"You are chosen"

Thursday, June 6th, we were traveling to Myrtle Beach SC for Zach's travel baseball team. He had tournaments scheduled all weekend and we wanted to get a jump on a mini vacation before the games begun. We were about 30 minutes out from where we were staying. My phone rang (I was driving b/c I don't like my husband driving my van :) )  Quickly looked at the number and answered. "Hello?" "Hi Tosh, this is Eileen (Social worker from boys and girls aid) You are chosen!!!!"  Me: "They said yes?"  Eileen: "They said yes...congratualtions you are the parents of 18 mos old Brigit."  Imagine the excitement we all felt hearing those words. We were so excited both Ron and I were on our phones calling our parents, texting our friends (not while driving I assure you). What a way to start a mini vacation.

A little bit about our 2nd adoption:  Well technically we haven't adopted Brigit yet but we will very very soon (not quickly enough though...we want to do it TODAY) =)
After we adopted our son, Landen, we knew that we wanted 1 more child. When we looked at our family photos or when we are piling in the mini van to go somewhere, it was like 1 head was missing. So, almost 2 yrs after Landen's adoption, we decided that we simply couldn't afford another private adoption but knew there were several children in the DSS system that needed loving families. We had plenty of love to give a child!! We then started the adoption process through our local DSS, paper work, background checks, finger prints, sled check, dr's appts, financials, 16-20 hr trainings, etc etc.We submitted for several kids, and when I mean several... I mean like 50+. We did receive a few calls on some of the children that we were potentially matched with but after getting all their information, decided they would not be right for our growing family. I got a call on Brigit (18 mos old beautiful girl), talked to the foster mom, decided she would be perfect for our family. Oregon chose 3 families that were a good match and we were one of them. We had a 2.5 hr interview on the phone with the social worker from boys and girls aid, submitted a family book, and sent a few other items to sweet Brigit. They then held an adoption committee and we were represented by boys and girls aid since we don't just live a hop and skip away. The other 2 families were represented by their social worker, In the end....WE WERE CHOSEN!!!! =)   Happy Happy Happy!!!!

Now we are just waiting to find out when we can get our travel plans ready and go get our sweet girl from Oregon.
She has Chromosome #3 depletion, SPD (sensory processing disorder), and Tracheomalacia. What a special girl she is! We simply can't wait for our family to be together!

Take a look at our sweet girl...ADORABLE I know! =)


Landen is going to be an AWESOME big brother!

Curious Landen's party!

This weekend we had Landen's 3rd birthday party at the YMCA. We originally had it planned at our house but mother nature had other plans~  Everyone still had a blast. The older kids played basketball or volleyball and the younger kids played in the jumpy house. The adults....we just ate food, talked, and watched the kids! =)

Landen's theme this year was "Curious George" or aka "Curious Landen"
Can't believe he is 3 already! =(

Hi, I'm Curious Landen =)
 

This is my beautiful Sissy, Lexi!

I've got some money to go shopping now!!! =)

Slacker

I can't believe I haven't updated Landens blog since January! I don't have an excuse either! I've just been slack.

Not too many updates to talk about either. Landen is as happy as always. We had a wonderful Easter...We had a wonderful Spring Break at the beach... We are STILL trying to adopt through DSS which is the worst and hardest process EVER!!! Landen got some new kicks from Peach's Neet Feet...If you haven't looked her up on on facebook, it's a MUST! She's a wonderful young girl doing wonderful work for those living with disabilities and mostly cancer patients! =(   She's AMAZING! Check her out and check out Landen's new kicks too! My wonderful friend, Melissa Mitchell sponsored Landen's shoes and he LOVES them!!

Landen's birthday is coming up and we (I) have decided to do a Curious George themed party. Landen LOVES curious George but he loves baseball/hockey/soccer/basketball even more. He wanted a hockey party but what do you do for a hockey party??? It looks like this will be the last year I get to pick his theme. =( I'm sure from now on it will be a "Ball" party. =)

I'll try to go easy on all the pictures I have to share.... =)

THESE ARE THE WONDERFUL SHOES THAT PEACH'S NEET FEET PAINTED FOR LANDEN! HOW AWESOME ARE THESE. EVERYTHING LANDEN ENJOYS...CURIOUS GEORGE, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, SPINA BIFIDA RIBBON...

JUST BEING THE HANDSOME GUY HE IS!

FIRST FISHING EXPERIENCE AND HE LOOOOOOVVVVVEEED IT!!!! NO CATCH OF THE DAY THOUGH. =(

PLAYING IN HIS SAND BOX...HIS FAVORITE THING TO DO!

HOW CUTE IS THIS KID?

HE'S NOT VERY FOND OF LIVE ANIMALS...THIS IS ACTUALLY A TERRIFIED GET THIS THING OFF ME BEFORE I CHOKE IT OR HAVE A HEART ATTACK KIND OF SMILE!

TOES IN THE SAND!

WAITING ON THE NEXT BIG WAVE!

You might be a momma if...

1. You make 6 meals a day but you have water and chips for breakfast, soda and sandwich for lunch, and cereal for dinner.

2.Your "bosses" the ones tearing up the house right now or pouring cereal all over the floor, think your real name is actually "mom"

3.You talk but NO ONE hears a word you say! (Yep, happens alot)

4. Dressing up and "going out" means putting on your cleanest jeans and tshirt and going to wal-mart.

5. You think you have "done" your hair by combing through it and spraying it again.

6. My goals have been reduced to showering alone, going to the bathroom alone, and sleeping alone.... and maybe even grocery shopping alone!

7. You are stupid... and the older your kids/teenagers get...you get even stupider (is that even a word?)

8. You know more about Sponge Bob, Caillou (who I can't stand...he whines ENTIRELY too much and really...who is 5 and still bald with NO hair?), Pingu (which is the stupidest show E.V.E.R..) Curious George (My fave), and Barney more than you do the President!(True statement)

9. Multi task...on the phone making Dr's appts, fixing dinner(the 5th meal of the day), cleaning a dirty diaper, stopping an argument between the older kids, and pack the diaper bag all together! Oh yeah, I rock!

10. Can't do 7th grade math...I mean seriously... who comes up with these math problems?

11. If you can still function after only getting a couple of hrs of sleep a night b/c your little one just can't sleep.

12. You can be sweet and totally the best mom ever in one second and next...the devil has crawled out of your body the next second! (oh you know what I'm talking about!) This happened to me Sunday (of ALL days, I know) just ask Zach.

13. You can't imagine your life ANY other way...the material things just don't matter anymore, the nicest house can't buy your happiness like your kids can, you would much rather be hand painting with your kiddos rather than getting your hair done ...(Obviously...did you read #5) You can go red neck crazy over the thought of someone picking on your child, you would much rather watch the stupidest show (Pingu) with your child than catch up on your fave TV show on Netflix (One Tree Hill...Love me some Julian AKA...Austin Nichols)

The list could go on and on. Motherhood is the best gift God has given me!

Add to the list if you wish... I'd love to see what your thoughts are!

Ok, so I'm slack!

Ok, so I am a little late blogging... Like 2 mos late. Oooops!

Today I am just going to post a couple of pictures from Christmas and say that Landen had a BLAST on Christmas morning. It was sooooo fun to watch him this year. Last year he didn't care about the presents...he chose the box over the presents....THIS year however...he totally got the whole Santa thing! He STILL asks if Santa is coming when I lay him down for bed. When I tell him that Santa is back at the North Pole, he whines and says, "But I wuv him mommy." Sweetest thing EVER!

For those that don't know, we have completed our Home Study with our local DSS and we are hoping that we will find a child that needs a forever home that will fit right in with our family! It's exciting! =) Praying that we will find our child soon!

Now, for some past due pictures!




What a handsome little guy!

Opening gifts that ARE NOT HIS!!! =)

He went to town this day...STILL opening gifts that WERE NOT HIS!!!!

LOVE this kid!

Will totally LOVE this in his big sand box...when the weather is warmer of course!

Camera time!

Let me show you what I can cook!

This was bubbas baseball/catching helmet but Landen wanted it!!

Bob The Builder

 

Elliott the Elf went fishing!

 He kicks, he scores!!

Elliott took my keys and locked them in the van...good thing I have a spare!

TP'ing Zachs room!

 He finally did something nice for a change. Left Zach a good note for making good grades and cleaning his room. =)