WW a Four Month Visit

Dear Skittle,
Really happy that we were able to make to visit with your birth mom, WW this week.  It was doubly exciting that we were getting to see her home!  While you were baking she was staying with friends and an extended stay hotel.  Now, she has a beautiful home that couldn't be more perfect for her.  We are so happy to see this for her.  We love WW!  She has lots of applications in for a new job and a great, caring boyfriend.  We had a wonderful and relaxing visit.  You gave her some snuggles and smiles.   

I love that we are the same age.  We have lots of reference points from over the years that we share.  She found her box of old photos and shared them with me.  I LOVED seeing some of her big bang 80's days and straight two toned hair 90's.  I took some picture of the pictures for you to see someday.  

She has always been so beautiful and your big smile reminds me of her as do the way your brownie eyes sparkle.  So glad a visit worked out!  Next time I will bring along some photos of me...only fair that she sees my big permed hair.  We left her with some of our homemade chili and a hug.  In some ways it is hard to believe it has only been 4 months since your birth and others if feels like you've been here forever as it just all feels right.  So grateful WW found us for you.  We are in love.
Love, Mama 

Playin' with Dad

Dear Peep, 
You and your buddy Daddy have been having some great play time lately.  You've been playing all sorts of games that only the two of you know the rules to.  This Saturday I found you guys sitting together playing games on the tablet and later exploring all of the ways Daddy could push, pull and shove you through the house.  You tried buckets, pieces of cardboard, standing, sitting, with a rope, riding on his feet (Hazel got one quick try on this one but you kept screamin', "She's too heavy!") and then there was tying my bathrobe tie to the back and hoppin' in my old shopping cart going fast and wiping out on the turns.

Tons of giggles and happiness...until the last act, Daddy pushed you down the hall in a big box and I heard here a racket, crack and OOoops and found this...

Oh well, what's a little trim?  Doesn't get any better.
Love, Mama

Mall Meet Up

Dear Big Boy, 
So we were really excited to meet up with JoJo at the mall last week.  We needed to celebrate the start of JoJo's second semester of college.  I am beyond excited and proud of her.  I know someday you will be too!  We ate lunch and then went into the mall for JoJo to win you something from the bear claw at the arcade only to find it was closed!  This was a huge disappointment for you as you always want me to try the bear claw but I lack the skills that JoJo does and I had promised the next time we see her she would help you win something.  You still had five dollars so you choose to get a Cookie Monster cookie instead.  You did give us each a bite then put it away in your tummy quickly.  

We also went to cuddle the poor puppies but seriously it was STINKY and dirty there and JoJo and I were really grossed out so we opted to dance to the songs on the buttons at Build a Bear together.  You were really trying to impress us with lots of foot moves, spins and leg work.  

It was getting time to go home but not before you invited JoJo into the photo booth to act as if you're going on a trip to St. Louis.  You never made it to St. Louis on this imaginary trip.  

Clearly you love the journey there just as much.  I sat back and gave you both some space and watched.  As I had Hazel's smiling at me from her baby carrier next to me.  I got all soft listening and watching your feet mingling under the curtain.  

Why am I so fortunate?  I have you and Hazel and these sisters in my life, they made me a mom and dad a dad by choice.   My eyes welled up watching you play.  It is a gift JoJo has given us that extends beyond just giving you life and giving you us; connection.  We love her.  Since we brought Hazel home you've been asking questions and making comments about adoption and how you came into the world.  Sometimes the questions are specific to adoption and others just about anatomy and where a baby grows.  When you ask specific questions about your story I always tell you that you have me or daddy to answer them and JoJo.  You learned this week that all babies come into the world in the same way, even those who are adopted.  One day out of the blue in the car you told me, "Only God can make babies." Sometimes you are sad about parts and happy at the same time.  I can understand and so can Daddy and JoJo.  I can't say how grateful I am that you have all of us and even your grandparents to help you get through the sad and share in the happy.  I don't talk about my faith much but maybe I should if it brings you some comfort too.  As long as you always know that you were created by God's love and that same grace brought us all together in the same spot at the same time there will always be light.  Such gratitude.
Love, Mama 

Baby Girl's Clothes

Dear Hazel, 
Your aunties did not leave you out at Christmas.  They added many nice pieces to your wardrobe, it just took longer to get most of them in a picture than Henry.  Here ya are.  Pretty baby lady!

Pretty Owl Barrette and Sweater

This cute sweater even has arm patches

Cool Girl Sweater

Hi! Was your first word :)

Turtle Dove

Ok, this is the best I could get, you had a feva, but you're gettin' better!

Love, Mama

Counting

Dear Peep, 
You are in love with the new doggie bank your aunts bought you for Christmas.  You've been dragging it back and forth from your room to the living room, dumping out all the change multiple times.  There is an episode of Curious George where The Man with the Yellow Hat tries to show George how much 100 is because he over bids on some mittens at an auction.  TMWTYH uses popcorn, setting it out in a grid pattern.  I told you we could do that too so we set about to putting all of the pennies out, all 272 of them.  You liked it so well we did the rest of your change too.  You were so excited by the out come you insisted we cover them up and surprise Daddy who was in the other room.  We did.  You were pleased. 

Then we spend the next two hours convincing you that you had to pick up all of that change too.  You did, finally, only to start all over again the next morning.  I love your energy and enthusiasm just please make sure it includes getting all that picked up so I don't jam my sweeper.
Love, Mama  

Hazel's Waxy 4 Month Check Up

Dear Skittle, 
 Your 4 month check up yielded more than just your weight or height update; you had a waxy right ear.  The doctor had to dig out junk.  You didn't like the nugget excavation and I didn't like it when he discovered your first ear infection.  I wasn't completely surprised.  Conveniently just the day before your appointment you were junky nosed and sounding like a pug half the night, occasionally choking on your thick sticky phlegm.  A good and gross example of this occurred just before the doctor came in, you were on your tummy squealing exuberant smiles at me as I snapped pictures of you and two seconds later and one snapped frame like a cat coughing up a hairball you choked on the stuff.   

The bottle I fed you to keep you satisfied at the doctor's office poured out.  Just after, you were back to smiles.  You're amazingly flexible and resilient!  You were in happy spirits though and smiled radiantly seconds after the assaults to your tiny ear (I did take a picture of the crap pulled out but I'll spare ya) and to your tiny legs when you were a pin cushion for vaccination needles.  With in two hours later you had a 101.9 fever and a whimper of misery.  Here ya are just before bed, insert my sad face here...

The medicine hasn't really touched the fever yet but you're sleeping well.  I can't seem to go to sleep because I am worried about you and just now I am hearing your brother in the next room with a barking cough.  What is a year without a little visit from Croup?  I don't know either because we've not had one.  Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.  The bummer sick stuff aside you are growing great, nearly 14lbs! and 24".  You charmed everyone too.  I hope you feel better soon baby lady, I don't like seeing you so unhappy.  

4 months old

Love, Mama 
You can see your past check ups and growth here and here...and here 

Here is the scene this morning by my side as I finish typing this update.

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Ooops! Spoke too soon!  Just after I finished typing I heard Henny coughing I got up to check on you to find you sprawled in the door to our room with the lights on screaming and coughing and shaking sick as a dog.  Luckily I had an inhaler and it helped calm you down along with misty dragon.  We are camping out on the couch today.

Short Road Trip

Dear Henny and Hay-zell,
We woke up Saturday and Mommy felt like going on a short adventure Daddy and the both of you were down with it.  We decided to go visit Mama's aunt Linda and uncle John in Ohio, meet up with friends Mike and Amy at Ikea and come back on Sunday.  It would be an understatement to say you were excited.  Henry, you just couldn't wait to stay at a hotel with a pool and hot tub.  We would periodically hear from the back of the van a sweet little boy's voice declaring, "I am so excited!"  Hazel, you were the perfect little traveler.  

 We enjoyed our time with Amy and Mike at Ikea.  Then we got back to the hotel and made it to the pool in time for a 15 minute dip in the hot tub and you helped the hotel lady put the cover on.  
You were so helpful and a good listener.  Daddy and I were proud of you.  Back at the room you drew pictures on every page of the in room note pad while Hazel snuggled in readying herself for sleep, you drew this too.   

We finally got you settled and my three buddies cuddled up to snooze.

Then next morning we slept in and then made it down to breakfast where the WONDERFUL workers there fawned all over your and Hazel and got us some extra sausage.  We went swimming again and this time Hazel joined you for her introduction to the pool and hot tub.  

Hazel, you wore a little green and white striped bikini that was BEYOND CUTE!  Even your brother squealed, "OH, CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!"  You had no problem floatin' in the water.  The hot tub made you veg out in seconds...and just your little tootsies were in.  

Henry has really started doing a great job taking pictures, I get to be in some now too!

After we cleaned up and got our bags together we went to Uncle Johns and Aunt Linda's.  We had such a nice visit.  Linda is a great cook and much like my Grandma Stella she made sure she had food on hand, a wonderful mushroom and barley soup.  She made you a special pbj and had cute little apples and oranges for you to try.  

She dragged out a ton of crap for you to play with while John gave Hazel snuggles.  

We were having a great time but it was getting dark so we took off for home.  You slept a lot waking to ask when we'd go back to our hotel to swim.  It was great getting away a little with our team of four.  
Love, Mama