't been much of a success to get a group together weekly to spend time doing our favorite crafts or hobbies. Everyone has different schedules and it is hard to make the time. I am hoping the desire to get the Moms together and let the kids play will spread enough to start the group going again. 
We tried to get Otto's picture as the hot dog but he was unaware of what to do with the face-sized hole.
I consider last year as my first Mother's Day, but this was my very first as someone calling me Mom. That is, if he would just say "Mama" and not refer to me, the dog, and the fan as "Dada". Matt did a fine job making me feel good. We went out to brunch at our favorite breakfast cafe. He got me a bracelet and some Younique make-up items that were on my wishlist. I admit I told Sarah which ones I wanted and let Matt order what he wanted to get me. He went ahead and ordered the whole list so I was surprised to get several pigments and two lip glosses! He claimed it was from Otto. I did go for a little shopping trip on my own because Maurices was having a sale. Honestly, it was a gift to get out of the house by myself for a little bit. I felt refreshed and loved and I realized how much I appreciate my own Mom that much more. Nothing will ever be as important to me as being a Mom.
Before the heat rolled in, we spent a good amount of time in the outdoors this month. We continued walks in the morning, stopped to play at the park a few times, and went to the pool a few times. After the torturous routine of putting on sunscreen, full body swim suite, hat, and sunglasses; Otto loves to play in the pool. He loves to float and kick his legs to propel himself forward. He screams with delight. 
Papa Ross had time during a quick business trip in town to let us come to the hotel and play.
We took one more trip to the zoo with Daddy before it gets too hot. Otto is finally able to get out of the stroller and see more of the animals.
Memorial weekend was Matt's turn to pick a Saturday activity led us to the Pavillions in Scottsdale where the McDonalds has Saturday classic car show. We we each picked out our favorite cars and it was no surprise that Otto loves anything with wheels that makes a lot of noise. The car people loved seeing Otto dressed up and his straw hat for the occasion.
Of course, we couldn't miss watching the Indianapolis 500 on TV (I grew up in Indy), so Otto and I plunked down in front of the television while Matt made delicious blueberry pancakes. By the end of the race, Otto was asleep.
Our Wednesday visits to All Aboard have come to an end. We were invited to attend Kindergarten graduation and see our friend, Connor's, program. We sat with Shannon and Anna to watch them put on an adorable Wizard of Oz. I do miss being a part of all that.
The last week has been a scramble to get the house cleaned and most of the preparations for Otto's birthday. We will be having some family coming to stay with us. We have arranged a party with a few local family members and close friends to play at the park/splash pad and celebrate with us. We took Otto's final monthly photos for his picture collage, ordered prints, updated picture frames, ordered picture books, and I have been working all month on his home movie. I still have my fingers crossed that I'll be able to finish it this week without too many more technical difficulties.
Here are a few things we learned about Otto this month:
1. Otto was learning to stand on his own at the beginning of the month. By the end of the month, he can now take 1-3 steps on his own from furniture to furniture or to me.
2. Otto can actually walk, he just doesn't know it yet. He pushes his musical walker around, lifts it while balancing on his feet, and puts it down in a different direction and keeps walking. I mean,. . . . come on.
3. Otto is a monkey and so am I. Monkey see, monkey do? He copies what I do, what noises I make, and loves to put things on his own head after I do. He just won't say, "Mama".
4. He loves to wave, at everyone and everything and even thin air. When he meets someone new? Nothing.
5. He is really good at playing for short amounts of time on his own in the designated "play areas" of the house. This is awesome for me to get things done around the house.
6. Otto is ALL about Daddy right now. I will do as second best during the 12 hours on weekdays that Daddy is at work.
7. Otto loves to sing and dance. He sings along when I sing and he dances to most commercials and tv theme songs. I encourage him to dance to music with me, but he would rather watch me with a "don't you feel silly?" look on his face.
8. Otto has started to laugh by putting his fist by his mouth and blowing raspberries. I am not sure where he picked that up.
9. He likes to grab our hands with each of his hands and make our hands clap. He does not clap himself, just uses our hands.
10. He might be getting teeth #7 and 8 soon! Those two bottom teeth have been lonely for so long.
This year with Otto has been the highlight of our lives. It hasn't always been easy, and we have been adjusting to life as parents, but we know we are so lucky and so blessed to have Otto and his birth family in our lives. We can only hope that our next adoption experience is a fraction as pleasant.We know that whatever situation brings another little one to our lives, it will be worth it. It isn't a matter of IF he or she will find their way to us, but WHEN.
