Birthday

Pictures of Little Man's birthday......the last one he will celebrate in the orphanage.

We are ready for our son to come home.

Waiting.....

Is just no fun.

The photo shoot

OK - this was the fastest photo shoot ever accomplished - we took 7 shots and then we thought we heard an ambulance pull into the farm - so we threw the camera in the house and jumped in the truck to check it out. (False alarm - there was a wreck down the road.)When we got home we didn't have energy to take anymore - but I was so pleasantly surprised when I downloaded these!!! We have our second post placement visit tomorrow - so we needed current pictures - don't think you can get more current than the night before!

I miss you E and Little Man - come home soon so we can have another photo shoot! Mom

15 months

That is how old little miss is - it dawned on me today that we probably needed some milestone pictures. We have a 15 month check up on Tuesday....we have almost been home 3 months....we are walking, talking, laughing, going to bed without alot of drama and sleeping through the night (yes it is true - two nights in a row). Pretty big stuff.

I love the communication that is happening now...she looks us straight in the eye and tells us "stuff"....it takes awhile to figure out the intent...but so cool when we do. We tell her things and she understands most of it....you can tell.

I think we are getting used to having a little person to take care of....it just takes TIME to get back in the groove of caring for a small child and for a child to truly trust.....but when they finally do - it is worth all the tears and exhaustion. Totally worth it.

Eating oatmeal by yourself is fun....and just a little messy. Kisses from your big brother are the best.

Walking everywhere....with our beads on of course!

Laughing and laughing and laughing (especially when the fan blows in your face!)

Cozy Coupes

We are now the proud owners of two cozy coupes (my crazy work buddies gave us a huge gift card and I am telling you - I had fun spending it....the coupes, a picnic table and two little arm chairs for watching TV!) Big brother had a coupe (the red and yellow one) when he was little and he LOVED it....so I knew we had to get some for these two. Little A is in and out, in and out....beep, beep, beep.....already a favorite toy....and it has a great storage spot for snacks too!

We got to take Little A (and S and a friend) to a Cardinals game - what a fun time that was - the box is the BEST!

I am off to bed - last night was not our best sleep ever - so my bedtime prayer will definitely be that we do not wake up at 3:30 AM and start our day!

Soon....and very soon

Our family will be complete. We will be anxiously awaiting news these next couple weeks for 3 important things to happen.....and then our son will be able to come home. There can be no schedules built around adoption - adoption has it's own schedule and we all just have to be crazy flexible and adaptable....it is definitely a test for anyone brave enough to allow it to happen to their lives. If you do - you will be blessed, tested and blessed again.

My daily devotional today says this...."It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging....We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Savior is on board."

We have definitely weathered some storms and we know that many more are yet to come....but we also know we are not in this alone....and our family continues to grow and be blessed. Every single one of us.