Easter Weekend

Myrtle Beach

Update

I know I haven't updated in awhile but this past month had been pretty busy. We went to Myrtle Beach with Greg's parents the week before Easter. We had a great time and enjoyed spending some time together as a family. Darius & I did ALOT of shopping thanks to Nana and Greg was able to spend a few days out on the golf course with his Dad AKA Poppy. We ate at some incredible restaurants and even got Darius' picture next to a guitar autographed by Darius Rucker (his namesake) at the local Hard Rock Cafe. I will post some pictures of our trip soon.

We traveled back home on Good Friday and spent Easter weekend with my family. I got to see my newest nephew Gavin again. It shouldn't surprise me how fast he is growing since he's just 12 weeks behind Darius. Darius looked like the nerd he will probably be in his first Easter outfit. With 2 nerdy white parents, he doesn't stand much of a chance!

Then we decided to have our landscaping finished and a new wood laminate floor put in downstairs at the same time we had a little visitor for a week. Greg and I acted as temporary foster parents for a 14 month old boy until his adoptive parents could get here. His birth mom had originally planned on placing him with this couple from birth but then backed out 2 days after he was born and just recently changed her mind. It was a sweet reunion and great to see the family together at last. Darius really enjoyed having a new friend and it gave us a glimpse of whats to come in the next few months.

And during all of this Darius turned 9 months old! He is really growing fast. It's so exciting to see how he changes every day. He became mobile recently and while he's not truly crawling, he can get anywhere he wants to go. He can sit himself back up from a laying position now and scoot on his bottom. He sort of puts a knee up while on his tummy and then falls forward to get closer to his target. He has started giving me hugs and kisses and I have to be careful when I kiss on him because now he will return the favor but in a much messier and louder way. It's very sweet and makes me feel like a Mom. Which leads me to his latest achievement. Thursday I got to hear the sweetest, most loving, amazing sound I have waited my whole life to hear. Darius said Ma-Ma. I will have to close with that because nothing could possibly top that.

Baby Fashion Show

We're leaving for Myrtle Beach this weekend and even though it won't be quite warm enough I thought we needed a new swimsuit just in case. Darius also got some big boy pajamas too. He is starting to look less like a baby & more like a boy. That 1st birthday is just around the corner!

We're ready for Spring!

Darius went to his first park today and discovered that he LOVES being outdoors and LOVES to swing. As soon as I put him in the swing he started giggling. He had so much fun. I can't wait till summer!

Saturday Fun

Darius had his first date Saturday. Greg & I kept my friend, Kashia's 2 kids. Rylie is 6 weeks younger than Darius and Kyrian will be 3 in May. (That's Kyrian in the background, he wouldn't let me take his picture) The three of them had a good time playing together until Darius started throwing up. He's finally feeling better today.

Also I started using slide shows from slide.com because my photobucket slide shows weren't working well. But you have to click on the X in the upper right corner when it gets to the end of the show to view it again. But adding slide.com shows improved the quality of photobucket so I don't know what's going on.

Darius is 8 months old today!

Upward Basketball

Best Friends

The Triplets

Not the best picture of me but probably how I would look all the time if I were the one raising the triplets. The babies are now home & doing great! I miss them and their Mommy & Daddy so much! They were here for a month and we became very close. The good news is they don't live too far from Greg's hometown and we'll get to see them next week when we go to Myrtle Beach!

Sometimes I'm just too cute for words!

Playing Hard

Baby Lily

This precious baby was just too cute not to share with everyone. Baby Lily was born a couple of weeks ago & is at home with adoptive family now. Adoptive parents & birth parents were such a treat to work with. Both so sweet & amazing & a beautiful story!

Baby Lily

Triplets

I had my first adoption experience with mulitple babies today. The triplets were born this morning after mom's water broke. They were a little under 6 weeks early but are doing great! Mom is doing excellent also! 2 boys and 1 girl. The boys weigh 4lb 9 oz and baby girl weighs 4lb 2 oz. Adoptive parents were there and adopting mom got to be in for C-section. Babies are in NICU of course but are doing good. 1st baby boy never needed oxygen but other boy and girl are needing a little help breathing. I have never seen so many nurses and doctors! It was a very neat experience getting to go to the NICU to see the babies. Please pray for these little miracles that they will continue to do well, be healthy and be able to go home soon. Also pray for birthparents and their family. It's never easy to see birth families grieve but it's awesome to witness that sacrifice they are able to make for their children. It's truly an act of love. Just a tiny glimpse of what it must have been like for our Heavenly Father. Last but not least please pray for the adoptive parents. What a challenge that lies ahead but one they will never regret or 2nd guess!

Triplets!

Growing up

Mom

I'm sitting here holding my baby boy & feeling like the luckiest woman in the world. Sometimes it hits me: I'm a mommy! It's the most natural feeling but occassionally I stop & realize Darius is MY son! I know that everything happens in God's time and I probably was too selfish and not ready to accept the responsibility that comes with motherhood until now but now after so many years of being an aunt & watching my friends have babies, it's finally my turn to feel that unconditional love that I've longed for for so long. When he looks at me with those beautiful eyes and reaches for my face, it's like he knows and can feel all the love I have for him. I'm his Mommy and he needs me. What a wonderful feeling! I have felt that love from my nieces and nephews but ultimately at the end of the day they would prefer their Mommy over me. And that's the way it should be. I'm so glad that I have been able to be very involved as an aunt and nothing could ever replace that either. They are as precious to me as Darius is and my heart melts every time one of them reaches for me for a hug or kiss or just can't wait to share a story with me. But I've always had to "give" them back eventually, they're not mine to keep. Now I have that forever and always relationship with my child. He's not of my flesh but he is a part of me. I heard someone refer to their adopted child by saying "he didn't grow under my heart, but in it" And it's so true. He is mine and I am his. As an adult when I'm sick or sad I always go to my mom for comfort. There's nothing like it in the world, to lay with my head against her and have her stroke my hair or my back. Mom. Such a simple short word but the most important title (second only to Child of God) I will ever have. Maybe it's the cough syrup or lack of sleep but I'm feeling a little sappy and I just wanted to say some things that were in my heart. (Come back on Valentine's Day & maybe I'll write about how wonderful Greg is and how much I love being a wife!)

Time Flies!!

Darius turned 6 months old on Wednesday. I can't believe how fast the past 6 months have flown by. The 2nd picture was taken Wednesday evening at church with his nursery friends minus his cousin Jake (he was at home with sick brother Jonah) He had his checkup on Thursday. He now weighs 16 lb 15 oz and is 27 inches tall. He jumped from 50th to 75th percentile for height since 4 months and went down to 25th from 50th for weight. Dr. Mickle said that's great and won't have to lecture me about obesity. He handled shots well but this time it was not "out of sight, out of mind." Everytime the nurse came back in he frowned and cried at her! At least he wasn't mad at me! He started eating cereal (hates rice but likes oatmeal) at 4 months and has now mastered squash, green beans, and sweet potatoes. He loves food! He also loves his bottle! He has definately started to recognize his bottle and once he sees it he throws a fit till it's in his mouth. He is sitting up very well by himself but needs someone close by to catch him in case he goes to far to the side. He is playing with toys and is able to reach for them & grasp them first try now! He laughs all the time (screams is more like it) at home but is already showing a different personality outside the home. He is more reserved in front of anyone but Greg & I but still will flash that gorgeous smile on cue. He is fussy only when he's sleepy. He continues to be the light of our lives and gives me the best kisses I've ever received! My favorite time with him now is when I pick him up and he puts his arms around my neck or on my face and gives me those sweet kisses. I try to enjoy every minute of the day with him because I know that 1st birthday is just around the corner!

1st Basketball game

Darius went to his first basketball game Tuesday night. I had never been to Bartlesville High School's new gym & it's amazing. I wish we had it when I was there. We used to have to show up to the JV games to get a good seat. Darius was more interested in his Granny than the game. Maybe next year.

Already a Man

I guess it was inevitable. Darius is already a man. He won't take his eyes off the TV no matter what. He was sitting in his exersaucer playing when the TV caught his eye. He can turn his seat around but chose the easier way.

Darius gets his first haircut!

Party Time!!

Fun Fun Fun!! My sister and her family came over for a New Year's Eve party. We started out watching the Cowboys win the Insight Bowl (go Pokes!), played a little Wii and then rang in the New Year with Dick Clark. Greg fell asleep on the couch 30 min before midnight and was in bed by 15 till. Darius almost lasted that long! We always had so much fun with my cousins on New Years growing up and I hope our kids will enjoy it as much as we did.

Christmas 2007

We had a great first Christmas with Darius. It was so much fun watching his eyes light up when looking at the Christmas tree and tearing into his presents like he knew what they were. I am also looking forward to future years when he's old (& young) enough to believe in Santa and when he starts to help set up the Nativity as he learns about the true reason we celebrate Christmas.