Two years ago

I can't believe the time has come and my sweet boy is now 2!  We prayed for so long that God would grant us the desires of our hearts and allow us to become parents and He answered in a mighty way.  I am forever grateful for that and for a sweet woman who chose life and chose us to become Garrett's parents.  My heart is filled with joy today in remembering all of the sweet times we've had.  He's had a big day today and still isn't 100% better yet but he's still had fun.  I love to listen to him talk and I love all of the sweet love he gives us!

We went to party city the other day to order balloons for today.  He was fascinated by the balloons and was carrying on a conversation with the guy who worked there.  When we got ready to leave, Garrett looked at the guy and said "love you."  Ha ha.  I don't know what was funnier, Garrett saying that to a stranger or the look of shock on the guy's face (he was young).  But what can I say, I have a sweet boy!

Happy 2nd birthday, Garrett!  Mommy and daddy love you so much!

A long, overdue update

Wow, where has the time gone??  I was trying my hardest to keep up with this blog but let's face it, I'd rather spend my extra time playing with my sweet boy.  I have been reading though and keeping up with everyone's blogs.  We had a great Christmas and enjoyed every second with Garrett.  It's amazing to watch how much he's growing up each day.  New Year's came and with it the idea of fresh starts and looking ahead at what the year would hold for us.  Day 1 of the New Year I spent at the doctor's with an awful cold.  They told me it was likely a viral sore throat, I now believe I had the flu.  A week later, Garrett gets sick with a fever.  After visiting his doctor, we found out he had the flu.  Thankfully we caught it early enough to start him on Tamiflu and it seemed to work pretty quickly.  In between us being sick, we get a call from Tommy's doctor that he is now in an irregular heart rhythm.  Not the best way to start off the new year but we're making the best of it.  We go to Tommy's doctor this Wednesday to find out the next steps.  We know they'll likely shock his heart back into normal rhythm but they may also go ahead and replace his ICD (pacemaker/defibrillator).  We thought we were finally on the upswing of things and that we would all get to go to church together this morning but alas we were wrong :)  Garrett woke up with crusty eyes and after a quick trip to the urgent care, he now has pink eye.  Ah the joys of preschool :)  

As for an adoption update, first we are so thankful that the adoption tax credit was renewed (and it looks like it's permanent).  All of our paperwork was received before Thanksgiving and we were assigned a new social worker about a week ago.  Our old social worker has retired :(  As of right now, we have our homestudy update meeting scheduled for the end of the month.  Then she'll have 30 days to write up a report and then we will be officially waiting again.  Right now it's been much easier with the waiting on things this go round, probably because we are so busy with a very active (almost) 2 year old!  

Speaking of that sweet boy, can you believe he will be 2 in 6 days??  I can't!  It's amazing to look back and see how much he's grown.  He's speaking in short phrases now and it's so funny to listen to what he picks up on.  He knows his ABC's, can count to 10, knows his body parts, colors, and what sounds animals make.  He LOVES anything with wheels and airplanes.  He is constantly running around and playing.  He loves to give kisses and even tells us "love you" now.  It's the sweetest thing ever!  He moved up to the next class at his preschool and so far it's going well.  It still blows my mind to think it was 2 years ago that we were waiting to meet him; I remember those days like it was yesterday.  

Heavy heart

My heart has felt so heavy over the past week or so.  My thoughts have been with Garrett's birthmother and what's going on with her.  We have a semi-open adoption, which can mean a lot of different things, but for us all communication is done through the agency.  I knew I was running a bit behind on sending in this month's update so I sent her social worker an email to let her know.  I always feel bad if I don't get them in before the end of the month because I don't want her to ever feel like we've forgotten about her.  I know to some people this may seem completely strange but I have a deep love and respect for her--she was the one who carried and gave birth to a boy that I now call my son.  She only asked for updates for the first two years of his life.  Maybe that's why this is hitting me so differently now (that's a whole different story that he'll be 2 in four short months).  I'm still going to send in updates on his birthday but it just feels different.  We never hear back from her; the only time I ever know anything about her is if I email her social worker and ask.  She did send Garrett a Christmas and Birthday card and told us that she appreciated all of the updates.  I'm thankful that her social worker is always willing to share.  I just want her to know that she is loved and that we do think about her all of the time.  I am so thankful that she chose life and chose us to be Garrett's parents.  I feel better now just typing it out :) 

This weekend we go to Asheville.  On Friday we attend the orientation meeting that is required for us to proceed with the second adoption.  We are excited and a little nervous at the same time; I think nervous because we somewhat know what to expect this time around :)  We have all of our paperwork complete with the exception of our physicals.  Tommy goes on Thursday and I go on Monday.  Then everything will be finished on our end.  Once we mail that paperwork off and they receive it, we should be set to go with our homestudy renewal.  We should only have one meeting for that and then we'll be "officially" waiting again.  

I haven't updated on Tommy's health in a while either.  He's actually doing great.  He hasn't had any "major" episodes since last May which is a huge deal.  It's been a long time since he's gone over a year without having to visit the hospital.  He had a check-up last week and his doctor did discuss the idea of putting in a new ICD (pacemaker/defibrillator) that helps people who have congenital heart defects and heart failure.  His doctor wants to talk it over to make sure it would be a benefit for Tommy with some other surgeons and then meet back with both of us in 3 months (he knows that I'm the one who asks all the questions).  They would likely do the surgery over the summer.  It shouldn't be anything too bad because the existing device is in and they would just replace it and add a lead for the heart failure piece.  The only catch is they need a certain vein to do this.  If Tommy's isn't there (from all of the surgeries) then they will have to make an incision down his side to run the wires.  So we're praying the vein is there!  

Garrett is still doing great in school!  He had one day where he was the angel child we know him to be :)  His teachers are great though and we feel blessed to have him there!  He's talking up a storm and LOVES to sing.  We're going to take him to the apple orchard while we're up in the mountains :)  I promise to post some pictures soon.  

Exciting news!

I know I said last time I was going to be back in full force with my blog entries.  Um ok, I failed :)  Life has been so busy lately and honestly I love soaking up every minute I can with my sweet baby boy.  Who by the way doesn't look like a "baby" anymore :(  I started back to work during the first part of August and it was hard coming back.  I miss being with Garrett and seeing his little smiling face.  But I do know that God has me where I am for a reason....to reach out and touch the lives of these students that I work with everyday.  For that I am grateful.  The school year has started off great and my classes are awesome.  I'm so fortunate to be able to work at such a great school and I'm counting the days until Garrett will get to come with me.

After much discussion, Tommy and I decided it was time to move Garrett to a preschool full time.  My Grandmother has watched him at our house since he was 2.5 months old.  It was a hard decision to make but with him being so mobile I know it was getting to be too much for her.  We also feel like the interaction with the other children will be good for him.  So on Tuesday, he started preschool for the first time.  He did great but his mama had a rough time!  It was so hard leaving him there and as I walked out of the room the director gave me a pep talk and told me to call later and check on him.  That's one of the reasons why we chose this place.  The people there are awesome.  It's also a faith based center which is nice.  So at lunch I called to check on him and his teacher said he was doing great.  They couldn't believe that he had never been to daycare because he was doing so well.  They have a slide in their class which he loves.  He ate his lunch but only took a 30 minute nap :)  They sleep on those little cots so I was worried he wouldn't sleep at all.  Yesterday he managed to sleep for an hour and fifteen minutes :)  He also came home with his first piece of artwork-a mixture of colors. He was playing when I got there and he took me around to show me the toys.  He seems so happy to be there and that makes me so glad.  So far he's had a great 2 days!

The other exciting news is that we have decided to start the adoption process again.  Thankfully we haven't had to redo everything since we are going with Bethany again.  We have had to fill out and sign paperwork which we finished this past weekend.  The only things left to do are getting physicals, attending the orientation meeting, and we should only have one homestudy visit.  I'm hoping we can get these things finished and be "officially waiting" by the first of the year.  We would definitely appreciate your prayers as we embark on this journey again!

Pictures coming soon :)  

I was really trying :)

To keep this blog updated this summer!  Needless to say I've been having too much fun with my sweet boy.  We've been to the aquarium, children's museum, all around town, and of course the beach!  This has been one of the fastest summers I've ever had.  We had a great time in the Keys.  Garrett had a blast and enjoyed playing with his FL friends.  He did great in the car; we are so thankful we have an "easy rider" :)  We made it all the way down to mile marker 0 in Key West.  It was scorching hot but I made sure to get pictures!  I have to go back to work in 2 weeks :(  I'm going to try to do better with updating but can't make any promises!  Here are some pictures of our adventures.

Made it :)

 This is what happens when you try to take a picture of an 18 month old :) (or 3 of them for that matter)

 Showing off Daddy's Tuna catch

We made it to the end!

 This is pure sweetness! 

This poor, neglected blog

So needless to say, life goes by way too fast!  And as is such, I can't keep up :)  I've tried to be better about blogging but something always seems to come up every time I sit down to type.  My summer vacation officially started last Wednesday and I have been having so much fun getting to spend each day with my sweet boy.  

Garrett is all over the place.  He loves to play "chase" and has gotten really good at hiding.  He loves to go into his room and hide on the side of his crib.  He actually doesn't even make a peep when you go searching for him (that's probably going to be a bad thing later on).  He talks up a storm although most of his words are still unknown to us.  He has started saying "mama" more and it melts my heart each time I hear it.  He's trying to say all done and calls airplanes, "airpoo".  

We started swim lessons in May and they are going great.  He's getting good at getting his body to lay flat and he'll try to kick his feet and move his arms.  He loves to practice in the tub.  He is not scared, at all, of the water.  We have two more weeks left of the class.  

His eye teeth have also come in and those were a bear to get to cut thru the gum.  Thankfully it didn't bother him too much.  

I started going to the gym this week.  I took a spinning class yesterday and did Zumba today.  That spinning class was fun but boy am I paying for it today :)  

We leave in 2 weeks for the Keys and I can't wait!  

Happy Summer!

15 months

Two weeks ago, my sweet baby boy turned 15 months old.  I have no idea where the time has gone but it sure is going by fast!  He loves to talk.  We have no idea what he's trying to tell us but he will carry on a conversation with anyone who is willing to listen.  He's also cutting more teeth.  So far they haven't been too bad.  He also loves to get into mischief :)  We've had to redirect and tell him "no" more times than I can count. 

I had yesterday off from work and we had a great day to play!  We went on a ferry ride and met Tommy for lunch.  Garrett loved it and loved looking at the water.  He's a definite water boy!  He will also start swim lessons on Saturday.

Things are going really great here and everyday I am reminded of how blessed I am.  I remember those long, hard days even before we thought about adoption and when I look at where I am today, I'm amazed.  I can't wait for summer so I can spend even more time with him!  18 more school days :) 

Now for some pictures :)

Helping Daddy build the swing set

 

 

 

 

Not too sure about the first haircut

Swinging

Walking (or dragging) Mimi and Poppy's dog

Loves to "ride" Bailey

Easter Egg hunt and the winner of the "prize" egg

Yummy!

Picking strawberries

The aftermath of the strawberry monster

Ferry ride