In Rememberance

We picked up these sewn pictures in HCMC because they reminded us of Cameron & Connor's birthplace - Vung Tau. For their first birthday, we had them framed and hung them in their bedroom.

Traditional babies

Mike and I had bought matching traditional Vietnamese outfits for the boys when we were in HCMC. They are finally big enough to wear them and I thought it would be cute to get a few pictures.

Playing with our new favorite toy - the bucket of buckets! Thanks again Jenni, Duncan and Colin!


Check out my cool new walker! Thanks again Aunt Jackie, Uncle Efrain, and cousin Kaylie!


Cameron says he's a big boy now. He can stand up all by himself!


Connor being a cutie!


Cameron showing off his newly acquired walking skills and Connor doing the Vietnam squat.

Happy 1st Birthday!!!

Today the boys are officially 1 year old. To celebrate, we invited some family and friends over. It was a little too much for Connor. He insisted I hold him until almost everyone left. Cameron was a little stressed by the crowd but managed.

The boys were very serious about the business of eating their cupcakes but they definitely enjoyed them!

Cameron

Connor

Dad & Nana joining the boys

A family photo

Grandpa & Mom


The Ramos family - Jackie, Efrain & Kaylie


Aunt Jackie and cousin Kaylie


The Giffords - Jen, Frank and Dillon


Aubrey


Dillon was playing hard


The Taitts - Duncan, Jenni & Colin


Opening presents was a lot of fun (although the gift bags and paper were often the most interesting items)!

Growing

The boys went to their pediatrician for their 12 month check ups and shots. Here are the latest stats:

CAMERON
weight: 19 lbs, 3.5 oz (10%)
height: 29 in (30%)
head circumference: 17.5 in (10%)

CONNOR
weight: 19 lbs, 14 oz (15%)
height: 29 in (30%)
head circumference: 18 in (35%)

The doctor thinks they are doing great (so do we!). However, I was disappointed for them that they hadn't gained a little more weight - we can't turn their car seats around until they break 20 lbs. At least they don't mind the car seats facing backwards too much. I just think they will enjoy facing forward more. I also don't think the height measurement is correct. Connor is clearly taller than Cameron by at least an inch. But, then again, I am not the doctor.

For reference, here are the stats from their 2/15/07 doctor visit:

CAMERON
weight: 16 lbs, 10.5 oz (3%)
height: 26 in (5%)
head circumference: 17 in (10%)

CONNOR
weight: 17 lbs, 6.5 oz (10%)
height: 26.5 in (10%)
head circumference: 17.25 in (15%)

They are certainly catching up!

It's official

Today was a big day for the boys and us. Exactly 4 months after we adopted the boys in Vung Tau, Vietnam, we re-adopted them in Sarasota, Florida. This re-adoption legally changed their names to Cameron & Connor and will give them Florida birth certificates. The ceremony took about 15 minutes. All went smoothly. Here are some pictures from the day.

Waiting for our turn with the judge


Judge Becky Titus asking us many questions


Most of us were listening intently! Note how far we've come - Mike was holding Connor for the ceremony. This would not have been possible even a month ago!


It's official!!!

My babies are becoming toddlers

In the last month, the boys have been working on their balance, babbling and learning how to get their way!

BOTH BOYS
* are still great eaters. We've introduced several new foods with different textures and they are always willing to eat anything we give them.
* interact with each other more every day
* seem to enjoy bedtime more. They don't cry as much and can talk and interact with each other which seems to help. However, they don't keep each other up either. For example, when Cameron decides he's tired, he will just lie down and go to sleep. However, if he was previously entertaining Connor, Connor will start crying when Cameron goes to sleep. It's really cute.
* are starting to throw little fits. For example, when I have been sitting with them and stand up, Cameron will start throwing a hissy fit. Nothing has happened but he wants me to sit with him... all the time! The crying is different - no tears, no fear that I'm leaving - it's simply a cry that they want something that I'm not doing. Connor throws fits too but he tends to be more proactive. If I get up and leave the room, he will be crying while he's crawling to follow where I've gone.

CAMERON
* can stand without pulling up on anything
* has taken several steps but can't keep his balance for very long
* has a look of understanding - we're convinced he knows what's up even though he can't talk yet
* babbles a LOT but only ma ma is coherent for wanting me and da da for Mike
* got his 8th tooth
* responds with appropriate clapping to "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands" (when he's in the mood)

CONNOR
* only crawls in the formal style - no more military crawl
* can balance for a bit when standing
* smiles and giggles more freely now
* walks holding onto objects
* babbling is limited to ba ba
* still loves books

They are still as cute as EVER! =)

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day, we decided we'd go to the other coast, introduce the boys to pools and to the Atlantic. They weren't too sure about the pool at first but quickly decided it was fine. After Connor got over the newness of the pool, he was ready to take a nap in his float!




Visiting the Atlantic was not as relaxing. The waters were pretty rough and both babies got knocked down by big waves. It didn't phase them at all but it destroyed my camera!


This was right after Cameron's wipe out:

Cameron the ham!

Last night we put the boys down around 7:30. They normally settle down and fall asleep by 8 but, last night, they just did not want to go to sleep. So after several trips into their room to try and convince them it was time to sleep, around 8:30, I decided to go in and synch my Palm since they weren't sleeping anyway. While I was in there, I picked up Connor and we were standing by Cameron's crib when Cameron fell down. I didn't think much of it. He's a baby and he falls. But Connor thought it was hysterical. He was doing one of his big open mouth, head thrown back, belly laughs. Cameron got back up, was standing in front of us, and then fell again. Again, Connor cracked up. I started laughing. Cameron got more dramatic about it, putting his hands up in the air and making his eyes really big as he fell backward. It was the funniest, cutest thing ever! After a while of this, I needed to do something else with the computer so I put Connor in the crib with Cameron. He fell over and Cameron started crawling on top of him. They were laughing and wrestling. Very cute!

Also, Mike said that Cameron took his first step today! He's very good at standing unassisted now and Mike said he took a step and then sat down. So, not walking yet but any day now...

Cousins

Just a cute picture of Kaylie & Cameron with Mike & Nana

Swings

During a walk to our local park, we thought we'd let the boys try out the swings. They seemed to put Connor to sleep but Cameron was terrified of them!