Chronicles of the Cross Family: June 2008

We have been home for 1 year today!!!

Here Josh is with Mateo the night before we left Guatemala to come home! Daddy is the tired one in this photo.

Here we are during our 7 hour layover in LA...Daddy is still tired, but our little one (and I do mean little--- look how small he is in this photo!) is the one who is exhausted now!

Our Families that absolutely ADORE Mateo (picking us up at the airport)!!

Our first night sleep at home... Looks like it was rough for Mateo and yes that is Oliver checking out who and what was the breathing moving thing in our home! :) Actually Oliver really just wanted the stuffed monkey to play with!

And here he is a year later...
We are sooo proud of our son...we hope you don't mind if we take a moment to brag!
He is such a happy, funny child! He is so sweet...he is always coming to give us big bear hugs and precise kisses! He is well-behaved and polite, and we are never afraid or ashamed to bring him anywhere with us in public. (not that we don't occasionally have our challenging moments!...but that is how we work and practice for next time) He sleeps wonderfully...through the night with one good nap during the day to help his growing and development! He is sooo smart, we are always being amazed with how bright he is...he is counting (up to ten) in English and Spanish. He is learning the alphabet and will say it with you. He talks up a storm...He has mostly English but also knows some of the equivalent vocab in Spanish...sometimes he talks and sings so much Mommy needs some quiet time :) He cleans up his toys (and not just in one big pile...he has a different place for each group of his toys... so really he is good at sorting his toys too) and helps Mommy and Daddy clear the table...he has very good table manners! He walks, runs, and jumps...and he is a great climber! He enjoys shaking people's hands, especially after he sees Daddy do it. He loves playing with Oliver! He loves animals and airplanes, and he is ALWAYS telling me when a truck, motorcycle, car, bike, airplane, helicopter, or bus goes by...mostly by sound! He is potty trained for #2 (poo) and has been for months ;), and we are getting close for #1 (pee). He loves to read (especially on the potty). Some of his favorite things to read about are animals...he has all the noises down including my favorite...Mateo what does a burrito (donkey) say? "ee-haa ee-haa." He loves to try to make Mommy and Daddy laugh, including always trying to tickle our feet (brave soul :)). He prays before each meal...and it is the sweetest thing! He folds his hands and bows his head (though he will not close his eyes...I think to make sure no one starts eating without him!), and he will repeat most of the words you help him with in the prayer but he definitely has "Amen" down with a pump of his hand (in the air. He got that from the "if your happy and you know it, shout amen!"song) He just has so much personality, we could just eat him up sometimes! :) He is really into smacking the mosquitoes that are out and about, he is always following Daddy around trying to be a big boy! One of the cutest things he is doing recently is pretending to eat and drink with you (he is very serious about this for the first part, then he will pause while looking at you and then crack up laughing)...he is very good at including you and sharing with you during his imaginative meals (boy's version of tea party)! We could go on and on about all the wonderful, cute, and quirky things that make up our adorable sweet son...