It's Summer!!!

Yesterday was my last day of school! Nugget and I have the next 11 ~ yes that's right I typed eleven ~ we have the next 11 weeks off. Other than the summer we came home from China this will be the longest summer vacation I've had since moving to Kentucky!

We have one vacation planned, and maybe a few day trips.  Other than that we will be sticking around town enjoying the summer freedom.   The first order of business; potty training.   I'm excited and nervous about this endeavor.   Wish us luck!

It was a raining day yesterday so Nugget and I spent some time at the mall.

Reading in Bed

Tonight I was getting things ready for Nugget's bath. Usually he is helping me every step of the way, but tonight I was all alone. When I went to find him he was in bed reading his favorite book to his polar bears. The video quality is lousy, but I only had my iPad upstairs.

 

I LOVE:

     -how he says 'honk honk'

     -that he counts the wheels with polar bear just like we do

     -the way he says 'Vroom Vroom'

     -how he knows the story so well

I used to get crazy when people didn't treat books like precious treasures.  Then my first cooperating teacher told me that a book that looks worn is a book that is loved.  This book is truly loved.

Family Day!

Two years ago today we became a family of three!

I will never forget that evening.  After a two hour meeting with our group, Bear and I had 15 minutes to run up to our room and prepare for the arrival of the babies.   Bear and I were told that we would be last to receive our baby, so we didn't exactly hurry.

Bear and I rode the elevator down to the third floor.  I was so nervous and excited.  Years and years of trying to create a family was about to come to an end and a new chapter of our lives was beginning.  Bear and I rounded the corner to the conference room where we saw two nannies sitting on the sofa with babies.  I almost instantly knew that Nugget was one of those babies. 

The next few minutes were wild and crazy.  Suddenly we were told to put everything down and get out our passports, our baby was here.  He was coming now!!  I handed someone a camera, scrambled for our paperwork all the while being pushed towards the door.  No time to take a breath - Boom - here is your baby, take him ~ take him, I heard.  I didn't want to rip him out of his nanny's arms.  He was crying so hard.  Some woman came over and took Nugget from the nanny and handed him to me. 

Nugget was crying, I was trying not to cry, it was all so surreal.  Bear led us to a quite section of the room.  He took Nugget and suddenly there was a little calm in Nugget.   A few minutes after this photo was taken Bear and I snuck out the side door and headed up to our room.  Even though Nugget did not have to travel far, his SWI was a couple miles from our hotel, he was exhausted.  Within the hour he was fast asleep in Daddy's arms. 

Our life as a family of three began...

Two {VERY FAST} years later:

Tickles and Giggles

What an amazing two years we have had.  This little boy brings so much joy to not only Bear and I, but also to our families.  I can not imagine what life would be like without him.  I don't want to!

For many years I was sad, frustrated, and angry because I didn't understand why everyone else in the world was able to have a family and we weren't.   I have learned that I need to have better faith.   I now know that there was a plan for us.  He is a smart, stubborn, funny, oppinionated little boy who completes my world.

Happy Family Day to all of us and to the 20 other families that were created that night!!!!

 

Bye-Bye Baboo

From the very first night Nugget was placed in our arms we have given him a bottle before he goes to sleep every night.  The night we met him we were even given a bottle that was still warm from his foster mother.   Nugget has always loved his bottle.

In my head I have known for a while that we really needed to start phasing the bottle out.  I kept telling myself that it is good for attachment, it's good bonding.   Deep down inside I know I was the one who wasn't ready to give up that last 'baby' thing we do.  I am not ready to fully let go of my baby.  There have been too many changes over the last few months, and I guess I was trying to hang on to the last one for as long as possible.

Now, it seems, we are saying good-bye to Baboo (Nugget's word for the bottle.).  The last two nights we just haven't offered it to him and he hasn't asked for it.   Tonight we switched a few of the bedtime routines around, and it worked well.  First we brushed teeth right after getting Nugget into his pajamas.  We used to brush his teeth after Baboo.  Then instead of reading books before heading upstairs tonight, I brought the books upstairs and we read them where we used to do Baboo.  Nugget was excited when he saw the books I brought up.  Especially:

Nugget loves, Llama Llama Red Pajama.  We read this book a lot lately.  While we read he always asks where Daddy llama is.  When I say I don't know, Nugget says 'daddy llama at the 'benk' (bank).  That's where Bear works.  It's too cute.  (Complete tangent there, but it's a memory I want to remember.)

I think we will have a new routine and soon we Nugget won't miss the bottle at all.

Home Sick

Nugget and I have been home two days this week due to a sickness.  Unfortunately he caught the coxsackie virus.  I think that name is so funny.  The virus is better known as the Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

We didn't know exactly what was wrong with Nugget for several days.  The rash actually started on his backside, not on his hands or feet, it was baffling.  At first there was talk that he had chicken pox ~ whew ~ I am so glad he doesn't have that.

Nugget's rash has slowed and he has been fever free all afternoon so hopefully we are on the upswing.  I always hate seeing him feel so yucky.

The finished product.  A few seconds after this picture he flipped the whole thing to the floor.  

We've also watched Cars ~ shocker ~ I know!

A Busy Birthday Weekend

We had lots of fun celebrating Nugget's birthday this weekend.

Saturday
We had the family and friends party on Saturday.  Here is Nugget's reaction  to the decorations when he come home from running errands with Daddy. 
It's a sad, sad day when the three year old in the house shows up his Mom!   



Reading his new favorite book with Pop and B



The happy birthday song!

Opening gifts...

...getting some help from friends.



Checking out the new cars with B.

It was a wonderful party.  I'm so thankful to all of our family and friends who came to celebrate Nugget's special day!

Sunday

We went out to the farm on Sunday for a birthday cookout.  Nugget loves to hang-out with his cousins.  He tries will all his might to keep up with them.  He does a pretty good job!

More cars from Uncle Brandon!

It was a great weekend.  It was busy, and we are all exhausted, but it was fun!

Nugget is 3

It is so hard to believe, our little man is three!!

Happy Birthday, Bug-A-Boo!!

Mommy and Daddy love you to

the moon,

the stars,

and back!!!