One Year Ago

This is what my babies looked like 1 year ago, today. We were in Portland, Oregon awaiting the time to go to the airport to come home. We spent the day going to parks and the Zoo and anxiously awaiting the rest of our lives with these 3 added to our story. 

Emalee looks so tiny to me when I look back. She's grown so tall now and up 2 sizes in her clothes and shoes. Jaida has slimmed up and gotten taller. Her hair has grown and the baby look has left her. Nick, our little chuck, has slimmed up, too. He is so smart and funny.

Though we haven't (and won't) make a big deal out of today, it is such a big deal in my heart. My life will never be the same and I am thankful. These 3 have brought so much to me, to us, to all of the family. 

Another first for the firstborn....

I've known about this trip for some weeks now. I've watched him beam with joy, make little "lists" (just like Dad) of things to bring, to do, and a breakdown of how he might spend his allotted funds. With all that, I still wasn't really, completely, all the way prepared for him to go. It's just til Sunday. A few days, no biggie. A few days away, 6 hours and 19 minutes away, 338 miles away... Ok, you get it. He is thirteen and it might seem a little crazy that I'm nervous over it or more so that this is his first time being away like this, but I'm a mom parent. I've been accused of being over protective, keepin' the leash too tight, yada yada, you know, all the opinions and criticism that comes from raising kids with a good moral and Godly upbringing. See, we take the whole "train up your child in the way he should go...." thing pretty seriously. We protect what they watch, listen to, where they go, what they wear... etc. etc. For some, that's simply PARENTING; to others I'm an insane, psycho, freak, ehhh I'll take it. We don't simply forbid we teach them and allow them to decide for themselves if they watch, where, went, hear or have it, would Jesus watch with them, approve of it, go with them, listen, or own the same thing... and they can then decide, knowing the consequences of the choice they make. If, low and behold, they wanna opt for the godless option we remind them of this - "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." So, godless options simply aren't allowed in our home. (oh hush- I know what you're thinking. I've been called worse I promise ;-) )

Tot School

(check it out at 1+1+1=1)

Tot School went soooo amazingly well today!

Jaida (31 mos.) laced beads onto pipe cleaners. She worked so tediously doing it and was completely enthralled. She figured out that as she was putting the beads on and neared the end the beads were being pushed off the other end, so she does what all baby geniuses do and bent the end to keep 'em on.

Nick (46 mos.) worked for only a moment on the lacing. He is meticulous. He spaced each bead the same distance and wouldn't have it any other way. He would much rather the sound of the beads dumping into the tray. We cleaned that and he looked at me as if to say, "give me a real challenge."His mind is so active and he is too darn smart for that "baby stuff" so he built a helicopter using trio blocks. He got these for Christmas and I have been a little hesitant, with the big move coming and all, to take out yet another toy with pieces, but hey, it was school friendly so we did. He had to follow directions using the right color, length and placement to make it happen and the clickey sound they make was entertaining in itself... and he did with a little help from big bro Ryan who, deep down, really wanted those trios. :) Would you believe my camera died before I could get a pic of it?

Oh well, good reason to do it again.

Taking the heli apart to put things away was NOT an easy task...Snap into action Mom! Uh, character building, work on keeping a positive attitude.... what are those things I'm always saying??? He was in a full out fit and it was ugly. I started with a simple thing I call ignoring him. It's the quickest way to get his attention is to give him no attention when he is being negative. He stopped and wiped away his tears and said, "Ok, Mom? It's ok." I told him his behavior was not ok and that he was a distraction to others and he (on his own) told the others he was sorry. Yay.

Wouldn't be right if I didn't give you a shot of our Big girl doing her Phonics on her Leap Pad.... Emalee Joy loves school and has made so much progress in just the 7 1/2 months she has been home.... Poor thing had NO educational foundation. She didn't know any of her alphabet, didn't know her age, now my girl can tell you her address, her age, birthday, spell and write her name. She is 5, should be further by most scales, but considering all I know - she is right on track :)

Lookin' back...

I have found myself living in retrospect lately. Pondering things I should've, would've, could've done, but didn't. Like, I should have taken more pictures of my big boys when they were little. I didn't think about it until I'm grabbin' the camera to take a picture of every imaginable thing the little ones are doing. #2 gets frustrated sometimes like he thinks they get more attention than he does or ever did... not. Four, five, and six have only been with us since June 09, I missed many of their firsts. But, that is for another time.

Our God is an awesome God!

It's been awhile and I do apologize. I invite anyone complaining over to my house to see where my time is spent though :)

We're a full house and getting fuller by the day. We have been blessed more than anyone deserves and can't find the words to adequetaly express our gratitude to those whose hands have touched our lives.

A dear friend who worked with D when he was doing real estate is a Sunday School teacher at her church. Well, she has been sharing our journey with many and bring prayers to us in abundance. Well, she petitioned her class for hand me downs from their children and grandchildren and well.... people are awesome! People who serve an awesome God are very very awesome! This week our home was blessed with a large lego table and may legos, a kitchen for the girls (tho N loves it too), a tool set and kids craftsman tool chest, dolls, strollers, dvds, stuffed animals, you name it! We went to bed that night thinking, God, can it really get any better? Well, yes- it can and has. The same lady called to tell us she will be back with an outdoor playset and a swingset. Can I mention again how blessed we are? I cannot tell you the number of people who have said to us how happy they are for us and how they cannot adopt but want to help us do it.

One day I will be able to write about it without tearing up... I promise. Night for now

Our God is an awesome God!

Loving my life !

I miss my boys. I have been fine until last night my mom said my baby boy wanted to talk to me. It dawned on me, my baby boy is 10 now and since moved from his ranks.

Having daughters is a whole new world for me. "Fix my hair bows, Mommy" "Paint my fingers and toes, Mommy." I LOVE IT. They're both so sweet. Emalee wants to go "wis Daddy" everywhere he goes. Jaida says Hi to everyone everywhere. We're having a great time. We're tired, but having a great time. Nicholas is precious too and if you read the last post you'll see what a doll he is. Emalee has been very motherly to the others their whole life so she is quick to tell me how to do things and I appreciate it, but I want her to enjoy being a little girl and relieve her of her responsibilities. We've let her stay up a little later than the babies and she thinks she's all that now. She seems to have never been entitled to her privilege of being the oldest. Though she won't be in our home, she is of these siblings and there's something special about that. Jaida- well, she's a princess in all ways. She has attitude and is not afraid to use it. She's a bright eyed little thing with a walk that is soooo cute!

Yesterday and today we had visits with the Foster parents. Whew, the last final goodbye is at 8am. We're feeling like all these meetings aren't really the best thing because the kids are getting a little confused, but we also have to put forth the effort to make this transition smooth.

Post later....

My Only Sunshine...

This will be the first of a series tonight as I try to catch up on current events here. I had hoped to post each night and add pictures to our album, but having toddlers and laptops in a small hotel room is a recipe for disaster any way you slice it. I hope to add a video to this if my technological side will kick in and I can figure out how.

Nicholas is our 3 year old who is "supposedly" diagnosed with autism. I say this because we've yet to witness autistic characteristics in him. He is precious. My first close moment with him happened shortly after we got to the hotel our first day meeting them. We had played and laughed together, but this moment was the moment that holds our future in place. Nicholas fell and bumped his head and I ran to his aid like Mommy's do. Instinct #1, kiss the bo0-boo. #2, sing a song. I sang You are my Sunshine and his stiffened body molded to mine, his head went on my shoulder and we were connected....just like that. Now, every time a boo-boo happens or a "moment" when he is upset and nothing works, no matter where or what or who is around, it I sing You are my Sunshine, Nicholas melts. That isn't the best part if you can imagine. He now takes my face in his hands and starts the song himself. And I melt. This little guy has been locked inside himself waiting for someone to connect. They call what he speaks 'his own little world', but D and I understand him; comprehend him. He knows we do and we connect. Sure he's babbling in both English and Spanish and some gibberish to boot, but we speak the universal language of love and we've got this thang! I had D video it. You have to see it...