Month 12

Dear Corbin,

Happy birthday, sweet boy! It has been a very good year, your first year. We have had so much fun watching you grow and change and learn. You are walking now, which you enjoy very much. You totter along with your arms held out to the sides, like a little zombie. Sometimes you get going pretty quick, but mostly you walk slowly with lots of stops to look at things or pick things ups. You like to carry things around the house, which is cute for us but a little crazy-making for the dogs. Yesterday, I put one of your toys in a grocery bag that I had just emptied, and later on Arrow came and barked at me because you had put it in his crate. That was after the morning, when you let Rex out of his crate and then crawled into it and started eating his breakfast. I had to fish about four pieces of dog food out of your mouth while you chomped on my finger with your little teeth. Yuck.

You had your 12 month check up today, and got three shots and a finger poke. You weren't happy about any of that, but you didn't make too much of a fuss. You weigh almost 20 pounds and are 29" long and are perfectly healthy. Good job!

You went on your first plane rides this month, down to St Louis for Chinese New Year with Grandpa Lam's family. My cousins were all happy to meet you, and you did quite well in your red envelopes. I saved it all for you. I have it right here. Just ignore that Target receipt. The traveling unsettled your sleeping a little bit, but not your mood. In fact, you were so well behaved that my cousin Michelle called you a, "bait baby." She says babies like you bait people into having children, fooling them into thinking that their baby will also be cute and happy and fun, just like you are.

You still only have two teeth, both on the bottom. I keep looking to see if you're getting any on the top, but no sign right now. Hopefully by the time you get more teeth, you'll be good enough at sippy cups that we can put the bottles away. I got you a new cup with a straw, and you've gotten good at sucking milk up in the straw. The problem is that you'll suck up a mouthful of milk, then open your mouth to let go of the straw and end up with a lap-full of milk. It's messy, but most of your meals are messy anyway.

You are still enjoying swimming classes, and still enjoying any chance you get to be outside. I am looking forward to this summer when we can walk up to the park or go to the arboretum or the zoo or the dog park. It is always fun to watch you exploring, to watch you discovering, to watch you learning. You are still our little observer. This is where I would post several pictures of you gingerly poking at your birthday cupcake, but the camera ate the picture files. That's the price you pay for growing up in the digital age, I guess. So here are some pictures of you walking, instead.

We love you,
Mom

Happy New Year!

February, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Year of the Tiger! This is Adam’s birth year, which will tell you how old he will be on his birthday, if you do the math. According to some, this year of the White or Metal Tiger will be filled with drama and intense activity. The White Tiger is also associated with being jinxed, and we are all supposed to watch out for health problems. On the other hand, the metal element may bring prosperity to industries like banking, engineering and technology. Overall, there is much to be cautious about this year, with rewards for those who are able to resist losing their temper. Especially lucky this year is anyone born in the year of the Pig, Horse, or Dog. Everyone else should cozy up to those people!

The last year has obviously been one of great change in the Thorne household. Our son, Corbin, was born last year on February 22^nd, so he is almost a year old. It is hard to believe that we have watching him grow for a whole year now. From rolling, to crawling, to now his first steps. From just milk, to mushy cereal, to now two teeth and finger foods. And from a sleepy baby, to a watchful baby, to now a little boy who gets excited about our animals and being at swimming classes. We are so blessed and lucky!

Not only has it been a pleasure for us to have Corbin around, but it’s been a true joy for my parents. They spent the summer with us, living in their camper in our garage, and doing daycare for Corbin after I went back to work. In August, we all agreed that we wanted them to keep doing daycare, so they moved into an apartment a block away. They make life so much easier, in so many ways. We are grateful for their help, and they love being able to spend so much time with Corbin.

Thankfully, everything else in our life has been stable. Adam and I are still enjoying our jobs, and even getting a little hobby time in. My goal this year is to see more theatre, but I don’t plan on returning to stage managing for a while yet. Last year we went to three weddings, two of which were in Michigan. So far, Corbin has been a very good traveler. We even flew to St Louis for Chinese New Year dinner, and he did so well that strangers gave us compliments!

In a few weeks, Alex and Lena will come to visit, and we are looking forward to seeing them. This summer, we’ll have some more house and yard projects to keep us busy. And this fall we will go to Alex and Lena’s wedding in October. We are hoping to take enough time off to drive to California and then visit one or two national parks on the way home. It is good to look back over the past year and see how much has changed. And it is very good to look forward over the next year and be excited about the times to come. We hope that your last year has been happy, and that your next year is full of health and strength and blessings.

Love,

Adam, Mel and Corbin

On the road in St Louis. We love Monkey.


Playing around at Union Station


At CNY dinner with my cousin Michelle, me, and my cousin David.