Happy Belated Birthday Buh-Buh!

How in the world is it already March, and how did I not manage to get a post done for my buh-buh??? My first born turned 6 in February. I have a "big kid". . . a kid with homework, a kid with permanent teeth, a kid who can ride a two-wheeled bike with ease, a kid who knows he should cover his eyes if a "kissing scene" comes on TV (yes, this does happen on Disney!), and a kid who can make his own snack, pour his own milk, and use an iphone. He's also still my baby. He still loves his Mommy time. His cuddle time. He still asks permission to eat treats, cries when he gets into trouble, and is scared of the dark. (Who am I kidding? I'm still afraid of the dark!)

 

My buh-buh has a good heart. He's sometimes misunderstood. But he and I share a bond that's unique, and very dear to my heart. He is the one who's entrance into the world changed my role in life forever. He made me a Mom six years ago. He and I share a lot in common. I understand my Buh-Buh like no else does. I know what makes him tick, what will make him happy, how to make him laugh, how to prepare him for change, when he's lying or tricking as he calls it.

At 6, Peyton loves basketball, likes soccer, and wouldn't want me to write this, but still has a thing for Hannah. (The blond HM) He enjoys being outside, is very inquisitive, is known to be a "reporter" telling the world all the stuff he should keep to himself. He loves to call me on my cell phone, enjoys school and writing in his many journals. He loves the water - the beach, swimming, getting me with cold water sprays, playing in the sink. . .

Peyt - don't grow up too fast bud. Mommy might not be able to carry you anymore, and I know sometimes growing up is hard, and you wish you could be a baby again. I love you big boy. And yes, you will always be my baby. Don't forget who's dancing with you on your wedding day.

I've been meaning to finish this birthday post which is way overdue, and couldn't decide on what photo of Peyton to use. . .until I remembered this one. This was truly a candid shot - grabbed the camera, ran, left it in auto and click. . .it captures something very special about Peyton. What a great big brother he's become this past year. Going from the "only" to having two little sisters in a year's time is no easy task. . .He's succeeded. Can you tell?  In addition to loving his sisters, he teaches them great things. . .he's convinced Addi that the flashlight the Mac's gave her for Halloween last year is a Wii remote!  Good job, Peyt. . .good job.

All About Addi

I've heard that with each child, you take less and less photos of them.  You have less time to document their milestones.  And quite honestly, less time to do their laundry!  So, this post, is for the baby of the family.  Baby number three, our sweet Addison.  Affectionately known as Addi-boo, or Bam-Bam.

Addi is now 16 months old!  These photos were taken right after Christmas.  I knew that I needed to capture a few more with her wispy hair, because you know, by Spring, she'll have pig tails, right?!  (I'm a Mom in denial.)  Addi loves to play.  She loves to climb.  In fact, she's a very good climber!  We may have a gymnast on our hands.  Addi has mastered kicking a ball, playing peek-a-boo, pointing to her nose and her head, and will hold up one finger if you ask her old she is!  (Well, sometimes she holds up the one finger on her nose, but she's getting it.)  Addi naps like a pro.  But only at Grandma's. . .hmmm. . .in fact, she climbs into her own toddler bed there, and just goes to sleep.  Either my mother-in-law is a terrible liar, or Addi just likes to snooze there better than at home.  She loves her bananas, has given up almost all baby snacks.  Can eat a slice of pizza in one sitting, and did I mention she loves to THROW everything on the floor?  Sure, some cereal, or apple bits. . .but breaking plates?!  Yep.  She's done that too.  She has her Gong-Gong wrapped.  He'll carry her all day - I repeat ALL DAY.  She loves to take a shower, she loves to get pushed around in the car or doll stroller in the house (I know - toys have weight limits, but I swear it's strong enough!), can say "Up", "Mama", "Da-Da", "Gong-Gong", "ball", "buh-buh" (for Peyt), and "Woo" (for woof!).  She loves to sing, tries to move her little fingers to Itsy Bitsy Spider, and knows how to use the remote, the cordless phone, and yes, she can even slide open an i-phone.  She can comb her hair (well, what little she has), and is great at opening her mouth to get her teeth brushed.  (WOO HOO - so opposite of the other two in this dept!)  She loves to shut the microwave door after I put her milk in to be heated, loves to push the start button on the microwave, washer and dryer, and well, this 16 month old, feels like she's going on 3. . .so I thought I better get this down before I forget.  I know there's so much to share Addi, but at least Mama was able to document some funny stuff for us to share when you get married, okay??

I love you Bam-Bam.

Oh, and we call her Bam-Bam because she like to carry stools, and pretty much anything she can get her arms around all the time.  She pulls skirts off, and well, she's just sort of a rough!  In fact her little friend Mia is scared petrified of her.

And Addi. . .not every doll sings and dances like Mickey Mouse, Pablo, Elmo, and Spider-Man.  You love to have all of them going at once, we know.  And you're getting that Backyardigan's dance down!!  You've mastered raising those Arms to Mickey's "Shake your groove thang, shake your groove thang, yeah, yeah - show 'em how you do it now!"  And baby, the toilet is not for splashing around in, okay?. . .accept the gates for now, because catching you four times in one day playing with toilet water, well, that's just gross. If you're wondering where I was when you got yourself into the mess, well. . .I was still learning that if you're missing and it's quiet, you're up to no good. I don't learn as fast as you do. . .but I'm gettin' there.

Why Blogging ROCks. Why Taiwan ROCks.

I remember it all so clearly.  Sitting in Gracyn's room, rolling up clothes to fit perfectly in our suitcase.  I ziplocked each outfit for her, and had sizes ranging from 12 months to 2T.  Hard to believe that was two and a half years ago.  Blogging was my therapy.  Bloggy pals were my support system.  I met almost all of my friends in the adoption world (even those who live locally) through blogging.  That's why blogging ROCks.

There were the days of waiting for a referral, the days of waiting for a ruling, the days of waiting for travel dates.  Ugghhhh. . .some of those days were not good.  Some were outright miserable.  I remember the day I got the call to travel - you'd think since the wait was nearly over, that this day would be full of joy. . .it sucked.  I found out I'd miss Gracyn's birthday by just a few days.  (Not to mention that meant paying for unexpected airfare for a seat what was never used!  Gracyn slept on my Dad the whole way home.)

But you know what, all of those days were shared with friends.  And those days are just as much a part of the journey.  I will always cherish those days, but I look forward to the days ahead.  I want to continue on this journey, and I want to journey with you.  You are the ones who know what a paperchase is, the difference between a first and a second ruling, how desperately we depend on those e-mails with subject line:  "Update," and better yet, an e-mail with a paperclip which means you're getting photos.  You are the ones who know that you can love someone before you even meet them.  That the journey isn't all perfect and rosy, but that the journey is ours, and ours to share with each other. 

So, here's to old friends, and new friends, friends who are waiting for a referral, friends who are waiting to travel, friends who are struggling at home with their first days of bonding, friends who are home and are barely blogging just to keep up with life.  Let's Journey On!. . . That's why Taiwan ROCks.

 

She's why Taiwan ROCks, and she's why I am lucky to be a part of the Taiwan ROCks Planning Team.  Jules, Lisa C., and Lisa R.  - Thank you for turning our dream into a reality!! 

SEE Y'ALL IN TEXAS on AUGUST 12-14th for the first TAIWAN ROCks Family Reunion!!!  Don't miss it. . .You just can't miss it!!!  You wouldn't want to miss it!! 

Our 2010 Christmas, Raw and Unedited!

I've come full circle. . .blogging used to be about getting that photo uploaded, and writing my post. As I started getting more into Picasa, I started to do collages. As I started getting more into photography, I wanted to edit each photo. And today, well, it's past Mid-January, and we are a real family, with real photos, and a real schedule, that's really busy. . .so here's our REAL Christmas. Candid shots, nothing picture perfect, but they are our memories!

Big kids opening their first stocking stuffer gifts from the elves.

 

First stocking stuffer gifts of the season didn't interest the big kids, but Mommy the elves succeeded with Addi's!

 

Can you tell she loves balls?

 

She REALLY loves them. . .

 

And yes, more is better. . .and she managed to hold both of these togther just long enough to snap a shot!

 

Addi: "Hmmmmm. . .that's interesting. My doggy, um, I mean my brother pretending to be a doggy." (Shhhh! That's why I crawl around and bark too - all thanks to this guy.)

 

Yes, he really does think he's a dog. . .

 

And yes, Addi climbs on top of EVERYTHING, and yes, I actually let her stay up there long enough for a picture. . .

 

or maybe just two pictures. . .this time she has supervisors on both ends!

 

Peyton and Gracyn love to entertain Addi! (Well, unless she's breaking up train sets in which case they like to close doors on her fingers.)

 

Christmas Eve. . .
Opening stocking stuffers from the elves again! Seemed everyone wanted what the other had. . .

 

Do you think these two look alike or what?

 

This is Addi's modified ASL sign for more. (Guess her brother ate it all!)

 

A family tradition. . .WON TON!!

 

I admit, I have more photos of Addi than the other two - She's simply easier to catch. The older they get, the better they are at avoiding the camera.

Addi eating a black bottom cupcake for the first time. This was the recipe my mom was known for!

 

Addi has mastered playing the harmonica! Note to self: Must load the video footage!

 

Addi getting a bow for her bare noggin.

 

Addi: "What's so funny big guy? I think you'd be cute with one on your head too!"

 

Peyton and his second cousin - the winners of the puzzle contest!

 

Gracyn and her second cousin - partners for the puzzle contest!

 

Little Miss Mommy helping Addi put on a jacket that was just handed down to Gracyn.

 

Addi: "Oh no! Where did everyone go?!"

 

Christmas Morning. . .and the ball is still a hit.

 

Now what kind of Santa bring a kid a whoopee cushion for Christmas?! GEEZ. (A "Santa" who lets her kid wear skulls on his PJ pants two years in a row and a t-shirt that's too small in the middle of winter, that's who.) Tossed out the idea of cute matching PJ's for the boy years ago!

 

Awww, isn't she sweet?

 

And the girls match! Perfect children, aren't they?

 

All smiles, full of joy. . .

 

YEAH RIGHT. . .let the fun begin. Round 1. (Notice, the doll house is NOT assembled. Oh, and it still isn't. Some people are smart and put these things together while their angels sleep. Not so much in our house.)

 

Round 2

 

Round 3

 

He doens't like the doll house, he just wanted a picture with it to rub it in his sister's face. And I complied??

 

Nope, we don't stop taking pictures or rolling the video camera for blow outs on Christmas. . .

 

But we did stop for a time-out. Doesn't do much with smiling baby visiting you while you do time, and dishing out hugs. . .

 

Or high-fives. . .

 

And no, she didn't get a time-out - she's just pretending. Sad face and all!

 

Okay guys - just one picture, okay?! Take one.

 

Take 2 or 3. . .don't tell your kids to say "ho, ho, ho" - Stick with "cheese". . .there's a reason for it!

 

A keeper. . .

 

And a bonus one for good measure.

 

Message to my sweet peas:
Well, time's up - I've spent over an hour working on this post, so this it kids. I have lots more to share about Christmas Day, but if you want clean underwear, this will have to suffice. I'll do my best to post more before the year is over!!! Love you lots!

Turkey Day 2010

2008. . .when there were only 2 sweetpeas.

 

Last year. . .with three sweetpeas, and all still fitting in the pans.

 

And now, 2010. . .oh my how they've grown!

Addi outweighed the turkey this year! (We also bought a smaller turkey.) She just woke up from a nap. Can you tell?

 

 

Sweet girl.

 

Gracyn just woke up from a nap too. Can't tell in this one, but after the first shot. . .

 

Down hill it went. . .maybe she was sad for the turkey.

 

And yes, I left her in the pan.

 

And kept shooting. Cute even in tears, huh?

 

The oldest has graduated to wearing the pan on his head. . .

 

Can't believe how big he is!

 

 

Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one! Sorry this is so late. . .Ready for Christmas???