Nine Months and Extreme Home Makeover

"MOVE THAT BUS!!!"
This was on Monday, the day of the reveal...all finished!
Crazy Mommy who brought kids out in such cold weather to shout, "Move that bus!"
A work in progress on Sunday!
Demolition Day...all you can see now are the dump trucks which are there to pick up the pieces! We saw them filming with cowboys on horses waving guns before demolition!
Cutie Pie!

We went to the doctor yesterday for Brady's well-baby exam. I was soooooo excited because I haven't had him measured or weighed in three months! He is a whopping 21 pounds (50-60th %ile) and 29 inches (75th %ile). Our doctor was impressed with his development and the milestones he's already reached. She was most impressed when she said, "Bye-Bye Brady" and he responded, "Bye!" My jaw dropped and so did hers. We just stared at each other with our mouths open! It was CLEAR as day, but I hate to admit...I've never heard it before or since. It was probably a complete coincidence that he babbled that word, but it was too funny!

In other news, we've had a lot of action around here. About 2 1/2 miles from my house, there have been camera crews and hurried mahem all in the name of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." The thing that makes this even more amazing is that Michael and I knew Peter's sister, Gretchen, in college. (Peter is the home owner). You can read the Augustin's story by clicking here. I was able to go out on demolition day which was Wednesday, again on Sunday, and for the reveal on Monday. Michael jogged over there on Saturday, too. It was so much fun to see how fast this house went up and even more fun to know the story of the family behind it. I was able to see Paul and Tracey and lots of furniture being unloaded. I certainly did not win mother of the year on the day of the reveal...it was freezing...literally! I had the boys out in 27 degrees with the wind howling. I know it was in the teens with the windchill... We didn't stay long at all because it was simply way too cold, but it was quite the experience!

FIVE and FABULOUS!!!

We had a wonderful, busy weekend with the boys celebrating their 5th birthday. I told Michael, "This weekend is all about them" to which he responded, "Everyday is all about them!"

We actually had their birthday party with their friends in November. I love having their party early because 1)it's gives them time to recover before Christmas 2)December is just too filled with other activities and party goers are exhausted from running from activity to activity. So, we celebrated early at an indoor playland and after we sent out invitations, the party began to take on a life of it's own. We ended up with 56 guests...crazy, I know. We had ten RSVP that didn't show! We invited the students in each of the boys preschool classes and a few additional friends from church. I was counting on only 1/2 showing up...well, almost everyone showed...including their siblings! We ran out the night before for 30 more cupcakes in addition to our 1/2 sheet cake. Crazy fun! The facility is large and it accommodated everyone just perfectly.

On their "real" birthday we went to a party in the morning for another friend and then spent the afternoon at the Gaylord Resort. It is beautifully decorated, including reindeer, Santa, and tons of trains! The boys LOVE going there each year and it was a great way to celebrate their special day. We even got a Christmas photo out of it! :) I can't post the photo because it will ruin the fun of opening our Christmas card...which I have yet to get out! I better get crackin'!!!! In the video I posted, the boys are shirtless. Yes, we normally clothe ourselves around here...Mommy just wanted to keep their sweaters free of frosting!

Happy Birthday to You!

Make a Smilebox greeting

The boys are turning FIVE tomorrow. I can't believe it!!! I really can't believe it!!!

I have a friend whose wife is currently in the hospital at 24 weeks. Her water has broken and things have been a roller coaster to say the least. When I read the updates, I actually can't help but cry. I hear the underlying fear. I remember it well. I remember laying in my bed from 16 weeks on praying that my boys would make it just one more day, then one more week. I remember pleading that God would allow them to make it to "viability." From there, every second in the womb counted to develop those tiny, precious organs. God was gracious beyond measure.

And now, we are about to celebrate their 5th birthday!!! I bought all the stuff to make cupcakes the other day at the store, only to find out that the boys' school doesn't particularly "like" cupcakes. (I was a teacher...I understand the mess they make). :) So, I asked the boys if they wanted me to buy their favorite cookies from Sam's Club. Nope...they wanted homemade cut-out cookies, actually decorated well enough that they LOOK like the shape that they are. Well, we spent ALL morning making the cookies and all evening decorating them. It was a messy experience, but so rewarding to see the look of excitement on their little faces. Mason could not wait to get to his classroom today. He nearly danced the entire way and I prayed his friends would appreciate them as much as he did. He SO wanted them to think they were special. I actually was still there when his class sang happy birthday to him and he got to pass out the cookies and drinks to his friends. He was giddy and I was, too! Caleb's class does snack later in the day...I wish I could have been there! :(

Oh, the joys of boys and being a mother. I love it!

Tis the Season...

We have had a fun-filled, jam-packed holiday season so far. It has been an absolutely wonderful season of celebration. After years of longing to join the crowds, we FINALLY went to the Adolfus/Neiman Marcus Christmas parade downtown. Along with over 500,000 other merry souls, we braved the cold to experience a spectacular parade. Bob the Builder, R2D2, Barney, Arthur, Elsie the Cow...you name it...they were all there! We even got to see Marley...from the new movie coming out, Marley and Me. Of course, there wouldn't be a proper ending without Santa Clause! The boys had a ball and we are very appreciative to our friend Jimmy who got there almost 3 hours early in the freezing cold to save us front row seats. I keep reminding him that next year it will be Michael's turn! :)

Trying to balance the Santa/Jesus thing has been interesting this year. The boys totally "get" Santa. It's all they want to talk about. In fact, the other day we were praying for Michael's brother in Iraq and I said to the boys, "Do you remember where Uncle David is?" One of the twins responded, "Yeah, the North Pole!" I'm sure he feels that far away! Anyway, we are having to intentionally and constantly remind them of Christ's birth and the reason we celebrate this season. We found a great way to help us!

A local church does an an amazing, interactive reenactment of the Christmas story. It's called "Journey to Bethlehem." Families actually experience what it was like for Mary and Joseph as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem all those years ago. Complete with passports and Roman soldiers, camels and merchants, we traveled 45 minutes (in the dark) to Bethlehem to find Christ in the stable. Along the way we experienced life as it was at that time, the angel appearing, the town of Bethlehem and the celebration of the arrival of Christ. It ended with an amazing analogy which tied the journey that we had just taken and the presentation of the Gospel. The boys loved it and we are so happy that this church desires to help the community put their focus during this season on Jesus!

On the Move...

Michael's parents (Grammy and Colonel) bought the boys bikes for their birthday!
Mason likes to pedal as fast as he can...he is on a Speed Racer bike!
Caleb's trying out his new wheels

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

You'll need to do two things...turn my music from the sidebar on mute and then click the right arrow when you get to the scrapbook. From there you can click "play" on the screen to watch the three videos of Brady!

The boys and I spent the afternoon yesterday at a beautiful park nearby. The sun had just slid beneath the horizon and as I watched the silhouettes of Mason and Caleb riding off on their bikes in front of me, it hit. I'm not sure what it is exactly about dusk, but it puts me in a reflective mood, almost melancholy. How has time passed so quickly? My eyes filled with tears as I watched them; for I realize that this life is but a vapor. I wish that I could have captured that moment in time. They are no longer babies. They are no longer toddlers. They are stick carrying, insect hunting, bicycle riding...boys.

And my "baby?" He, too, is changing before my eyes. I can't stop the clock. This past week has been full of the milestones that you long for and anticipate. Brady got his third tooth, began eating textured table foods, starting standing for long periods of time, and is now on the move. He is crawling all over (if the boys toy room wasn't motivation enough, the twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments on the Christmas tree certainly is)! So exciting, yet unbelievably sobering. My time with them is so short.

It reminds me of a book I received on the day we adopted Brady. (Thank you, Blythe!) It's called "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury, who happens to not only have autographed and written a personal message in my book thanks to Blythe, but also happens to be my favorite author. If you haven't read it...you must. You absolutely must. It is a children's book that makes me want to lay on the floor and weep just thinking about it! :) So many people, including myself, focus on all of the "firsts" in our children's lives. We journal about them. We write them on the calendar. We video them and catch them on film. First smile, first tooth, first step, etc. This book is about capturing each moment that could be our "lasts." Do we savor the last time we fed our baby a bottle? The last time they woke us crying? The last time they wanted to cuddle with you? The last time they wanted to be tucked in? The book sequences through the childhood lasts and adolescent lasts...reminding the reader that each moment is special, to savor each moment.

So here I am...watching my boys grow up too quickly before my eyes. I have twins on bicycles and a baby close to walking. I pray I will savor these moments. I've included a few videos and photos for you to savor them with me!

Fall Fun at the Zoo

Make a Smilebox slideshow

As you can see it was a chilly, yet beautiful fall day! All I needed was a cup of hot cocoa!

Mixed November

I have always loved November. It is my favorite month of the year. Unfortunately, my fond memories of November's past have been marred with the bitter realities of life this side of Heaven. This year Thanksgiving Day will not only be a day to reflect the pilgrimage of long ago and the blessings we share as individuals and as a nation. It will not only be the celebration of my father's birth 61 years ago. It will also be the two year anniversary of the loss of our daughter, Faith. She had an eternal home-going before we ever celebrated her earthly home-coming.

Many people try to comfort loss by wrapping things up in a pretty little bow. No words will ever make me feel better about our loss. It doen't make me feel better that we lost her earlier than later. I kinda despise all those, "At least..." statements. Instead, I wonder if she would have had Michael's beautiful black hair. I wonder if she, too, would have inherited the nose I unfortunately passed on to the twins. I wonder if her eyes would reflect the love that we have for her. I wonder if she would be insisting on bringing her dolly in the car. I never got to hold her. I never got to smell that sweet baby scent. I never got to go to the pink section of a clothing store. I never got to see her first smile, first step, first words... The only thing that brings me comfort is knowing that God loves this baby more than I do.

It's hard to avoid the lovely comments of strangers and well-meaning friends. The list goes something like this, "All boys!", "Oh, my! Maybe you should try again for a girl!", "I guess you don't know how to make girls!", "I bet you're happy that you don't have to worry about paying for a wedding!", "Too bad those boys don't have a sister!", "I bet you were dissappointed when you found out the child you were adopting was another boy." I've heard it all. There are days I feel like responding, "Too bad our baby girl died. Thank you for bringing up the pain of her loss!" or "Are you always this insensitive?" Instead, I smile sweetly and know that these naive souls mean no harm. They have never experienced this type of loss or they wouldn't have commented in the first place.

To be honest...the pain is not so great anymore. Time truly does bring healing. There is sadness, but no longer pain. I can look at my story and see God's hand in it. All I have to do is look into the beautiful brown eyes of my little Brady and I wouldn't change a thing. For Faith is with Jesus. She never had to know life this side of Heaven. She is in the presence of the Almighty. No tears. No pain. No questions. Pure joy. One day, I will experience that alongside her!

And Brady...he's God's precious and amazing gift to me. I LOVE that it is Brady that God chose before time to be our son. I love that we have a third boy. I love the interests and curiosity of boys. I love sports and cars and trucks and bugs and outdoors and all the fun stuff that goes with raising boys. I love that I am raising boys to become "men!" What a privilege!

But, please don't assume that because of my great love for my three boys and the joy that radiates from my face when I'm around them...that it means that I don't wish my precious Faith got to experience these brothers and that they got to experience her. Every November I'll wish that she, too, was gathered around our table!