“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11
Batman turned 4 on Saturday! He told me a long time ago that he wanted to be wearing his Batman cape on his birthday so I bought him a whole little outfit that he put on first thing Saturday morning.
He got to choose his breakfast and he went with ice cream:
He had a blast hitting the pinata:
but decided it was much more fun to ride it:
When it was all said and done, he picked flowers for his Mommy:
Speedy,
I can not believe you are four years old. You have completely shed your toddler shell and are now everything little boy. You are still the happiest kid I know and have more enthusiasm for life than anyone I’ve ever met. Your world revovles around superheroes and how you will grow up to be one - preferably Spiderman though Batman is pretty high on your list these days, too. You have matured so much over the past year, it’s hard to believe you are the same little boy who came home to us two years ago. You are full of life and energy and have a very tender heart. I adore you and thank God for making you just the way you are. You love school and being outside is still your favorite thing to do. You are so bright that it is sometimes a little scary - daddy and I have to be very careful what we say when you’re close because you hear everything. Well, everything except directions given to you! ha ha ha…. You are worth every tear, every drop of sweat and every heartache…. You challenge us to be more creative as parents and you definitely keep us on our toes. We absolutely adore you and would not change anything about you. One of the things I find most interesting and precious about you is your ability to remember the details of a Bible story. We are constantly amazed at what comes out of your mouth and at what you remember from school or church. Another thing you’ve recently started doing is picking flowers for me and for Princess. It’s very sweet and I have to gently remind you that picking the pretty flowers from the neighbor’s yard isn’t a good choice. It’s hard for you to understand but I think you are getting it. 
You are very excited about having another baby brother or sister and have made no secret of the fact that you want a baby brother. Some nights you even thank God for your baby brother.
Mommy
Have I ever mentioned that Speedy has absolutely NO FEAR? None. I took him and cousin Wes to one of those jumpy places today and they had a blast. But climbing and sliding the usual way was not what they had in mind - no, they wanted to be super heroes. All it took was for Speedy to see Wes make one jump and then it was all over. Of course, Wes is two feet taller than Speedy and could have leaned over and reached the top of the part he was jumping to. Speedy literally flew through the air. See what I mean:
Today was also swingset day. We bought a secondhand ginormous castle fortress swingset and it was delivered and set up today. When we started looking at swingsets, we swore we wouldn’t go overboard. What do you think?
Nevermind, don’t tell me. Just look at these faces and tell me it wasn’t worth it:
They are going to play on it for a long time to come.
We have been unbelievably busy these past few weeks. Getting the backyard ready, finishing Foster Care classes, getting home inspections, repairing gas pipes so we can pass said inspections…..cleaning backyard for summer and Speedy’s fourth birthday party. That’s coming up this Saturday. Can you believe my guy is going to be four?
It’s always one thing or another around here. We are getting our backyard ready for summer which includes the purchase of a GINORMOUS swing set.
As I speak, I have kid in the backyard hauling mulch from the driveway to the play area. With Speedy being such a climber, we figured he might need a little extra cushion when he hits the ground from this thing. We’ve also been dealing with the money draining hole in our backyard, also known as the swimming pool. I really think the reason the people before us moved is because of that darn thing. I love having a pool in the summer but we have huge trees all around it and that makes clean up a real…. well, you know.
Spring and Fall are MISERABLE where the pool is concerned. We drained it this past weekend and powerwashed it and now it is starting to look almost swimmable again. Whew. Since we have the power washer, I’m also powerwashing all the cement around the pool and the patio. It is absolutely amazing how nasty and dirty the cement is - but you don’t realize it until you start powerwashing. It’s addictive. I begged daddyo to let me bring it inside and clean our bathtubs with it but he seems to think the tile might get knocked off or something. ha ha ha
Here’s what we have left to get our certification renewed:
- one more class next week
- gas inspection (next week)
- fire inspection (next week)
- fingerprinted (maybe the week after)
- homestufy updated (April)
Once all that is done, we are all set and ready for baby to arrive. Here’s where it gets a little tricky. I was talking to our case worker yesterday and there are two main concerns:
1- that CPS is notified so they can take custody (we’re comfortable this will happen because birthparents will more than likely call GrannyJ when baby is born)
2 - CPS has to get it right. They have to check the files for other kids in custody so they will know to contact us. Baby could easily be placed into a different foster home.
So keep those prayers coming!
Two and Four year old pics:
Oh and PS, speedy has changed his name.
Me: C’mon kiddos
Nathan: I’m not kiddo
Me: okay, Nathan-o
Nathan: I’m not Nathan-o EITHER!
Me: So what are you?
Nathan: I’m Nay-dawg
Thanks, Daddyo.
Mar 11th 2008Cindy12 & 14 & 20 & 21
Not much in the way of updates lately. I’ve been slammed with work and trying to balance work and kids and babysitters etc…
Changes are abroad in the Ebenezer family. Is that really a word that fits there? Abroad? What am I thinking? My mind doesn’t seem to function on the same level it once did. I used to be pretty smart. Downright intelligent. Something happened.
Speedy cut his hair with scissors at school yesterday. He’d just had a haircut so it isn’t really THAT noticable. Until you get closer. And see the bald spots on his head. He did that yesterday and school pictures are today. His wonderful teacher was afraid I’d be upset but I think it is hysterical. I’m just so grateful it was HIS OWN hair he cut and not someone else’s. It was just a matter of time.
Princess is now sleeping in a toddler bed. Which I hate. She does okay with it but loves her newfound freedom of getting out of bed at 3am to come in and say Hi to mom and dad. Her teacher gave me a brilliant idea of putting up a baby gate in her doorway. Wish that had occurred to me several nights ago. See the remark about being smart above.
Tamara asks what we’re doing to get prepared for baby #3. Nothing really. Except getting Princess out of her baby bed. We don’t know what else to do. Can’t really plan on a room since we don’t know the sex. We have a bassinet and can’t really remember anything else we absolutely have to have the first few weeks other than diapers and formula.
I think one reason it is hard to plan for is that I’m just so not sure it is going to happen. With CPS, anything is possible. I’m just afraid they are going to screw up and place the baby with another family.
I guess I lost some of you a while back.
Tamara asked in the last post about birthmom possibly being pregnant.
Yes, I am talking about the birthmom of my children and yes, we are planning for baby #3. We aren’t sure she is pregnant and we aren’t sure when she is due. CPS will take custody if they are alerted to the fact that she has given birth.
It’s a strange place we’re in. I mean, I’ll be thrilled to have another baby. I’ll also be thrilled to continue with the little family we have. So, we’re just waiting to see what happens.
I think God gets a big kick out of watching me in situations like these. He is constantly reminding me that I am in control of nothing. 
Edited to add:
We have confirmation of a pregnancy with an expected due date in June. Which means we’re planning for May.
