Completely random information on Andrew

1. Andrew went to see the doctor today for a weight check-up and vaccinations. He has gained 1½ pounds. J Sadly, he is going to be very sore the next two days....

2. He loves his shoes! Even after taking a bath and getting ready to go to bed, he says “shoes” in sign language in order to ask for them to be put back on. He only has one pair (from China), and I'm hoping US shoes are just as comfortable.

3. He doesn’t mind us using a nasal aspirator on his nose. How bizarre cool is that?

4. Andrew is a goof-ball. He loves to joke, tease, and make people laugh. One way he does this is by putting shirts or pants on his head to get a reaction. Or, he’ll hide behind things and pop out and say some version of “Peek-a-Boo”. More like “oo!” It’s quite funny.

5. Andrew is learning sign language to help with his transition to English. He uses it throughout the day. However, he can talk. He says things like: momma, dadda, Iz, hello (“ello”)…. And, just the other day when I said: “I love you”, he said, “uv oo”!!!! I was shocked! What a sweetie!

6. Andrew has a pet. Lizzie Lizard. Cherish named her Lizzie Lizard. Him/her? Who knows? Thus, Lizzie Lizard it is. Lizzie lives outside Andrew’s bedroom window. He loves Lizzie Lizard. He always checks to see if she’s hanging around. She usually is. (She or her relatives.) Andrew waves to her constantly and calls her “Iz”. He wakes up in the morning and when I lift him out of his crib, he points to the window and then wakes “hi”. It’s his way of telling me he’d like me to open the blinds so he can check to see if Lizzie is there and say, “Hi!” She usually-always is there. She or her relatives. Did I mention that?

OK, well. Pants on head. 

7. Andrew loves to cuddle and kiss. If someone lies on the couch or floor for whatever reason, there will more than likely be a warm, moist kiss gently placed on the person's lips.

8. When Andrew drinks a bottle, he prefers to be cradled. This is a really sweet time of bonding.

9. Andrew loves baths. He can easily stay in for an hour. The best way to get him out of the tub is with the question, “Do you want lotion?” That boy will drop everything and pop right up out of that water! He loves lotion just as much as baths. So, we lather him up. He just basks in the feeling of being caressed and cared for in the simplest ways.

10. He also enjoys brushing his teeth. He asks me if he can brush his teeth about 5x a day! (Sign language is his way of communication.) I admit: I might be a bad mommy. He brushes his teeth max of three times a day. =T I know, I know, let him brush!

11. When Andrew goes to bed at night or at nap time, we simply need to walk him to his room, give him a hug, and place him in his crib. Then, he cuddles up to his blankets while we exit the room. That's it. No crying. If there is any time he does cry (extremely rare), it just means, “One more hug.” We pick him back up and give him one more hug. Then, he’ll point to the crib, as if to say, “You can put me down now. I’m ready.”

In the mornings, I don’t even know when he wakes up. Since Cherish’s room is across from his, she’ll usually see him playing in his crib and come get me. No crying. It. is. weird. nice!

Excuse the harshness of the picture.

I used the flash in the dark room (early morning).

He wakes up in such a good mood! 

12. Andrew is a very sensitive child. If he is doing something he shouldn’t be doing, all we have to do is say, “Andrew” and shake our heads “no”. If that doesn’t stop him immediately (like trying to climb up on the coffee table), we say “Andrew, no-no” in a sing-song voice with a smile and he stops. Anything beyond this completely crushes his spirit. He cries a mourning-type of crying and goes completely limp. He shuts down and the only way to bring him out of it is by cradling him and kissing him for quite some time. He. is. so. tender!

Derek and I are continually amazed at Andrew’s spirit.

He is so gentle, sensitive, and truly sweet—through and through!

I have never seen such tenderness.

We continually praise God for this precious child!