Tuesday, August 24, 2010

School days and more

Another school year is upon us and I have to say, sending Logan to preschool again this year has been a very tough decision. He loves it, there's no doubt... but, the thoughts about whether it's necessary, a good use of our finances and the best use of our time are what have been laying on my heart. You see, our family is about to grow, as I wrote about HERE, and I need to know that I'm doing the best for all of us, what makes me the best mother to my children. I could go on and on about my pros and cons list and tell you how scheduled we already are without preschool, and how I liked the flexibility of the summer, but let's just settle with the decision that was made.

FOR NOW, until we get another baby and do some re-evaluating, preschool (only 2 days a week!) is happening!
How funny is that backpack on him? It doesn't look that big when he's walking with it, but when you take the picture, my goodness! It's a good thing they don't have books to carry!

Our wonderful neighbor saw me trying to get a picture of Ryan with Logan and offered to take one of the three of us so that Ryan could be held still! :-)

It can be quite funny when you talk to Logan about his school. I told my neighbor this morning that he went to "preschool" two days a week and he corrected me (or so he thought!)

"Mom, I don't go to preschool! I go to Grace Crossing!"
In his most bossy voice!

Gotta love this kid!


Now, for the "and more" in my subject title...

We have an update (I guess) on our foster to adopt plans!
We completed our home study!!! Yay! So, this means that anytime from now, we can receive a call that a baby needs a home! We've made preparations, made a room for the baby, moved Logan's room (so cool, post to come soon!) and met all the guidelines of being foster parents.

Now, we wait and pray!

Please join us in praying for this new child.

Prayers for us as we prepare to go down this rocky journey of uncertainty.

As we trust in our God that what we are doing is in His plan.

Prayers for the boys as life will take a big adjustment.

Right now, our new child is either in the care of someone that is neglecting them, or they are in the womb of a mother that will have to give her child up at birth because she is unfit. These thoughts give me goosebumps and have moved me to tears, but our arms are open and ready for a chance to give this baby a life filled with love.

Until then, our arms are filled with these sweet things...


and thank God for that!!!





Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday Funnies

After me having a "discussion" with Logan, he comes back my way with a bit of a cry going on.

M: Logan, what's the matter?
L: I'm sad because you were talking mad to me.

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Logan has become quite the swimmer this year.
After a pool party, I was on the phone with my mom.

M: You would have been so impressed. He's such a fish!

L: Mom, I'm NOT a fish. Fish have fins and tails and I have hands and feet.

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Logan wants to learn how to whistle... this is how he does it!




and when you ask him why he puts his fingers up to his mouth...

"Because, that's how the big boys do it!"

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

ONE!

Today, our little man is ONE! I cannot believe it's been a year, but what an awesome time we've had with Ryan added to our family. The joys and the giggles that come with each day are such absolute blessings from God and we are so thankful for all that the last year has brought to our lives! Please enjoy the following sequence of pictures that I took with his bday boy bib on...

So big!
I'm ONE!
See the 1 finger pointing!?!
Showing you my 4 teeth!
This is the face he makes when he "says" that he's ONE!
Sounds more like "oh!"
Coming to get you!
So happy!
Love that belly laugh!


There is a post to come from his party this past Saturday, but most of those pictures are on my mother's camera. Here's one to hold you over!

This kid is awesome! He loves to be where the action is (unfortunately sometimes thinking the action should start at 6am, or sooner!) and is so thrilled to now be walking. You can just see the happiness on his face when he is walking towards you and screaming with joy. Yes, he does a lot of screaming lately, and it's not usually because he's mad or sad. He is definitely finding his voice and realizing that screaming gets everyone's attention. It's gotten a bit better, but for a few weeks there, the volume level in my home was madness. Between myself and Logan, and then you add Ryan, it's a wonder how Jeff still has his hearing. Haha!

Things about Ryan at 1:

-wears 24 month and 2T clothing
-walks and is getting pretty fast
-loves to be outside, preferably swinging
-still thinks his brother hung the moon!
-says mama, "oh" for one, and dada
-signs "more" and sometimes does "all done"
-understands and reacts to simple commands like:
"sit down"
"spit out your paci"
"come here"
"stand up"
"where's your puppy/brother?"
-has learned to love the water,
thanks to more frequent visits to the Y pools
-is taking at least 2 naps a day and sleeping about 11 hours at night
-has become an early riser (which I wouldn't mind changing!)
-LOVES bathtime
-Claps his hands to "If you're happy and you know it"
-LOVES Praise Baby videos
(and will even calm down in the car to the songs on cd)
-Will continue to ride backwards in the carseat, facing big brother
-Would probably tell you that balls were the best toy ever invented!

Has now experienced ice cream from the ice cream man!
How nice of everyone to share!

Stats to follow after doctor appt this Thursday!

Thank you God for sharing this sweet boy with us!

Ryan, we love you so much! Everyone who knows you can't help but smile when you enter a room and just loves those cheeks, thighs and oh that smile! Sometimes it takes a little effort to get you to smile for others, but that belly laugh you have when you are tickled is something we wish we could bottle up and store for a lifetime. Your personality is really starting to shine and we just can't wait to see what kind of little boy you're going to be! We can't believe you're now a one-year-old, but in your brother's words, "It's so exciting that you're turning one!" He says it's because now you're going to walk faster, but we'll have to wait and see on that! :-) I love how easy going you tend to be, how much you light up when daddy gets home from work or brother comes down the stairs from his nap. You love people and that makes life so grand! You're a survivor... let's recap: You've had Swine flu, RSV, Chicken Pox, 1 ear infection and an 11 day viral stint, most likely Rotavirus, in your short life! Only during one of those sicknesses were you really even what we would consider "unhappy" and that has been such a blessing. May this next year be a healthy one for you, filled with joys and memories for all of us together. Looks like it'll be exciting for sure! We love you sweet boy!

Friday, August 06, 2010

Friday Funnies


SILLY CONVERSATIONS:

I asked Debra, "Did you say you went to a wake last weekend?"

D: No, a wedding. Actually, I've never even been to a wake.
Logan: (from the living room, not even a part of this conversation) Yu-huh Grana, you live on the lake.

wake... lake... hmmm...

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He is pretty obsessed right now with how far away each person lives and his request is always for the other person to move closer to us. Grana, Mr. Jack from church, Grandma and Grandpa, Levi, etc...

Talking to my mom...
Grandma: But Logan, if I move closer to you I won't have my pool that you love so much.
L: Uh huh. God can do anything and if you move, He will move your pool with you.

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Ryan is SO BIG!



He will do this over and over and over again, flailing his arms in the air so hard that he sometimes falls backwards! And then of course, he claps for himself!

And please, excuse the diaper... he was SICK for 11 days and every time I dressed him he threw up or blew out diarrhea on his clothes... naked is always easier! And, he was very unhappy, so the fullness of the diaper should simply be noted as us trying to keep him happy. He is not a fan of stopping the fun to have his diaper changed! :-)