Hip hop kid The new one has a number of toys that make electronic sounds. But instead of just listening to the various kiddie phrases, he often likes to hit the buttons really fast, which sounds a lot like a DJ doing samples. Sometimes it sounds more like techno or some avant garde electronic music.

Sleepy boy Our boy likes to play hard, go to bed late, and is a very slow riser. This morning, talk and touch and lights would not wake him up around 9 a.m.; he didn't wake up until I played "Angels of the Silences" by Counting Crows, with the volume up quite a bit. I thought I was groggy in the morning. He also begs for some coffee with breakfast. I think he will fit in pretty well around here.

Home, at last We're back, with new son, from Guatemala. There's so much to say I don't know where to begin. Instead of trying to pack it all into one post, I think I'll do a series of posts on all that is going on. For now, we are all well, but tired from the trip ... for a one-day journey, a very long one ...

Complete lack of concentration In (I hope) a very few days we'll be going to Guatemala to bring our son home, finally. In the meantime, there's lots of stuff I am supposed to do, but it seems like I'm really getting very little done. It seems like it is almost impossible to concentrate on anything. I also am not really keying in on the trip itself very well -- my wife is doing all the planning. I think I'm trying to avoid dealing with the reality of new responsibilities. I want the change, very much, but just can't get my mind around it.

Big box a boo bop I am here to sign the glories of the Gateway Center in Everett. Every big-box store you can think of is there. It's a great place to shop for an upcoming child -- baby store, home stores, warehouse stores, etc, etc, etc. One time we went there and we left a whole bag of stuff in the parking lot by accident, in the process of trying to fit all the stuff we bought into the car (not a tiny car, mind you, but a Honda CRV). We spent a fair amount of money but not that much -- it just seems that kid stuff is LARGE. There's a new Krispy Kreme doughnut place on the way there -- I'd like to try it but each time I go buy the line looks horrible. Clearly, undernourished Americans must have more doughnuts. I shouldn't talk -- on the way back I went to Dunkin Donuts instead, got a six-pack and ice coffees.

Child-proofing weekend Yet more excitement as I try to prevent our soon-to-arrive (we hope) 2-year-old from getting into cabinets, drawers and what-not. I bought a set of fancy magnetic latches only to find I forgot to buy the key. There is still a sense of unreality around here -- change is coming but we still don't fully believe it, still don't fully take it in. But the diaper pail is deployed, and the booster seat is ready in the kitchen ...

We are family! We came down to Guatemala for just a visit with our new son, but yesterday our attorney finally got final approval from the attorney general's office here, and the adoption is final! It will be a couple of weeks until we can bring him home; we have to wait for his new birth certificate, passport and visa. We are still in a state of future shock. To first meet a 2-year-old and find out that he really is your son in one day, in a country we have never been before, was ... indescribable. I am alternating between a lot of joy and sheer total stressing out right now. In our brief experience so far Guatemala seems very nice. The people are wonderful, the food is wonderful, and despite the horribly polluted air, I think I like Guatemala City. But there is so much to do now. I'm sure I will write much more about this for many years.