Merry Christmas!

We have been really busy with the holidays and a bunch of specialist appointments and tests. He's had an MRI now, two EEGs, met the movement specialist, had a few more shots and another check up, met with the neurologist a few times, and had an ECHO done of his heart. We still have a few more tests to go but he's doing well. He gained 2 pounds this month and is up to just about 22lbs now!

And that is 22 pounds of darling cute boy too..

Merry Christmas!!!

Someone's child...

A little over a year ago I wrote a post about a boy whose picture was on my phone. This is part of that post:

"I keep a picture of one of the Reece's Rainbow kids on my phone as the wallpaper, and pray for him throughout the day. Yesterday someone saw his picture and asked who's child he was. I replied that he was no one's, and a quizzical look came over their face. They asked again, explaining that it had to be someone's child. Again, I said it really was no one's child, and my heart broke. He is God's child, but he has no earthly family to love him. No one to tuck him in at night or sing silly songs to him. No one to explore the great outdoors with, or buy him the goofiest Halloween costume possible. No one to show him the love of the Creator. Oh how my heart aches for him. I wish we could be those someones."

That picture was "Jacob" and that person was my husband. Here we are a year later and he is most definitely someone's child now! He is so loved and cherished. We get the priveledge of tucking this sweet child of God in at night. Kissing his cheeks and forehead, singing him silly songs, and taking him outdoors to explore the world. He didn't wear a super goofy costume this year but he did wear a cute hoodie with ears. ;) He has bonded so well to us, especially me, just as he should. He's gaining weight, learning skills, and oh is he a happy little guy. I cannot fully grasp the way God carried us through the last year. We have so much to be thankful for. God is so good. 

There are so many other children that need families to step out in faith for them. Will you be one of them? Or maybe someone you know? Share, Donate, Pray. 

http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2013/

I'm an Angel Tree Warrior!!

I tried signing up on and off for the last couple weeks but every time I did, the kids I chose were already taken. Today I checked to see who needed an AT Warrior and sweet sweet Samuel still did, and now I am that warrior! I am so excited!! The goal is to raise at least $1000 for his grant and/or find him a family. I have a few ideas on raising funds for him, and I can't wait to get started!

Check out the Angel Tree program if you want to see all of the kids or find out more about the program! There are still a few kids that need warriors!

http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2013/

Our Angel Tree child is Samuel!!
http://a-sparrows-nest.blogspot.com/

One month home and doing awesome!

Praise God, he has done such an amazing thing by adding our lil guy to our family.  He is a perfect fit for us, and we for him. He has gained over 3lbs since we have been home and is much more active and talkative. Bonding is going terrific, lots of eye contact, people preference (mom & dad, then siblings), and he is exploring toys. His teeth have come in a bunch with the added nutrition and you can tell very clearly the line of decay from not having them cared for before we got him. The tops of his teeth where they were through the gum line are decayed to tiny sharp nubs. He's eating like a champ and is taking things by spoon once in a while. We just love him to bits. My only regret from the whole thing is that we did not bring two children home. But God has a plan and I am quite sure our family is not finished expanding.

Here are a few random photos, though none are terrific since my good camera stopped working just after we got home.

(Snoozing in his swing after playing for a bit. 1 week home)

(2 weeks home. Playing on his playmat. video capture)

(Meeting one of the ponies with a few of his sisters. 3 weeks home)

(Playing is hard work! 4 weeks home)

He has gained a lot of muscle control so far. He scoots around on his blanket on the floor, tries to roll over, and holds his head up side to side (front to back is harder). He loves being tickled and flipped upside down like any 2 yr old boy. He's started to do things he thinks are funny, like scooting across the floor the second I get his diaper off for a changing, or tossing his head to one side when he's sitting on me and I move it to the other side. He gets a smile on his face when he does it. He's a goofball and it's fun to watch him grow and show his personality.  He's very sensitive as well and if he's not happy, he will let you know. When we got home he pulled a killer pouty lip face quite often. Now he does not do it as much, and he's gotten better at vocalizing. He's not speaking words yet but does make a wide variety of sounds so I am sure we will get there eventually. His hair has grown a ton since we got home as well. It sticks up in the cutest whirl at the front on one side. I'm not sure if we will just let it grow out a bit or if we will trim it to some sort of faux-hawk.

Well back to 'work' now for me. Writing blog posts does not help the housework or art get done!

OH and since we are done funding adoption stuff for the time being, I want to give you some options for my friends to help with their funding!!!

I LOVE this family!! Their kiddos are just home a year and they are going back. Please support them! They ROCK! The fudge is amazing and I now have a super cute "Feather Man" in my art studio as an inspiration.  http://butbygraceitcouldbeme.blogspot.com/

Home at last!!

We are home!! It was a grueling 29+ hour journey but we made it. We got home at midnight on the 12th and are still catching up on sleep and adjusting but things are going well.

He had his 'just home' doctors appointment and weighs 17lbs 7.5 oz and is 31.75" long. Our doctor loves him and is as excited to see him grow and progress as we are.

He's ours!!

We had court on August 20th, and the paperwork became official on August 31st! On September 6th we had Gotcha Day!!

"Jacob" is an orphan no more!!

Gotcha!!!!

Thank you to everyone that helped make this possible!

Puzzle pieces all in place!

We leave very soon! YAY