Happy Birthday Daniel!

My sweet boy turns 5 years old today. Last year I was just so excited that he was finally home that all I could think about on his birthday was how thankful that I was that he was finally where he belongs for his special day and that he will never have to spend another birthday without his family. This year, his birthmother is pretty heavy on my heart. I am sure that this day isn't an easy one for her, whereas here we are having a fantastic day of cake and presents. I know odds are, I will never meet her. I just wish so bad that I could send her a huge hug right now. I want to thank her for birthing him 5 years ago, and I want to thank her to loving him enough to let him go...an act that I will freely admit that I myself would be far too selfish to make. I admire her and am eternally grateful for the sacrifice that she made. Even though I will likely never meet her, she will forever be in my heart. My prayers go up to her her today. May God comfort her on this day. I thank her for giving birth to my son on this day.

Easter 2012

I do want to take a minute to say thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me. I know that it is easy to get caught up in the hum-drum of the Easter bunny, but I want to make sure that I am not forgetting what Easter is really about. For kids, it is easy to put the focus on the Easter bunny, candy and egg hunts; however, we made a point to discuss the sacrifice that comes along with Easter. We were preparing to dye our Easter eggs we began to tell the boys the story of Jesus dying on the cross. They are a little young to get it but I discussed the beating that he endured, and of course the nails in his hands and feet. Then I let the boys taste vinegar so they could relate to what Jesus drank when he was on that cross. I think my boys are more disturbed that Jesus had to drink vinegar than they are they he was beaten and crusified:):)

Here are a few pics of our Easter fun:

Daniel took it upon himself to make a cross on one of his eggs.

Noah just painted aimlessly...and had a blast doing it.


Getting snacks ready for the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny came!

and these two little boys scored!

Our family Easter Egg hunt

Easter Sunday

My poser

My silly little fella

My boys

Can't imagine loving anything anymore!!

St. Patty's Day

Once again, I am running way behind on posting. Here is a few pics from our St. Patty's Day fun. Having kiddos makes even the cheesiest holidays so much more fun. I love these special days with my boys and seeing them have so much fun makes life just grand.


Our lunch, shamrock sandwiches

Noah and his shamrock jello

Daniel with his shamrock jello

Our green silly string fight

Our green supper: rolls, cabbage, green cubed steak, pineapple casserole, and mashed potatoes

Green milk

Green sweet tea...we are in the south. We'd die without our sweet tea:)

Noah with his leprachaun supper. I know his hair looks greasy but it is just green glow gel
Daniel and his leprechaun dinner and last, leprechaun pie for dessert!

My kids make my heart melt

I don't want to be all braggy and stuff but I must say that I am blessed far more than I ever deserve with my sons. They are amazing little boys and I love them so deeply that it can be overwhelming. I couldn't imagine loving anything any more than I love my kiddos. I know that there are tons of horror stories out there about bonding and attachment and the "adjustment period". Not every day has been rainbows and sunshine I will admit, but our transition has been nothing shy of amazing. I am amazed at how much more wonderful things are now than they were a year ago...and a year ago I thought they were pretty good. The boys have come such a long way. As a parent of an adopted child, you have to work hard to protect and foster your bond with your child. Prior to adoption, this was a concept that I thought was silly, but being on this side of it I see that it is real. There are certainly things that I wish that I had done differently in the beginning. All and all, I am very blessed. I thank God every single day for my two little boys who truly make my heart melt every day. I am ever so thankful for how sweet their little hearts are. They are two of the most tender hearted little boys and I am so so thankful that they are mine. I need to do better at keeping a record of the sweet things that they say so that when they are teenagers I have their sweet words to hold on to.


Last night I was rocking Daniel to sleep and I told him I would miss him while I was at work. He asked where he was going while I worked, so I told him daddy would be home with him all day. Then he said. "when you work and I stay home with daddy, me and daddy and Noah come to your work and pick you up for lunch. I hope we do that tomorrow. Some days we don't pick you up, you meet us at the eating place. I hope we come pick you up tomorrow...I'll talk to daddy about it in the morning." ...my heart melts.


A few nights ago Noah (who has ended up in the bed with us for months now) rolled over, put his little arm around my neck, snuggled up next to be and said "I love you Mama!". I kissed his head and said "I love you too Noah". Then he said "you da best Mama in da whole world"....all while never a once opening his eyes from his sleep...again, my heart melts.

Valentine's Day

I know I am very far behind, but better late than ever, right? Blogging isn't my problem, it's getting pics off my camera and attached that I have an issue with. I take tons of pictures and to go through them can be a big undertaking so...forgive me for my lack of blogging:)

For those who know me well know that of all holidays, Valentines Day is my least favorite. I am kinda a Valentine's scrooge if you will. Last year, we spent our Valentine's day in Russia...with our two new sons. It kinda revived the holiday which I have come to all but loathe. Valentine's Day is 2 days after our Gotcha Day and now it is the first holiday that we had as a family...so my heart is a little mushier than it normally is on V'day. I love holidays...and now that I am a mother, holidays are 100 times more special to me. Here is our Valentine's Day fun:

For lunch we had heart shaped sandwiches.


I came home from work to one lil' monkey with a rose and giant balloon.
And another with a rose and my favorite candies...and no pants. (when the boys are with daddy for a day there is no telling how they are going to be dressed when I get home:):)

We had made heart shaped ice the day before

And Valentine's cupcakes for Daniel to take to gymnastics the next day

What Valentines Day is complete without chocoalte dipped strawberries...even better when they are dipped my two sweet lil' boys

Frozen raspberry heart ice in our sparkling cider

Noah downing his cider

Daniel and his cider...notice there is no steak left on his plate. This child loves some steak.

and our dessert...hot fudge brownies with rasberries.

Recap 1

Last night we were doing our usual night routine: bath, books, prayer, bedtime. Before prayer I told the boys of the significance of the day and how special that it was to us. When we do prayer time, Benji or I usually say a little prayer first followed by the boys saying the "Now I lay me prayer". Last night after I had said a prayer Daniel said "can I say a special prayer Mama?" I told him that he could say anything that he wanted during prayer time, he didn't have to say the traditional prayer, he could just talk to God just like he talks to Mama and Daddy. So this was his special prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you so much for Mama and Daddy. Thank you for letting them bring me home. I love my Mama and Daddy soooo much! I love my home, and my toys, and my animals, and my clothes, and my bed, and my covers, and my pillow, and my other pillow, and my dresser, and my shoes. Thank you so much for givng me all my things. Thank you for my Noah cause I love him. Thank you for giving me my family. Amen.

I had no words when he was done....just tears. This just seemed to sum it all up for me. We are so beyond blessed to have Daniel and Noah as our sons. The Lord has really given us far more than we ever deserve.

Here are a couple more pics from Russia:

On this day a year ago Noah was feeling a little under the weather so he didn't get to go outside and play. It was the first day that they allowed us to go outside and play. It was sooo wonderful to be outside rather than couped up in the playroom at the orphanage.

Our lil' Noah...I can't believe how much he has grown. Sadly we didn't get many pics with him this day because we didn't have as much time with him.

Daddy and Daniel

Mama and Daniel

One year ago we wene before a Russian judge to be declare the parents of our two precious little boys. Part of me can't believe that it has already been a year but part of me feels like the boys have been with us forever. I have such vivid memories of this day. We had the first court hearing of the day so we had to get up early. We were both a bundle of nerves yet had a very strong sense of peace of what was about to occur. Our coordinaters and translater had heavily prepared us the day before for the court procedings. Benji beared the brunt of court, the men usually do. I felt sorry for him because he was so far out of his comfort zone, but he did amazing. I know there are a lot of stories out there about how horrible court can be. It was a nerve wracking experience but one in which I have very fond memories. We were very fortunate to have the judge that we had. I'll never forget when she came back into the courtroom to render her verdict, she had such a warmth about her. Of course we had not idea what she was saying but our translater looked at us said "She said yes...you are now their parents". It was the most amazing feeling ever. We left court went back to the apartment to change then headed to see our sons. This time we were officially their Mama and Daddy. I know that I posted this pic once before but this is when went back to see them after being declared their Mama and Daddy.

After court we had out 10 day waiting period before we got to take the boys with us. Last year at this time we were not allowed to post pics so over the next few days I'll post pics from our 10 day waiting period. I promise to be a better blogger as we work our way to our Gotcha Day...and I promise Christmas post and pics are coming soon:):)