Mathew sees the Christmas tree
Posted: December 3, 2009 at 12:15 pm
It’s so fun to watch his reaction to Christmas decorations and especially the tree. Here he is seeing it for the first time yesterday when we put it up:
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Mathew Update
Posted: September 3, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I survived Mathew’s first week (2 days) of school and he did, too. I know he loves being around all the other kids and I’m sure he’ll adjust to the one nap thing. I just hate it when he gets so fussy because it really is unlike him. Usually, he’s very happy-go-lucky.
Speaking of Mathew, I still think he is the smartest baby in the world. 
He loves the remote control and if the TV is off, he’ll grab it and point it towards the TV while pressing buttons. If nothing happens he’ll scream until someone helps him turn on the TV. I also love it when he picks up the phone and babbles into it pausing every now and again to “listen” I suppose. He gets so enthusiastic about eating that he will pull food out of his mouth if you are putting something else in front of him that he likes more.
Just like Gracey used to do (and still does, actually), Mathew thinks everyone in the world should stop and pay attention to him when we are in public. He will wave and say ‘hi’ to strangers in stores and keep smiling until they talk to him. Can you imagine if an adult were to walk around doing that?
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What might have been
Tags: Adoption
Posted: September 2, 2009 at 3:40 am
Why is it that dropping off a child for the first time at preschool/MDO/school/etc… sucks? I HATED leaving Mathew at school today and it didn’t help that he cried when I dropped him off. Poor little guy was sooo tired – school starts about the time he normally takes his morning nap, which I’ve been trying to break him of. But my little guy needs his sleep. He only got to sleep for about 40 minutes and when I got there to get him he was dazed and confused.
Ugh. I know he’ll get used to it I just hope it happens fast. I don’t know how long I can keep dropping him off if he’s going to be so exhausted when I pick him up. He’s normally such a happy baby UNLESS he misses his sleep. I guess it runs in the family because I’m not such a happy camper on too little sleep, either. Shocking, I know. That I would EVER not be easy to be around. Shut up, family.
Before Mathew was born, Carter and Gracey would crawl into my lap every morning and we’d cuddle together watching cartoons for 30 minutes or so. We haven’t done that often since little Mathew was a newborn – just too demanding with his bottle and breakfast, etc… This morning ALL THREE of them sat cuddled in my lap for a bit and it was the best 10 minutes of my day.
I can’t help but wonder what their mornings would be like if they were with their biological parents. Every once in a while the realization of ‘what might have been’ slams into me like a Mack truck and I have to catch my breath and thank God again for keeping them safe and bringing them home. And just when I start to feel better I remember there are thousands of children who are living the ‘what might have been’ every day.
Right here in my own city I know there are thousands of kids being neglected and abused. Thousands of people who don’t have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. Children without families and even worse children with abusive families. And I hear on the news about my hard earned tax dollars being spent on a damn animal shelter and I’m outraged. Money that could go toward saving human lives is being spent on dogs and cats. I love animals, but seriously? What kind of message does this send to child living with ‘what might have been’?
tags: ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!, Adoption, Mathew, Parenting Add a comment
On the road once more
Posted: July 24, 2008 at 2:32 pm
We are taking our first trip as a family of five. Drivining for about 2 1/2 hours to visit with friends and pay our respects to a wonderful man who touched my heart throughout my childhood. He was a father figure and I can remember him picking me up to be his “helper” at a church Day CAmp when I was too young to be a counselor and too old to be a camper. He was the kindest man I’ve ever known.
I can see him, with his rosy red cheeks and big smile, sitting at the feet of Jesus and hanging on every word.
I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time – though I wish it were under different circumstances.
And I have to tell you, traveling with a family of five is quite an adventure. First off, who REALLY wants FIVE extra people sleeping in their house? Especially when 3 of those 5 are under the age of 5. 
So finding a place to stay if you don’t want to get a hotel room is challenging. Luckily, I have a great friend who still has young children who is taking us in for the night. Carter will get to spend the night with my sister and his favorite cousin – which he is VERY excited about. I think he is most excited to get them all to himself.
It’s going to be a long ride – it already is. We’ve been driving for an hour and although Carter and Gracey are watching the DVD player, Carter feels it necessary to act as commentator for us since we can’t see the screen. It’s not annoying at all. Really.
Sigh.
Travel for visits
Posted: July 22, 2008 at 7:18 pm
A few of you have asked whether or not we have to drive to every visit (2 1/2 hours) even when bparents do not show up. There has only been the opportunity for two visits so far, we drove to the first one and they did not show up. The second was cancelled because they failed to comply with some requirements. So we’ve only been there once when it was truly unnecessary. 
tags: Mathew 2 comments
Mathew
Posted: July 22, 2008 at 3:17 pm
it has been more than a month since bparents have seen Mathew. I think that is really, really sad.
He is smiling a lot more now and loves his little play mat with toys dangling above his head.
I thank God for him every day.
tags: Mathew 2 comments
Pause, Please
Posted: July 19, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Well, I guess we spend a little too much time watching tv and when we need Carter to get dressed or whatever, we’ll pause the tv for him. Sometimes he’ll say things like, “pause! I need to go pee!”
Just a few minutes ago, as he and Daddyo were working on a model car, he said, “oooh! I have to go poo…. wait! wait! Pause please!”
LOL
In other news, Mathew smiled a real smile for the first time the day he turned 4 weeks old. Two nights ago, he slept for SIX hours straight at night. Woo Hoo. He is now just 5 weeks old.
I’m going to write a sleep post later because those of you who know me know that I am the sleep nazi. I believe it is soooo important for babies and kids and I believe most kids don’t get nearly the sleep they need. In fact, I attribute the fact that I’ve never had a problem with tantrums or too much whining to the fact that my kids get good, quality sleep.
Now, just because I said that out loud, I’m sure Gracey will start throwing major tantrums.
tags: Carter, Mathew 3 comments
Poop Crank
Posted: July 10, 2008 at 6:00 am
Why am I awake at 1am? I just fed Mathew and did the dishes – we have to run the washer every night now so we don’t run out of bottles! But I should be asleep. Or at least going to sleep. It’s hard to ignore the quiet, even when I know I will pay for it tomorrow. Things are still going well, though we are counting the days until we can start trying to “sleep train” little Mathew. It worked perfectly with Gracey and she was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks but I’m afraid it may not go as smoothly this time. Guess we’ll see.
I have to say that while I still think he is the most adorable baby, I definitely do not think its cute when Mathew poops when I’m changing his diaper. It’s like I crank it out of him every time I pull his legs back to put a new diaper underneath him. Today: 3 diapers! FIVE minutes! What is that about?
We still haven’t decided on a middle name for Mathew and Carter and Gracey still call him “baby Mathew”. So maybe his first name will just be baby. That’s mean, isn’t it?
I have absolutely nothing worthwhile to say tonight.
tags: Mathew 6 comments
Protected: Professional Photos
Posted: July 8, 2008 at 11:55 pm
tags: Carter, Gracey, Mathew, Photos 6 comments
One Week
Tags: Adoption
Posted: June 27, 2008 at 12:14 am
As I am catching up on blogs, I came across a post referencing this song.
It couldn’t be more perfect for the way I feel about my little Mathew. Part of the lyrics below.
Savage Garden: I knew I loved you
Maybe it’s intuition
But some things you just don’t question……I know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believeI knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my lifeThere’s just no rhyme or reason
Only this sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I’m searching for
I think I’ve found my way homeI know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believeI knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my lifeA thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I’ve found youI knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
One week ago tonight, almost to the exact time, we met Mathew. We sat in the lobby of the hotel room with butterflies in our tummies watching the door for a caseworker and a baby. People came in and my heart would drop, but it wasn’t Mathew.
Then, just a glimpse through the door of a young lady carrying a little tiny baby beneath a blanket and walking towards the door. He’s here, I told Daddyo. I was nervous and excited and my eyes were glued to the door. As the case worker walked in we stood and introduced ourselves and I took baby Mathew in my arms.
And all was right in my world.