Joel is ready to hit the trail
Taking a break at the forest
It was beautiful
This was our view looking up
Another looking up shot
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Pine Forest
Thursday afternoon we went to Young's Dairy for ice cream then to the pine forest for a hike with Jon's mom and dad. Our hike lasted about 3 hours. We got lost trying to find Tom's special place, but once we got there I could see why he wanted us to go. The pine forest is this clearing in the trees at John Bryant State Park. We strapped Aliya in her carrier and away we went!
Joel is ready to hit the trail
Taking a break at the forest
It was beautiful
This was our view looking up
Another looking up shot
Joel is ready to hit the trail
Taking a break at the forest
It was beautiful
This was our view looking up
Another looking up shot
Six months already...
We can not believe our little one is six months old already. Our goal was to get some "semi professional" pictures taken of Aliya and Joel...but that just didn't happen. Here are a few updates on our lady bug.
* Will be completely ours July 28th at 10:00am!
* Sleeping through the night and waking up completely soaked almost every morning! Last night we doubled up on the diapers, a size 2 under a size 3...it worked! She just looked like a sumo wrestler going to bed!
* Napping well at the sitter's and also at home. She is very routine with her naps and sleep schedule!!! Almost like clock work!
* Is saying "babababab" and "mamamamamam" and screaming/squealing at the top of her lungs in either delight or just to get our attention.
* Sitting up completely indpendent!
* Drooling like a fool. No teeth yet, but her lower gums are white and she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth.
* Loves tummy time and can do a complete 360 on her tummy. She is rolling over from tummy to back, but then gets made when she's on her back because she can't go anywhere.
* Loves to eat!! Still on formula and cereal everyday, but also is eating stage one carrots, green beans, squash, pears, peaches, sweet peas and sweet potatoes. Once we are done with our current stash of stage one foods, we're going to try stage two.
* Reaching for everything! If you have, she wants it!
* Sitting in the cart at stores and in the high chair at restaurants. As long as we have toys attached to her Floppy, she's fine. But the minute she sees something on the table, she's reaching for it! We ask for celery at restaurants for her. She enjoys gumming the cold veggie!
* LOVES her big brother! She is fascinated with him!!!
* Smiles all the time and is developing that deep belly laugh! It's so cute!!!
* Loves to be outside and pull the grass!
* Her jumperoo is still her favorite activity. We have finally been able to move her from the 0 height position to the 1 height position.
* Praise Baby is her favorite video/dvd. She watches it every morning while mommy gets ready for work. She can be doing her own thing and as soon as the opening song comes on she is glued to the TV (not sure if this is a good thing or not, but she's getting her morning church service!) We all find ourselves singing the songs now...Joel is even belting them out in the shower!
* She discovered her toes last week...they must taste good, because she has them in her mouth every chance she gets!
* Currently in size 3-6 month clothes. We are trying to get her in as many 6-9 months as we can (these are the seasonal clothes we have in this size). She swims in most of them!! Her feet are still very small. She is just outgrowing her size 1 sneakers, so we've gotten 2 pair of size 2 (thrift store finds!!), but her sandals are all still size 1. She really doesn't mind shoes, until she's on her back and realizes shoes don't fit into her mouth as easily as toes!
* Loves to take baths! We no longer use her blue baby tub, or that white seat. She sits in the tub like a big girl and is much more comfortable this way! She tries to eat the bubbles.
* Hates to have her hair combed! We are now using my conditioner in her hair, plus a detangler spray and a wide tooth comb. She screams when I comb her hair and put her moisturizer in it! She will tolerate bows and ribbons, I haven't tried pony or piggy tails yet. I don't think that will go over very well!
* Flirts with anyone who will look at her. She'll let anyone hold her and loves to be in the nursery at church.
* She weighted in at 14 3/4 lbs(5th percentile) and is 26" long (25th percentile) at her 6th month check up. She's a little one, but 100% healthy!! (She might be taking after her cousin Rayna in the weight department!) Nothing wrong with that!!
* When you talk to her, she studies your mouth and face. It's like she's looking into your soul...
I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of stuff, but for now, this will have to do! I will post pictures soon!!!
* Will be completely ours July 28th at 10:00am!
* Sleeping through the night and waking up completely soaked almost every morning! Last night we doubled up on the diapers, a size 2 under a size 3...it worked! She just looked like a sumo wrestler going to bed!
* Napping well at the sitter's and also at home. She is very routine with her naps and sleep schedule!!! Almost like clock work!
* Is saying "babababab" and "mamamamamam" and screaming/squealing at the top of her lungs in either delight or just to get our attention.
* Sitting up completely indpendent!
* Drooling like a fool. No teeth yet, but her lower gums are white and she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth.
* Loves tummy time and can do a complete 360 on her tummy. She is rolling over from tummy to back, but then gets made when she's on her back because she can't go anywhere.
* Loves to eat!! Still on formula and cereal everyday, but also is eating stage one carrots, green beans, squash, pears, peaches, sweet peas and sweet potatoes. Once we are done with our current stash of stage one foods, we're going to try stage two.
* Reaching for everything! If you have, she wants it!
* Sitting in the cart at stores and in the high chair at restaurants. As long as we have toys attached to her Floppy, she's fine. But the minute she sees something on the table, she's reaching for it! We ask for celery at restaurants for her. She enjoys gumming the cold veggie!
* LOVES her big brother! She is fascinated with him!!!
* Smiles all the time and is developing that deep belly laugh! It's so cute!!!
* Loves to be outside and pull the grass!
* Her jumperoo is still her favorite activity. We have finally been able to move her from the 0 height position to the 1 height position.
* Praise Baby is her favorite video/dvd. She watches it every morning while mommy gets ready for work. She can be doing her own thing and as soon as the opening song comes on she is glued to the TV (not sure if this is a good thing or not, but she's getting her morning church service!) We all find ourselves singing the songs now...Joel is even belting them out in the shower!
* She discovered her toes last week...they must taste good, because she has them in her mouth every chance she gets!
* Currently in size 3-6 month clothes. We are trying to get her in as many 6-9 months as we can (these are the seasonal clothes we have in this size). She swims in most of them!! Her feet are still very small. She is just outgrowing her size 1 sneakers, so we've gotten 2 pair of size 2 (thrift store finds!!), but her sandals are all still size 1. She really doesn't mind shoes, until she's on her back and realizes shoes don't fit into her mouth as easily as toes!
* Loves to take baths! We no longer use her blue baby tub, or that white seat. She sits in the tub like a big girl and is much more comfortable this way! She tries to eat the bubbles.
* Hates to have her hair combed! We are now using my conditioner in her hair, plus a detangler spray and a wide tooth comb. She screams when I comb her hair and put her moisturizer in it! She will tolerate bows and ribbons, I haven't tried pony or piggy tails yet. I don't think that will go over very well!
* Flirts with anyone who will look at her. She'll let anyone hold her and loves to be in the nursery at church.
* She weighted in at 14 3/4 lbs(5th percentile) and is 26" long (25th percentile) at her 6th month check up. She's a little one, but 100% healthy!! (She might be taking after her cousin Rayna in the weight department!) Nothing wrong with that!!
* When you talk to her, she studies your mouth and face. It's like she's looking into your soul...
I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of stuff, but for now, this will have to do! I will post pictures soon!!!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day!!!
Happy Father's Day to all our dad's, grandpa's and friends out there! We love you!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
We got our date!!!
Monday July 28th at 10:00am we finalize! It being a Monday that is Joel's day with his mom, so last night at his game (that he won by the way!) I asked if we could have him and she said "Yes"!! So our family will be complete and together on this very special day! After the court appearance we will go to lunch and celebrate!!
We have our last home visit Tues June 24th so we are almost there! Thanks to everyone who has supported us and prayed for us during this whole process!! We love you!
We have our last home visit Tues June 24th so we are almost there! Thanks to everyone who has supported us and prayed for us during this whole process!! We love you!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Next step...
We found out on Thursday that our birth father did not register on the OPFR so we are good to go with setting a court date!!
What is the OPFR you might ask? The OPFR is an Ohio Punitive Father Registry. It is a registry located in Columbus Ohio were men are to register their "encounters" with women if they feel a child may have been conceived during your union. This registry is then used by adoption agencies to seek out birth fathers during the adoption process. Not too many men know about this registry it turns out, and you must physically go to Columbus to sign it, you can't do it over the Internet or via fax. I had never even heard of this registry until we started this process. Dr. Phil did a show about it once, I didn't see it, but read the transcript on line.
Good news for us! He didn't sign it! So, we are full steam ahead! I will post when we have our date in court set!!
Tomorrow evening we will be attending an adoption picnic in our area to meet and get connected with other families in our area that have adopted. We are really looking forward to it!!
A few other updates:
* Joel is done with school! He is officially a 4th grader now! HOLY CRAP!
* Aliya is now saying, "mamamama" in addition to "bababab" that she's been saying for a while now!
What is the OPFR you might ask? The OPFR is an Ohio Punitive Father Registry. It is a registry located in Columbus Ohio were men are to register their "encounters" with women if they feel a child may have been conceived during your union. This registry is then used by adoption agencies to seek out birth fathers during the adoption process. Not too many men know about this registry it turns out, and you must physically go to Columbus to sign it, you can't do it over the Internet or via fax. I had never even heard of this registry until we started this process. Dr. Phil did a show about it once, I didn't see it, but read the transcript on line.
Good news for us! He didn't sign it! So, we are full steam ahead! I will post when we have our date in court set!!
Tomorrow evening we will be attending an adoption picnic in our area to meet and get connected with other families in our area that have adopted. We are really looking forward to it!!
A few other updates:
* Joel is done with school! He is officially a 4th grader now! HOLY CRAP!
* Aliya is now saying, "mamamama" in addition to "bababab" that she's been saying for a while now!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Joel's Affirmation
I am full of light and love.
I am unique and special.
I am perfect just the way I am.
I am blessed.
I am truthful.
I am enough.
I am forgiving.
I am thankful.
I am grateful for all the good in my life.
I am safe.
I am protected by God and angels.
I am a joyful, loving child of God.
I listen to my heart.
God made me perfect in every way.
God loves me and protects me.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Aliya's Affirmation
The whole world welcomed my arrival
I sleep peacefully and with ease
I am filled with unlimited possibilities
I am loved
I am healthy, happy and strong
I am cherished
I am a bright light in the world
I have joined my perfect family
I am held in loving hands
What a gift I am
I am unique
I am a bundle of joy
I am perfectly made by God
My future is bright
I am safe and protected
I am peaceful and calm
I am nurtured and cared for
I am adored
I am surrounded by love and tender care
I am a true miracle
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