Our Adoption Journey: Long Overdue Update

It's been way too long since I last posted, and I'm sorry! After doing that marathon of "One Year Ago" posts, I was a little tired of the blogging thing. But I'm back and ready to fill everyone in with what's been going on with Kellin during the last month!

Eating - Kellin has FINALLY started to figure out how to scoop up food with his spoon. And he wants to hold his own spoon - to the point that he will grab it out of my hand! He is not an independent scooper yet, but he is trying to move his hand through the motions - and I am thrilled! Maybe someday I will be able to put a plate of food in front of him and he will eat it all by himself! He seems a little bit more tolerant of textures; for example, he will now pick up a piece of muffin and put it in his mouth. This seems like a little thing, but it's the first food he has willingly picked up that isn't dry and hard. He is doing better with chunks of bananas without gagging. And he seems to be gagging less when he gets an unusually large bite or thicker oatmeal, etc.

Going potty - He's doing awesome! Kellin pees on the potty almost every time he sits and he has pooped on the potty a few times too. He still wets his diapers in between times though. Still, I find it impressive that he can do as much as he does.

Attachment - Guess who is FINALLY caring when I drop him off at daycare?! The last couple weeks, Kellin has clung to me and even fussed a little when I try to leave him. I never thought I could be so happy to see him unhappy, but it's such a big step forward in attachment.

Communication - Kellin has said "mama" 9 times in the past two weeks (but who's counting, right?). I said I wouldn't believe he had a real word until I heard it about 100 times, so we're 1/10 of the way there! Trying not to get my hopes up . . . so many times he has seemed to learn a word and then lost it after a short time. Another new step forward in communication - Kellin is now taking our hands and leading us to things that he wants, such as the sink if he wants to play in the water or his keyboard if he wants it turned on.

Fun pictures from the last few weeks!