New Friends!

This weekend we hosted a table at the Lutheran Social Services education seminar DOMESTIC ADOPTION WORKS! It was the first time that they hosted an open house seminar like this so they weren't sure what the turn out would be. Jakob's birthmother, Kaiti, came along with us too and we had the opportunity to share our story with several people/couples that were either getting ready to get "into the book" or thinking about adopting domestically. There was a table with birthmoms, our table with Kaiti, two other families like ours with at least one birthfamily member there, two tables who were chosen by birthparents online and one table showing different methods of outreach for adoptive parents other than just waiting in the book. It was really neat to hear other people's stories (only I do wish that we had even more time to spend with the other people participating in the seminar.) We made some new friends and met some people finally, in person, that we have only known through our LSS boards, facebook and blogging so far. I think it is always good to hear other people's stories since adoption is so unique to each and every person. I know I came away from the seminar with some new things to think about myself. It was really fun and we would definitely do it again! My camera kind of isn't the best. . .but here are a few pictures from the day!

This is Matthew flirting with Jada--who could resist those big baby blues? They are about one month apart in age. You can learn more about Matthew's family at A Family of Love. It was so AWESOME to finally meet them in person!!


Jada is exercising again. . . this is after her big brother needed to yell in her face and wake her up.

Jakob and Kaiti hanging out on the floor. I wonder if she was as tired as he was after the long day? (Kaiti came over and hung out with us until about 6pm.) I think we all had a fabulous time!

Easter weekend was amazing! The weather was just perfect, no work for me (hubby had to go in for a bit on Saturday), and lots of things to do! We went to the zoo on Saturday (hubby's idea). Evidently he still doesn't believe me when I tell him it will be packed because of the holiday. Very large crowds tend to make both me and Jakob a little anxious. Maybe I'm just a little worried he is going to grab someone's face (which he didn't). I nearly flipped when I came out of the restroom and he was playing on the playground with a million other kids without Craig standing right there. I did see him push somebody and I knew something was up when the other kids wouldn't go up the ladder--so I went and got him and we moved on. We weren't there very long and I don't think we even saw any animals. No biggie--we can go back anytime with our membership!

We went to church on Good Friday and visited the nursery when Jada got a little loud for the very quiet and somber service. Things went well--so on Easter Sunday. . .the kids went to the nursery. Jakob could have cared less. I couldn't leave Jada there quite yet and brought her into church. It lasted about 10 minutes. She is just plain too heavy to try to stand and hold her in a very packed church. So I took her back to the nursery. All I have to say is hats off to working moms. Jada was only going to be in the nursery for probably 40 minutes and it still brought me to tears. What am I going to do when my kiddos go to school? It was strange to be somewhere with Craig without the kids.

My mind was wandering during the service and Craig asked if I was thinking about Jada. I was in a way, but thinking more about how our congregation was predominately white. Noticing things that most people wouldn't even think twice about. I saw one black man and one little girl who was most likely biracial--not that it matters--but her skin was like my daughter's skin. I was wondering if we would someday have to search around again for a congregation that better suits our multicultural family. It was a long search to find a church of our religion--that seemed to fit our personality and was reasonably close by. I guess we will have to reassess again and again--because, after all, once you think you've got things down--they change again. I will always pray that our children feel like they can talk to us about anything and will encourage conversation about adoption, race, culture, birth families, interests, dislikes, and whatever else I can get them to talk about. Sometimes I just don't want to think about it and hope it comes naturally--be we all know that isn't the way things work!

It has been a beautiful week! Hence the plain truth that I haven't been online a whole lot. Jada and Jakob went for their first bike ride together in the bike trailer. All I can say is it is going to be a fun summer. Jada fell asleep and Jakob just sucked his thumb and held NUNU. My sister and my nephew are here visiting. It has been so nice to have family around! You would think they would be tired of shopping at the mall. . . . haha! We hit up some rides on Tuesday night--that was a bit scary--but I survived! Well, I better go get the little rebel into sleeping mode or dinner at Chino Latino's tonight will be a nightmare!

You will have to settle for some random pictures as my Easter pictures are on my other computer and I am not nearly a perfectionist in making a perfect blog. I'm more into thinking about eating the rest of the malted milk eggs that are in the kitchen while my kids sleep! YUM!

EIGHT MONTHS

Busy, busy, busy! Jada is eight months today and pulled herself up to her feet in her crib! Oh boy! She has two teeth that are actually visible and is constantly ON THE GO! She loves to eat--if you know Jakob--you know why we are so relieved that she loves to eat! She has quite the personality--taking after her birthmother--whom we were graced with a visit last Thursday! I have been spending more time trying to get some scrapbooking done--or at least feel like I am remotely caught up. We are going to be participating in the LSS education program DOMESTIC ADOPTION WORKS!, so I want to have some more scrapbooking done so we have something substantial for people to look at. I'm not sure how many people they are expecting, but it is at least getting me motivated to get some scrapping done! :0)


Jakob continues to change everyday himself--becoming quite the conversationalist. We are working on how to ask for things--rather than just whining and crying for something. He likes to hide and can be sneaky, but his giggles always give him away! Since Jada is on the go and Jakob can't really be fully trusted in her presence alone for even just a minute--there really is not a lot of time to get anything done. That's all right with me on most days. It does get frustrating every once in awhile. Maybe it is just this weird MN winter weather that is really frustrating me--the one who claims to be a winter girl. I want to be able to get outside more often and not have to bundle my kids up for a blizzard.


I am really looking forward to summer this year for the first time in a very long time! Speaking of getting stuff done. . . I am going to be short and end this here so I can feel like I accomplished something today! It is probably good that it is cold out. We have the Wii Outdoor Adventure game and my calves are so sore from playing that I don't even know how I am going to teach kickbox tonight. Those games are amazing!

SWEET TREATS!

You can't see it, but there is a tooth in there! I feel it!! I also feel lucky to get some smiles out of Jada since she has been kind of cranky while working on those teeth!! Maybe we will finally get some sleep at night! :0)


Here's a glimpse of Jakob's very first time eating chocolate chip cookie dough from the beaters. He has kind of a sensitive stomach, so I haven't let him do it yet--we'll see if his tummy holds out on this one. He sure loved it! I wish I could have recorded his little voice saying, "Mmm," about every 10 seconds. Far too cute! Yeah, we are all only 1/2 dressed. Perfect for a chilly and grey kind of day. Precisely what the chocolate chip cookies are for--to cheer everyone up!!

Picture this. . . .

My baby girl can do a version of some sort of army crawl to get what she wants on the floor as fast as she can! Watch out! The girl gets what she wants. She is very good at throwing a tantrum already if she doesn't get her way. I could not keep my eyes off of her today--she is simply stunning and amazing and beautiful and funny and happy and getting oh so big. My baby.

My not so baby boy and I had a discussion this evening AGAIN about boys having a penis and that Mama and Jada don't. I didn't tell him yet what girls have. He is so obsessed with penises right now--I really don't need him yelling out "vagina" in public too! haha! As you all probably know. . . he is a product of first child syndrome. . . you know, where mom and dad do everything for you. Today when I went to check on him at nap to see if he was sleeping or not--the little turkey had his pants AND his diaper off--I was kind of unaware that he was capable of doing this. If he can get the super velcro diaper undone. . . then there really is no reason why he shouldn't be peeing and doing the other dirty deed on the potty. He knows how too. Just playing us, I guess--and the fact that he just really wants to be just like Jada. How can you blame him. But anyway. . . he said he missed his penis and that is why he took his pants and diaper off. I really do believe that this is the unspoken, untalked about, and uninformed truth that boys are obsessed with their privates starting at a very young age. We all know they are obsessed as adults! hahahahahaha!!!!! And everyone thought that boys were easier than girls! :0)

After everyone was in bed, I was watching American Idol and my not so baby boy came running out to sit on my lap. It was late--but I wanted him there. (This is when we had our talk.) I can't believe how amazing he is. The things that he sees. The things that he notices. The things that he tells us about. How he makes me smile--even on our worst days. I enjoyed every moment of snuggling tonight (and a little dancing too when he felt the music!). It was hard to put him to bed. I feel blessed to have these moments with my son--who won't be very little for long and most likely not willing to talk about penises anymore either! :0)

Girly love!

I have always been a tomboy--no make-up--hate to dress up--feel completely out of place and uncomfortable shopping at a place like the Galleria (located in Edina, MN) in my windpants--but I go there anyway--and sometimes don't shower on purpose just to see the looks I get from the other shoppers--because that is where the only Pottery Barn Kids store in the metro area is located. (I was so sad when the one at the Mall of America shut down!) Anyway. . . now that I have a daughter--I still do not find any desire to be a girly girl myself. . . but I want her to have every opportunity to express herself and to be herself as she grows. And if she wants to be a girly girl. . . then I will absolutely love every single solitary second of it. I hope she wants me to braid her hair. I hope she wants to wear all the beautiful dresses that I already have for her. I hope she wants to take dance class. (I do also hope she wants to play hockey!)

Sometimes I feel a tad guilty because she wears some of Jakob's old pajamas--which are distinctly for boys! She is just growing so fast--and she grew into his old winter pj's in the right season! Sometimes our whole family compensates for this lack of girly pj's guilt! Even Furby!

When Jada came home, Jakob moved into a big boy bedroom and Jada moved into the nursery. The design is from the John Lennon Musical Parade line and is totally awesome for a boy or a girl. . .but definitely blue dominant. I've been eying (is that how it's really spelled?) the butterfly chandelier from the Pottery Barn Kids store. We love mobiles here, I love that store, and it definitely brings a nice "princess" touch to any room!


But, really, I wanted something in pink--something really special for my princess! (And the simple fact that the mobile is $80 and not really something that I would consider a necessity for that amount of money!) So, I decided to utilize my creative skills and make my princess her very own unique and from the heart butterfly mobile! Off to Michael's I went and spent $20 and came up with this:

And, yes, I still have enough supplies to make several more if I wanted too. They probably wouldn't look exactly the same. . . but I could make something very similar! It only took me a few days in between taking care of my babies and work. I didn't really do anything else around the house! haha! The best part of the whole thing was the big smile Princess Jada gave me when she saw the mobile hanging in her room! PRICELESS!! And worth every minute of work and a very messy house! A perfect girly touch to her bedroom! I should mention that Jakob loved it too. He loves butterflies! And he also loves anything that his sister has! ;0) I have to go take care of Furby now, before he wakes everyone up! He sure is loud! haha!

Church directory pictures!

If you belong to a church. . . you probably partake in the directory picture process. It probably depends on when you join and how often they update the directory. This was our first time participating in the picture process.

You have to read Jessie's blog on her picture experience. It made me crack up so bad!! How do I know Jessie? I somehow found her blog when I first signed up. We were both in the waiting process to be chosen by a birth family to adopt their child. Her journey was simply breathtaking and well worth checking out her archives!

Anyway. . . that brings us back to the question--does anyone ever have a good church directory picture? Ours arrived in the mail the other day--pretty much crushed by the good ole postal carrier (but the people are sending us another one!) But, I have to say that I wasn't hardly disappointed at all. In fact, I thought it turned out quite well considering all of our other attempts at getting a family photo. Jada is pretty much ready to fall asleep and for pretty much the first time--wasn't smiling--and the rest of us look so pasty Minnesota winter white (I should have known better than to wear a cream colored shirt--DUH!), but other than that. . . it's not too bad! See for yourself! I, personally, hate posed pictures like this and am totally looking forward to our family photo shoot in the Spring (I suppose that is coming up soon!) for the CELEBRATING ADOPTION program! I hope we get some good ones out of that!!