National Adopton Month

I couldn't let this month pass by and not mention it. It was the two year anniversary of Jack being "legally"ours on Nov. 2nd and then sealed to us on Nov. 3rd. I think it is just an extra little something that it happens to be in November (along with National Adoption Month). I think it is also "ironic" that it is the same month as Thanksgiving. I have been blessed immensely with the gift of raising Jack (and Drew). I know for certain that he was meant to be a part of our family. We love him so dearly! I will admit that motherhood (and parenthood) has been a lot more challenging than I thought it was going to be, but it has been the most rewarding way I have ever spent my time. I hope and pray to be a better mother each day. To have a little more patience, spend a little more time just playing, and spend a little more time teaching what is really important.

I just quit my almost two year service on the FSA (Families Supporting Adoption) committee. We don't have long left here and life is taking over, but it was time well spent. I have an overwhelming sympathy and empathy for adoptive parents, birthparents, but especially birthmothers. Jack's birthmother will always hold a special, large, piece of my heart.

I {heart} adoption!

I must redeem my hair...

Here is my hair today. I usually do it pretty crazy like this, some days with bangs (which I think I like better) and some days without. It is pretty funky, but I like it :) And I love my front bangs really blond!

Potty Training: Take 1

Yup, you heard it...take one. So, Jack has actually been very interested since his 2nd birthday but I just always figured 2 was 2 young for a boy. Well, one morning he was practically yelling at me from the kitchen table, "Mom, I have to go poop and I don't want a diaper change." So I put him on the toilet and he went. So, I talked to my mom and she said, "He's ready." Off to Walmart we went for all the latest potty training items. He did really well...for 3 days. He only had one accident a day and it was mostly my fault for not taking him soon enough. But on the third day, we got news that we would all be taking a very short, four day, flying trip for business (and not with much notice). I just KNEW I couldn't do that! So, Jack is back in diapers. For now. But not long.

Can I say Tom Cruise in Risky Business...can't you hear the music?

It was bound to happen. He got a blue hi-lighter while he was watching Bob the Builder (and I admit that I was in shower, which I usually get really before they get up) and colored all over himself, my bed, and my books next to the bed. It was actually hilarious and if they are going to get a pen and color, hi-lighter is awesome, I had no idea that it just comes off with water.

More pics

Just give him a spatula and he'll be happy forever!

Before (and hair like this in our xmas pictures, but we aren't re-doing them)

And after...I know, the picture is kind of creepy but just look at the hair. I think it looks way better in person (at least I hope). You can't see the back because it is darker. But it is fun for a change. When I get a "good" pictures, I'll post it. I know, I know, you think the before it better but I really do think the short do is cute (so be nice).

Drew is 8 months old...

I haven't blogged much about Drew lately (only emails to family) but Drew has been having a lot of problems keeping ANY food down and we found out that he was diagnosed with GERD (or really severe acid reflux). He hadn't gained any weight in 5 weeks and is currently right under the 50th percentile for weight at 20.1 pounds but in the 95th for height (29 inches). Yesterday we saw a great pediatric GI specialist and he thinks Drew will be doing much better on two new medications. If he isn't better after his first birthday then he would require surgery but it doesn't look like that will happen. We are hopeful he will put on some weight soon :)

This is our back yard and on his 8 month birthday I took him outside for a little photo shoot.

He is such a happy little guy and add so much to our family. We all just love and adore "Baby Drew" although we are trying to drop the "baby" part.

If you click to enlarge this picture, you can see how blue his eyes are!

Pics

Last Friday Jeff was actually done at a reasonable time so we went to the Children's Museum.

A very scary thought...me in the backseat with Jack driving...only 13 more years to go.

He loves to play in the water {of course}.

And we totally ran right into Memmett Okur...seriously he's over 7 ft tall and I almost ran smack into him. I recognized him immediately but we didn't say anything because I am sure he just wanted to have a peaceful day at the museum but one mom was freaking out and running to get her kids and her camera. I was totally embarrassed for her. And I think it was my closes brush with fame.

Happy Guy!

Halloween!

Wanna drink from my cup? I took these to our adult Halloween party. We had so much fun!

A scary bubble bath on Halloween Morning.

A snuggle with Daddy in the afternoon.

Jack laid down by Drew like this before we went trick or treating.

Jack did so awesome! He said, "Trick or Treat!" at every house and said, "Thank You!" The funniest part was at this house that gives large candy bars and Jack took a pencil. They asked him if he wanted candy and he said, "No...I LOVE pencils!!"

Eating some of his loot before bed.

This was how much he ate the first night. He loved every minute of it!

New Pictures

Once again there are more pictures of Drew but it's not because I love him more...its just easier to get a picture of a 7 month old than a 2 1/2 year old :) He hasn't been having any food (because of the vomiting,while we try to figure it out) but he LOVES his high chair and sits with us as every meal.

Bros.

Doesn't he look sweet?

Our church at a party hoe-down last weekend and Jack really wanted to go down this slide. So, he hung onto my neck, I carried him up, and down we went. He loved it...Jeff had to grab the camera and document it from behind...thanks, Hun. Love you, too.

The kids behind us were like, "What is she doing up here?"

If you blow it up, you can see his smiling face!

Jack got a spider web painted on his face. Don't let this expression fool you, he loved every moment of it.

I painted a "Y" on Jeff's face.

I bought the boys another cute (cheap...$2.75 for the sweaters and $7 for the pants) matching outfit. Here is Drew sporting his.

He is almost crawling {eekk!}. But he is almost rolling over in this one.

Love it!!

This was their first time actually playing together. It was really cute and I just had to grab the camera and snap a picture :)

Jack and I had a photo-shoot one afternoon while Drew was asleep.

At our house, there is only one difference between summer and winter...socks or no socks.

Allergy Alert!!

Most of you know that a year ago (this month) Jack was accidentally exposed to peanut butter. He had a pretty good reaction but we didn't take him to the ER (Dad and Dr. Grandpa were standing by to make that call). Lately, I have been having the feeling that we really needed to have him tested again (he tested negative for peanuts at 6 months old). I had been getting pretty relaxed about having things with peanuts in the house and even giving him things that said they were "manufactured in a plant with peanuts". I mean, even our pediatrician said it was probably okay but that we should retest sooner than later. Well, today we went to the Allergy Specialist and Jack has the MOST SEVERE ALLERGY POSSIBLE to peanuts. It is a life-threatening allergy! I had to go through epi-pen training and a lot of other education about peanut/nut allergy. He may NEVER have things with even a trace of peanuts and because of the severity of it, he can not have any other tree nut as well (because of so much cross contamination, they said). He is required to wear an allergy bracelet. I was wondering about pollen allergies because this Spring and Summer, each time he would go outside his nose would run non-stop and he has really dark circles under his eyes (known as allergy shiners, I was told when the doctor saw them this morning). The doctor told me that it isn't very likely that at his age he would react to out-door allergies, but he did. He also has significant Spring Pollen allergies (that most likely will worsen over the next couple years). Poor kid. And just so you know, this house is now a NUT-FREE Zone (don't laugh too hard on that one...). We have a lot of changes to make around here.

PUKE!

Drew has been puking for a couple weeks. CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT! I took him to the doctor. We made plan A, plan B, and plan C. Then the next day he was fussy...not like him. And the next morning...we welcomed his first tooth! He was puke free for 3 whole days. It's back again this morning. He's only been up 52 minutes and I have changed his clothes twice and MINE twice. Any body else have a kid that pukes with teething? Weird. I know.

Check out Drew

The boys had prof. Halloween pictures on Saturday and the photographer chose Drew to put on her blog. Check out our photographer at: www.seenboxphotography.blospot.com.

Whoa! A lot of Pictures!

Here is the brave patient the day of surgery. If it is possible for a baby to look cute in a hospital gown, I think Drew pulled it off.

Obviously, before surgery.

I had to wake him up to get his ready to go in the morning.

Jack put my sunglasses on Drew. Pretty funny!

Seriously, puke from head to toe.

Doesn't he look like an angel???

Or not. He was mad I wouldn't give him something (5 weeks later, I can't remember what it was).

Jack loved all the boxes with the move. He pushed these two together, put his steering wheel on top and told us he was riding a train (pretty creative for a 2 year old).

That just says it all!

A McDonalds picnic at the part. Jack LOVES lemonade.

Just a happy boy with his motorcycle (Daddy bought him four different ones, just because Daddy liked them, I think).

Jack wasn't feeling very well this night and had woke up, but he immediately fell back to sleep on Daddy's shoulder.

I need energy...more slack, more slack!

Thanks, Drew! Jack was playing with the vacuum and wanted Drew to help him. They were both happy with the arrangements.

Jack kisses Drew all the time on his own.

We didn't have heat one morning at the apt (sooooo glad to be out of there) and most things were already at the house so I bundled Drew in one of Jack's sweatshirts.

I don't think I could sleep like this. Blanket over head, car in hand.

I bought this outfit for Jack at H&M (size 12 month) in Chicago a month before he was born but by the fall he was too big for it, so Drew is sporting it this fall/winter.

Can you see the pure joy laughing on Drew's face. They really do love eachother. Look at them holding hands.

Drew's first shiner. During the move, Jeff put him on the floor next to the couch and he grabbed a cord and pulled a space heater onto his face. Poor little guy, would have never happened to Jack.

Last week we visited my parents. There is a great park less than a block from my parent's house. Jack had fun playing with Grammie there.

I seriously think that Jack threw over 100 rocks into the creek. His arm HAD to hurt the next day. They had tons of fun down by the water.

Drew just chilled (like always).

My mom was giving him kisses and he was in heaven. He just closes his eyes and looked like it was the best thing that had ever happened to to him.

My mom wanted to take Jack to the pumpkin patch. We had a good time. Jack's pumpkin is on our porch.

Do these make me look smarter?

Definitely older!