A Photo Shoot

Anyone who is Facebook friends with me would tell you that I take and post A LOT of pictures. I have always loved taking pictures, and have owned some sort of camera since I was 10 years old. Anyone old enough to remember the Kodak Disk Camera? I thought that one was the coolest thing when I was a teenager! Anyway, when Sophie came along I splurged and finally bought a good camera---my first one that is not a point and shoot. I am still trying to figure out the settings and the best time of day to shoot, so my pictures are a work in progress. Our agency requires monthly updates and photos for the first year. These updates are more important for me than ever because Sophie's adoption is closed, and pictures are all she gets. It is so different for us after two open adoptions. We send pictures directly to the boys' birthfamilies and we are always happy to hear that they received them and which ones they like the best---plus, we're Facebook friends with them as well, so they get to see all the pictures I post anyway. I have to be intentional about printing some out and actually sending them too.  A closed adoption feels so one-sided. She did request to receive pictures, so at least I know that she wants them. So far we have no idea if the pictures have been received, or what she thinks of them. Hard. This, however, does not make me lack motivation to try to give her the best shots I can give her. It makes me want the pictures to show her everything she can't see in person....a glimpse into what Sophie's life is like in our family. Even if we never hear anything from her, I will still try to send the very best to her to show her our thankfulness for choosing life for our precious daughter!


This is my favorite one of the day!



Too much shade, sunlight peeking through, but still cute!



In she shade, but what a sweet smiley girl



Too sunny....she can't even open her eyes it's so bright! We'll just say she was sleeping here!



Deep shade by a cedar tree....I was trying to get away from the dappled sunlight



Under the deck on the picnic table, trying to escape the bright sun



I think she's done!!

Double Digits!!!

On June 13th, our firstborn turned TEN!! Where has the time gone?! We had a party at the park from 10-12 on the 16th to celebrate with family and friends.

Good old Costco cake!

R made a sneak attack and got him with cake icing!



Submitting to the required (by me!) photo session



Sister love!



R ith our family...it was the first time she met Sophie in person

R's mom K, and step dad A



Grandma and Granddaddy!

Silas, we cannot believe you are 10 years old! When we started our quest to adopt 11 years ago, we never knew where it would lead, but we are SO blessed to have you in our lives! You are a great big brother and terrific son. You love all things outdoors and have such an inventive mind. We are just sitting back and watching what God is doing in your life and know that He has great plans for you. You are such a wonderful part of two incredible families, a beautiful example of God's great love for us. We are excited to see you grow into the man you are called to be. You are a great help around the house, and momma is SO happy you can mow the grass now...I hope you always enjoy it like I do!

Dealing with Loss

It was a sad morning around here yesterday. Silas went outside first thing to feed his chickens and his kitten. He came inside to say that he thought maybe two of the chickens were off to lay their first eggs. I have NO idea if they are hens or roosters, I figured time will tell! Anyway, he couldn't find them anywhere, and the one he could find was acting strange. Long story short, it looks like some kind of animal must have came in the night and ambushed the little guys in their coop. Silas had not been shutting the door the last four or five nights, so they were left unprotected as they roosted for the night. That is a hard lesson for a little fella to learn. He bawled his eyes out and was so heartbroken. He even commented that it seemed like nothing has gone well since we lost Mamaw and Papaw last year. Bless his heart, I cried with him. It brought back so many memories for me of lost pets, and the tears shed over them. It is such a hard lesson to learn, but it so much a part of life. I reminded him that there is only one constant in life: God. We must look to Him for our comfort and peace when we are hurting, He is the only One who will never leave or forsake us.

The first days home....

He named them Slick, Tater, and Jumpy! Slick was what my Pop called Silas, Tater
was what my mom called him (my family is BIG on nicknames....mine is Sam!)
  and Jumpy, well he just kept trying to get out of the box they were in!



Just a few weeks ago one of them was up on the railing of our second story screened in porch!



Sparky the cat visiting them in their coop.

I always think that adopted kids can sometimes have more trouble with loss than their non-adopted peers. I'm sure some deal better than others, but I know Silas is so sensitive and such a deep thinker. Pray for him to have peace and comfort as he processes his loss!

Sophie is TWO months old!!

Sophie you are 2 months old already!

You weigh 12 lbs 1 oz, which puts you in the 95%, your height 21 3/4 which is in the 80%, your head circumference is 37cm which is in the 10%! You are wearing 3 month clothing, and Size 1 diapers. You drink 4-5 ounces of formula every three hours, including all through the night! We are hoping for longer stretches of sleep at night, but you DO go right back to sleep when we feed you at night, which is wonderful, even when momma can't go right back to sleep!

I keep missing your sharp little finger nails and you keep scratching your face! You also have eczema on your face and in your hair, so it's lots of scrubbing your head when you get a bath and lots of lotion on your face. The doctor just gave you a prescription for cream that should help clear it up!



You are getting more and more smiley everyday, you love for us to hold you and talk to you.



You enjoy your play mat if you are in the mood for it, and will lay there for 15 or 20 minutes.

The swing is your ABSOLUTE favorite place to be, sometimes you swing for your whole 2 or 3 hour nap. This is about the only time Mommy gets anything done around the house!




All tired out after our photo session!

You get compliments everywhere we go on your hair and how much of it you have! We can't do a whole lot with it yet, but we think it's GREAT!



This is how you go to sleep: One arm around your Rabbit blankie we named "Conejo"(Co-nay-ho) which is "rabbit" in Spanish, and one hand rubbing your fingers through your hair.



Daddy's 'lil Lady!

We've been puting you in the exersaucer for a few minutes at a time just to see how you do. You are holding your head up really well, but you aren't very stable yet. You will LOVE it when you get a little bigger!

Great Wolf Lodge

For the second year in a row, we have been able to go to The Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Charlotte teams up with GWL to offer discount day passes (we chose early in the week, so only $7 each!). We were able to go two times in May, I failed to take pictures the first trip! I actually put Miss Sophie in the water from the waist down....she didn't know quite what to think. We stayed 9 1/2 hours and this momma was tired! We were fortunate to have friends to spend the day with--Leah and Kinsley, The Bunns, and the Malones. A great time was had by all!! 



Momma caught drifting off.....