{Thankfulness Day 28}

1. I am thankful for these cutie patooties! I am thankful for my blue eyed boy, my hazel eyed girl, and my brown eyed boy. I am thankful for big grown-up teeth, loose teeth, and no teeth. I am thankful that they all call me mom.

Jax didn't want Andrew to hold his hand.   Jax was enjoying punching him in the face.

Jax Jax Is 6 Months!

-You are sitting independently.
-You have started getting up on all fours and rocking.
-You are 27 inches tall, and you weigh 20 pounds 10.5 ounces.
-You love dogs, cats, and fish.
-You love to jump, and jump, and jump.
-You are giving away lots of hugs and kisses.  I am pretty confident that Oli Goose gets the most.
-You are now wearing size 12 month clothes.
-You love to explore new textures.
-You aren't too excited about baby food.  However, you are really interested in what we are eating.
-You are still drooling like crazy.  In fact, I would say that you are now spitting.
-You love people and are especially drawn to men with gray hair wearing glasses.  I wonder if you are looking for grandpa.
-You have been such a blessing to us that Andrew is already asking to adopt again.
-You are loved Jax Jax!

Sweet Memories (Week 13)

Just two brothers watching their sister during her gymnastic's class.  

Well...one is watching.  One is kissing.

Weekend Top 10

1.) All five of us snuggled on the couch watching The Next Great American Baker.
2.) Purchasing our white elephant gifts for the H Family Christmas at the Goodwill Outlet.  While shopping, an employee over the loud speaker announced, "Shoppers please do not be aggressive."
3.) Watching Elisha braid Olivia's hair during Andrew's basketball game.
4.) Celebrating Elisha's 22nd birthday with cherry cheesecake and pizza.
5.) Hearing our family enthusiastically cheer for their beloved Mizzou Tigers.
6.) Sitting behind one of our favorite families at church.
7.) Continuing the tradition of photographing the S family for their annual Christmas Card.
8.) Finding out the identity of "Red John".
9.) Brainstorming creative and inexpensive ways to decorate our soon-to-be remodeled basement.
10.) Giggling with Andrew and Olivia as Jaxson experienced his jumparoo for the first time.

Family Photos 2013

We had our family photos taken my the talented Mandi Gummels several weeks ago.  I absolutely love them.

Last year someone commented on our annual photos that there seemed to be a little person missing from my lap.  He is not missing this year.

What a year!

{Thankfulness Day 21}

I am thankful for My Sweet Scotty.

Need I say more?

We have a construction team at our house renovating the basement.  I casually mentioned my concerns for our 16 year old cat.  He looked at me with a blank stare and questioned, "Exactly how long have you and Scott been married?"

This morning at boot camp, the instructor asked me if Scott has always been a nice guy.  Yep.

Yesterday, I received the cd of our family photos taken by the amazing Mandi Gummel's Photography.

Yep.  I adore My Sweet Scotty.  Yep.  He adores me.  Yep.  I think that it is obvious.

I am thankful that I have been loved beautifully by the most amazing man....today, 16 years ago, and everyday in between...

{Thankfulness Day 20}

Exactly 6 Months Ago...

I was worried that my heart was going to be broken.

I was worried that my selfishness was going to cause others pain.

I was worried that I wasn't going to represent Christ well to a family and a hospital staff.

I was worried that I would leave a hospital without a baby that I loved instantly.

I was worried about a selfless, courageous birth mother.

I was worried about how Andrew and Olivia would adjust to a new brother.

I was worried about how we would all fit in our home.

I was worried about meeting new people and building new relationships.

I was worried about how Jax would be accepted by family, friends, and neighbors.

I was worried about money.

I was worried about sweet friends who had their profile shown too.

I was worried that I wouldn't represent the adoption community well.

I was worried that my heart would explode with unspeakable joy.

I was worried.

God was not.

Today, I am thankful for May 20, 2013.  As I replay that special day in my mind, I vividly recognize God's presence and handiwork in all of the details.  I am thankful that my Savior knows me better than I know myself.  He knew exactly what I needed and provided abundantly.  

{Thankfulness Day 18}

I am so very thankful for my Oli Goose.  At the very thought of her, my heart feels as if it might explode.

T- Teachable
H- Honest to a Fault
A- Affecionate
N- Neighborly
K- Kindhearted
F- Funny
U- Unique
L- Loving
N- Neat.  Not!
E- Entertaining
S- Sweet and Sassy.  In fact, she likes to sing, "I'm sassy, and I know it."
S- Sister.  Boy does she love her brothers.

Sweet Memories (Week 12)

Have I ever mentioned how much I disliked spelling in school?

Well...I dislike it even more now that my kiddos are in school.  

Andrew and I have spent countless unhappy hours practicing dreadful spelling words.  Thankfully, we have fallen into a great spelling routine this year.  Every Sunday evening, we look over the words together, discuss the tricky words, and define the unfamiliar words.

This evening we came to the word, Mississippi.  Andrew excitedly spelled the word, giggled, and shared that the word says "pp".  He followed that statement by saying, "That was so immature of me."

We quickly came to the word, imagine.  I asked him to read the word.  He responded, "I'm a Gene?"

Seven Random Facts

1.) For several years, I taught in a special needs preschool.  One of my students would parade around the classroom all day chanting, "Mrs. Holman is doom."  My friend Sue texted me last night.  This is what she wrote,  "You exaggerate.  It was not so much parading as it was random spouting.  There were no floats or thrown candy.  I think that he was going to stuff you in a chimney as well..."

2.) I was born and raised in the country.  Several weeks ago, Scott informed me that I am the exception to the saying, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."  I do still like cowgirl boots and country music.

3.) My favorite movie of all time is "Sweet Home Alabama" followed closely by "Ramona and Beezus".

4.) I could have attended college on a full art scholarship, but I reluctantly decided to take the academic scholarship instead.  This is one of my greatest regrets.

5.) I had an unhealthy relationship with food in my late teens/early twenties.  Food was my enemy.

6.) I LOVE math!  In fact, I think that it would be fair to say that I was the math teacher's favorite student in high school.  Just saying...

7.) I would just as soon sleep through the entire Christmas season.  Wake me up on New Year's people!  Don't be haters.  I love celebrating the birth of Jesus, but it just seems to get lost in all the gifts, calories, tinsel, lights, cards, clutter, and grumpiness.

{Thankfulness Day 15}

I am thankful for his anxiety.  It assures me that he will always have a need for his Savior.

I am thankful that he doesn't care too much about his appearance.  It assures me that he has learned to value inner beauty.

I am thankful that he is convinced that his dad hung the moon.  It assures me that he will grow up to be an amazing father.

I am thankful that he notices all the small details.  It assures me that he will be a wonderful husband.

I am thankful that he is convinced that he is always right.  It assures me that he will always stand up for his convictions.

I am thankful that he doesn't want to miss a single one of his basketball practices even when I beg.  (He has three practices a week right now.)  It assures me that he is committed and a man of his word.

I am thankful that his behavior isn't perfect.  It assures me that he can think for himself and that he enjoys life.

I am thankful that I have been told by every single teacher over and over again how much they love having him in their class.  It assures me that he is a dedicated, respectful learner.

I am thankful that he is competitive.  It assures me that he will always do his very best.

I am thankful that he is an amazing older brother.  It assures me that he will always protect and treasure family.

I am thankful that I am his mom.  It assures me that I will always have a front row seat to watch as God shapes him into a closer reflection of Jesus.

I sure do love my Andrew Man.

{Thankfulness Day 14}

I am thankful for my new role as an adoption educator.

I must admit that there have already been several seasons when I just didn't want to talk about adoption anymore.

However, I was then approached by a sweet young couple struggling with infertility, an older gentleman who was placed for adoption as an infant, a middle aged woman who had an abortion in her teens, a birth grandmother whose daughter chose adoption, and/or an individual whose attitude/opinions towards adoption broke my heart.

In those moments, I found my selfishness quietly disappear.  I found myself listening intently with compassion. I found myself uncovering myths.  I found myself encouraging couples with the fact that a parent is a parent regardless of how life starts.  I found myself overwhelmingly emotional.  I once again found the joy in sharing our story...our Journey to Jaxson.  I found myself in God's very presence.

I have come to realize that this is a gigantic part of God's plan for my life.

With that said, here I am.  Ask me.

Yes. I am his mother.  Yes.  Another sweet woman carried him for 9 months.  Yes.  She loves him.  Yes.  I believe in open adoptions.  Yes.  I love his birth family.  Yes.  He was worth every piece of paperwork and home visit.  Yes.  He was worth every penny spent. Yes. He looks like his birth mother.  Yes.  He looks like me.  I see my heart when he smiles, and I hear my heart break when he cries.  Yes.  He is perfect!  No.  I wouldn't do anything different.

Sweet Memories (Week 11)

Jaxson wasn't his normal happy self this week which is evident in the lack of his signature big open-mouthed smiles.  In fact, he experienced his very first fever.  We are confident that it was just part of the teething process.  With that said, this week's pictures break my heart, but lots of love and snuggles helped get us through the week.