Week Three: Half Infant and Half Toddler

While we slowly return to our new normal, it seems each day Daniel either learns a new word, sound, gesture or movement.

It is hard to believe we have been home three weeks. Time has a funny way of going fast. Claudia has enjoyed staying home with Daniel. I've returned to work and am finally starting to get caught up with our various projects and potential new business.

Daniel is getting into his routine. We've transitioned him into his bedroom during the nights, albeit reluctantly on my part. He slept the entire night yesterday and we are hoping this will become a trend.

His abuela delivered his crib bumper she made for him today. It looks great in the room and matches the existing color scheme.

Now on to more fun things! Daniel is on the verge of walking. It stumbled his first couple of steps quasi-unassisted yesterday. Claudia and I sat a few feet a part and let him lurch himself into our waiting arms. Without us there to catch him, he surely would have face planted into the carpet. Whether we want him to or not, Daniel is growing.

I like to describe him as half infant and half toddler. He enjoys being cuddled and treated like an infant, but at times he exerts his independence and is extremely curious about everything. It's a wonderful age.

The other day Claudia and Daniel were down stairs. Claudia went into the kitchen, which joins our living room, for a minute. Daniel took his moment of solitude combined with freedom to explore one of our potted plants. By the time Claudia saw him there was dirt all over the floor. The first indication something else was awry was when she noticed a little bit of dirt on Daniel's lip. When she opened his mouth it was full of, you guessed it, dirt!

She quickly opened his mouth and finger swiped as much dirt out as possible. Daniel was a little startled. They sat there looking at each other for a moment and then started laughing.

Our dogs are learning to adjust having an infant in the house. Daniel enjoys the dogs and now everything that moves is a "wow-wow." Cows. Horses. People walking in the distance. They are all doggies to Daniel.

Occasionally Missy (our nine-year-old cocker spaniel) or Pebbles (our adopted Pomeranian) will growl at Daniel to tell him he is getting into their space. Daniel, sitting up on the floor in only his onesie, looks at them for a minute and growls back at them. We die laughing.

Daniel still hasn't gotten used to the sweltering heat yet, but the good news is none of the natives have either. As with much of the country, Nashville has been consistently in the mid-90s with high humidity making outside really feel like 100+ degrees. Step outside for a few minutes and it feels like you're taking a shower in your sweat.

Car trips aren't nearly as fun as the destinations for Daniel. It is an understatement to say he hates being in his car seat by himself. With someone sitting in the backseat with him it is a lot better experience. Otherwise, he is wailing from start to stop.

It makes trips to Gymboree during the week bittersweet for Claudia. He really enjoys interacting with the other children, but going and coming is very traumatic for him in the car seat. Still, Claudia has watched him play peek-a-boo with the teacher and crawl-sprint toward the surprise toy box at the end of class. I can't wait to see him during one of the classes.

And so, each day we enjoy watching our son do what little one-year-old children do. He's exploring, learning and talking a lot. Everything is new to him. Whether it's a summer breeze and flowers or a trip to the grocery store and Gymboree. Basically, it's awesome.