You are currently browsing the archives for April, 2006.
Yes, yes, I know. Updates aren't as frequent because they've just gotten a little boring lately. I can't write about every funny thing Carter does or I'd be here writing instead of enjoying him all day long. 
It still amazes me how much our lives have changed in so short a period of time. I never knew I could love like this. It's just so different from anything else and I guess you can't understand it until you are in the middle of it.
People continue to ask us about the future and about whether or not we'll get to "keep" Carter and Gracey. It is a constant reminder that there is a possibility that we could lose them. Sometimes I wish people would just quit asking me. I mean, if I know something new I promise I'll tell you. I guess I just get frustrated at constantly having to explain it. 
People may as well just say to me, "Hey, those aren't REALLY your kids, remember?" LOL, thanks for THAT reminder!
God has given us a peace about the situation. We trust that He is in control and He is going to provide, as He always has. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't have my moments of panic – when I watch my babies sleeping, when I hold them close and smell the tops of their heads. Mainly though, the time that I am most likely to have doubts is when people ask me about it. I know that's wierd, but it's how it works for me. I find myself trying to explain it away when all I really want to do is say, "we're trusting God and you should too." But that's kinda harsh.
Parenting is different than we expected. More on that later.
Congratulations!
Posted April 25th, 2006 at 7:08 pm. 2 comments
Hop on over to Karen's site (www.babyhale.blogspot.com) and see their new addition! Jenna Marie was born on Friday, weighing in at 7lbs and 13oz! Welcome, Jenna!
Oh Crap!
Posted April 25th, 2006 at 12:15 pm. 6 comments
Carter did pretty good with the shots. Although he screamed and cried (and I almost did, too), he recovered very quickly. I was very angry that he had to get FIVE shots and has to go back in a month to get a few more. This is because he was behind on his shots.
While we were getting ready to leave Monday morning, Toolman was bathing Carter and I was feeding Gracey. Gracey started to smell REALLY bad so I lovingly called out to Toolman, "honey, would you please take over here and see if you can get her to eat a little more? I can't get her to take more than an ounce." Of course, toolman was happy to oblige. As I put Gracey in his arms and grinned wickedly at him, he smelled it. "AWWWW! No fair! Come back here and change her diaper!" I laughed as I walked away…..until I got to the bathroom. Carter was sitting in the drained tub with pee pee in front of him and poop behind him. And he was so proud of his accomplishment.
I got stuck cleaning that up instead. I sure made a bad trade there.
Shots
Posted April 23rd, 2006 at 9:37 pm. 5 comments
By the way, poor Carter has to get shots first thing Monday morning. I'm not looking forward to this at all – I really don't understand how we're going to keep him still while they stick a needle in him. I'm very sad about this. Toolman took off of work to help me. At first, I was going to send him and Carter by themselves but then I felt guilty about not being there for Carter.
Honestly, he'd probably do better without me there. I'll be more nervous than he is because I will know what is coming. And I can see his face already – that open-mouthed, crocodile tear, screaming cry he has when he is really upset. It's going to break my heart. And he will get WHATEVER he wants afterwards. And maybe I will, too. ha ha ha
Zoo Fun
Posted April 23rd, 2006 at 5:09 pm. Add a comment
On Saturday, we took both kids to the zoo, though I doubt Gracey will remember any of it. 
Carter had a good time – he loved watching the elephants but was more excited about the little train he got to ride than anything else. Oh, and he also had a blast playing in the water at the zoo. Maybe next year he’ll be more excited about the animals!
It was funny watching him play in the water because he was the only kid his size. Everyone else was older, much older. One kid about his age came in but didn’t want to play – Carter has no fear! I was close to SPeedy while Toolman stood back with Gracey. Every once in a while I would look back and see him grinning from ear to ear. He told me later that a few of the women standing near him kept talking about how cute “that little boy” is and how he is having so much fun out there! Daddy was proud!
Tampons and Tantrums ….hee hee hee
Posted April 21st, 2006 at 7:41 pm. 2 comments
When i am in my office, Carter is usually right underfoot playing with something he shouldn't be. Most of the time, I just let it go as long as he isn't climbing into my lap. He likes to pull things out of my computer case; things like highlighters, pens, lipstick, etc…. I keep an eye on him to make sure he isn't using any of these items.
This afternoon, I noticed he got pretty quiet and was playing pretty intensely with something from my bag. I knew it wasn't makeup or a pen so I wasn't too worried, but I did decide it was time to see what had him so occupied. You know, we have A TON of toys in the playroom – way too many toys. And my child was quite content to sit at my feet and play with a tampon. Yes, you read correctly, he was playing with a tampon. He must have opened it pretty quietly because I never even heard the paper rattle.
I laughed and figured, Hey, he's entertained, I can send emails……:D Toolman walked in the door and I pointed to what Carter had in his hand. Toolman said, "What is tha…..OH! Yucky! Carter, don't play with that. Queenbee, what are you letting him do?" I laughed as Toolman took Carter by the hand and said, "C'mon, Carter. Let's go measure the oven, we need to do something manly." LOL
They measured the oven because we need to purchase a new one. We went out to look at them tonight and kept Carter out past his bedtime. At the mall, we decided to let him play while I fed Gracey and then he was having fun so I ventured into Old Navy while Toolman kept an eye on him. By this time, he normally would have been asleep. Toolman brought him into Old Navy and and I could hear Carter whining about wanting to get down and play. When Toolman went to put Carter in the stroller, we witnessed our very first tantrum! It was very exciting and I laughed a lot. I know one day soon they won't be funny anymore but Toolman and I were both giggling and trying to hide our smiles from Carter. It wasn't a MAJOR tantrum, but it was enough to give us a preview of what's ahead. And enough to remind us that we should really honor his bedtime.
Protected: PHOTOS!
Posted April 21st, 2006 at 5:04 am. 8 comments
Finally, I found an easy way to upload photos here. So here ya go……
Our Little Gracey:
she kinda resembles Popeye in this picture
And our precious Carter, this is still my favorite picture of him:
On Wednesday, we had crazy hair day around here:
Okay, last ones, I promise. These are their Easter pictures:
Protected: Just My Luck
Posted April 21st, 2006 at 4:47 am. 2 comments
It's 6:30am and both kids are still sleeping. So why the heck am I awake? It's storming outside, I mean really STORMING. And I don't like bad weather one bit. I used to always worry about tornados and plan my escape route if I heard one coming. Now that we have kids, it has gotten worse. I'm mentally planning how to get both kids to the safest room in the house without totally freaking Carter out.
The thunder is so loud, I keep thinking it will surely wake Carter up. So I came in here to be closer to his room in case he wakes up afraid. But truthfully, I think I'm the only scaredycat in this house right now.
I planned to get out and have Gracey' 3 month pictures taken this morning but I guess that will have to wait for another day.
Oh well. I can't believe i'm missing out on this opportunity to sleep in. Funny how things change, huh? Sleeping in used to mean at least 10am and now I consider 7am sleeping in.
Yesterday, Carter had a little too much fun with the roll of paper towels. By the time I saw it, it was really too late to save them so I grabbed the camera instead.
Reflections…..
Posted April 20th, 2006 at 10:50 am. 2 comments
As I was about to write this post last night, I started rereading what I had written in early February, when we first learned of Carter.
My favorite quotes from those first few days are:
This is the child that has been growing in my heart since we decided to adopt.
Tonight, while I was holding my little Gracey at the hospital, these lyrics came into my head:
“How great is our God? Sing with me…How Great is our God?….All will see How Great….How Great…..is our God”
Wait on God, friends. It’s always worth it.
It is a beautiful gift to be able to go back and read my thoughts and feelings during those first few hectic weeks. I don't remember a lot of it, but reading it again brings it back. I can't believe it has all happened – it seems like it was so fast.
Christmas is here, my friends. And I've never been happier.
It is a priveledge to parent Carter and Gracey. I spent all day yesterday playing with Carter instead of getting clothes washed. It was well worth it.
Gracey will be three months old this Saturday. I'm going to take some pictures of her hands and feet, like I did before, and post them for you so you can see how much she has grown!
Dang it!
Posted April 19th, 2006 at 9:47 pm. Add a comment
I just wrote a great post and then I lost it. Stupid technology. I'll do it again tomorrow morning. Bleh.