Changes

I guess I should start explaining the above pictures. This is Brakston's Halloween costume for this year. Brakston loves rooster and chickens right now so when I found this yesterday at Old Navy, I went ahead and bought it. It was too cute to pass up.

We have been experiencing many changes around here. First, Brakston has two new cousins. Erin and Bret finally got to bring Grace home from China after four long years of waiting. She is an absolute doll and we can't wait to meet her. Bret's sister Rachel gave birth this week to the newest addition to the family, Drew Michael. He's a little small, but adorable. We can't wait to meet him too!!

We have finally found a use for what was our "cat room" at the front of the house. After Sylvie passed away, LT had the great idea to move the laundry room upstairs. I absolutely love it. When I finish it, I'll post some pictures. We also moved the twin bed out of Brakston's room and put it in there as well so it's the laundry room/guest room. (funny story, Brakston actually thought that the twin bed was my bed and that's why he wouldn't go to sleep without me being in the room, he now understands where mommy and daddy sleep and goes to sleep without me in the room without too much fussing!!). When Brakston stops sleeping in the crib, we will turn it into a full bed, and put it in the guest room and get rid of the twin bed. We also moved Brakston's car bed into his room. He doesn't sleep in it yet, but he really likes it.

We also added a dog door to what we call the "breezeway" room. It's been nice to not crate Harley when we leave. We've been leaving he and Cassey blocked off in the breezeway and it's been working great. Brakston likes the new dog door too and uses it when I'm not looking.

I went back to work full time for the first time since we brought Brakston home. It's been a transition. We were so blessed to find a great place for Brakston to stay during the day. We started him in daycare last year, but took him out in November due to frequent ear infections. Sarah, who has watched him since he came home, stayed with him during the morning, and Bridget came in the afternoon. It worked out great and he got to be at home all day. This year, Sarah is going to ISU and her mom, Lora, is watching him at their house. Lora home schools her two younger girls, Evie and Lydia, and Brakston loved going over there. He never cries when we drop him off and it has taken the stress of leaving him away. It's been such a huge blessing.

I'm enjoying being back at work full time. I'm in two new schools, one I supervised in the last two years, but this is my first year of actually being there all the time, and the other school is where Margie used to teach at so a lot of them new me already. It's been crazy busy, moving stuff out and in, but I'm really comfortable.

The next few weeks are crazy, with lots of stuff going on, but I'll try to post more often.

In Memory of Sylvie

Today's been a hard day. I had to put Sylvie to sleep. Even though I knew it was coming, it was still hard. She was 17 and 1/2 years old, which is really old for a Persian cat. She was originally Lacy's cat, but when she was 3, I ended up with her. She's lived everywhere that I've lived in the last 14 years so she made a lot of moves!! I've never had to put an an animal to sleep. When Morgan died, I was there, and that's not something I ever want to repeat. While this was a little easier, it was still hard to say goodbye. I'll miss you Sylvie.

Life Lesson #1 with an almost 2-year-old

Important life lesson, never leave the gigantic, Sam's Club size Parmesan cheese container on the kitchen counter and run to the bathroom. (Boy knocks it over, dog breaks it open, and chaos ensues). All I heard from the bathroom, with the door open, was "uh oh, mommy."

When I was on the phone with my dad, I said, "Brakston was bad" and he looked at me and said "doggies bad." Sigh.............he's just too cute, even when he's in trouble.

Disney World

Here's a quick update until I can take the time to write a longer one. Disney World was a blast, we had a lot of fun and Brakston is still talking about "mouse," "Buzz," and "bus." (For those of you who don't know, he really enjoyed riding the buses to and from the parks).

This picture was taken while we were standing in line to meet Buzz and Woody from Toy Story, it was a big hit with little B!!

Mother's Day Photos

We had a great photo shoot at Portrait Innovations today. I wanted to badly to get one picture of Brakston kissing me (he puckers up so cute), but of course, he refused to do it. We'll be giving away pictures for Mother's Day, these were two that didn't make the cut.

Why I shouldn't leave things on the oven...

Happy First Gotcha Day Brakston!!

Wow, one year ago today this beautiful boy was placed into my arms forever. The day has been harder than I thought. I have so many emotions running thru my mind, so much happiness, guilt (there are many that still don't have their children home), sadness (for the tough choice his birth mom had to make and for the huge loss his foster family had when he came home)....and many others. It's hard to put into words. I've just felt overwhelmed the last few days.

This past year has been amazing, watching Brakston grow and change. He's a wonderful, loving child. God sent us the most precious gift and I often wonder what I ever did to deserve it.

Brakston's new favorite word is "bump." He likes to bump his cars into everything. He's starting to put two words together and he imitates everything. He eats just about anything and his favorites are chicken, sausage, ham, and gerber puffs. He loves chips and "dips." Dips can be anything from salsa, queso cheese, oil for dipping your bread into, butter, or salt. (and don't ever forget to give him his dips if you're having them, I have to fake putting salt on his food before he'll eat it if he sees me use it on my food)

Happy Gotcha Day Brakston, I hope you'll always know how many people love you. I am proud and beyond thrilled to be your mama and I can't wait to see what you'll do next.