About Me

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My name is Jenny, and I am married to my wonderful husband Andy. We are the proud parents of Owen Daniil, who we adopted from Russia. Our Gotcha Day was 02/08/2011. Our family is a true gift, and we feel very blessed that God chose each one of us as members. I am not good at blogging, I'm just starting out and getting used to it. However, I am hoping to share some stories about our family. Welcome to my crazy, but wonderful, life!

Monday, November 5, 2012

The wait goes on....

We have almost completed all of the paperwork needed for our first trip. Yet, still we have no dates of travel. I'm more and more anxious to get over to Russia to hold our new son. We pray every night for him to be safe and to know that we love him, and that we will be able to get there soon.

We continue to talk to Owen about having a baby brother, but I know he does not totally get it. He does love to look at his picture and knows his name. But, it will not be as real to him until we can bring him home.

Owen is now 33 months old!  I cannot believe that our baby is going to be 3 in 3 months!!!  Owen continues to sprout up, but still is not gaining that much weight. He is now 35" and 26.6 lbs, which is about the same weight he was last month. I think it is because he never stops moving. That makes him so much like his dad! 

I'm curious to see what our new son will weigh when we bring him home, they might be neck and neck in weight....unless he's starting to plateau, which is what Owen did before we brought him home. We'll see...hopefully sooner rather than later.  Please keep our family in your prayers.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Wow! Who knew it had been so long since I posted anything?!  Well, it doesn't help that I was sick for almost 2 months and did not have the energy for a while to do anything. The first 4 weeks were the worst, I had bronchitis (though I really think I had pneumonia and the urgent care nurse practitioner didn't realize it). By week 5 I knew I needed to get into my regular doctors office and I did during week 6, and she gave me a second round of antibiotics and medication. I now think I am fully over it. YAY! 

During those 6-8 weeks, I have been incredibly busy too!!!! I worked OT during that time, which probably didn't help the illness, but it did add to the time off I'll have with baby 2 when he comes home......Oh yeah, that's right, we have another boy!!!!  We received a call 10/05/12 that we were matched with a 16 month old baby boy, with the chubbiest of cheeks:)  We were SOOOOOOOO happy!  We have really been trying to teach Owen about being a big brother. He does ask sometimes what his brother is doing...which is hard to explain to a 2.5 yr old.

Unfortunately, we have no dates yet of when we are traveling to meet this little guy. I'm SOOOOOO anxious to get him in my arms and hear him laugh!  We have been working on putting together more paperwork for our first trip, and trying to just keep focused and busy. But it's really hard not to worry about when we'll get over there.

Owen of course does his best to keep our minds occupied though, LOL!  He continues to be the best source of laughter for us (although I have to say Andy is not too far behind in that, LOL). Owen has been having more "conversations" with us, and still says the funniest things. Like tonight, he and I met my friend and her 2 kids at a nursing home to go trick or treating. I've wanted to take him to do that because when I was a kid, my parents took us and I think it's very beneficial for all involved. While we were on the way there, he talked non stop!  He was pretty good about saying, "trick or treat," "thank you," and "Happy Halloween." every time we made a "stop." Although I do think he was the liveliest kid there (next to his friend Emily;)) They were the life of our group I think;)  We stopped for dinner with them on the way home, and the whole way there he kept saying, "mommy, Emily, Kelli, Dean, and Anthony doing?" "Where are they?" He asked like 50 times, and I finally said, you know what Owen, I'm not going to answer this time, becuase I already told you they are in the car in front of us.  He said, "No mommy, I'm talking to my own self." and then proceeded to ask himself what they were doing. LOL!  I took him potty while we were there, (Oh yeah, we potty trained Owen the first weekend in September too....), and afterwards, he ran out and made sure everyone knew he had peed in the potty.  He likes to announce it every time! HA!

He's done really well with the potty training. After several months of taking him with his diapers, we decided to stop cold turkey and switch right to big boy underpants. It took 4 days, and in just under 2 months, he's only had maybe 3 days with accidents, I think that's awesome:)! 

Well, I'm going to try and do better about posting in the future, but for now, I have got to get some rest. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue to wait to meet our new family member and the process to bring him home! 

Friday, August 24, 2012

WAITING! for our next Russian babe!

As of next week, we will be officially registered in Russia. After that, we can receive a referral any time!!!!!!!  I cannot express the relief. I guess the paperwork doesn't seem quite as bad now, LOL!  So my paperwork blues are gone, now it's just the waiting game.

Patience, that is what I have to have as we wait to be matched with our next baby. We're going to try focusing on getting Owen's room done, getting some other things around the house done. Maybe get some items ordered for the new baby, like a car seat, etc.

Mentally preparing myself to take the trips is the other thing I'm working on. I think the idea of leaving Owen here while we travel is the part I need to work on the most. This weekend, he's having his first sleep over with one of his friends at their house. Although the difference is we're not 10 some hours away, it will still feel odd. But, I want him to have the experience a couple times....

We're also looking for a new sitter, which is not going so well. I'm hoping this month it will happen. I just hope Owen is okay with the switch.

I'm trying to gradually change things a little for him before the baby comes. I think he'll be most excited about his new room. I hope anyway, LOL. But, I think once the baby is here, he'll be SUPER excited to be a big brother and to have a play mate. I guess that is one thing about adopting an older infant, they can play right away with their siblings:) 

Please continue to pray for us as we continue our journey. All prayers are much needed and much appreciated. We continue to pray for all other families in process, and for all the babies/kids in Russia that need families. We pray for adoption throughout the world, and hope that more Forever Families are made every day!!!!!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Paperwork Blues....

I'm sure many of you out there who have adopted know about the "paperwork blues." The feeling like it will never end, the road blocks from places you need them from, the desire to say "We're done!"  Some of the paperwork has been easier the 2nd time around, don't get me wrong. BUT, the same old road blocks seem to be there.

Examples of the frustration:
Andy's Work verfication letter.
It took many emails/calls, and Andy finally got his FIRST letter done after a MONTH of waiting on it. Turns out, his was incorrectly done, because apparently, they have no idea how to get something notarized. THEN< in my amazement, they turn around and get the letter corrected within a week, (Prior to Jen's 2nd one being done. What is up with that?!?)

Jenny's work verification letter. (Let's just say, these 2 things are not boading well for the HR community)
Usually, it takes my HR department FOREVER to get things right. So I was shocked when I received the letter back, within a week, and done to my specifications (and before Andy got his). (Which was basically done just like our last one in terms of content), but needed a notary. I tell my agency over the phone what it's like, they say it's fine. However, once they see the actual scanned copy- no, it's all wrong. So I think, okay, in a week, I'll have the right one. NO!!!!!!!!!!! This time, it takes 4 f/us emails, 1 f/u phone call, and an email to the HR person's BOSS to get back the corrected letter after a MONTH of waiting for it!!!!!!!!!!!! And it was literally, the LAST thing we were waiting on.

Wait list documents
It took 2 weeks to get these from the agency! It only took us 2 days to complete them. That is at least 12 extra days that were unnecessary!!!!!!! 

License letter from Home study agency- STILL Waiting on it and  not going to get it for at least 2 more weeks because the person has taken the longest vacation known to man, and apparently NO ONE else i the licensing office can handle putting it together. URG!

So I take the documents we have today down to get them verified and apostilled, because we should be able to register with the ones we have on file. I had been VERY careful in explaining the requirements for the notaries every where we had to have them done. Apparently, my HR person is extremely bad, because she did NOT pay attention to the fact that the notary had to be registered in our county. THEREFORE- I have to have it done a 3RD time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe you me, I am going in there and raising hell, because I'm not waiting a MONTH to get it back this time.

I call the agency, and am told, it's okay, we can still register without the work verification letter. OK! That makes me feel less bad, but I'm still fuming mad at the situation none the less. Next, I pick up our certified copy of the deed. No problem.   I'm okay, it's only been almost 2 hours since I started the process of getting the verifications done.  I get to the Secretary of State office. They relunctantly take my 79 documents (yes, that is the number I had, not counting the 3 outstanding that we can register without)........I sit to wait patiently (mostly because the woman acted like it was going to take her the rest of the day, and it was only ten til 3 pm. - they are open until 5). After about 10 mins the lady re-appears, and  think, wow that was fast. Uh- NO. she proceeds to tell me that they cannot apostil the deed becuase it was a deputy recorder, and not the county recorder herself that completed the certificaton. HELLO! I KNOW I am not the only person in my county that is and has adopted from Russia. WHY can't they get their crap together!!!!!!

NOw, what amazed me was, the woman acted like she was NOT going to finish my other documents! I had to tell her that I still wanted her to do the other documents while I went back to the other office to get the right certified copy. She AGAIN acted put out. At this point, I SERIOUSLY was about 5 seconds away from tears! I had just put enough money in the meter to sit there 1.5 hours and had to go re-pay for the parking garage I literally had left about 20 mins prior. I go back up to the office, and the deputy recorder who signed my document says he can't help me, and takes me to his boss. I proceed to explain to him what I need, and he begins to turn into a big, pompous jerk. Again, I could cry at any moment. URG. I tell the guy, I'm not arguing that they gave me a certified copy; HOWEVER< the s. of s. office WILL NOT apostil it, and it is not in my control. He says the best he can do is to notarize them. But, he will have to re-issue (re-charge me) for the ones I LITERALLY JUST picked up, because they left the office, so they cannot consider them valid. I asked him when they would be done, and he basically yelled several times, "Not today, not today." and would not give me a straight answer. Now, I knew that if I opened my mouth to comment on his rudeness, that A) I would end up crying. and B) they might have to escort me out of the office. Therefore, I took his name and number, and believe you me, I will be calling tomorrow to find out the status, and I WILL ask to speak to his supervisor.

I got down town about 1:10 today, and didn't get to pick Owen up until 5:10. I am exhausted, worn out, and really just want to cry. I think we can still send the documents we have to get registered, but now we still have these additional outstanding documents, which apparently are going to continue to be pains in my rear. i need lots of prayers. i also think I could use lots of chocolate, well emotionally rather than physically, anyway, LOL!  I'm just so anxious to keep the papers moving and to get closer to bringing our next baby home.  I still do not think it's fair that even HERE in the US where everything is "so much better." That people still put adoptive parents through so much crap. Especially people like that deputy recorder.  I just want to look at them and be like- HELLO you're getting paid to do this job, WITH MY MONEY, and I'm just trying to bring my baby home, get over it and just help me!!!!!!

We'll see what tomorrow brings. (be lucky i didn't go into all of my frustrations we've had with paperwork and the agency, etc, or you'd be reading this for a long time. That is if you didn't already stop reading it.)

Sunday, July 29, 2012

2.5 years old!

Tomorrow, my baby will be 2.5 yrs old. I cannot believe it. He is ornery as ever, never stops talking, and is as loveable as could be. Right now, he is waiting to watch daddy mow the grass. He has not gotten to do this for about 2 months since we have had very little rain and the grass wasn't growing. That has been a disappointment for both Owen and Andy!  Andy loves knowing that Owen is obsessed with watching and waving at him, and getting to wave back. Andy said he'll miss it once Owen tires of it. Of course by the time Owen is old enough to mow the grass he won't want to, LOL!

We have been gathering our supplies to work on Owen's "Mickey Room." I'm trying to get Owen really excited about his new room, so he'll be good with the swtich. So far we have picked out curtains, bedspread, and paint. I have the decals picked out, but have to order them. I also need to order the bed rails. Owen moves so much in his sleep I know he'll need those.  We're going to let him "help" put the room together, and then kind of transition him starting with naps. Although I have a feeling he's going to want to be in there at night pretty soon after that.

I am wondering if Owen will miss the Snoopy room, but I think he will be okay.  We are also looking into a new sitter. We have an interview with one this Wednesday. She sounds promising on the phone, so we'll see.  I think Owen will miss his old sitter, but I think he will adjust okay. Especially if we spend a little time over there before he totally switches places. I'm really hoping we help him adjust well to all of the changes that are coming. I'm hoping that if we do everything casually and slowly. rather than rushed, we'll be okay.  Changes always affect each kid different, so we'll see! Keep your fingers crossed for us that all goes smoothly:)

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Owen is 29 months:)

Owen turned 29 months on 6/30/12. (Which happened to be my grandparent's 54th wedding anniversary:)) Things he says are really starting to be funny, even the "talking back" he sometimes tries to do. Although, that won't seem so funny once he's a little older....

He will wag his finger at me and say, "Stop mommy, stop." If I say something like, "Owen don't mess with that." He'll look at me and say, "I didn't mommy, I didn't."  Owen will ask a question, or ask for something, and I'll respond, "I'm getting it, or not right now." Then he'll say, "Okay!" in an exasperated sound. Seriously, when did kids start acting so much older when they are so much younger?

I will say however, that he is pretty well behaved.  We have our days when he throws more tantrums, or is into EVERYTHING. But, he is only 29 months and that is normal. He knows where things go and puts them there, like his shoes. He knows where books go and his blocks, and though we have to keep reminding him to put things away, he does do it, and he is only 29 months. We are very lucky to have such an adorable, cute, and well behaved kid.

The other day, we went by church, which he constantly remembers we tripped at like a month ago. Then have her say, "trip mommy?" I say, yes. Then he says, "I want to go to church." I know right now, he probably doesn't mean those words, but I'm hoping that he will grow up enjoying church and still "wanting" to go.

On July 4th, Owen started being able to pedal his tricycle on his own:)  He was so happy to do it. If this heat ever let up, we could go outside long enough for him to try and take a "walk" on his bike. We even got him his first helmet, which he LOVES to wear when he's no on his bike, LOL:)

Today, we went and picked out Mickey Mouse fabric for his new room. We are going to move him into it in the next few months. Once we finish our dossier for the current adoption (which we are close to doing:)), we are going to start really putting his room together. Then, once we are matched with our next little one, we're going to transition him to his new room. We're trying to give him time to adjust to some changes at home prior to the new little one's entrance. Hopefully, this will cut down on any jealousy or feeling of being left out. We're going to let him "help" put the room together and I want to make a big deal out of it for him. I am hoping he really likes it:) 

It's pretty amazing thinking that in the next year, or less, we will have another little McMullin running around the house. I cannot wait to see Owen in the rule of big brother. He amazes me already as my son, so I know he'll be awesome as a big brother:)


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Our second journey to adoption

As I've mentioned before, we have struggled with infertility for just shy of 5 years. I pray about it all the time, but I know that if God had answered my prayers the first time, we wouldn't have Owen. And that would be a far worse fate!!!!!! I just ended taking any kind of treatment for infertility. (Which consisted of hormonal therapy) It wasn't helping with the irregular cycles anyway, and my doctor had stopped reviewing my chart, so I had a feeling he wasn't really confident that he could do anything else for me.  Therefore, it seemed it was time to just let go of the treatments for a while. It hit me hard ending them, because I still pray that maybe someday God will think it's the right time for us to have a bio babe as well our adopted babes.

I might eventually try to get re-evaluted or get a second opinion about my irregular cycles. But, for right now, we are focusing on our next adoption. I know in my heart God has at least one other baby waiting for us to bring him/her home. This second babe is also in Russia, and I know that the infertility is a blessing, because our lives couldn't be whole without Owen or the next baby that God has planned for us.

I may never know the gift of life the same way as other mothers, but I have to remind myself, that the best thing you can want for another person is a relationship with God. My prayers, my husband's prayers, our family and friend's prayers, are what is nurturing and feeding our baby in Russia, just as they did with Owen. Our bond did not start through an umbilical cord, but rather through our hearts. Our baby is being physically fed by care takers right now, but our prayers are going to my baby's heart where God is his/her center. I know our prayers are being answered, because we've already gotten to experience this joy with Owen. So, as I end my post tonight, I ask everyone to continue praying for our family, especially for the little one we hope to soon welcome home. I know that my baby feels these prayers and love, because I can feel his/hers in my heart. 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

28 months and 16 months home.

My baby turned 28 months 5/30/12. Tomorrow, 06/08/12 marks Owen being home 14 months. I cannot believe how much he continues to grow and amaze me. He continues to increase his talking. His singing is getting better in terms of singing along with songs. I just love the fact that he LOVES Raffi, since that is a kids singer that I grew up with and loved. Up until a couple of months ago, he preferred these other CDs of kids songs, but now he ALWAYS wants Raffi on in the car. Luckily, kid music is still okay for me to sing along with too;)

Tonight, after we played outside for a little bit, Owen and I sat on the glider on our back deck, and we sang part of a Raffi song together while we glided. Now, that only lasted for a minute, but it still was nice. Of course he is SUPER energetic and has to constantly moving (alot like his dad actually), so i wasn't surprised that we didn't sit there longer.

He's so much better with listening/reading books now, that it's fun to see what book he's "in the mood" for at bedtime. He likes to read a lot, and for that I'm glad. I love to read, and find it so valuable as a hobby, because it keeps your mind sharper than being a TV junky. Plus, if he becomes a reader like me, He'll love diving into the stories.


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

27 months!

My baby is now 27 months old!  It's hard to believe how fast he is growing. He is always on the go, and getting into more and more trouble!  Even the sitter commented on how much more ornary Owen has been the last few weeks!  He can get into so much trouble, but be so cute doing it.

He still impresses me with his talking and how everyday, it feels like more and more words he's saying correctly. He's been saying the sign of the cross and repeating parts of prayers when we do them. I just wish he would do it more in front of other people so they don't think we're making it up, LOL!  He's even been trying to sing more. At church last week, we sang a song called rain down. He tried to sing this....with a full mouth of goldfish crackers. It was kind of cute, though I just hoped he didn't spray anyone with food.  Then, he did try to say the "Our Father" during church, but the loudest word he said was "evil" which he proceeded to say in a very "evil" fashion, LOL!  That one actually made me bust with laughter, to where I had to put myself in check that I was behaving.

I just came back down from rocking Owen, he woke up crying. While I held him, I started to wollow in my own pond of self pity. I was thinking how much I wished that I had helped create this little butterball of perfection- ornaryness and cuteness all wrapped into one. How I didn't get to carry this precious gift in my womb, to hear his heartbeat for the first time, feel his kick and to be the first to hold him.

But then I started thinking, I didn't get to do those things, but I did get to bring this precious boy home. I get to call him my son, and to plant kisses all over the cutest face, and to share my faith with him. I am not the one who had to say goodbye, but the lucky one who got to say hello! I am the one who gets to read him the bed time stories, rock him to sleep, cuddle him when he has bad dreams. I get to see him grow in every other way.

I get to love him forever, because as long as I'm living, my baby he'll be!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

25 months and so smart!

Owern turned 25 months on 2/29. Or should I say, between 2/29/ and 03/01, LOL:)  He is getting so smart and I really think he's quite witty. On Friday, I put an OSU onsie on him, and it had a bit O in the middle of it. I worked on teaching him to say it was an 'O' and asking him to point to the 'O'. Which he did very well. Plus, he remembered that the 'O' started the O-H-I-O above the head the buckeye fans do. Well. the next night, I was wearing a buckey shirt as was Andy, and I asked Owen if I had an 'O' on my shirt, and he found it right away and said 'O'!  I think it is great that we are working on O since it's what his name starts with too. LOL! 

He's also really started trying to say more sentences. He tried to copy my sentence of daddy is watching basketball. You can tell he's really trying to work on his word sounds. He just amazes me.  We've been trying to work on colors with him, but so far, that hasn't quuite sunk in yet. But, I just remind myself that he is only 25 months, and that he already does so many smart things, he's just taking in everything, and one day, it will come out;) 

I think he is growing taller again, as his 18 month pants are starting to look shorter on him, though his waste is betweeen a 15 month old and 18 month old waste so, we'll see how his clothes continue to fit him. I cannot believe that he is 2, that we've had him home for a year, or that he is so bright and ornery. He just continues to amaze me and make me laugh.

We have been praying about what our next step will be in continuing to grow as a family.  Any prayers any one wants to send our way are very welcome. We continue to hope that God may grant us the grace to conceive a child. However, especially since we brough Owen home, we feel the infertility, though difficult, is also a blessing. Had we conceived a child and not turned to adoption, we never would have had Owen, and I don't even want to think about that. So right now, we're just praying and trying to see where God is leading us to our next child.

I'm not going to say that I didn't miss getting to be the one to carry Owen and nourish him from day 1 through my body and at our home. Infertility and the idea of never carrying one of our children is still a difficult thing for me. But at the same time, Owen wouldn't be who he is if he didn't come from Russia. He couldn't be any more our son than he already is, he couldn't be any cuter than he already is, and he couldn't be any smarter than he already is. God knew this and he provided us the means and way to bring Owen home. The minute Andy and I heard of Owen, even before seeing pictures, we knew God had given us our son. There was never any doubt that we would say yes to the little guy, and our hearts burst with joy when we got the news.

No matter how our next child comes to us, we will have another unique experience, and we'll get to share it with Owen.  We know God already knows who our next child is, and we cannot wait to be in on his little secret:)

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Talking so much, so clear, and so loud! LOL!

Owen has really found his voice. I mean, he was talking alot before, but man, this kid has been saying so many different things and more sentences lately. Not to mention, he keeps getting louder, and louder!  Most of the time it is cute, and it is hard for me to tell him not to talk. But, sometimes, like to day at the store, I had to keep saying, "Owen, we're inside, you have to talk quieter." or "Shhhhhh." I know it's all kids that have to learn what the "inside voice" is, though, and most of the time, he is just laughing and being goofy. So for the most part, I kind of chuckle at/with him.

However, I knew it was the end of our shopping trip today, when he started to have a melt down on the way to the cash register. I felt a bit like a bad mom, because he just wanted "hold me, mommy, hold me." I couldn't. I was there, just the 2 of us, and the store was packed, so I was in a self checkout lane too. I was also, apparently, at the wrong store for him, because he kept saying, "Horse, mommy, Horse!" and pointing toward the front of the store. I had to explain we weren't at Meijer and there was no horse....to a  25 month old!  He kept saying meijer, and stare at me like, okay, but what about the horse.  I am not one to want to spoil my child, but I don't really think the penny horse is that much of a spoiler, so I did feel kind of bad that it wasn't there. We survived the trip though, and Owen was fine after we left and headed home.

Of course, he did his "mommy doing?" about 50 million times on the way to the park, on the way to the store, in the store, putting the groceries in the car, and on the way home. Sometimes it drives me CRAZY, but it is also cute that he's doig it. I think he mostly does it so that we have a "conversation." I think he likes when we "talk" to each other, and it's not just me telling him to do something, or me reading him a book. I think he really wants to tell us things now and to have a voice.

Today, I tried to give him cottage cheese as a snack, to see if he liked it. He simply stated, don't want cheese. Okay then. At dinner, Andy tried to give him milk, and I was coming back downstairs from changing my clothes, and I heard Owen say, "don't want that milk!" I came in the kitchen, and asked Andy if that is what he said (since I thought it was clear as day), but Andy didn't even realize what Owen had said. So I tried to give Owen his milk again, and he pushed it away saying, "don't want that milk!" Then he covered his eyes. I had to laugh, becuase I know we are definitely going to be hearing alot more of "no" and "don't want...." And of course, those are going to be his clearest sentences, LOL! 

Every time he says something knew, Owen impresses me. I know it's normal for kids to grow in their vocabulary, but it still amazes me and makes me happy he is doing so well. Even the Nos and the don't wants, because it shows his likes/dislikes, and personality. Grant it, I'll be squashing a lot of the don't wants, just like I did with the milk tonight, but I am so happy our son is growing and learning, and becoming him;)

He's starting to say "come 'ere" a lot to me. Also because I say it alot to him when i need him to change directions. I will usually say it and then use my pointer finger to coax him toward me. Wouldn't you know it, he's been really trying to do the finger thing too? It's cute that he has to focus so much to do it, but I know it's him working on his fine/gross motor skills, LOL:)

The other funny thing too he's been doing, is announcing TV shows. Not that we watch TV all the time, but he'll say, "mommy, coming. and point to the TV, and then say "Fresh beat band" or "Backyardigans" (which are a majority of his sippy cups).

Oh, and he also is doing very well with learning the sign of the cross. We can't get him to do it every time, but he is really getting "the Father, and Son," and we're continuing to work on the "Holy Spirit."  I'm hoping that we can really start working more on colors, letters, numbers, and prayers. He's such a sponge, I know he's really going to start soaking it all in!

Well, I know I could go on and on, since I haven't posted in a while, on all the things Owen has been doing, and how he really can crack me up sometimes. But, I will have to save some for another day:)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

1 Year Gotcha Day Anniversary!

Today was our 1 year Gotcha Day Anniversary, and we cannot believe it has already been a year. Waiting to bring Owen home had felt like FOREVER, but on 02/08/11, Owen said goodbye to the Kaluga Baby home, and Hello to his new home with us. Andy and I both took the day off work, and we went to COSI. They have a Kids Place, and Owen LOVED it. He got to play in these wood cars and houses, turning lights on, and "driving." He got to play with blocks and ride some different little car toys. He got to play in water and get him and Mommy wet:)  We got to walk through some exhibits, and we had a WONDERFUL day just being together as a family:)  The rest of the day, after Owen's nap, we played around the house, and then had pizza for dinner.

Owen, now my 2 year old "baby", has grown so much, and I'm really starting to be able to put together his "sentences" and have some "conversations" with him. I now know certain phrases that i must say alot, because he is starting to use them as well. Such as when Owen would say "mommy" and I say "what Owen?" Now I say Owen, and he laughs and says "what?" I also think I ask, "Owen, what are you doing?" alot, because he'll say, "Mommy, Doing?" I know he's asking a question too, because he uses the correct tone of a question. He's just so smart!  He talks all the time, which is great since we were so concerned a year ago about speech delays. Honestly, even 3 months after we brought him home, he was doing so well with his speech, we couldn't believe it. 

I tell Andy all the time, I'm going to have a hard time as he keeps getting older and talking more, because he's as stubborn and determined as I am! Andy thinks it's totally funny how much Owen is like me. Of course, I think he is alot like Andy too. I have a feeling, he'll be tall and thin like his dad, too. He's definitely growing taller, even if he hasn't really gained too much weight this last year. He fits height wise into the 18 month size clothers, but sometimes they are still big around his middle (alot of times actually). Of course, that just means that I can still carry him around more. Though today, he kept saying, "walk, walk." He probably walked around at COSI today 2/3 the time we were there, maybe more. Of course, I kind of freak out about him running off, so I make him wear a backpack "leash" thing, plus hold my hand. I'm hoping to instill the holding of the hand, and actually he did really well with that, and the backpack was really just a safety net for me:) I know there are some parents who don't like those, but especially at a crowded zoo, it makes me feel better about Owen getting to walk around.

My baby has been home 1 year today, and I still get teary just thinking about the whole process of getting to the Gotcha Day, and then making it home the following week. Oh, and not to mention the waiting prior to even knowing the child God had chosen for us. I know I say this all the time, but I'm seriously amazed by God's ability and love in putting together families, particularly mine.

I could not imagine going through the adoption process or my life for that matter without my best friend and love, Andy, by my side. He loves Owen so much, and the first day we met Owen in 2010, I couldn't believe how much that love showed!  I knew he was excited about Owen, and I knew Andy couldn't wait to meet him and to have him home. But, the emotion I felt seeing that love come out in Andy and Owen's first meeting, the memory still makes my heart burst with joy and love!  I am one lucky woman to have a husband who has loved me, supported me, and believed in me and to be given a son who is so precious, loving, smart, and beautiful. There are not enough words in any language to express the gratitude I have for my family and for the gifts God has given me. Blessed, blessed, and blessed, that is as best as I can describe it!!!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Happy Birthday Owen!

Yesterday, 1/30/2012, my baby turned 2 years old!!! We actually had a birthday party for him on 1/28/2012, which he had a lot of fun at with some aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. We had a Mickey Mouse theme, as this is the one character Owen always seems to recognize and shouts out. Though he says "Mick-i" instead of Mick-e, LOL! It's cute! Owen had a great time at the party, loved the decorations, loved getting to play with all the other kids, and REALLY tore into the birthda gifts!  I guess Christmas really prepared him:)

I realized as I was writing in Owen's journal on 1/28 (Yes I am keeping a journal just for Owen, and have done so since before we physically met him), and I realized that on 1/28/2011, we had our court date and had been told YES, we would be a forever family. That night, we had gone back to the baby home and gotten to spend a little more time with our baby, playing and feeding him. we even got to put him in his 1 year b-day boy shirt. When i planned his b-day party this year, I didn't even realize the 2 dates coincided, but I told Andy while writing in the journal, it seemed fitting that we celebrated on that day this year too. It also shows us that we did get to celebrate his first b-day, and the gift we all got was our family. It brings tears to my eyes still. I had to leave him for 10 more days that night in 2011, and it was hard. This year, the 10 days following 1/28, are spent all together, and that is an amazing and awesome gift too:)

The sad thing is, Owen had gotten a cold the week before his party. He was doing better, so the party still happened. Then I ended up getting the cold and am still fighting it off. But, the doctor confirmed today that Owen now has a double ear infection, which I had suspected since he about slept 0 hours last night. So, his actual b-day day was spent at home, and not at Chuckie Cheese like we had planned due to me being ill, and then today, Owen and I still aren't feeling quite right. We are on the mend however, and I'm looking forward to celebrating our gotcha day!   Thanks to everyone that made Owen's b-day so special and for the prayers and thoughts as well as sharing our story to this point. We are a forever happy family:)!!!

 Nana made Owen a Mickey cake:)
Daddy, mommy and Owen getting ready to blow out the candles:)

Owen opening a card and gift:)

Owen opening up a Mickey toy:) I think he yelled "Mick-i."

Thursday, January 19, 2012

New meaning to "my way or the highway."

Owenhad SEVERAL meltdowns today. Not sure what was wrong with him, oh wait, but I do. It's called "I want it." His melt downs consisted of "I want to leave the family room." "My phone..I want it." "I want to climb", "I want crackers." "I want juice in the family room (which is not allowed)." "I want mommy's piece of pizza." "I want the lotion."  And probably several that I missed.

Seriously. Owen thinks if he screams and cries enough he will break me. Tonight, I thought I was going to. Luckily, Andy came home a bit earlier than normal, and was able to deal a bit more with the meal time and bed time melts, but boy, I was not happy with trying to divert his attention, timeouts failing to make a dent on his attitude, and just trying to figure out what exactly was wrong most of the time.

It's nights like these that my patience really needs help on, and where I feel like a horrible mother. I felt bad too because I was VERY ready for Owen to go to sleep tonight. I still liked getting to hold him for a few mins, but I also like the break from the crankiness.  I'm sure he probably has days where he feels like that about me, but he just can't voice it yet. Knowing how smart and stubborn, and like me, that Owen is, I have no doubt that voice will come sooner than Iwant, LOL!!!  Everyone pray for my patience, as we really get into the major months of the terrible2s.