We like to move it move it

So, we are doing two of the most stressful things a family can do...at the same time: integrating an adopted child into our family AND MOVING! Granted we are just moving 10 minutes away, but we are moving nonetheless. Not the best timing, but it is the opportunity of a lifetime that we just could not pass up. We are blessed to be moving into a house no more than a couple hundred yards from Matt's parents. We move at the end of the month and the home's location is perfect for us. In addition to the close proximity to family, the house is on a cul de sac, and we can easily walk to the neighborhood playground and pool. We are very excited about our move.

In other news, Peter has had a few promising developments. He now climbs the 14 stairs to the second story of our home on his own (with me walking behind him as a safety net, of course). Peter learned by following his big brother upstairs a few steps at a time and is now quite proud of himself each time he motors to the top.

Also, the last two times we went to the pool, Peter played with other children in the kiddie pool. The first time, Peter approached a girl his age, traded his bucket for her two containers, and they bee-bopped around in the water together. The second time, Peter similarly approached another girl around his age, traded his yellow sprinkling can for her blue one, and the two traded back and forth several times as they played with the toys in the water. It made my heart smile to see him interacting like that.

Peter is also starting to be able to follow simple instructions once in a while. It involves a lot of pointing, gesturing and repetition on my part, but over the past few days, he has succeeded in following:
Get the box.
Roll the truck.
Put the apple in the bowl.

Here are some recent photos with Peter.

Peter's first train ride:

Playing around in the kitchen:

~Allie