Mommy turns 40!

Yes, it's official, I am finally "over the hill." I remember poking so much fun at my host-father in Germany when he turned 40, now it's happened to me. The good news - I feel great - I'm incredibly happy. The bad news - I am getting saggy and wrinkly in certain places where I didn't used to be. The grey is accelerating, but that began long before now; and really, I am so much wiser!

The older boys and Eric baked a cake on my actual birthday, and Grammy had another one at her house - the present - taking all three boys for a night so Mommy and Daddy could have a date! Only the second date with no kids in 5 months! They are sleeping well at Grammy & GeeGee's so I predict more frequent dating in my old lady future.

News about the boys -
Sam rode his bike tonight -for real, the first time- his "big boy bike" with training wheels! Charlie is still mastering the pedals on the tricycle and Owen is foot-propelling his new red trike. They are all making major progress with the language. Here are a few catch phrases I overhead and wrote down last week - already this week they are even better-
"Daddy, Owen color my paper." (Charlie)
"Daddy, don't eat my esgetti!" (Sam)
"Mine!!!" (Owen, whining)
"Mommy, Henery drinking water." (Sam)
"Mommy, cuyur (color)?" (Owen)
"I no like Lacey." (sort of whining, Charlie) (Lacey is the babysitter, who he really does like and who is awesome!)

Sam is by far the most verbal, and tells complex stories about what has happened throughout the day, including who had time-out and for what offense (including himself, "Daddy, I whiny."), what they had for snack at preschool and if anyone was out sick. He is the most dramatic and, like Charlie, quite sneaky. Charlie is the hands-on guy, constantly on the go, moving things from place to place, taking them apart. He is having a burst of improvement with his language right now, which we really welcome, since we think he has become accustomed to letting Sam for speak for him, which he does frequently. Owen is walking more on his own (several steps in a row) but still prefers to hold to something most times. He also still crawls and scoots, and now he is climbing gates and other items! Charlie weighs over 28 pounds now and Sam broke 30; we haven't weighed Owen for a while but he's probably around 22 pounds, which is 7 pounds more than when we picked him up in August! That's all for now, here are a few cute photos of the boys playing around with each other - they generally do play quite well with each other; two at a time works best most days, but they also enjoy hanging out as a threesome.

First Steps!

Finally, it happened, Owen took his first real steps today! Of course I couldn't get a photo of it, but these were taken today and show some of his other methods of mobility. To be fair, he has taken single steps unassisted before, but today there were three steps! The first time, naturally, was to get from his chair to the couch quickly to whack his brother Sam who had stolen a toy! Happily, a few minutes later he took three more steps into Mommy's arms - joy, joy, joy!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to All - Welcome 2009!

Well, 2008 proved to be quite an eventful year! We are looking forward to the new year more than any other as it will be our first full year together as a family! It has been just over 4 months and we still can't believe it's really happening - this is our life now! We cherish every day and are constantly amazed at the remarkable progress all of the boys are making! We have enjoyed our time together so much over the holidays and were fortunate Eric and I both had time off. We can't help but think back to last year at this time; we were still very much in the paperwork shuffle and had no idea if the boys we had already fallen in love with would really become our sons! Families waiting for adoption are a special breed, and you really can't imagine it unless you're living it; hope and faith are critical and in the end I feel like our family was always meant to be!

Here are a few cute photos from the past couple of weeks - there are always so many more I don't have time or space to share - please don't feel bad if one of you (you know who you are) hasn't been published yet! I'm working on it. Peace-

*In the photos, the baseball hats are their first, from Uncle Allan. Sam is wearing the red shirt, Charlie the print. Also, Owen loves to eat cereal - and is getting quite good at it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All! We hope this message finds you all healthy and happy!

Wow - what a difference a year makes! Last year at this time we had just received the referral for the boys and were frantically putting paperwork together to mail off to India! This year we enjoyed the holidays with close family and friends and our three sons! Needless to say, the boys thought Christmas was fantastic! They got bicycles (and Owen a tricycle) and stockings with presents from Santa Claus; legos, Playmobile and a book from Mommy & Daddy, and many wonderful gifts from family & friends! Overall the kids did very well with the hustle and bustle of numerous house guests, meals with many folks and disrupted schedules we have worked so hard to maintain (no naps got a bit ugly by the end of the day yesterday). Despite all the fancy things, the favorite items for all the boys were the 88 cent flashlights Santa packed in the stockings and 3 apples from Daddy's friend Randy - go figure! We're really enjoying our time off with the boys, no doubt it will make going back to work tough. That's all for now - here is the first batch of photos - from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I should have more in a day or two from another family event - hope you enjoy them! Love & Hugs & Peace to All!

Christmas is Coming!

They don't know exactly what it is, but they know it's good and it is happening soon. The older boys keep questioning - "Christmas is coming?" I know they sense the excitement and keep talking about Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, gingerbread and more! Grammy helped us decorate the tree last weekend and they still point out the lights every time we turn it on. Owen's new favorite word is "yite," which he happily screams during our pre-sunrise commute as we pass by homes and businesses with holiday lights. Sam and Charlie have been coloring (they are getting so much better) candy canes and reindeer and pushing all the noise-making ornaments at relatives' homes. We are trying to keep the gift giving to a minimum, since they still get over-stimulated with too much stuff, but no doubt they will be showered with love this holiday season. Everyone is doing great! Sleeping and eating well, and adjusting better than expected to the new daily routine. We made it through my first three weeks back to school, juggling schedules- babysitters, preschool, Grammy, daycare and Daddy's afternoons - as well as chores, driving, shopping, working and, oh yeah, giving each boy the time and attention they crave and deserve! I am a bit sleep-deprived (so is Eric), but other than that happy! I have two weeks school vacation, then back to class. I am having a great time at work; we have a good group this year - curious and mostly kind - I see 85 6th graders for social studies everyday. Eric is busy at work, but building in Maine has slowed down considerably, like everywhere else in the U.S. He spends two afternoons a week at home, starting at noon with the preschool pick-up. Owen has been going to daycare 2-3 days a week and is thriving there. He is socializing well, very physically active (8-10 boys in the program) and is now becoming upset because he doesn't want to leave when I come to pick him up (to be fair, no one can compete with an indoor, elevated sand table). I guess that's all for now, off to bed and can't wait to sleep in! Hopefully...

Finally, an update!

Okay, I know it's been a ridiculously long time since my last post, I hope you understand since I am back at work now. The schedule and hours are insane, and keeping everything and everyone organized has been a huge challenge, but I think we're going to make it through this hurdle! The boys are being troopers, and certainly letting us know when it's all too much; unfortunately there have been a few times we have not been able to change the plan for them. This past week, only my second week back, I had student-led/parent-teacher conferences and was away two nights in a row (not good). But, I also took today off for a doctor's appointment for Owen (pesky ear infection, beginning second round of antibiotics, just to be sure) and we visited with Grammy and Nanny (grandmother & great-grandmother) and went out to lunch. It turns out, it was a snow day anyway! so I won't loose a sick day. Owen has finally broken 20 lbs.! I know, still so small, but he really is growing! Since he's been with us (just over 3 months) he has grown nearly 3 inches taller! He is going to daycare now 2-3 days a week and is doing quite well there. The other days he's with Grammy who is spoiling him rotten, but also getting to see some of his recent, typical 2 1/2 year old behaviors. Sam & Charlie are doing okay with the new schedule, although they are not listening to the morning babysitter as much as we or she would like. She's a sweet college student who comes at 6:30am-8:30am , so I can't really be too hard on her for not being tougher. Each of the boys has had one pretty terrible day at preschool, luckily that seems to be subsiding. I think the hardest part on Daddy is probably the extra work (he already does a lot!) and losing two afternoons a week on the jobsite. Of course the upside is more bonding time with the boys. Mommy is facing several new challenges, the most difficult of which is leaving a child behind saying "Mommy, no work!" or the first time Owen cried (real tears) when I left him at daycare. Staying up late doing laundry, packing lunches and backpacks is a breeze compared to that.

We have had several new fun firsts - like the first Thanksgiving, first snow and first girlfriend (Sam)! Owen spent his first night away (at Grammy's, GeeGee was in Florida), we met Santa Claus for the first time - at another first - the preschool Christmas production - where Sam & Charlie were the only kids who did not stay in line or for that matter on the stage! I would like to say Owen has taken his first steps without assistance, but it hasn't happened yet. However, he is cruising! Climbing up on everything (chairs, couch, on top of the desk, and the bunk bed ladder- which has now been removed). He walks holding on to things and with only one finger, but hasn't taken that first solo step! Any day we think!

Photos are:
Owen & Mommy at Thanksgiving (forgot the booster seat - rookie parent mistake)
Sam & Charlie with Uncle Willy (yes, I also noticed the knife in Charlie's hand - danger!)
Hanging with the cousins on the bunk bed - from left Owen, Charlie, Sophie, Joey, Sam
First snow! Sam (red) and Charlie (blue) love it!
Preschool Christmas show - Sam (yellow) & Charlie (blue)
Owen with "big boy outfit" and fancy new boots
Sam & his special friend: "my Hailey"
Owen & Daddy - first snow!
Uncle Allan & the older boys
3 boys in a box - it now contains all their winter clothes, boots, shoes, etc.) - notice names on shirts