Cole's video

We finalized Cole's adoption today. Pictures to come! In the meantime, my brother made this video for us highlighting our journey to Cole...

SIX

My big girl, Lucy, turned 6 recently. That. is. so. old. I can't believe how big she is! On her actual birthday, she had a friend over to play and also went to get her ears pierced! I always thought I'd wait until she was older to get this done but then realized I didn't have a good reason for that. They make lots of age appropriate cute little girl earrings!



She chose to eat out for her birthday dinner at the Emperor's Palace chinese buffet! Mostly because they have a yummy chocolate fountain that you can dip strawberries and marshmallows in!


No party for her this year because she & I got to fly down to Dallas for a girls trip to the American Girl Store!! It was amazing. Her best friend/cousin, Gracyn, was the honored guest. Also we were joined by Nan, Aunt Kalee and new baby cousin Lindsey. I really can't explain how magical it was - made me wish it was my 6 year old birthday so I could pick out such fun stuff!

All the girls after FOUR hours in the store:


We had the nicest waiter:


Best friends:



Six:

Watch Cole Grow - Month 5

We recently hit the 5 month mark of getting Cole and the 1 year mark of getting "the call" about him! The fastest and slowest time of my life all in one!

Cole is doing great - super healthy although still super tiny - up to 19 pounds, 5 teeth and starting to get very curious and into stuff, like your typical 17 month old. The bond between him and Nate is amazingly strong. Cole is easily calmed down around Nate and Nate is constantly asking where "Tole" is if he's not in the same room at the moment.

He still is wary of strangers when we're out and I've felt like making him a shirt that either says "Don't Touch Me" or "It's not you, it's me" to try and avoid some of the negative reactions we get when someone approaches him and he begins to scream and cry. I certainly did not think we'd still be having this issue 5 months into his life here but there are so many other vast improvements, I can't complain!

One more post-placement visit to go and hopefully we'll be finalizing it all in December!

Goodbye October!

Farewell to the longest month e-v-e-r!! Goodbye rain, and more rain, and more rain! Goodbye winter-like temperatures! Goodbye soccer game and practice cancellations! Goodbye bad attitude and grumpy spirit o' mine!

November started off here in St. Louis absolutely beautiful. It was such a huge blessing to see the sun shining and to feel crisp, fall weather. It felt like a promise from God, good is yet to come.

We had a fantastic Halloween trick-or-treating with friends and are anxiously counting down to family time which we have been missing terribly. Major grandparent withdrawal around here. Lucy & I are flying to see my parents in order to celebrate her 6th birthday with her BFF/cousin (thanks, Southwest, for the free tickets!) in 2 weeks and then Mark's parents will be here for Thanksgiving.

We enter into the season of Thanksgiving with full and grateful hearts. If I were to list all our blessings, you'd be reading for days. Near the top of the list right now - good health!

My 3 Trick-or-Treaters:



My ferocious alligator:



My sweet kitty cat:



My curious monkey:



Thanks to our fabulous friends for the great Halloween photos!

Watch Cole Grow - Month 4

UPDATE: Cole went to a pediatric opthamalogist this week and will not require surgery or any other immediate action for his eyes. He is farsighted but not severe enough where it would be worth the trouble of glasses at his age. We'll go back around his 2nd birthday to re-evaulate. Praise God!

Can't believe we've had our peanut home for four months now! He is 16 months old today and continues to change quite a bit (for the better, mostly!). Still not quite 18 pounds and still unable to wear any kind of pants due to zero waist or behind. :) We love the one-piece outfits and overalls!

2 teeth now: one on the bottom and an upper molar. Our pediatrician said that was definitely the most interesting order of teeth to appear she has seen! Two more are on their way in. Eye doctor appointment next week - praying for an easy solution! Says Mama and Dada to us and can be rather L-O-U-D. Waves bye-bye but quickly stops to clap for himself. So thankful that he is eating so much now (working on learning the sign language for "please" instead of screaming impatiently in the high chair).

Can't believe we're coming up on a whole year when we first saw his little face!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We ventured over to the local Pumpkin Patch this weekend even though it was chilly out and super muddy. Everyone had a fun time and it turned out to be a gorgeous, fall day!

Nate loved the tractors everywhere but not the signs that said Keep Off Tractors. Very disappointing for him.


Nate & Lucy got to ride the ponies


Nate says pumpkin "putt-in" :)


My new favorite picture of my almost 6 year old girl


These pumpkins are bigger than Cole!

Fall Dress

I made this dress for Lucy in literally less than 30 minutes using the tutorial over at a craft blog here. Probably would have gone even faster except 1)I couldn't find a safety pin and 2)two little boys were way too fascinated with my sewing machine.



It is made out of dishtowels, found in the Target dollar spot ($2.50 for both)! I hope they'll have Christmas ones next!