You are currently browsing the archives for December, 2006.
Our Christmas celebrations started yesterday morning when Granny and Grandad J came over with loads of presents for the kids. Carter knew just what to do and could hardly wait for them to set the presents down before he tore into them! 
The kids really racked up and it was just the beginning…… it was very special for them to spend that time with Granny and Grandad J. They gave us a card that I will treasure for a lifetime. It was very sweet and what was written inside really touched my heart. I won’t quote it word for word but part of it said, “You two are our real gift this year. We’ve been praying for someone to rescue our babies and little did we know you were praying for babies to love….”
Tonight we spent Christmas Eve with Daddy-o’s family at Oma’s house and it was very special. Carter really got excited when we all sat around in a circle and sang Christmas carols in both English and in German. He may not have know the words to most of the songs but it didn’t stop him from singing at all! After each song, he would say, “All done now! Time for Presents!” or he would say, “gwate song”!
He and Gracey racked up there as well and already have more than they could ever need in the way of toys. But we’re only half way done.
I wish I could have captured the look on SPeedy’s face tonight as we were putting him to sleep and I was telling him what would happen tonight. How Santa and his reindeer would land on our roof and he would come down the chimney to leave presents! Carter’s eyes were so big! And he went right to sleep when we put him in bed.
And after he fell asleep, Daddy-O and I got to do what we’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. We got to play Santa. We put SPeedy’s train together and set out Gracey’s doll. We stuffed the stockings and brought all the presents out. We ate Santa’s cookie and drank his milk. And we loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to see his face tomorrow morning and then again tomorrow at Grammy’s house.
I can, however, wait for him to play the drumset his aunt (who must hate me) bought him.
Merry Christmas all, and to all a good night.
Make that two
Posted December 18th, 2006 at 3:13 pm. 4 comments
Gracey Grace now has both of her two front bottom teeth coming in, and she isn’t even very fussy! Woo Hoo!
You did WHAT?
Posted December 18th, 2006 at 8:28 am. 2 comments
Along with Carter’s new interest in using the potty comes the fascination with the “big potty”. I’ve caught him trying to flush a diaper down the toilet and we’ve had the “you don’t put thing in the big potty” conversation a hundred times over.
But I now know we should have had one hundred and one times.
I bought Carter and Gracey the cutest Christmas PJs at Old Navy on Friday. Saturday morning, Carter’s pajama pants disappeared – strangely enough, I noticed this magical event right after he’d been caught playing in the bathroom. I asked him about the pants and he said, “they were dirty….I fwushed em in da potty.” They have yet to turn up anywhere so I’m assuming that the poor santa pants really were flushed.
Thing 3875 that I did not know prior to having kids:
you CAN flush clothing down the toilet.
Presents
Posted December 18th, 2006 at 8:23 am. Add a comment
11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Mathew 7:11
So I guess you already know where I’m going with this, right?
We are SOOOO excited for Christmas and I’ve had a great time buying presents for the kids. We keep talking with Carter about the real meaning of Christmas and why Santa brings us gifts, etc… and he’s very excited, too.
Daddy-O and I decided that we’d get a set number of gifts for Carter so that we don’t overdo it. He’s having FOUR “Christmases” afterall and will not be in short supply of new toys. I’m really having a hard time sticking to our agreement because I think of something else that I know he’s just love.
In all of my shopping and preparing for Christmas, I have gained a whole new understanding of God’s love for us. As much as I want to give good things to Carter and Gracey – and I don’t just mean “stuff” – God wants to give us so much more and on a much grander scale. What better time of year is there to reflect on the “good stuff” God has for each of us?
All I want for Christmas….
Posted December 13th, 2006 at 5:17 pm. 4 comments
is my two front teeth….my two front teeth.
Well, it looks like Gracey will have at least one of her two front teeth! After me guessing she was teething for MONTHS, finally, we have breakthrough.
Sigh.
She’s growing up too fast and I know having a tooth in her mouth will make her look that much older. I’m not ready for her to be older. I guess I have a lifetime of feeling that way ahead of me, don’t I?
Placement Papers
Posted December 13th, 2006 at 3:31 pm. 5 comments
Our own little Christmas miracle…..our adoption worker came out to the house today to see the kids and explain the process from here on out. She told us we were wating on two other departments; one of them being the department that redacts all the files. She mentioned that we could sign a waiver saying we would finalize adoption without reading the files and we jumped on that. Otherwise, it could have been another two months before we got to sign placement papers. Anyway, to make a long story short, she expects us to sign placement papers by the end of NEXT WEEK! Woo Hoo!
At that time, the children will no longer be considered in foster care! About 30 days after, we’ll be able to finalize the adoption in court!
Praise God!
Oops
Posted December 11th, 2006 at 11:09 pm. 6 comments
Guess you can tell we’ve been a little busy around here. Let’s see if I can catch you up:
I have no idea what to get the Gracey for Christmas. What does a 1 yr old really need/want? Help?
Carter’s new favorite thing is peeing on the potty. The other day I found him sitting on it with his pants around his ankles and he had thrown his diaper in the trash. AND, he had actually peed in the potty. Guess he’s trying to tell me something.
Gracey has decided that the word “no” is not applicable to her. I know she knows what it means because when I say “no” she turns and looks directly at me – then laughs and does what she wants to anyway.
When I was explaining to Carter that Oma went to heaven to live with Jesus, he was very concerned. He said, “she go school wit Jesus? she pway wit Jesus?” you can tell what his top priorities are.
Carter can’t seem to keep his bottom in his high chair for ANYTHING. After telling him repeatedly to put his hiney in the chair, when he stood up again I said, “Carter, where is your hiney?” and he looked at me like I was ridiculous and said, “it behind me, mommy!”
I’ve addressed most of the Christmas cards and have already sent out the electronic ones I’m sending. I think I’ll actually even get them mailed this year. Woo Hoo!
I’m going to try to finish shopping tomorrow so if you read this post leave me ideas for Gracey. paaahhhlease!
Are you serious?
Posted December 6th, 2006 at 7:55 am. 4 comments
I am not known for my ability to hold my tongue but even I have the common sense to know when to shut up from time to time. I mean, really? Is it that hard to watch what you say when little ears are listening?
I get so excited about the whole story of how we became a family that I too often share it with people who really don’t need to know. It’s a habit that I’ve cut back on after getting the same response from a few people (more on that later). But it’s hard, you know? I mean, God has blessed us so much and I want to share that with others. When people comment about the age difference or ask if it was hard being pregnant while chasing a toddler, what am I supposed to say? I guess I should just say they are adopted and leave it at that, but we all know I’m no good at “leaving ANYTHING at that.”
So I usually say we are adopting from foster care and they are siblings and we got them both at the same time and yes, it was hard but wonderful and God has been so faithful. We didn’t know if we’d be able to adopt them but we felt God leading us to foster anyway and so we did and look how His plan turned out……. yadda yadda yadda
More than once, the question that came out of someone’s mouth had the mother bear in me rearing back, ready to pounce. After explaining that we brought Gracey home from the hospital and brought Carter home when he was 22 months old, it’s been asked, “Oh, why didn’t they want them? He is so cute.” ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? Did you REALLY just say that right in front of my child? Lucky for you he is still watching or I’d pound you. Of course, I just smile and say, “oh, EVERYONE wanted him! Sometimes the court decides it’s in a child’s best interest to get new parents, but the birthparents love him so much.” And I get away as fast as I can.
I know, it’s my fault. I can’t tell our story anymore, especially in front of Carter. We talk about it at home and I tell him a story about “a little boy name Carter” and how God gave him a new mommy and daddy who had been praying for a little boy just like him. We’ve got that end covered. It’s the stupid people I need help with.