500

This marks my 500th post milestone.  I guess the whole post is about milestones....warning, this post is way too long.  I combined posts because of my internet situation.

The girls started school last week.  Allie is in fourth, and Mary is in first.  They are so happy at their schools, and weren't hesitant, but they were really tired by the end of the week.  

I made a collage for Allie's school book this year.  This is her 5th year of real school, so I made a milestone page.

I just now finished last year's school books on Shutterfly.  I haven't done Garrett's yet.  My plan was to do them a book every year at least through elementary school (They probably don't want me walking right behind them with a camera on every field trip after 5th grade.)  

I'm not sure if that's realistic now that there are four of them!  The dilemma is that if I put all their school activities in our family book, then it becomes too much.

You see the debacles I face as a scrapbooking addict:)

Sweet sisters!  Mary was not able to play much with Allie on the playground last year because they keep the kindergarteners separate.  She told me she was looking forward most to playing with Allie...not sure how Allie feels about this.

Switching gears.  I'll go ahead and do a 3 month update on David because it's almost here!

We had our 3 month visit with our social worker yesterday.  I had to turn in 8 pics of him in a collared shirt.  He NEVER wears collared shirts in the summer because it's too hot.  Therefore, I had to change his clothes five times on Thursday to get some pics.

He looks so different than he did when he first came home!  He's grown 2 inches and gained 2 pounds...oh my!  My back is tired!

Here are a couple of videos.  David LOVES to sing.  He is trying so hard to say the ABC's but he is still missing quite a few sounds in the English language.  

He and Garrett are making some real progress!  They still fight quite a bit, but I think boys play by fighting...so I'm not used to it.  

I happened to be videoing David when Garrett walked up, and I caught a rare sweet moment on video.  They've started sharing a little better.  David is giving him more of a chance now that the girls are at school.  He even asked to hold Garrett's hand yesterday.  That was HUGE!

Overall, David turned a corner about 3 weeks ago.  He seems to be very settled and very attached to us all.  I was putting him to bed last night, and he always shuts the shudders.  He saw hubs drive in from work, and he went crazy screaming, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"  He adores Mary like no other (shhh..don't tell Allie).  Mary has really surprised me because I thought she would resent more chaos, but she really enjoys him, and wouldn't change a thing.

Our social worker was describing another family by saying that the dad would come home from work, and feel anxious right before walking in the door because he didn't know what to expect when he walked in.  Would his wife have been "spent" by another day with their new child?, etc.  

She said that for him, one day, that feeling just disappeared.

I could DEFINITELY relate.  Every morning, when I walked in David's room, I had that same described anxious feeling.  There were many days that I didn't want to walk in!  And everyday, I'd walk in and say, Good morning, good morning.  Three months ago, he'd sheww me off and say (yell) no!  Now I'm greeted with a HUGE CHUBBY SMILE...followed by  , "MORNIN'!"

That feeling did disappear.  I'm totally attached:)

Thank you God for this sweet boy.

  

Weekend

I'm still internet scavenging...making the most of my sister's bed rest:)

Bunny and Pappy came down for the weekend.  We had a great time!  Bunny's birthday was Saturday and mine was Sunday. 

The kids love a good party:)  Bunny's birthday was also Reese's birthday.  We love and miss you Reese!

My big girl is looking so big!

Everytime David poses, he hugs up to Mary!  

Sorry for the lame blog post, but about all I can do is get pics posted!

Where did she go?

We have had no internet.

No internet?  It is like being without water or electricity (of course I'm kidding).  Allie told me she wished we moved in a house that was "situated." I didn't realize how much time we spend on the computer..yikes!

I'm at piano with Allie, so I'm borrowing some kilobytes.

Quick one.  We've been at the beach with my family!  I was so hesitant about going since hubs couldn't make the trip this year.  THE KIDS DID GREAT!!!!  (I did take Becky the great...so I wasn't alone!)

We missed my sissy and fam...she's on bed rest a while longer!

David was getting kind of tired at this point, but this was one of my favorite pics.

My parents and all the grandkids except Abbott and baby Hannah who is due in October.  Look at David hugging Abigail.  He LOVED her...and all of them:)

These are the triplets (born in May, June, July of 2008). I'm so glad they are 4!  

Love some crab hunting!

Look who we ran into!  Zach and family were right down the beach.

Karate man!  Well I'm really not done...I have lots more pics, but ran out of time at piano...more later:)

For real

It's AUGUST! 

Happy 2 months at home big D:)

The blog can be deceiving...

...because I can show you all his happy faces:)

For real?

The first month he was home, he portrayed almost a "pleaser" personality.  He didn't understand much, but he knew that nodding his head "yes" received a good response from us.

Our second month.

The honeymoon ended.

He learned to say no (and it's a snappy, scary no..ha) and when he becomes upset he exhibits a shrill scream that will pause any human in their tracks.  I would equate it to a baby pig that is running around the farm trying to avoid being turned into bacon.  It is very unnerving (just normal crying is a welcome relief) and has really tested this mamma.  

Every day he seems more settled/attached, but I'm learning that does not mean he gets easier.  It means he's not afraid to portray his real personality which at this point is a bit on the strong-headed end of things.  

I am not new to toddlerhood, and I know they are frustrating little people.  However, trying to bond/attach to a child who is screaming and unhappy a lot of the time, has tested me and challenged me more than most things. Love is a choice.  Love is a choice. Love is a choice.  

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Please do not question my love for the little guy!  I love him to pieces.  My point is, some days love is hard whether it be an adopted child or a biological child.  I think God uses children to refine us, to strip us of our selfishness, and to give us a picture of how He chooses to love us unconditionally in all our ugliness.

We've seen some positive things this month too!

He is a REALLY GOOD SLEEPER.  I AM SO THANKFUL!  I cannot even tell you his schedule or you'd barf all over this blog if you have a child who doesn't sleep well.

His words are being added daily.

Mamma, Daddy, Mary, Alloe (allie), boy, puppy (his favorite stuffed animal), Emmy (my sister), Abba (abbott), yes, no, bath, pool, towel, hot, tee tee, boo boo, ouch, nanna, papoo, pappy, bubby (bunny), ball, doll, popsicle (poppa dee do)...I could go on for quite a bit.

These are the words he says intentionally.  He can repeat many words when asked.  He still mostly uses signs to communicate.  

He drinks milk and water and has a sign for both. He loves to sing.  He didn't watch tv until recently, but he loves Blue's Clues!  He loves to be on his tricycle outside.  He does NOT like the pool much anymore and it's a big job to get him in a swim suit and floatie. That is a big challenge because the other kids want to swim, and he has to stay outside while we swim.  Oh well:)

Ahh...that's our two months. I am reminded every day that every day is a NEW day with a two year old.

This week

We met Gma (that's her camp name) at Pine Cove 3 years ago.  She graduated from college in May and is about to go oversees for a year for mission work.  We will miss her!  She came over to spend the night last weekend.

She brought her friend "Brushes" who was Allie's counselor at family camp two weeks ago.  Brushes goes to college near us! YAY!  I love making new college friends!

I took Allie to overnight camp on Sunday.  She could never get enough:)

She was pretty torn up when I said good bye...yeah not really.

 

I have loved staying up with Mary watching the olympics.  She loves it!

This was her idea last night.  We made hubs an olympic snack.

Papoo

I don't remember what my dad designated as his "grandfather name," but what my niece, Olivia, came up with was PRECIOUS.  

He's  Pa Poo.

David says quite a few words right now, but one of my favorites is PaPoo.  He said Nana long time ago.  He's still working on Bunny, but Pappy is easy for him.

Last week, after we came home from camp, Abbott turned three.  (My sis and BIL's little girl)  

Does it really get any better than that?  ....Not a care in the world on her birthday.  We had a great time celebrating.  The kids LOVE Emmy and Adam, so it was a great pool party.

My parents came down to celebrate.  Papoo is not really the type to leave people alone.  He just has to be pestering you...in a good way.  David is still snippety with people he doesn't know well.  He screams...NOOOO (insert whiney  chalkboard scratching tone).  We are working on a politer...NOOO..and it's coming along.  

But Pappoo persisted.  

And it worked.

Now who is pestering who?

Nana won him over by letting David feed treats to their little puppy, TJ.  He was so excited.  I got a great pic of it, but Nana was in her pajamas.  Spared you this time mom.

Here's a sweet clip of Mary (MAMEE in David language and David)

I realize my summer blogging is all about David.  I haven't forgotten about my other kids...trust me:)  They won't let me.  I am so thankful that David came home during the summer.  The girls especially have been so so so so loving and caring of him.  He would have had such a hard time if they had to go to school every day.  Even Garrett and David are coming along.  There have been several instances lately where they are sharing readily, and when David says, "BATH" he immediately runs to find his bath buddy.  Garrett always runs to the potty before getting in.  David always follows him.  Tonight, David said, "Tee Tee" and jumped up there like big brother.  He did go tee tee, and Garrett and I went CRAZY.  David was sooooo proud!  

The last few days have been tough.  David hasn't felt well, and he's been screaming a lot.  Tonight was a very good night, though:)  I'll take it!

More Pine Cove

I can't say enough about Pine Cove.  It is our week to refill, and I was running on empty.  It is a total mommy vacation.  You don't have to go to the grocery.

You don't have to do the laundry. (until you get home of course:)

You don't have to figure out meal time.  It's done.

In fact, at meal time, they won't even let you pour your own drink.  If your toddler starts screaming to get out of the high chair after 2 minutes, they scoop them up and take them to the sand pit out side.  

Every morning there are speaker sessions for the adults.  We are challenged and encouraged every year.  After lunch, we nap.  We read.  We rest.  It's AWESOME.  The little kids nap.  The big kids continue with their crazy programs....zip lining, water sports, pool parties, scavenger hunts.

I threw together some pages for the ole year book...

I can't believe Mary did the zip line.  It's really high!  

Most importantly, Pine Cove is intentional.  Check them out.

How did David do?  He did so great.  He slept all night every night.  He LOVED Cove Kids.  He would cry when we walked away, but stopped quickly and played so hard.  He fell in love with a certain counselor named Tonka.  I'm so thankful!