All boys, all the time

Missing cords

Sounds profound, eh? Well, the truth is, my mom (aka "Grandma") stole the cord that transmits pictures from my camera to the computer. She says I will get it back when I bring her newest grandson to visit her - I'll believe it when I see it.

The other day I was happily typing away on my computer when I realized that the power cord was not working. So I fiddled with it a little bit and it began to spark and smell like electrical fire! I put it on the front patio for my husband to find when he came home.

So, no new pictures because I can't transfer them, and no old pictures because this is not my computer and there are no pictures on this dinosaur!

Oh, and by the way...

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blog. (RK told me to write that.)

He was adopted

When do I get to the point that I don't feel like I need to tell everyone who comments on how cute Baby is that he was adopted? Maybe it's no one's business but ours and his birthparents'. I guess I feel like I'm playing a role when people say, "Oh, he's so cute," and if I say "Thanks," I am taking credit for it. Or in the back of my mind I'm just waiting on the question about labor where I'll have to say, "Well, I didn't give birth to him." I was there, so I can comment on the labor, I suppose.

Maybe part of this is that I want to give his birthparents credit for creating him, carrying him, and giving birth to him. I feel like I'm doing them a disservice by not acknowledging that some very special people gave us this precious gift of parenthood.

Things are going great with the birthparents. They are each bright and pleasant to be around. I find myself having to hold back from being in too frequent contact with K in order to continue to give her time to grieve and us time to bond with him. It's fun to share about his milestones and development with her.

We're doing well. Baby is sleeping pretty well at night, is fairly active during the day, and is getting cuter by the millisecond. I love getting my development updates each Thursday. This week Baby will have his 2-month pediatrician's visit (I keep saying "Vet," though), and will get his shots - I've got the earplugs ready.

Happy Christmas!

Feelings

I know I haven't posted many ideas and feelings here lately! Someone asked me last week what I did during the day and I pointed right at the baby. Change the diaper, feed the baby, burp him, talk to him, feed him some more, change him again, read books to him, sing to him, play with his hands and feet, put him back to bed. Change the diaper, feed the baby, burp him, sing to him, play piano with him in my lap, watch him under his baby gym, put the baby to bed...you get the picture.

Right now Baby Guy is sleeping. Do NOT tell his dad, but I got to sleep for 8 hours straight last night! Well, I woke up when Baby did at 2:00, but it was not my shift. He then slept until 7:am! I'm surprised he did go back down after his "breakfast." Now I am looking forward to him waking up again. He's fun and I've had an hour to myself this morning.

Here is a picture of us playing the piano - he really likes it! He's got these long fingers, too, so maybe he'll be a pianist. Wouldn't that be cool?

By the way, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Merry Christmas!

First Christmas outfit!

Thanks, Aunt Susan, Uncle Brian, Sarah, and BJ!


Merry Christmas!



















Bah, Humbug!

I love my grammas!

Granny and I










My Grandma

I'm one month old today!

No words.

I promise some more words soon. Until then, here is a little story:

The day before Thanksgiving we travelled to Dallas to meet our son's birthmom for the first time since placement. After a nice visit, I was finishing up his feeding and we were reflecting on our time together. The next thing you know:



Baby said, "Watch this, Miss Kelly - watch me puke all over my mom!" I was cracking up. Not that Kelly wanted to throw up on me, or wanted him to, but it just struck me as being very funny that this was the first time this has ever happened with him and his birthmom got to see him slime me! We had a great visit, and we look forward to seeing her again tres soon.

Matt, this one's for you!

This shirt says, "Little Longhorn," if you can't read it - I can't!

All together now...

Awwwwwwww...

New blog format

I guess this is a new, updated blogger format, but I don't see a difference. Oh, well.

Here is a cute picture of our son in his crib!

Yes, I know he is not to sleep among items like blankets, crib bumber, etc., but he is not sleeping here yet.

Big boy

I am getting so big, I must weigh over 6 lbs.!

You are so beautiful.

A year ago I bought a lullaby CD for our future baby. I did not know who he or she would be, but I was looking forward to being a lullaby mama.

Yesterday I listened to this CD for the first time. Not for the first time with baby, although yes it was, but the first time I ever listened to it.

I will tell you what it is when I have more time, but I just wanted to share how overwhelmed with joy and love I am when I listen to that CD with my new son. One of the songs on there, and it is all piano music, is You Are So Beautiful by Lionel Richie.

You are so beautiful to me.
You're everything I hoped for,
You're everything I need.
You are so beautiful to me.

We hoped and prayed for this baby for a long time, and he is finally here. I will never forget the first time I listened to that CD with my sweet baby. We got some video of us listening to it yesterday, and I think if you were to see it you would likely expire.

When my friend Lara first held her baby in her arms, the look on her face was brighter than a thousand stars. I could not look at it without crying. It's my turn now to carry that look. I am amazed and how much we love this guy, who is not our flesh and blood, but who is a part of our hearts.

We love because He first loved us.

Newborn babies don't do much, do they?

At least that we can see with our eyes. I'm sure tons and tons and piles and oodles of things are happening inside!

In looking for another picture to post, I notice that all our pictures are either baby eating, sleeping, or looking hungry or sleepy. Baby guy did lose his umbilical cord stump (what a disturbing word), so that was a thrill. I cried - our baby boy is growing up!

It's so tempting to try to hurry him along in my mind, fantasizing about what it will be like when he is a little older and more alert, but then I remind myself that I will look back from those days thinking, "Oh, remember when he was a newborn and so sweet?"

Live for the present - God's got the future covered!

Aw, man! Nice timing.

We were taking some video yesterday of our little guy, and I was commenting about how my back hurt a little and I needed to be careful. After all, I didn't want my back to go out like Uncle Jose's. Cut to 5 minutes later and I'm lying on the floor crying in pain because that is exactly what happened.

I had to have my bob (i.e. husband) carry me to the bed, with me whimpering, crying and trying not to panic and make it worse.

The end result was me lying in bed all afternoon and evening and Bob taking care of the baby all night long. I can walk today and sit up to feed him, but I'm afraid to bend over to change a diaper or to carry him too much until my back is better.

Here is a picture of me trying to continue the bonding process with Baby Guy, and him loving it!

Cutest baby in the world!

We did it!

Baby's first bath at home! He certainly did not love the sponge bath, but he didn't wail the whole time either. It felt like quite an accomplishment. We made a pact before we started that we would laugh instead of stress if it was a disaster. We knew we'd look back and laugh anyway. Now if I could finally get the picture to upload! Blogger has been kicking my butt today.

I have a homemade calzone baking in the oven right now. Thanks, Jeanne!

Come on, picture...

Bath

I saw baby's first bath in the newborn nursery, and he did NOT like it. Now we have to give him one! I don't want to - he'll be sad. My mom says that babies need to cry in order to exercise their lungs - talk about a cardio workout! I'm not sure we'll try to capture this first sponge bath in person, but here are some more pictures to tide you over until we do.

We chickened out! Bath tomorrow.

Say, if I sound together, I'm not. Just ask Stacey or Karen, both of who I talked to on the phone tonight amidst tears of sleep deprivation and "What if I can't do this?"

Introducing...

Baby S!

I told you we'd have a baby before Christmas! I'm such a tease, I know.

Look at this guy - we could not be more thrilled! He is a great eater, burps with no trouble, and is a typical baby - up all night. Yikes!

Our sweet baby's birthmom was amazing. She invited me into the delivery room, and I actually got to see Baby S being born. We got to spend a lot of time with her in the hospital and she just loved the baby to pieces while he was in her care. We had an entrustment ceremony yesterday where she lovingly placed him into our arms. We will see her in a few weeks so she can see how much her baby has grown.

So, here are a few pics highlighting the first few days of his life! He was born early in the morning on Thursday and came home to our house and our wigged-out kitties on Saturday. I can hear him squeaking right now, so I'd better hurry off.

We love him so much already. This happened so fast and we can't believe he's ours - mine, DHs, birthmoms, birthdads, and our families'.

Love,
Amy

I'm spilling the beans...

We got The Call.

I was in the bathroom when it came in! I did not answer the phone, and the caller didn't leave a message. I looked at my cell phone for some reason, and noticed a phone number that looked suspiciously close to our caseworker's cell phone number. I remembered the cw's # because I had just that afternoon pulled out the slip of paper on which I wrote her number when J was supposed to call us.

The next thing I knew the phone was ringing again, and it was my bob (i.e. husband) on the phone confirming our dinner reservation time for that day. (Our anniversary, as you might remember.) I thought the timing of his call was a little suspicious and my heart began to pound a little. He asked me, "So, what's going on?"

"Nothing," I replied nonchalantly.

"I just wanted to make sure that 7:00 would work for you for dinner."

My heart dropping, I replied, "Yes, that's fine. Well, here is what is really going on...[explain phone numbers]."

"Well," he said slowly,"I was going to wait until I got home to tell you this, but...."

[Insert one of the most interesting phone conversation of our lives here.]

Aren't you curious about the details? How mean am I that I am not going to give them to you right now. Suffice it to say, if the parents do choose adoption after the baby is born, we will be parents by Chrismas! In fact, significantly sooner than that.

Stay tuned!