Introducing Spencer

A great Christmas!

2012-01-27T05:46:00.001-08:00

Spencer has a great Christmas! Santa brought him lots of presents. His favorite was a flashlight that he uses to "play camp." (He likes to pretend he is camping in our house.)

More recently, Spencer has been starting to read! He recognizes a lot of names. He is very proud of his development and so are we!

Christmas greetings!

2011-12-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

Spencer seems to have a better understanding of Christmas. He already has a "wish list" for Santa, too. He would like several (very specific) Thomas & Friends engines, a robot and some stickers. The reason he didn't ask for an iPod Touch is that he thinks he already has one. (However, it belongs to his sister!) He is a sweet boy and has been good all year, so Santa is sure to fulfill his wishes.

Halloween t-shirt

2011-11-26T11:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Spencer wearing his Halloween t-shirt: "I am the creature from next door." It was a special day, too, because he learned to give a kiss on the cheek with a loud smacking sound! Spencer enjoys talking about Halloween throughout the year. He likes to wiggle his fingers and say "wooooh" to make something seem scary. However, he is easily spooked, so great care must be taken to preserve his trust.

Spencer on a carousel

2011-11-10T10:34:00.001-08:00

Spencer continues to be a sweet little boy. Wait, make that a sweet BIG boy. Yes, he has been accident free for a month. That includes day and night!

Spencer again resisted the idea of wearing a Halloween costume. Fortunately, he was amenable to wearing a long sleeve Halloween t-shirt. But he certainly wasn't shy about wanting candy!

Birthday boy!

2011-08-07T13:02:00.001-07:00

Spencer and his sisters had their photos taken today to commemorate his third birthday. He has grown up a lot in the past few weeks. He is talking all the time and using the potty a lot more. He refuses a sippy cup and prefers cups or boxes with a straw. And he finally has begun to sleep through the night! His love for Thomas & Friends is deepening, and he is hoping to get a lot of Thomas-related presents tonight at his birthday party in Pennsylvania. It is going to rain, so fortunately this year an indoor event was planned. And even though he is a big boy now, he is as sweet as ever.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

Spencer wishes everyone a happy Father's Day! His newest word is "gimme" as in "Gimme that." His favorite thing to eat now is Mandarin oranges. He continues to love Thomas & Friends. He is especially astute at naming the trains -- including "Spencer" which is the fastest train of all. He likes to stay in a hotel and operate the buttons on an elevator and use the card key to open the door. And he loves to swim! However, he isn't keen on having a bath (particularly if it involves washing his hair). Today he seemed to have a breakthrough with his potty training: Instead of being reactive to a wet diaper, he instead asked for potty at least six times and was dry as well as successful! What a big boy! Recently when asked if he is a cute boy, he said, "Yes! Ohhhh, yes!"

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

Spencer's personality continues to develop along with his skills. He is strong willed and isn't afraid to speak his mind. He likes to take his shoes and socks off in the car. When asked why his sock wasn't on his foot when we arrived at our destination, he simply stated: "I took it off." On the same car ride, he insisted on trying his sister's macadamia nuts, but he quickly decided he didn't like them. He then pelted people with them and declared: "I throw nuts." He isn't as fond of Barney now, as his attention has turned to Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. His favorite episode is "Percy's Chocolate Crunch" which he asks for by name. His favorite foods are corn and peas. And he loves bubbles!

Having fun on the playground

2011-02-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

Spencer enjoys indoor and outdoor play with other children. He does not like to tolerate a wet or stinky diaper anymore, but he doesn't have much interest in the potty either. Instead, he prefers to remove his diaper and then try to put on a new one himself! (There's no doubt he'll get the hang of it sooner or later.) His favorite foods are cantaloupe and green beans and an occasional M&M. He likes to tell his name and age when asked; however, he typically displays his whole hand instead of just two fingers for his age. He likes to name various animals such as cats, dogs, monkeys and zebras. When he hears a noise coming from the sky he points and says "airplane." If he hears a siren, he says "fire truck." He enjoys puzzles. His favorite shape is an oval, and he sounds very cute when he says "triangle." He has added a few letters to the alphabet ("snake" and "double y"), and created his own number (five-teen). When the temperature drops, he says "cold ice." His latest phrase is the all-purpose "Spencer's turn."

I love New York!

2010-11-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

The whole family went to New York City for a fun-filled vacation. The weather was unseasonably warm! Spencer slept through an art gallery and endured two meals at the American Girl Cafe. But he enjoyed playing in Central Park and jumping in a bouncy house at a festival in Chinatown. He also likes to talk about airplanes and explore new places.

Spencer dressed as a pumpkin for Halloween!

2010-11-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

Spencer resisted many Halloween costumes, but in the end, he agreed to wear this pumpkin outfit. In fact, after going from house to house and getting candy, he decided at the end of the night that he didn't want to take the costume off!

Growing up fast

2010-10-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Spencer continues to grow and develop. He now weighs 28 pounds. He is learning to speak and has begun putting words together. Last week he said "two people" and "eight more days." Although he doesn't like Halloween costumes at all, he does like candy. Fortunately, he can't open the packages yet. He has noticed the change in the weather. In the morning, he will say "cold" when we go out to see the girls off to school. Later on, he will then say "hot day." He loves to swing at the playground and climb on the monkey bars. He is VERY active.

Spencer is 2!

2010-08-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

Spencer had a wonderful birthday. We started off with family pictures. Then he had a party with extended family members in Pennsylvania. He was very happy to have Barney the Dinosaur as a surprise guest! It's hard to believe he's not longer a "baby." Now he is officially a toddler.

Spencer, the pirate

2010-08-06T10:42:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that Spencer will be 2 tomorrow! His vocabulary continues to increase. He especially likes to say "out," "more," "look" and "helloooo." He also likes to sing "Row, row, row (your boat)." And his love of Elmo continues to intensify.

Ready for bed

2010-06-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Spencer wishes everyone a happy Father's Day!

Spencer, the pilot

2010-05-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Spencer is a very cute boy! I guess those blue eyes are here to stay! He is trying to say a lot more words now. His favorite word is "Look!" His second favorite word is "No!" He also likes to say "kitty," "car," "out," "girl" and, of course, "ma-ma." He likes to take a bath, but he doesn't like to actually sit down while doing so. He loves to eat beans -- green beans, baked beans, kidney beans. He seems very interested in learning how to operate things. For example, in February he ruined the TV by turning it on and off repeatedly. (Our new TV has controls that he cannot reach.) He desperately wants to ride a tricycle, but he is a bit too small yet. When he doesn't get his way, he sometimes takes a little fit where he stamps his feet and cries. Or he may make a little fist in frustration. But he seems easy going most of the time. He thinks it is hilarious when someone sneezes. In fact, he will often take a tissue and pretend to sneeze. He likes to giggle. He doesn't like to hold still to have his diaper changed, but he has absolutely no interest in using a little potty.

Spencer at the wheel

2010-05-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Spencer likes to "drive" his Crazy Coupe. This is a photo from Palm Sunday. He has since had a hair cut. He sends his love on Mother's Day to all the women who love him so much. He's a special boy and very happy!

Spencer is getting bigger!

2010-03-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Spencer continues to grow and develop. He is becoming increasingly vocal. He likes to say "nana" for banana at breakfast. His favorite expression is "Yeah!" He throws his hands in the air when he says it, too, with much feeling. He also says "get," "girl," "no," "book" and "Elmo." He enjoys saying "mama" or more likely "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma." And he likes noodles (as you can see) as well as green beans, asparagus, watermelon, cantaloupe and corn. He also likes Girl Scout thin mint cookies! He experienced some snow in January during a visit to Pennsylvania. He seems to have a sweet nature, but if he doesn't get his way, he will throw a little tantrum that consists of stomping his feet and making some angry sounds. And watch out; he just may bite you!

Spencer's trip to Disney World

2009-12-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

Spencer enjoyed a recent trip to Walt Disney World. We went to the Magic Kingdom so that Spencer could have his first haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street U.S.A. While waiting in line, Daisy Duck suddenly appeared outside! Spencer was pleased to make her acquaintance as you can see from the photo. You also can see how long and somewhat curly his hair was getting. The hairdresser covered him with Mickey Mouse stickers before cutting his locks. She mixed his hair with pixie dust and put it in a small bag as a keepsake. He also received a certificate and a small pair of mouse ears with "First Haircut" on the back. Spencer's sporting his new haircut in the family photo in front of the Christmas tree. He looks like such a big boy now! And very handsome, too!!! He definitely has the genes for good looks. :)

Spencer is such a big boy!

2009-11-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Spencer is getting bigger, more active and curious! He started walking in September and he really has the hang of it now. He enjoyed trick-or-treating at Halloween. Last week he was teething again with a few more chompers coming in on top. His hobbies are: turning the TV off (particularly if someone seems to be enjoying a program), flushing the toilet and removing people's sunglasses. His favorite foods are French bread, mushrooms, asparagus tips and gingerbread. He has moved on to cow's milk and refuses baby food and formula. He uses a "big boy" sippy cup. We are very proud of his progress! But where did our tiny baby go?!

Spencer's birthday party

2009-09-20T09:47:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from Spencer's birthday party in Pennsylvania. He had an Elmo-theme birthday cake and Elmo even made a special appearance at the party! A magician performed as well. It was a very special day!

Happy birthday, Spencer!

2009-08-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

In our family, it is a tradition to have your photo taken on your first birthday. So Spencer was no exception. Spencer was a natural in front of the camera. There were a few challenging moments (particularly when he was posing on his back), but overall, he was easier to handle than his sisters. Spencer had a lovely birthday party with about 40 people in attendance -- plus a furry red monster from Sesame Street. Yes, that's right, Elmo accepted our invitation! He came to the party, danced, led some games and acted as a magician's assistant. A good time was had by all, just as Spencer is loved by all. (I think it is those blue eyes that make even strangers melt.)

Approaching age 1

2009-08-02T01:51:00.000-07:00

This photo was used on Spencer's birthday party invitations. He'll be celebrating his first birthday in Pennsylvania with many extended family members. He'll be thinking of ALL of his friends and loved ones in Florida and wishing them well on that happy day.

Spencer is an active boy. He loves crawling and putting things in his mouth -- all very normal behavior. He slept through the night for just the third time earlier this week.

We love him so much!!!

Spencer crawls and has two teeth!

2009-06-13T05:42:00.001-07:00

Spencer was teething for at least a month. Then two little teeth popped through! He learned to do the "commando" crawl about a month ago, and for two weeks he has been doing a "proper" crawl. He dislikes sitting still; he loves to squirm. This makes bathtime and changing time a challenge. If he doesn't get his way, he emits a high-pitched squeal -- like that of a piglet. He also can coo and whimper. He desperately wants to learn to walk. He can get into a standing position all by himself and walk from one end of the couch to the other while holding on. He enjoys being around people, and he smiles a lot. Now if only he would sleep through the night ...

Growing up fast!

2009-04-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Our precious boy is getting so big! He can sit by himself. He likes to roll around, too. He is ready to crawl, but he hasn't yet. He likes all of the new foods he tries. Bananas seem to be his favorite. He's been a bit cranky lately. Suspected cause: teething.

Happy New Year!

2009-03-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Spencer is doing well. He smiles a lot, but as soon as the flash goes off on the camera, he tends to scowl. This photo is the exception. Spencer weighed nearly 16 lbs. at his six-month check up which is normal. His pediatrician had recommended starting him on rice cereal, but he never took to it. Finally we gave up and moved on to pureed carrots. He loved them! But what a mess he made of his clothes -- despite wearing a bib! Later that week he tried peas and sweet potatoes with at least as much enthusiasm. He gets very excited when he sees his special spoon with the extra long handle because he anticipates his delicious meal. He doesn't have any teeth yet, but he checks for them often with his fingers. He also enjoys playing with his toes. He is a special boy who is loved by all. And I do mean ALL. :)

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T07:57:00.001-08:00

Everyone got great presents -- including our baby. He was especially excited about his Sunny Sunshine, stacking rings, prayer doll and holiday bib. Thanks, Santa!

Spencer's first three months of life

2008-11-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

Spencer weighed 5 lb. 10 oz. at birth. He came home from the hospital on Aug. 10. Even though he had a good appetite, his weight dropped to 5 lb. 8.5 oz. at his first doctor's appointment on Aug. 12 (which was a normal drop). But he was up to 6 lb. 3 oz. on Aug. 21 at his two-week visit. He was almost up to 6 lb. 3.5 oz. that day, but he decided to relieve himself on the scale and lost half an ounce!

Our girls love having a baby brother! In fact, one of them asked me to get another baby brother. I suppose that makes sense, coming from an identical twin who lived in foster care for a while with another set of identical twins!

At first, Spencer's life was quite boring – which he appreciated. For the first month or so, he would just stay at home, sleep and eat. He has always loved to be cuddled! And he makes a very cute sound when he drinks his milk. But after about six weeks of being relatively homebound, he started to go out to the store or to drop the girls off at school.

In early November, Spencer contracted a respiratory infection that is common among preemies and former preemies. However, his doctors and nurses provided excellent care, and Spencer is not expected to have any long-term effects. His weight on Nov. 3 was 13 lbs. 4 oz. Most babies lose their appetites when they have a respiratory infection -- but not Spencer. He reminds of us of the gentle plant on "Little Shop of Horrors" that starts off small and sweet and soon morphs into something much bigger and more voracious. "Feed me," the Audrey 2 (or "Two-ey") intones.

On November 12, his adoption became final. We are forever grateful for the opportunity to raise him, love him and teach him.

Adoption Day -- November 12, 2008

2008-11-13T21:14:00.001-08:00

Photos from October

2008-11-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

Photos from September

2008-11-13T20:41:00.001-08:00

Photos from August

2008-11-13T20:33:00.001-08:00

Baby brother Spencer!

2008-08-11T07:35:00.000-07:00