Matteo at Age Three

A year ago today I was so sad we couldn't make it to China before Tao Tao's second birthday.  September had seemed so far off when we first laid eyes on his picture in May.  Our dossier had already been translated and our agency was predicting a quick approval from China and I honestly believed it wouldn't be long before we'd have our children in our arms.  Instead, by the time Matteo's birthday came, we had experience multiple delays and were in the middle of a never-ending wait for approval from China.  Instead of being happy, I was depressed. 

A year later and I was at a park with a friend and as my kids were running around enjoying the sun and the chill autumn air, and she turned to me and commented how she can't believe Matteo and Kiera have been in our family less than a year because it seems like forever they've been a part of our lives.  Although I will never forget the ache in my heart as I hoped to one day finally hold my children in my arms, my sadness has been replaced with joy.  Matteo and I were seperated for his last birthday, but he is forever part of our family for all his birthdays to come.   

Matteo is a joy for a son.  He's not the most smiley of kids, but gosh, when he does smile, he lights up a room with his huge grin.  There's really so much to love about this kid.  He has such an agreeable personality who generally goes with the flow and is up for what anyone else is doing.  He loves books, baths, reading books, coloring, building with blocks or Magnatiles, playing outside and tagging along to anything his brothers are up to.    

He loves going to preschool and is thriving there, as are his siblings.  I wish I could send him five mornings a week instead of only three because he likes it that much 

Matteo takes it easy on us parents in that he's completely potty-trained (and has been since we met him), is a great eater and sleeps well. Don't those issues comprise the top three complaints parents tend to have about their three-year-olds? 

Matteo works very hard during his speech therapy lessons and his therapists continue to be impressed with his attention span and persistence.  He currently has four sessions a week between what he qualifies through the school district and then private speech therapy.  Unfortunately, his speech is still largely unintelligible unless you know are really paying attention and have direct context (as in he points to the object as he says in the word).

As the fourth child, Matteo's naps have been pushed to the wayside.  We're able to get away with this because he's such an easy-going child, but most afternoons, it's clear he could benefit from a catnap.  If we're in the car in the afternoon, it's rare he stays awake, even for a five-minute drive.  When he wakes up from a short-lived nap, is one of the few times we see him truly grumpy.  The post-nap period is prime cuddle time.  

He's pretty attached to Chris and his brothers.  Sometimes Chris and I divide and conquer with the kids and we each take two and head in separate directions hoping to get as much done as possible.  Matteo is so sad if he see Chris leaving with Oliver and Soren and he gets left behind.

Something else that continues to incite tears in Matteo are dogs.  It doesn't matter how big or small, puppy-like or elderly, well-behaved or needs to go to obedience school, he steers clear of any dog at any cost. 

A recent development we've noticed in Matteo is wanting to do things by himself.  Whereas he used to get upset if someone wouldn't help him put his shoes on (even though he could do it himself), he now gets upset if you try to help him.  He also wants to try to dress himself, which can really test one's patience.