Fun at McWane Science Center

I've been working on gifts for Mother's Day lately so that has been taking up most of my computer time. Sorry for the stand-still.

As you have seen, we did have a really good time this last Sunday. The four of us went to the McWane Science Center and the kids had a blast! Kevin doesn't get to do most of the fun things we do during the week so we neglected the household chores for a Sunday and just went out to play. Jackson LOVES the water table and the sand box area. Isabel likes to get in the spaceship and climb up in the "McDonalds type" playgrounds with all the tubes and slides. I still get a little nervous when she climbs up to the 3rd level and I can't see her but she is a fearless little thing.

They also have a nice, dry room with puzzles, books, dress-up clothes and a pretend grocery store. Kevin and I liked that room the most.

Updates: Jackson is doing great after his surgery. His little "pee pod" looks wonderful. The only thing he can't get over is the bath. We were told that he could take a bath 2 days after the procedure so Kevin put him in the tub Sunday and he cried so he was quickly removed. We waited a couple more days and tried again. Still a no from Jackson so I put a "swimmie" diaper on him and he got right in the bath and had a great time. Two weeks later he still will not get in the tub without a "swimmie". These diapers have Nemo or Pooh and Tigger on them and Isabel spends most of bath time pointing at Jackson's little "pee pod" area saying "Nemo" or "Pooh" over and over and over......... It really is cute though.

Isabel seems to have lost interest in going to the potty so I'll let her let me know when we're ready again.

She has really started putting 2 words together a lot in the last week or so. It's so exciting to watch them actually learn to speak. They are amazing, wonderful kids!!!!

She has unfortunatly continued with the tantrums. I'm just ignoring her until she calms down.

Her dance skills have elevated past hopping up and down. One day I'll break out the video camera and show you how funny thay are. She is really shaking those hips these days.

Very excited about our trip to the beach next week with "Gan Gan" and Nicole (sister-in-law) and niece Ella. I'm only concerned about the 5 hour drive. I don't think I've had them in the car longer than a one hour stretch so wish us all luck.

Just because....

Sometimes I just want to share some of my favorite pictures-

1st Anniversary Pictures!!!

That was then..........

Let me start by giving a huge, huge thank you to our friends, Barbara & Alesia, for taking these beautiful pictures of our family on the first anniversary of our "Adoption Day". We've come a long way baby!
This is "just a few" of my favorite pictures (I did show restraint believe it or not) so get ready. You'll be here a minute or two :-)




This is now..........

"Jackson, give Isabel a kiss"

My brave little man

This past Friday we, after much thought and consideration, had Jackson circumcised. It was a one day surgery at Children's Hospital. We arrived at 6:30am and he was taken back around 9 and back in my arms around 10:30. I could not be more proud of my little boy. I expected things to be much worse than they were. As I have mentioned before, Jackson is addicted to his "ba-ba" (he must have milk and lots of it and it may not be in a sippy cup but in a bottle. This is not up for discussion with him). His last bottle was Thursday night around 9pm and I thought he would drive us crazy all day Friday asking for it. Now don't get me wrong, he asked for it many times but never went to the extreme I had imagined.
After the surgery we were told that we could leave as soon as he peed. Great, the kid overflows overnight diapers all the time. We could be home by noon, right?
No..... not even close. I thought we were going to be overnight guests. He was not interested in the clear liquids he was being offered to drink because he wanted a "ba-ba". I think around 3pm he was sleeping and Kevin asked the nurse to put some apple juice in a bottle. I didn't think he would drink it but I slid that nipple in his mouth while sleeping and he sucked a good 6 ounces. We were on our way to being released. We checked his diaper every 30 minutes all day and nothing. We broke the record for the time it takes a toddler to pee after surgery. I asked what happened if he never went and she said that they would probably send us home but only after inserting a cathater. I was shocked and terrified. How could they stick a tube into his poor little boy part after cutting on it? No chance in hell. They were going to have to get through me first. He had to pee!!!!
We requested more pain meds and while she was gone we took his diaper off for another check and out it came. That sweet little thing peed all over me, the bed, the floor. It was a thing of beauty! Kevin and I were really jumping up and down and cheering. She came back and we very proudly showed her the mess. We were free. She took his IV out and 12 hours later it was over.
We got home and gave him his "ba-ba" and he slept all night long.
He gets better every day. The first week is the hardest and we are almost there.
He is an amazing little boy. I couldn't love him more. I am a very proud Mommy.

Our First Anniversary!!

Today, April 16, is the one year anniversary of the happiest day of our lives. We held our children for the first time and our lives as a "Forever Family" had finally begun. Looking back on these pictures from Vietnam reminded me just how far we've come. Not only Jackson & Isabel but Kevin and I as parents. We didn't have a clue about how we were going to go from zero to two babies in the span of one amazing moment in that orphanage. Overall, I think we've done a pretty good job if I do say so myself. :)

All of these pictures were taken during our 2 1/2 week stay in Hanoi with the exception of the first. It was taken about 2 weeks before we left and is of the wonderful caregivers who took such great care of our babies. They loved our children for us while we waited. Jackson's even wrote him a sweet poem/letter that was translated for us while we were there. I'll share it with you one day.

Tonight we took the kids to the Botanical Gardens after work to start our new tradition. Every year on this day we want to have a family picture taken. Some wonderful friends of ours (very talented photographers - thank you Babs & Aleisha!!!!!) met us there and took a few (300 or so) pictures of us and the kids. I think our odds are pretty good that we'll get a few great ones. (You'll see the best ones here soon so stay tuned!)