Officially a Big Brother!

Little Man's mom had her baby last Thursday making Little Man a big brother ;) Unfortuantely he won't get the opportunity to meet her. The adoption plan has held and she is on her way to meet her adoptive family!

Adoption Stories

Tune in!

http://www.pbs.org/pov/adoption/

Please visit this link!!

Please visit HERE and see the amazing thing the Lord has done for a friend of mine! Please help them bring these beautiful children to their FOREVER HOME!!!

Been awhile...

Well, there hasn't been too much going on! Little Man is teething AGAIN, but it's the final four!! I will be so happy to have a happy little boy back! He continues to get into simply everything and now tries to RUN! It's so cute because his little feet just don't go that fast yet, and he ends up falling over. No, I'm not mean...he laughs, stands right back up, and does it again! His language is really coming along as well and he now says both A and I's names as well as cracker, tada, and he will give a good attempt at any word you ask him to say :)

As for his case...there has been a permancy staffing set up for next Thursday where they will discuss unsupervised visits for the mom. I have reservations about that happening, but I certainly have no physical control. All I can do (and the most important thing I can do!) is storm the heavens for Little Man's safety during those times! I know the legal father has been invited to join via phone, so maybe something will get settled there as well???? Unfortunately I will only be able to attend by phone, but I am glad that is an option.

There are a lot of possible twists and turns that this case could take. We just have to wait it out and trust God has it all planned for good! Baby girl is due in about 2-3 weeks, so we will see what happens with that situation as well. Mom has a history of saying one thing and doing another, so we shall see if the adoption plans continue. Honestly I hope for baby girl they do! The sad part is that Little Man won't get to know his sister :(

We haven't had any respite/temporary situations lately. I'm actually a bit thankful for that because I have kicked off our homeschool year and it always takes a bit of time to get into a rhythm :)

Visits cancelled :(

Last week it was 12:45 and Little Man's visit is at 1:00. I texted his CM and she said that she meant to call me, but that the visit was cancelled because Mom's bus pass ran out and she didn't have transportation.

Then on Friday I get a text to see if Little Man can have visit that afternoon. Sure! So I wait and then get another text...the visit has been cancelled and he'll get a longer visit next week.

Today I was expecting him to have that extended visit. I was blessed that I had notice this time, but I got a call from the CM's supervisor that she was out today and he couldn't find someone to cover the visit so it is cancelled again. His mom must be livid! Knowing mom's personality the CM is going to have quite and ear full when she gets back! I would volunteer to drive him to the visit but the problem is the supervision of the visit when I have my own kids. If my husband were here to watch them, I would have volunteered. How are they supposed to be bonding when they don't see each other consistently? :(

Veggie Tales please!!!!

Little Man loves to wear shoes that are way too big for him and then he climbs up on the computer desk. He loves the music from Veggie Tales and he was trying to see the action on You Tube! He's getting so big!!!

Re-licensure almost complete!

Today we had our visit from our current and new FDS. The new FDS got throughly introduced to what it's like having a house full of boys!!!!!!! LOL!! Everything went well and was very simple since we have had one permanent placement since we got originally licensed! We have had a really "easy" year compared to so many others! The health inspector called as well today, so we have that set up for next week. So all we need to do on our end is send our new FDS the completed health inspection form and get the fire extinguishers retagged and voila! Done! Then it's out of our hands and the waiting game begins again to hear if we have been approved. Gotta say I'm not worried :)

UP!!!

It is a personal pet peeve of mine when children (my own or someone else's) go to the legs of the mama and whine/cry to be picked up. Most people think that's just what babies do, but for some reason it drives me nuts-LOL! I have been working with Little Man for awhile now on signing and saying "up" when he wants me to hold him. Well....I am happy to report that he now waves his hand up and down and "uuuu" over and over till you pick him up! THANK YOU LORD! :) I think that sometimes we as parents don't really realize how much these little people are capable of. He is 13 months and he can tell me many of his wants/needs without whining/crying.

It is always a goal of mine to teach my children to ASK for what they want using specific words and not to use manipulation/whining/whatever other method to get me to do what they want! One example of this for my older kids is when they say "I can't get the gate open!" We have baby gates up everywhere and until recently they have not been able to open them. I *could* simply walk over and open it for them understanding what they need, but I want to teach my children to verbalize that need/want. So....I will say "excuse me?" or "please try that again" and they are able to rephrase that statement with a request "mom, could you please open the gate for me?" It definitely takes time, as most things with kids do, but very worth it to me!!!! The bible teaches this same thing when we approach God....

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

AND

James 4:2 (New International Version)
2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. (italics mine)


That's the good stuff....the stuff we are still working on you ask??? He has started this nasty little tantrum business with high pitch screaming. Lovely! Ignoring them works sometimes...we all may just have a reduction of hearing though! The teething is still roaring it's ugly head. Hopefully we get a break after this current ones pops!

So bummed :(

We got a letter in the mail last week from our FDS that said she is leaving our licensing agency to pursue her other career goals in another state...the nerve!! LOL!!!! She was a person we totally trusted and knew we could count on her. I sent her an email demanding she not leave (we have that joking relationship!). She's not listening :( She did email back though and say that we were an easy family to work with (and secretly her favorite ) and she wants to show our new FDS the ropes with our family, so we will get to see T. one more time and meet O. as well. We are praying that we have a similar connection with her. God must have something planned :) We are getting ready for all of our renewal stuff so things are going to be hectic for O. to get thrown into the mix!! We only have to get our fire extinguishers re-tagged and our half is DONE!

On another note.........
Lately I've been running into amazing little girl deals (1.00 outfit last week and this week I got a 5 pack of 0-3 girl onesies for just $2) and I am just waiting for my little girl (no matter how long God places her here!) :)

Digital Scrapbooking

I love it! I really wanted to scrapbook Little Man's first year (+) with us, but physically scrapbooking is so time and space consuming...two things that I don't have! So...I went to www.smilebox.com and created a nice book to send with Little Man documenting lots of fun things that he did/learned while here and will send it with him when he returns home (whenever that may be!) Actually I'll probably have another one for him by that point. I wish I could post it here because he's so darn cute, but oh well :( I may tweek the book a bit to add more details, but it will definitely give him something tangible from his early childhood and a memory piece of the people who loved him so much while him mommy/daddy got their "stuff" together :)

I HATE TEETHING!

Did you hear me scream that title???? LOL!!!!!!!!! Oh my!! The four molars went better than this one stinkin' tooth that just won't come all the way through. Grrrr....it's been 5 days of a screaming baby! Today he was actually doing well for awhile so I decided to run to the store. They happen to have carts with steering wheels (his first time) and that did the trick while in the store! Whew! Well...I knew there would be drama when I took him out, but I had no idea...I think I should count myself blessed that no one called the police! The way he screamed when I pryed his little paws off that steering wheel made people stop what they were doing and look! Oh my!! The LOUDEST scream I have ever heard...it hurt my ear! PRAYING that this tooth pops through over night, that he gets some relief and we can all feel free to resume life as normal :-)

Excited to read this one!

http://www.sweetwaterstill.com/thismeanswar.htm

There is so much spiritual warfare in adoption/foster care and we have simply been waiting for a book that discusses the very real nature of what happens when you decide to adopt/foster. We have experienced both, so even though I haven't read it, I am very excited to get my copy!!

You can also go HERE and try to win a free copy! QUICK...the opportunity ends Wednesday!