2 Year Familyversary

Today we celebrate the second anniversary of the day we became a family of four. It was the day that took us from being parents to a 3 year old wild man to the parents of a wild man and a spunky little princesa. A day that is etched in my memory forever. I remember waiting for my sweet girl in the lobby of the Vista Real in Guatemala City. The last time we'd ever wait there for her. We were excited to see how much she had grown and changed since we had seen her last! It was a great feeling to know that we weren't going to get on a plane to return home without her.

During our adoption process I had many times of doubt. Should we do this? Can we really parent two kids? Can we AFFORD two kids? But one look at our baby girl and all doubts were gone.

In two years she has grown and changed so much. When she came home at 6 1/2 months old, she couldn't even sit up on her own. Now she runs, jumps, climbs, and everything else a two and a half year old should do. She talks up a storm in the sweetest little voice. Some of her latest princesa-isms are "allubums" (all of them, as in "I want allubums"), "STRAWbeddies" (strawberries, which she eats by the pound!), and "smewlum" (smell them, as in sticking her feet in my face and screaming "smewlum!!!"). We play a rousing game of "What's that?" at least twice per day. Everything, even people, are labeled as a "what" in the game, and if you can't figure out what she's asking about, she'll shriek it over and over until you figure it out. We are often asks if she speaks Spanish or if she's bilingual. I'd love to say yes, but my Spanish is far from conversational, though I have taught her to repeat the alphabet and count in both languages, and she knows a few words and phrases pretty well. Our favorite is "Asta luego!" I'm excited that her next daycare teacher is from Guatemala--I can't wait to immerse her in some real Spanish!

She's even more beautiful now than she was as a little baby. She literally stops traffic with her precious little self. We've trimmed her hair twice and it's still down to the middle of her back. She looks more and more like her birthmom every day. I love that she has that physical resemblence and connection to her. We look at the photos from her time in Guatemala often and are explaining her story to her in small bits that she can understand. She's also very smart, learns everything so quickly and blows us away with her vocabulary. She's funny, happy, loving, and a very busy girl.

As a family, we've hit our stride and have a great routine that seems to work well. The kids get along great and play very well together. The critterboy looks out for his baby sister and is so gentle with her. The stinkergirl, on the other hand, is one tough cookie and already taunts and pesters her big brother. It's fun to watch their relationship grow. They are one adorable pair!

We're so blessed to have experienced the blessings of both birth and adoption and all of the challenges and joy they have brought to our lives. This day is a special one, and one we will cherish always.

I blinked . . .

. . . and then he was five. The critterboy turned five on Thursday. It is safe to say that I've been a little emotional about this milestone. During our struggles with infertility, if you had asked me if I'd ever have a child at all, I would have laughed in your face. Then along came my sweet baby boy. He was born too early and was much too small (click HERE to get the full scoop) and we watched him fight for his life as we helplessly looked on and prayed. To imagine him at 5 years old then, well, I just wanted him to come home . . . we would worry about him growing up later. And here we are. Later.

We have an amazing little man. He challenges us everyday to be better parents and better people in general. He is sensitive, caring, funny, smart (some say gifted, but I'm not into labels, so I'm not going there . . .), loving, and FULL of energy. He talks all. the. time. Things like "awesommmmme!" and "yesssssss!" are heard often. He says the sweetest things when people need to hear them most. Like the time he walked up to a sales clerk and said "Helloooo, gorgeous!" or the time he told and elderly woman who appeared to be having a bad day "You have beautiful eyes." The smiles he brings to the faces of everyone around him make my heart happy. He loves Jesus and loves to sing about Him. He knows all of the words to "Big House" and makes up his own songs like the one that goes like this: "Praise the Loo--orrrdddd" that he sings at the top of his lungs while playing anything he can find that resembles a guitar. We rock out to theHouseFM in the car everyday, and when he hears "our music" as he calls it, when we're out and about he gets really excited! He is a deep thinker--you can almost see his wheels turning as he ponders things like "When I die, will I go to Heaven?", "Why are some people not nice to other people?", "How does Jesus have so many kids?" (meaning all of us who love Him) and "Why does my cereal get soggy in milk?".

It's an amazing blessing to be his mom. He's my best little buddy and I enjoy every (well, most!) moment with him. I am so blessed to be part of his journey through life, and am a better person for being his mommy. In the fall, he will begin Pre-K. This will mean a change of everything he knows--daycare, friends, schedule, etc. While I know it will be harder on me than him, I can't help but worry about the transition. Knowing my wild man, though, he'll be just fine, and before you know it, he'll be in high school. I'd better get another box of tissues before I start thinking about that . . .

Happy Birthday my sweet boy. I love you more than you'll ever know!

And then she was 2 . . .

Miss Priss Pants is 2 years old today. Can you believe it? I certainly can't!

She is as feisty and fun as always, if not more so as she continues to add words to her exploding vocabulary. She has been putting a few words together in the past week or so, saying "Want more mama" "I did it!" and "Mama! Want bite!" She labels EVERYTHING she sees, usually with the right word, but sometimes in her own "Ry-speak". :) I love her little voice, even when she is screaming. Okay, maybe not when she's screaming . . .

Our little drama mama, her latest nick name, can hold her own with big brother and all of the little boys in her classes at daycare and Sunday school. She wants what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. She is still addicted to her binky, but wants it less and less at home. Somehow she goes all day at daycare without it. We're still trying to figure that one out, but since she's my last baby, I'm okay with her being little a while longer.

She is a gorgeous girl! And hilarious! Anytime she hears music, she shakes her booty. It's adorable--I should really get it on video so you can see for yourself. I'll add that to my ever growing to do list. :) When I pick her up at school, she screams "Mommmmyyyyy!" and comes running to me. It's so sweet! Then, when we get home, she is my velcro baby until bedtime. She literally plasters herself to me much of the evening. I try to remember that she'll only be little once and just enjoy it.

Our little stringbean is only about 25 pounds (we go to the doctor for her well visit on Friday to find out the exact stats) and is still fairly tall. She has grown so much that she hardly looks like the same baby!

I am so blessed to have this amazing little lady in my life. She is absolutely a perfect fit for our family, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to call her my daughter.

Feliz cumpleanos, mi amor! I love you so much!

Commitment--as told by a 4 year old

While at the water park last week, hubby dearest lost his wedding ring 10 minutes into the fun. He's lost so much weight lately that it needs to be resized, and the water pouring down from above washed it right off his finger. (It was found the next day, so no worries!)

Tonight my little man asked me why mommy and daddy wear those rings. I told him that it was so that everyone could see that we are married and committed to someone. Here's his wisdom at it's finest:

Critterboy: "Mommy, I'm committed to Jacie."

Me: "Big Jacie or Little Jacie?" (one of his teachers is named Jacie, along with another critter in his class)

Critterboy: "Little Jacie.", he said shyly.

Me: "I thought you liked Kendyl best."

Critterboy: "But Kendyl wasn't there today, so I am committed to Jacie."

Thank goodness we have several more years to discuss the importance of commitment! You have to love his little grasp of the concept though, and his love of the ladies!

He steals my heart everytime he opens his mouth--I can't wait 'till Miss Priss Pants starts talking. It's gonna be a laugh a minute for sure!

Thirteen

Thirteen years ago today I married my best friend, the love of my life. We were young. And crazy in love! Today we're not as young, but just as much in love.

So much has changed, but our love has only grown stronger. In 13 years we've watched as friends' marriages crumbled while we stayed strong. We've faced lots of difficult times, but somehow learned more about each other and grew closer together as a result. We gained weight together. Lots of weight--90 lbs each at one point. We've now lost weight together--over 100 lbs combined and still losing. We've created one miracle child and adopted another. We've grown up together.

Honey, I love you even more today than I did 13 years ago. We've made wonderful memories together, and I can't wait to make even more. I seem to remember someone saying (on our wedding video no less), "Ask me in a year and we'll see if they're still happy." I think it goes without saying that we proved her wrong, don't you? Thanks for always treating me like a princess, even when I don't deserve it. You're still the love of my life, and I cherish every day with you.

ONE YEAR!

I have so many thoughts spinning in my head that I can't even find the right words to get it all out. One year ago today we arrived home with our beautiful baby girl. We were thrilled to finally have her home with us and begin our life as a family of four.

The past year has been an experience in patience, love, learning, bonding, and simply enjoying our family. God has blessed us tremendously. Sometimes I forget that I didn't give birth to our little ball of fire--she fits in our family perfectly!

Miss Priss Pants, I'm so blessed to be your mommy. You keep me on my toes and have helped me learn patience that I didn't know I possessed. You bring joy to my heart. I often look at you and wonder how on earth I could be worthy of being your mom. I love you so much, and can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful young lady. Happy one year home, baby girl . . . I hope you're as happy to be my daughter as I am to be your mama. Abrazos y besos mi amor!

Then: 5/29/08

Now: taken on our family day, 5/25/09

Happy 4th Birthday Critterboy!

Four years. Yep, he's really four years old. It was four years ago that our little miracle man arrived, 10 weeks before he was due, at a whopping 2 lbs. 11 oz. What a perfect little person! You can read the whole story HERE in last year's birthday post.

Matthew, you are truly an amazing boy. This year you've grown up so much! You were such a trooper through everything the past year has brought--becoming a big brother, travelling to Guatemala to bring your "sissy" home, having surgery to remove your tonsils and adenoids, getting glasses, etc. You are so smart and wise beyond your years. Sometimes I think we have an adult trapped in a little critterboy body! We love to watch you dance and listen to you sing. You love to drive your Jeep around in the back yard and are a better driver than mommy! You care so much about others' feelings and especially about your baby sister. We have enjoyed watching you grow and change this year. Mommy and Daddy love you so much buddy! Happy Birthday to you, and many more!