Hello!

Well it's been quite a week! Overall Robert has been doing very well and I think he's really bonding with our family. He seems to get better everyday.

Oleyssa was with us for three days and she left on Sunday. It was nice having her with us and I think she enjoyed her time in Pensacola. We took her shopping, out to eat (a lot) and to the beach. She loved the beach. Of course, we love it, too, and so did Robert. We were really surprised that Robert took to the sand and water so easily. He wasn’t afraid of the water as long as someone was holding him closely. I really thought he would be more hesitant about the beach.

Robert has had a lot of firsts in this past week. He’s gotten used to going to restaurants and he loves riding in a car. He doesn’t mind the car seat at all. He’s a pretty good shopper, too. Well, that’s not counting the Walmart experience! Oleyssa wanted to go to Walmart so we went on Friday. We had been there about an hour and one-half and I was just waiting around the cash register for Oleyssa to meet me. Well, Robert saw the bananas and really wanted one. However, they sell them by the pound and I knew that if I got them he would want it right away before I could get to the register to have them weighed. Robert let loose with a major tantrum. Everybody was staring at me like I didn’t know how to handle my kid or like I had done something to him. I would have just picked up and left but I couldn’t find Oleyssa anywhere. He finally settled down after I got him interested in some crackers.

The whole tantrum thing is new to Chuck and me because Russell has never really had a tantrum. We’ve just been trying to ignore him when he has a tantrum and that seems to be working. His tantrums have gotten much shorter.

Bedtime is still a challenge. He definitely throws a tantrum when we put him down and he usually wakes up several times during the night screaming and crying. We love it when we go out to eat and he falls asleep because he usually stays asleep and sleeps much better through the night. We might just have to continue to eat out a lot.

Robert and Russell are having a great time at St. George Island. They both love the pool although it’s a little too cold for Mom and Dad! Robert had his first boat ride last night. We all went on a sunset and oyster shucking cruise. The boat didn’t even faze Robert and he even fell asleep on us.

He continues to get more comfortable with the dogs. He’s completely fine with them unless they come right up to him. They can be standing right next to him and that’s fine as long as they don’t show any interest in him. I’m very relieved that he’s okay with the pets. The dogs are with us on vacation , too. Five of them! That includes Mimi and Poppee’s dog and Susu’s dog so I guess he had to get used to them.

Another thing that’s still a challenge is food. He definitely likes to eat but what he’ll eat is very limited so far. Everything is so strange to him because all they have in the Baby House is porridge-type food. He loves oatmeal and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Oh yes, and bananas!

It’s really been fun to watch Robert this past week. He’s a totally different child than he was at the Baby House. He loves to laugh and talk. I would love to know what he’s saying. He’s already saying words in English when prompted so I’m hoping the language will come quickly for him. One day he and Russell where going upstairs and Russell said, me first!” and then Robert said, “me first!” I couldn’t believe it. He definitely likes his big brother and vice-versus. Russell has been wonderful with Robert.

We all head home on Sunday and then it we’ll try to get back to a normal schedule. I still can’t believe we’re the parents of two toddlers!

Best, The Youngs