Does Anyone Read This?

I am debating on not blogging anymore. In reality I don't do it very often anyway and I'm not sure if anyone is benefiting from it. In other words...Does anyone read this? I am not writing it for myself am I? Scott and I originally thought it would be a good idea to have a blog to keep family members and far off friends semi up-to-date on our life. But I'm not sure any of those people actually read this. So, if you are reading this please let me know and I will continue. If not then I guess well...I'll stop. I mean it's not like I don't have better things to do with my time :)

Spring Has Arrived!

Spring has definitely arrived in our neck of the woods and we are sure relieved! Our kids have been getting very antsy to be out of the house. I must say I was running out of creative ideas also. Our flowers, that Scott, Lola, and Nana planted last fall, have bloomed and are so beautiful. Lola and Samuel, not to mention Scott and I, have been anxiously observing their progress since the first signs of green started to sprout. It is amazing to think that Lola has now been with us through three seasons of change. This is the longest we have had a foster child and at times I almost feel like she has been with us from the beginning. Then I need to check myself and remember this is temporary...too easy to get your feelings dashed if you let yourself forget this.
Along with the changes of the season it seems that our family is going through many changes. Samuel and Lola continue to amaze us with the new words and things they learn everyday. This year was Samuel's first Easter to get an actual Easter basket...it didn't come from the Easter bunny (although I have nothing against those who do use this tradition with their children). Scott and I just wanted the candy part of Easter to be used as a means of celebrating Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the dead. Needless to say Samuel and Lola both love smarties (mama sure enjoys them too ). We finally put the baskets in storage, thank goodness, because every morning they would see them and ask for "bomboane" candy.
Samuel and Lola both participated in the annual Easter egg hunt down at the farm with all their cousins. Samuel tallied 3 eggs and I'm sure Lola had more because she had her 17 year old cousin Gretchen helping her out.
Another welcomed change is that both Lola and Samuel have been using the "potty." Samuel is only using diapers for nap and bedtime. Lola is pretty much potty trained. In some ways I guess this is me bragging, but more than that this is me "PRAISING GOD!" because I really wanted them to be out of diapers before the baby comes. Not to mention Scott and I really hate the impact disposables have on our environment. So, forgive my bragging a little after all I'm really bragging about my kids and how great THEY are doing.

We have also added a few changes to Lola's room. I say "we" but it was mostly Scott; the kids and I watched. However, Samuel did like to help Tati when the opportunity arose. He is amazed with tools and anything that has moving parts. This new closet organizer allowed us to actually have an organized space for all the toys. We moved all of Lola's shoes to a drawer where she could play with them. Samuel also likes to play with Lola's shoes. I'm sure someday he may hate some of these pictures, but I think it's great he loves to dress up.

This last change may seem a silly one to mention, but this picture was too cute not to add in to our "theme". About 4 months ago I decided to chop my hair short, I mean boy short. For those of you who know me, it's like I had in high school. It had been a long time since I had really short hair, but when she cut it all off it was very freeing. I heard myself saying it's just hair and I really felt good when it was done. Well, Scott decided that summer was coming and with his camp job he to would cut off all of his hair and beard. This picture just shows the process...he buzzed it all off the top and shaved the rest of the beard. Samuel did not know what to think when it was all said and done :)

Well, hope you are all enjoying some beautiful Spring weather where you are experiencing changes both beautiful and challenging.

The Great Outdoors!

Today Scott and I took the kids to a beautiful wildlife area we have near our home because the weather turned out to be really nice today. Anyway, we walked along the trail that leads you through some amazing prairie grass. You could hear it rustling in the wind; it was very pretty. We came to a clearing before we continued on to the "wetlands" and made a pit stop so Samuel could pee or poop; we couldn't tell :) As I'm squatting next to Samuel and Scott is holding him, Lola comes along. She is very excited saying "Mama, Mama." I can see she is holding something in her hand and she opens it up and there laying in her palm is a perfectly round deer turd! I knock it out of her hand and almost wet myself because I was laughing so hard. I couldn't even stand up! Scott and I just thought it was hysterical. One kid peeing the other bringing us deer droppings. Oh, you have to love kids and the great outdoors!

First Ultrasound

(I wrote this blog about 2 weeks ago; just now got the pics on it)

We had our first ultrasound about 2 weeks ago (that would have made me 14 1/2 weeks). It was amazing to see how our little 3 inch baby really does look like a baby. The ultrasound technician (or whatever their proper title is :) showed us the baby's mouth opening and shutting, which was neat to see. The baby was just bouncing around in there like crazy; it amazes me how much it was moving and I still can't feel a thing. Lola and Samuel were very well behaved. They just watched the screen with such attention; it was cute. For a couple days after the ultrasound Samuel was reenacting how the lady put stuff on my belly and moved the "probe" around on my stomach, cute! Today, Lola woke up from her nap and walked into the living room holding her belly. She said very seriously, "Baby in my tummy." I just busted up laughing and then she started laughing. Kids are so funny.

Here are the ultrasound pics, enjoy!

This is a the baby's profile (It's the whole body, with the legs bent)

Here baby D is waving to us :)

This is the baby looking straight at us. (The face is on the right)

Big Boy Bed!

WOW! Where has the time gone? I mean Samuel will be 2 years old soon and now he is moving into a "big boy bed!" We probably wouldn't be pushing for the move so soon, but we want him to be used to it before the new baby arrives. He isn't sleeping in it yet, but we have it set up in his room and he plays on it during the day. The bed is actually a hand made toddler bed that Scott slept in when he was little. His Grandpa Jake built him, John, and Mandy each one with their names on the headboard. It is very pretty and sturdy. We are going to add Samuel's name to the bed also. I believe it is better quality than anything we could have bought at a store. Scott was so excited that Samuel will be using this bed that his Grandpa made. He said, "My grandpa would have been so happy." I think he really misses him. Anyway, it makes me excited to see Samuel growing up and experiencing new things, but also a little melancholy to know that my baby is not so much a baby anymore.

Plum Worn Out!

How can a trip to the library be so exhausting? I mean we were only there for an hour for a "Baby Talk" play and craft time. I feel like the majority of the time I'm saying, "stay next to mommy," "don't run," "that's enough water from the fountain," "stay here," "stay here," oh and did i mention, "STAY HERE!" Half the time I don't even feel like I can actually look at books to take home for them. Am I the only one who feels like this? Leaving the library I feel like I've ran a marathon. I am plum worn out after these trips. I guess I'm not the only one because Samuel fell asleep in the car and actually stayed asleep when I put him down in his crib. Now this is a rare occurrence...I actually have some alone time and don't have to lay down with him. I pray he sleeps well and takes a good, LONG, nap :)
There is also this problem I have with Lola...she knows no strangers and this can be bothersome, but also scary. I try and explain to her that she can't just go up to anyone and touch them or do what they are doing even if they are a mommy or a daddy. What to do? Any suggestions?
Well, enough of that...my kids are great, they just wear me out :0

Kids really do pay attention

So, I haven't blogged in forever, and I don't have any new or exciting news, but I will say my kids are so smart. Samuel and Lola have both surprised me today and I thought it worth blogging about. Such is the life of a stay-at-home mom, my exciting news always deals with the kids :)

Anyway, when you are least expecting it you find out that your children really are listening and paying attention to what you say and do. We started reading this book with them about a family having a new baby. In the book it talks about everyone loving a baby and sometimes you might feel lonely. Well, today my smart little boy was looking at this book while sitting on the potty and he comes to the picture of the little boy "feeling lonely." He says lonely while using the sign for lonely also. Yet that's not the best part. Samuel then proceeds to use the word lonely in context at my mom and dad's house. We are all sitting in the kitchen and the dog is in the living room. He goes towards the living room and says, "Fuff, lonely." Too cute!

Then there's Lola. On our way home tonight in the car I sneeze. Then I hear Lola behind be saying something that I can't quite catch the meaning of. Then it hits me, she's saying "sanatate," which is what you say in Romanian when someone sneezes. Very smart, Hey?

Well, hope you are all impressed because I sure was.