The Cahalan Clan

Lots going on!

2012-02-12T16:27:00.000-06:00

I'm going to attempt to catch up!

Isaac is 7 months old today! Here is photo bomb of him:

Isaac is still army crawling everywhere. He is super speedy and is becoming quite the explorer. He has been found behind the quilt rack (playing with a lamp cord), behind the end table (playing with a lamp cord), behind the love seat (playing with a lamp cord), and behind the couch (playing with a nerf dart gun and the curtains). Do you see a theme? If Isaac seems to have a ton of energy before a nap or bedtime, Mark likes to start him at one end of the house and let him crawl the other. He finally gets there and he is worn out!

Dominic and Luke had their first wrestling tournament a couple of weeks ago. Luke's didn't go so well. Because of his weight, he wrestled 5 & 6 year olds that had experience. He fought hard against the first boy....but spent the match trying not to be pinned. If you know anything about wrestling, it is more difficult and tiring to be the defensive guy than the offensive one. Luke lost his second match as well. He was so discouraged that he wouldn't even take the mat for the 3rd match.

Winning a trophy (participation), took some of the sting out the loss. I'm just glad he doesn't realize that all the kids got this trophy. We are proud of him - he tried this year. We have been telling him that each year he gets experience, he will get better and better.

After watching Luke get smashed in his first match, I was pretty nervous for the same result with Dominic. Dominic amazed us all....including the coach. He did great! He won his 1st match in a 5-0 decision, the 2nd one in a 14-2 decision, and pinned the 3rd kid (which was a girl but we are not supposed to talk about it!). Dominic will be going to Rookie State in a few more weeks.

Dominic won his age group (8 & under) weight class of 50-55lbs. We are so proud of him and all he has learned this year. The coach says he has natural talent - good on his feet, great balance, and a good head. We hope he continues.

Isaac is still trying to master sitting up. He is getting closer!

This was too funny....Isaac happened to roll over on this sock monkey and it looked like he was using it as a pillow!

Isaac's Accomplishments!

2012-01-23T12:39:00.000-06:00

Isaac is getting ever closer to mastering sitting up. He can do it for short periods of time before falling over backwards.

He is also getting to be a "speedy" army crawler! A few more weeks and he will be off to the races with knees underneath him.

Isaac's bottom teeth FINALLY broke through over the weekend. Can't tell if it is just one or both - I'm guessing both.

And not to be outdone...Luke has 2 officially loose teeth!

Cloth...6 Months

2012-01-14T09:59:00.000-06:00

Isaac has been sporting his fluffy cloth bottom for nearly 6 months! Bring on the neigh-sayers!!!!! We have blown right past the 6 week mark and are ever closer to making it to a year. I have no doubts we will continue all the way to potty training. I do not miss disposables at all. I can honestly say that we have only bought one box of disposable diapers for him....ever. That was in MI right after he was born. It was a box of 124 size 1 pampers. He outgrew them before they were all used and we gave them away.

I will admit that with the Disney Land trip approaching (kids still don't know) I will buy disposables for that trip since I will not have easy access to laundry. However, we have managed several 3 day adventures totally in cloth!

My baby is disappearing...

2012-01-14T08:18:00.000-06:00

Not literally of course.

Isaac woke up yesterday morning in his typical good mood. Blowing raspberries and playing with Scout for a few minutes. I lay in bed listening to him and smiling. I know that I need to get up soon because Isaac's playful coos are going to quickly turn into his "Where's my breakfast?!?" growl! So while he is still playful, I scooped him up out of his crib. He buried his face in my shoulder and gave me a giant, open mouth good morning kiss. It melts my heart every time. I pulled him away to plant a kiss on his gorgeous face and something had changed.

I swear it happened overnight. Oh my gosh.....where did my "baby" go? NO, NO, NOOOOOO.....I wanted to shout it out loud! My "baby" can't be gone yet......he was just here last night when I put him to bed.

Isaac "the baby" is disappearing...and all too quickly if you ask me. Isaac "the toddler" is showing signs of life. My mind flashed not too far into the future when one day I will kiss Isaac "the toddler" good night, and he will wake up Isaac "the boy".

I don't dare think past those days in the future. I know all to well, what he will become...watching Dominic and Luke go through their phases too quickly as well. I miss Dominic's chubby cheeks - they have been replaced with a thinner, harder, more defined jaw line already. I miss Luke's baby soft, plump tummy and roly poly legs. He is now sporting a mean 6 pack and well defined calf muscles. I watch them in total amazement at wrestling practice...they are becoming "men". Why do they have to grow so fast? I'm pretty sure it took me much longer....but I know it went too quickly for my mom too.

When Dominic was 6 months old, I cherished these moments. Tried to hang on to every single memory I could because I didn't know if we would ever have another child. When Luke came along, I was almost certain we would have 1-2 more children and I was so consumed with day to day life with a 2 yr old and baby boy I didn't think much about it. But now Isaac is different. I know he is 99.99% our last child. (Ok God, do you hear me this time too! The last time I said that, you roared with laughter knowing that Your plan is not our plan!).

I do want him to grow up. But just not so fast. So please, Isaac, do your mom a favor. Let me see glimpses of Isaac "the baby" a few more times before he disappears forever.

When they don't know we are looking....

2012-01-10T13:57:00.000-06:00

I picked up Luke from school today. Since I'm also working today, I needed to take him to the sitter's house. This means we drive in a different direction from home right past Dominic's school. Luke and I noticed there were kids out for recess so we pulled over to see if maybe Dominic was outside. Sure enough, Luke spotted him!

Recess must have just been getting over because the kids were lining up to go inside. I saw Dominic run towards the building. I also saw another child fall down in front of him. Dominic and 3 other children ran on past. For a moment, I was disappointed he didn't help. But then...he turned around, went back, and offered a hand. The other child got up and the 2 of them ran to the line together.

No matter what else happens today, I have had a parenting success. My child helped another...

Luke IS Awesome

2012-01-10T13:36:00.000-06:00

My little Luker. So full of life. So full of ornery. So full of amazing awesomeness. (I don't care if awesomeness is not a real word!)

Last night after his bath, I was drying him off. He leans in a gives me a giant hug. He whispers, "Mom, I have something to tell you." Now, if you are a mom of a very ornery, hasn't learned to filter his thoughts, four year old boy....you just never know what you might hear.

So I braced myself.....Luke says, "I'm so proud you are MY mommy. You have a very important job. I'm not talking about the job where you help sick people. That is important too but that's not what I'm talking about. You work hard to make me, and Dominic, and Isaac have food to eat. Clean clothes to wear to school. A clean house. And sing our bed time songs. I'm glad God gave me you for my mommy. I miss you when you are at work. But you know what? You are right here (and he pointed to his heart) when we are not together."

Luke...you are full of amazing awesomeness. I'm so proud you are my son. I'm forever grateful that God gave me you too.

Well Worth the Read

2012-01-10T13:00:00.002-06:00

I have now had several friends post this blog on Facebook. I finally took the time to read it. Amazing.

http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/

Our Paleontologist

2012-01-09T13:17:00.000-06:00

Dominic was given dinosaur excavation kits for Christmas from one of his cousins. He absolutely loves them!

Isaac ..... Six months.....Almost

2012-01-09T13:06:00.000-06:00

Christmas 2011 Photo Bomb

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-06:00

I realized in my hectic days that have followed Christmas, that I failed to post pictures from Christmas.

This was Gunner's gift to the boys this year. This simple toy has already yielded many hours of hoop playing in the playroom! I'm glad I can relax about "ball playing" in the house...as long as it is contained mostly downstairs.

This was Luke's haul this year. Yes.....those are real drums!

Dominic's Santa gifts. He was slightly disappointed he didn't get a skateboard. I told him that a new bike for his birthday and a razor scooter give plenty of broken bone opportunities already!

Of course Santa would not forget Isaac!

Christmas morning.......love the smiles!

Isaac loves Scout. He is quickly becoming his favorite "buddy".

Rules for Mothers with Sons

2012-01-06T12:57:00.000-06:00

I read this blog today and thought this post was great:

http://studerteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/25-rules-for-mothers-of-sons.html?m=1

It's Official!

2011-12-29T17:09:00.000-06:00

We are going to DISNEY LAND! We will be going this spring. We haven't told the kids yet. I'm trying to come up with a really creative way to tell them and record it. Since we have boys, it probably won't be as dramatic as the videos with girls.

I think the ones where they don't tell the kids until that morning or even while they are at the airport are really cute. I don't know if I can wait that long though!

Such Handsome Young Men...

2011-12-24T15:43:00.000-06:00

Almost Christmas!

2011-12-24T15:19:00.000-06:00

We spent yesterday baking for Santa! It was so much fun...

Tonight we will go to Midnight Mass....hopefully the boys will sleep in tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Luke's Dancing Feet!

2011-12-21T21:28:00.001-06:00

This is a video I took of Luke and his cousin dancing at their cousin's wedding.

New Interests

2011-12-12T06:49:00.000-06:00

Isaac has a new interest....the Christmas Tree! He loves all the lights. I was trying to take his picture last night after a bath and he would not look towards the camera for anything. He was way too interested in the blinking green light at eye level. Dominic said I should get a string of lights to put around me...maybe then he would look!

After this picture was taken, Luke was standing Isaac up by the tree to let him "look". I had to come get them when there were 5 ornaments on the floor and a string of lights in Isaac's mouth! Isaac threw his first official red-headed tantrum.....we are in serious trouble!

Swimming!

2011-12-10T16:07:00.000-06:00

Isaac loved the pool! Poor thing was nearly purple and shivering but didn't want out! I got him out after 30mins, he and I changed, then watched the big boys play for over an hour.

Christmas Cards

2011-12-10T11:39:00.000-06:00

We received our Christmas cards yesterday. I'm slightly disappointed in them. It's not the company's fault. I chose to go with card stock instead of glossy photo paper. The colors didn't turn out right....but they are what they are this year. I don't believe I will order from this company again.

We are heading to the pool in about 30 minutes! The boys are very excited since we haven't been to the pool in several months. After swimming today, we are going to try making homemade carmels again this year. We have tried this in the past and they didn't turn out exactly right (or at least not like my mom's neighbor!).

Random Updates

2011-12-09T15:48:00.002-06:00

Where has December gone already?!?!

Just wanted to give a few random updates. Dominic and Luke have now finished their first week of wrestling practice. Luke thinks it awesome - of course - and Dominic says its just ok. I did tell him that he will have to continue with wrestling until he outgrows the shoes he just "had to have"! So that is at least one more year. I have told Dominic that wrestling is as much a mental sport as physical. He will be a good wrestler because he can use mental strategy against his opponents where Luke is all about brute strength and aggression. Dominic is so funny - always the thinker - and has already asked if Isaac will "have to" wrestle when he is older! I laugh sometimes to myself.....kids always making sure things stay fair!

Isaac is just days away from being 5 months old! And in about a week a year ago, we got the phone call that changed our lives once again! Hard to believe that it has already been a year since that call. Isaac still remains one of the happiest babies I have ever been around. He gets fussy for 2 reasons only - hungry....and don't you dare stand in that boy's way for a meal....and tired. But when he is tired he yawns great big, rubs his eyes, and fusses for just a second. We just lay him down in his bed...that's it.....he is out like a light either for a nap or night time. Sooooo easy! Which is very nice considering Luke still isn't that easy - Luke is our "terrible" sleeper for sure.

Isaac is full of "stories" these days. He also likes to mimic faces. Dominic likes to stick out his tongue so Isaac will do it too. Luke's new thing is to come up behind him and make a pig snort noise. Isaac jumps and then giggles so hard. Isaac is also discovering faces. He likes to touch faces - be careful or he will pinch! Isaac likes to hold his own bottle now too. This is a new experience for us because neither Dominic or Luke had any interest in holding their bottle.

Isaac is also becoming a champion roller. While he can roll from his tummy to back without any problem, we don't know why he does it. He really doesn't like to be on his back and I'm glad he is slowly mastering rolling onto his tummy! We have been practicing sitting up in a tri-pod. The boys like to say that Isaac is practicing his "weeble-wobble" time.

Everyone keeps asking when Isaac will start solids. To be honest, I'm in absolutely no hurry. He is perfectly content with his liquid diet at the moment. I told Mark that we will probably start once he can sit unsupported in the high chair - which we are no where close to at this time. So my guess is sometime after 6 months old. Isaac is still working on those bottom teeth. Mark has said that if I say that everyday, then someday it will be true. But it is true - his gums are red, he drools all the time, and he chews on everything!

To Isaac's birth parents, H & F, you will be overjoyed to know that Isaac wants nothing to do with a pacifier! Obviously this has been his choice because we have offered one since his birth. He does love his wubbanubs though - only to chew on the animal nose or tail. Isaac could care less about the pacifier part. I quit even offering a pacifier to him about 6 weeks ago - Mark still does out of habit since Dominic and Luke were paci addicts! I'm about to cut the paci off the wubbanubs and just let him have the animals. I guess this is one less habit to break later....just glad he can self sooth. He still loves his fingers but only when awake. Dominic would tell you that Isaac likes EVERYONE'S fingers....which is true.

While Isaac is no where near outgrowing his infant car seat, I can't wait for warmer weather. Isaac + Car Seat = Extremely Heavy. I would wear Isaac more if I didn't have to get him out in the cold to do it. Instead my biceps are getting a very big workout lugging him around. Once it's warm, I will definitely use his infant seat like a convertible and just take him in and out.

We actually have a free Saturday this weekend. I think we might surprise the boys with a family trip to the pool. It will be Isaac's first time in the water! He loves his bath time so as long as the water is fairly warm, then I think he will do great.

Getting Ready for Christmas!

2011-12-04T14:52:00.000-06:00

We are in the middle of the Christmas season at the Cahalan house. We have worked on pictures, decorated the house, made sugar cookie (never made it to actual cookies - the dough was eaten too fast!), and we saw Santa!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T15:53:00.001-06:00

Today is Isaac's first Thanksgiving! I'm ever so thankful for being his Mommy!

However, I'm at work....bummer. But I would rather be here today than miss out on Christmas morning so that is trade off. Also, it has given me a chance to plan my attack for shopping tomorrow. My day is going to start very early......trying to make it to our local Sears by 4am to get the new smart TV that we (ok, me) has our eyes on. I have also had time to take advantage of some on-line sales today.

I did get to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family last weekend at Grammy's house. Can't have a holiday though without someone being sick....just glad it wasn't any of my kids this time!

Cloth Diapers...for 3.5 months!

2011-11-16T14:58:00.000-06:00

Here is a run down on the diapers we are using with Isaac:

This is a One-Sized Fuzzibunz Pocket diaper. The microfiber insert is "stuffed" into the pocket in the diaper. When soiled, the entire diaper must be changed.

This an All-in-2 diaper. It is a diaper made by a fellow mom - aka "WAHM" diaper. With this type of diaper, if only the snap in insert is soiled, then a new insert is just snapped back in. The cover can be used several times.

This style is the closest to the old fashioned fold and pin cloth diapers. This is a prefold and a water proof cover. I either lay the prefold in the diaper or secure it with a snappie (no safety pins these days). I have recently found the prefold love. If I were a stay at home mom and the only one diapering Isaac, this would be my primary diaper system. I prefer it because I don't have to stuff pockets!

Isaac with the prefold on with a snappie.

Isaac with a cover over the prefold.

Isaac is 4 Months Old!

2011-11-16T14:45:00.000-06:00

Isaac is 15 lbs and 27inches long! He is getting sooooo big!

Dominic's 7th Birthday

2011-11-16T14:42:00.000-06:00

Can't believe my "baby" is 7 years old now. Where has the time gone?

Halloween 2011

2011-11-16T14:38:00.000-06:00

Isaac's first Halloween!
He wasn't afraid of Daddy or Grammy!

This is how Lluke spent Halloween....sick on the couch. Bummer.

Isaac stayed nice and warm in his ketchup packet!

Gratitude

2011-10-26T18:21:00.000-05:00

One of my best friends is an adoptive mommy too. A friend of hers posed a question about (I'm paraphrasing) what good or to what end or benefits come from having an open adoption. This was a conversation we had a couple of months ago and since then I have been trying to reflect on that conversation. Simply put......it's profound gratitude.

Ironically, every adoption journey begins with pain. Pain from the potential adoptive parents because most are sub-ferts - those battling infertility in some form. Pain from the birthfamily for having to make the most heart wrenching decision not to parent their child. Unless you have experienced either situation, then open adoption seems like a foreign language.....almost a "why bother".

We were able to experience something almost magical with Isaac's birthfamily because of the trust we have allowed between us. We all walked out of the hospital together. We were able to witness the pain and the love Isaac's birthfamily (all of them) has for him as we walked towards our vehicle with our 2 day old son and they walked away from theirs. This is one moment of Isaac's adoption that we will never forget. Because of this moment, we will never tolerate other's judgement about the reason behind Isaac's adoption. It was out of profound love....and one day, Isaac will know and understand this too....that he was and is deeply loved by his birthfamily.

Enter Gratitude.....

In order for gratitude to exist, you must receive a gift. I haven't asked Isaac's birthfamily, but they may point out that they did not give us Isaac as a gift, rather, they gave Isaac the gift of a loving family. For us, the gift is two fold. First, Isaac's birthfamily gave us a most precious gift - Isaac. Secondly, and most importantly, Isaac has given us the gift of parenthood once again. Isaac is the gift.

We have profound gratitude for Isaac's birthfamily. There is no gratitude without first admitting your dependence on one another for the gift. This can be hard to express - admitting your reliance on another - being humble. Being grateful replaces being fearful. We do not fear the birthfamily's feelings and needs because we are open and honest about them as needed. We do not fear Isaac's knowledge of being adopted because of the gratitude we feel for him and his birthfamily.

Gratitude is not the same as indebtedness. Gifts are simply gifts. A gift doesn't owe anyone anything. A gift is never indebted. Gifts are given freely without judgement or obligation to return a gift. While we are profoundly grateful for Isaac and to his birthfamily, we will be careful not to place that same expectation onto Isaac as he grows. That is a place he will need to come to on his own. Hopefully knowing his birthfamily will allow him to give himself as a "renewed" gift back to us as an adult and he too will have profound gratitude for all those who have loved him. He will then truly understand where he belongs and will feel at home and at peace with his adoption.

Open adoption definitely takes courage - you may be fearful in the beginning, but you push through it. Courage is necessary to find the strength to overcome our personal comfort. Every open adoption is unique because of those involved.Our decision for an open adoption is not about us or the birthfamily. So "why bother" with an open adoption you ask?

Because we have profound gratitude for our son.

Isaac's Many Faces

2011-10-24T20:59:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to finally capture a BIG smile with the camera, I captured some of Isaac's many silly faces instead.

While this isn't a "face" I wanted to get a picture of Isaac with his babylegs on. His skinny legs don't like to hold them up very good!

We call this one his "I'm about to smile" look.

This one is my favorite silly face!

Kissy Face!

Getting really, really close to a smile......

And here it is!!!!! The picture turned out a bit blurry because I was taking these pictures in very low light without a flash...so the slightest movement from Isaac causes a blurr. But I wanted to post it anyway! We just love that toothless grin!

I'm NOT SuperMom!

2011-10-19T18:27:00.000-05:00

After becoming a mom to 3 boys and returning to work full time outside of the home, I have discovered that I'm not a SuperMom. I will admit that I'm a mere mortal....and need to delegate some responsibility. Not to my Prince Charming per say....he does great with grocery shopping, fixing meals, etc.

It's time for the "real" chores to begin with the boys. Obviously Isaac is going to be a bench warmer for a while but Dominic and Luke need to become key players in housework duties. They are already responsible for putting away their clean laundry, making their beds and putting toys away before bedtime. But it's time to elevate the playing field some. A few age appropriate chores for them will include sweeping the kitchen floor a few times per week (after all, it is their crumbs that hit the floor in the first place) and cleaning up their bathroom. I'm thinking that wiping out the sink and toilet with a Clorox wipe is not too much to ask 2-3 times per week.

I'm sure this new "game" is not going to be met with much enthusiasm in our house! But I want to teach the boys about being a team member of the family, being responsible, contributing to the family, and being rewarded for a job well done. I'm hoping all my future daughter-in-laws are already thanking me!

Baptism Day

2011-10-16T19:46:00.000-05:00

Our prayer for you today Isaac:

Lord, protect this little boy who's loved so very much. Show him everything there is to see and hear and touch. Thank you for Your presence in his life and on his holy Baptism Day. May You lead and protect this precious child forever in Your way.

Isaac's God Parents - Michael and Amanda - Isaac's cousins.

I had to choose today between video and still pictures. I decided on video. I handed our camera off and Isaac's baptism was recorded....blurry. The whole thing is blurry....I have no idea what may have gone a wry but it did. We are disappointed in not capturing this wonderful day on video....but it was a fantastic day none the less.

Bikes

2011-10-10T06:12:00.000-05:00

Dominic and Luke were/are both outgrowing their current bikes. We had Dominic pick out a new bike for his birthday (not for another month) so we could do the "bike pass down" in the family. We told Luke he could get a new bike once he was confident without training wheels....what did he pick out....his brother's old bike and is thrilled! Of course we are too!

Happy 7th Birthday Dominic.....a month early!

We liked the description of this bike on-line. It said is had hand brakes for both front and back and coaster brakes (pedal brakes). We thought this would be a nice transition for Dominic to learn to use hand brakes but had pedal braks for back up. Well......no pedal brakes. But he seemed to pick up the hand brakes very quickly.

All ready for the madien ride on the new bike. Luke wasn't as ready to ride a bigger bike yet but after I put away the camera because of low light, he started riding the bigger bike without any problems.

Dominic and Luke....hitting the road together.

Dominic & Luke

2011-10-06T05:08:00.000-05:00

Isaac and I went with Dominic's first grade class to the Truman Farm for a field trip. We had a great time.

After the field trip, Isaac and I picked up Luke from school and hiked the trail at the conversation center. I was lucky on this day - Luke was very cooperative in getting some photos taken.

I Must Return....

2011-10-06T04:59:00.000-05:00

Sadly, my maternity leave is over. I return to work in t-minus 90 minutes.

But Isaac is 12 weeks old and thriving! He is such joy. Isaac is a very happy baby and he makes us all laugh with his funny faces and sounds he is starting to make. I think he might be a bit on the onery side....he will be taking a bottle then all of sudden smile great big and laugh. When he does this, all the formula just runs down his chin. I laugh so that makes Isaac smile even bigger.

I will miss you today. You will have a piece of my heart so I won't feel like myself.

Isaac 11 weeks old

2011-09-27T13:17:00.000-05:00

Isaac is growing and changing everyday. He smiles, laughs, and tells his stories...until I get out the camera! Isaac is now using the bumbo chair for short periods of time and loves sitting up. He is not a fan of the swing or bouncey seat so those two things have been put away. He is still doing an awesome job of sleeping through the night - something I wish he would teach Luke! Mark and I are preparing for Isaac's upcoming baptism, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas! Not to mention we have Dominic's birthday sandwiched in there too!

Editing Photos Again!

2011-09-26T19:45:00.000-05:00

This is the original picture....well not exactly original but with a few edits from Windows 7. The next 2 pictures are with edits using picnik.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-09-26T10:15:00.000-05:00

We went to Grammy's house this weekend to spend some time doing "fall" outings like the pumpkin patch.

This was the best Isaac would give us! He was not happy to be out of the ergo carrier and did not want to open his eyes in the bright sun!

Mommy & Luke

2011-09-22T22:01:00.000-05:00

We went to the Mother-Son Stampede tonight. Dominic decided to stay home - but we had a great time!

Well Child Check-Ups

2011-09-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Luke and Isaac had well-child check-ups today. Both are healthy of course.

Isaac is 2 months old, weighs 11lbs 11 oz (40%) and 23.25 (75%) inches long. Because he is long and "skinny" his weight to height ratio is thrown off to about the 15%!

Luke is growing like a weed too. He is 42lbs and 44.5 inches tall!

Both boys had to get shots today. Isaac did the no sound, turn purple in the face scream with the first one so he didn't even notice the other two. Luke had to get 4 shots - yikes. They gave one in each hip and one in each arm. He says he feels like he has been attacked by bees! His bottom hurts where the tetnus shot was given and his arm hurts where the MMR was given. I told him that both should feel much better by tomorrow.

2 Beautiful Months Old

2011-09-13T08:13:00.000-05:00

Isaac...still fluffy & loving Luke!

2011-09-13T08:11:00.000-05:00

Two Months Old

2011-09-12T14:34:00.000-05:00

September 12, 2011.....Isaac is 2 months old today - as a matter of fact he was 2 months old as of 16 mins ago! It hardly seems possible that 2 months have passed since he was born. He is napping right now but it is almost time to get Dominic from school. I'm hoping to do a photo shoot with all the boys today and this week.

Dominic and Luke

2011-09-11T20:56:00.000-05:00

Since Isaac is a willing photo subject, I naturally take a ton of pictures of him. Here are Dominic and Luke...finally a "little" cooperative with the camera - or maybe I just got lucky today!

Isaac 8 weeks Old

2011-09-09T21:34:00.000-05:00

A Gift of Love

2011-09-09T20:46:00.000-05:00

We received a greeting card today from my aunt. I love it. It seems like it was made just for us.

"His name was written in the stars before you ever knew this precious child of destiny was on his way to you....The purpose of the universe at once becomes clear. Love's gift has found a perfect home. Your baby boy is here."

Isaac is almost 2 months old - time certainly has flown. Isaac has been sleeping through the night all week! He is also telling lots of "stories" and smiles great big - especially when Dominic and Luke are around.

Luke said the other day, "Mommy, I'm ready for a baby sister now!" I told him that right now, Mommy has all the baby I can handle. I also reminded him that we will probably not ever have more children. Luke, in all his child wisdom, reminded me - "Mommy, we didn't think that we would have Isaac either. But God sent him to us. God might just send us a baby girl too....because you just never know about what God might do. He is very powerful, you know." Thank you, Luke, for reminding me that it is ultimately God's plan.

Isaac.....

2011-09-04T08:13:00.000-05:00

SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!! Good for you, Isaac! You are getting so big! Now let's not have this be a fluke...a habit would be great!

I LOVE editing Photos

2011-08-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

I found a photo editing site that I'm super excited about. I think it is easy to navigate and use - unlike photoshop. I also like that there is a large amount of free edits but even the premium (pay) edits are not that expensive if you never have to visit a professional photographer again!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Isaac so far. I posted it yesterday after editing it on my computer then "enhancing" with a few more edits from http://www.picnik.com/ :

Cloth...One Month

2011-08-29T21:48:00.000-05:00

We are still using cloth diapers after one month! It is easy so far. I'm working out the night time and compression leak issues. Night time - Isaac is a very heavy wetter and sleeping 5-7 hour stretches was causing leaks at night. I have ordered some all hemp/bamboo diapers that will need a waterproof cover and I'm hoping those help. Compression leaks for those not into cloth diapers are leaks that occur when Isaac's bottom is "squished" like in his car seat. Since the microfiber is compressed between his bottom and car seat, it cannot hold as much as normal. I have been told to use more natural inserts - like hemp - that doesn't compress as much as microfiber.

Isaac is 7 weeks old!

2011-08-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

Our computer fried itself almost 2 weeks ago so I have felt so lost! I'm back now...Isaac is growing like a weed and changing everyday. He is so alert when awake and is really starting to follow objects and reaching for things. Isaac is so strong and able to hold his head up for long periods of time. Here are some pictures of him last week at 6 weeks old.

Our new computer has much better photo editing software included with it....Windows 7 is so much better than Vista. I'm almost secretly glad our old computer died!

Isaac Rolled Over!

2011-08-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

At 5 weeks old, Isaac rolled over! He was having tummy time (which he loves!) last night and rolled over from his tummy to back. I thought it was a fluke because he is so young. But he repeated it 4 more times! Now he probably won't do it again for 3 more months......

Playing in the Rain

2011-08-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

We planted lots of sunflowers this year - thanks to Luke's preschool teacher that gave him all the leftover seeds. I think we have8 or 9 stalks growing now. Here are the boys compared to how much taller the sunflowers are right now!

I couldn't leave a post without showing off Isaac! Here he is....one month old today.....and on a serious milk drunk!

Wordless Thursday....

2011-08-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

Isaac is 4 weeks old today.

2011-08-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Can't believe Isaac is already 4 weeks old. Time is flying by and I want it to stop...NOW.

We are going to the pool soon. With school starting next week, our pool days are very limited. All the boys seem to be on the mend from their recent bout with some type of virus. Dominic has a cough remaining, Isaac seems 100%, and Luke still spikes a fever at night - but that is just how he works.

Dominic is also working on another loose tooth! I told him last night that this tooth makes #6 in less than a year. Unfortunately, he still doesn't have front teeth!

Cloth - Week 1

2011-08-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

One whole week rockin' in cloth. Its going great. Only 5 more weeks to go to get past the neigh-sayers! We have had a few leak issues at night - but that is to be expected when not changing as often. We have also concluded we have a heavy wetter on our hands!

Can't wait to report how well we are doing at one month!

3 weeks old

2011-08-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

Isaac is 3 weeks old today! He is growing and changing before our eyes. He is now 8lbs 6 oz and 21 3/4 inches long. Isaac is in perfect health.

I need to get a picture of him today- right now he is taking a nap from his busy morning at the doctor's office.

Day 5 in cloth - going great! No more leaks - even at night. I can see how people can become addicted to buying more and more diapers with all the different cute covers. But I'm going to control myself!

Miracles

2011-07-31T22:24:00.001-05:00

I was thinking today of miracles. I realized that my mom (aka Grammy) has 5 miracle grandchildren. Yes, I understand that all children are miracles, but her five were never to be......

So here they are again:

Dominic Brian 6 yrs old - IVF Miracle

Luke Robert 4 yrs old - IVF Miracle

Miss A - 2 yrs old - Adoption Miracle

Big B 4.5 months old - miracle natural conception that top urologists said would never occur

Isaac Matthew - 19 days old - Adoption Miracle

Grammy's Fab Five....sent to us from Heaven from God above.

"I saw God today."

I have concluded....

2011-07-31T19:41:00.000-05:00

We went to church this morning with Mark's family. Nothing unusual about that. As I was holding Isaac (proudly of course) I glanced across the aisle. My heart began to ache for the woman I saw. You see, she is a "sub-fert" or a woman that is suffering through infertility. We have spoken several times about their struggles with infertility and know they have never been successful in their IVF attempts. Mark told her 6 months ago that we were adopting a baby due this summer. She expressed that while her heart is open to adoption, her husband's is not. So that is not a path they will ever travel.

I concluded that no matter how many children I tuck in bed at night, my heart will never be fully healed from all the battle scars left from infertility.

This woman's arms remain empty......and mine are over-flowing with miracles. I thanked God right then for all the gifts and blessings He has granted us in our life.

Successful Day 2

2011-07-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

As Day 2 of cloth diapering is coming to a close, I can say with pride:

NO LEAKS today! I realize it is only day 2, but I feel we are all getting in the groove of cloth diapering. Tomorrow will be a big test when we will be gone most of the day at Grandma's house.

Meeting Miss A and Big B

2011-07-30T12:03:00.000-05:00

Big B is now 4.5 months old. He looks half grown compared to Isaac!

Grammy's Fab Five!

Cloth Day One

2011-07-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

We had a very successful day #1 in cloth diapers. Dominic and Luke love taking turns picking out the next diaper. I will admit that we had 2 leaks - both my fault, not the diaper. Our first one leaked because Isaac ate 3.5oz and I didn't change him for almost 4 hours. Then one later in the day leaked for a similar reason. So we have learned today that Isaac needs to be changed about every 3 hours. Last night, I took some advice from seasoned experts and placed a hemp doubler in Isaac's night diaper. Worked GREAT! He was able to go 6 hours without any leaks.

This is a WAHM diaper that is an all-in-two (AI2). These are very trim fitting and are Mark's favorite so far.

This is a Sunbaby diaper (my cheaper China diaper). They are also trim fitting but tend to gap a bit around Isaac's legs because his legs are skinny right now. But these have not leaked!

Here is our little man sporting his very cute fluffy bum! This is a Fuzzibunz one-sized diaper. These are not as trim as the other two but do fit Isaac's thin thighs much better since they are able to be customized more.

Welcome Home!

2011-07-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

Isaac's Birth Family

2011-07-26T22:50:00.000-05:00

This is Isaac's birth family. We have gotten to know them over the past seven months and really do enjoy spending time together. Mark and I will make sure Isaac grows up knowing the ONLY teams to cheer for though.....Mizzou and the Cardinals!

Isaac's Birth Story

2011-07-26T22:43:00.000-05:00

We arrived the day before Isaac's birth. The day of the anticipated induction (July 12), H had another OB appointment. I went with her and I was glad I did! The OB said she didn't need to check her - meaning her cervix hadn't been checked in 2 weeks - and she would induce her in 2 more days. I stepped in and asked if there was any way she could be induced that day...after all, we were there and H and arranged her work schedule and child care so she could be induced that day. We were both relieved when the OB returned with, "Get across the street right now." We walked together and she got settled in. Isaac's birth father and family were also there so I left to get Mark and the boys from the hotel.

When the OB got there, she checked H and she was at a 7! She broke her water and we waited. Four hours later (and no pittocin), H was ready to push. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed when H & F invited me into the delivery room. Mark and the boys were on the other side of the curtain and were able to hear everything happening. All I have to say, is H is a champ! Literally 4 pushes and less than 5 mins later, Isaac Matthew took his first breath! The OB started to hand F the scissors to cut the cord. He said, "Let his Mom do it." and looked at me. That meant so much to me and always will.

Welcome into our crazy Cahalan family Isaac Matthew. He was born on July 12 at 2:14pm. He weighed 7lbs 6 oz! He is a beautiful, perfect baby boy. We are blessed to have him in our lives and family.

The wait is over! Introducing...

2011-07-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

The Field Museum

2011-07-11T22:08:00.000-05:00

We had to wait out a severe thunderstorm in the lobby of the hotel. It finally blew over in about 30mins.

AAWW...the wait is finally over. The T-Rex named "Sue". There she is......we were so excited to see her.

This museum volunteer knew tons about dinosaurs. He has been on several digs and had this fossilized dino poop! How cool!

Could you imagine running into a bug this big?

Dominic is sitting in an dinosaur foot print!

The boys are sitting on a leg bone. Yes this is allowed!

We experienced the Underground Adventure. You were "shrunk" to less than .25inches. Here is a grub worm...yuck.

The boys really enjoyed playing inside a cicada shell!

A Great Day

2011-07-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

Miss A and Big B spent the day at our house today. The next time we see them, there might just be one additional face in the crowd!

Picture BOMB!

2011-07-03T13:27:00.000-05:00

I have neglected posting pictures lately. So here it goes:

Luke is gearing up for a BIG hit. He just kept getting better all year. We are so proud of him.

It was a hot night so Dominic rolled his pants up! Here is a big HOME RUN hit too!

Rounding 3rd base........

And home!

Playing short stop.....and playing 1st base.

Awesome grab! Way to go buddy!

Playing at the lake.....the water was a bit cold for me.

Last baseball game of the season.....

Luke's HOME RUN hit!

Going to second base.....

Rounding third base......

And the BIG slide finish at home plate!

Great job coaching Dad!

Luke fell asleep at the table this week. I have no idea how kids can balance like that sitting up!

More Baring Lake.....

Luke's sassy look. Actually it is the "Mom stop taking my picture" look.

The boys were hard at work on the cabin roof clearing debris from the storm the last week. Grandpa Bob would be proud boys!

The "doubting" begins!

2011-07-03T11:06:00.000-05:00

Since it is the 4th of July weekend, most of Mark's family is all together. Several of his sisters are now doubting our determination to cloth diaper our new little one. One commented, "Are you still planning on using cloth diapers?" Yes, we are and we are very excited about it. Another, "Let's just see if this baby is wearing cloth next summer!" Well, that's the plan. Another, "I give them 6 months tops." Another, "Six months.....I give them less than 6 weeks!"

I just smiled. I asked when was the last time they saw a cloth diaper? Guess what...twenty + years ago! I calmly explained that cloth diapers now are just like disposables - they look like a disposable (actually much cuter!) and go on just like a disposable. Mark's sisters said, "But they leak and stink so bad!". To which I replied, "ALL diapers leak if not changed regularly and ALL diapers stink. You think you child's poop/pee filled diapers in the trash can didn't stink? Why are products like diaper genies so popular? Oh, yeah.....because DIAPERS STINK!"

But I also agreed that we have no idea if we will like cloth diapering. We are certainly going to give it a great try. Hopefully it will be more than just "trying" and that our newest little one will only use disposables while traveling when laundry facilities are not as available.

More Fluff Mail!

2011-06-30T08:56:00.001-05:00

I received my WAHM AI2 diapers yesterday. They are great and so cute. Dominic asked if he had "cool" diapers like that when he was little. I told him he just had the plain old regular type diapers. What's great about this woman is I can send her material to make custom diapers.....so you know what that means! Chiefs, Cardinals, and Mizzou diapers - even if we have a girl!

Cloth diapers, baseball, and more randomness...

2011-06-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

We received more diapers yesterday! Dominic is now getting as excited as I am. He loves all the colors and says that "regular" diapers are so boring after looking at the cloth diapers we are getting. Just waiting on 2 more packages to arrive to complete our stash - right now we have 20 one-size pocket diapers and are waiting on 18 more to arrive - 12 more pockets and 6 all-in-2 types. I also made my own laundry detergent. That was easy enough - 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda, and 1 cup oxiclean free. Mix very well and use 1-2 tablespoons per load.

Tonight is the boys last baseball game for the season - at least we think. We had a severe thunderstrom roll through on Sunday night with straight line winds at 80mph! Tons of trees are down all around town and parts are still without power. The baseball complex took a pretty good hit - no trees - but the metal bleachers were tossed around and thrown into the fencing, dug outs, and back-stops.

Mark's cell phone is done drying out and actually works again - sort of. The only damage is to the volume of his voice coming through during a call. He said he can hear just fine, but it is difficult to hear him. I thought I was going to get fired from my laundry detail, but I noticed this week Mark's clothes are back with the family laundry!

Luke informed me yesterday that his bike is now too little. After riding for 2 months without training wheels last fall, Luke wanted them back on this spring. He says he forgot how to ride his bike. I keep telling him his reward for learning how to ride the smaller bike without training wheels again is picking out a brand new bigger bike! And I mean "brand new" - not passing down Dominic's bike.

Almost 38 weeks!

2011-06-28T10:47:00.000-05:00

H will be 38 weeks on Thursday! She remains unchanged this week. Her OB wants to schedule a possible induction around the 40 week time frame. We are still so happy and amazed that our new little one will be here soon ...... and full term!

Cloth Diaper Update

2011-06-23T17:08:00.000-05:00

My very first "fluffy" mail arrived today. I can't wait to see it. It is the "well-loved" diapers. I'm interested in seeing how "well-loved" they really are. Luckily for me, I have a great sister-in-law and niece that are fantastic sewers and could help me out on minor repair work if needed.

I ordered the laundry detergent and wet bags today too. It is so hard with these items, because like everything, there are tons of great reviews and tons of terrible reviews. I was going to order a bunch of detergent then decided I better start out small and see if it works for us before investing in tons we don't like. Now I'm down to the toilet sprayer but need to measure our water line fittings first.

Instead of pre-folds for pocket stuffers, I have been advised to use hemp inserts instead. I can't decide if I want to give my money to a big company or a WAHM (work-at-home-mom). I'm leaning towards the WAHM because I like to support the "little guy" whenever I can.

37 weeks!

2011-06-23T12:26:00.002-05:00

Holy Cow! 37 weeks! Who would have every guessed? Not me, that's for sure. H is unchanged this week. Still holding at 4 cm. We are no longer going to have a baby that is considered "pre-term"!

Baseball

2011-06-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

The boys had another game tonight. No pictures because it was cold and misty. The boys both had a great game. Dominic had 2 doubles and home run. Luke had 3 solid singles. Luke also had 2 nice stops in center field. Their last game is Friday unless we make up a couple that have been rained out. It's been a great season...too short if you ask me, Dominic, or Luke.

Complete Diaper Stash on it's way!

2011-06-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

I think I have completed our cloth diaper stash. We now have the 6 AI2's coming, 12 Sunbaby pockets, 8 "well-loved" (aka used) bumgenius 3.0, and 12 new fuzzibunz pockets on the way! I have read that we may need some 100% cotton prefolds that work great as overnight or doublers for the pockets too - but those are pretty cheap and easy to get. The bottom of the supply list is now down to a sprayer, detergent, and wet bags.

Added to the "Stash"

2011-06-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

I ordered more diapers today! This time, I'm trying out Sunbaby pocket diapers. Hopefully they will work well since they are considerably cheaper than the big name brands. Can't hardly wait to start posting pictures of our little one's "fluffy" bottom soon!

We have been asked why we have decided to cloth diaper this little one when we didn't with our first two. Well, we never really looked into it before. We had folding, twisting, pinning, and washing out poop stuck in our heads. Cloth diapering isn't like that any more. It is really close to using a disposable - but you wash it instead. After potty training 2 children already,we have washed out enough poopie underpants that it just doesn't bother us like we thought it would. Plus, there is a nifty sprayer that you attach to the toilet - don't even have to touch it! Secondly, after using disposables with 2 others, it is literally throwing money away - so a cost savings is big too. Third, the environmental impact is huge - it will be 6,000 less diapers that we contribute to a landfill.

But the 4th reason is truly why we started looking at it to begin with. Our niece, Miss A (and Luke was a smaller degree), is highly allergic to all disposable diapers except pampers cruisers. Her skin and the chemicals in the diapers do not get along......at all. Since Miss A and our baby share the same birth mother, we thought we should seriously consider doing everything we can not to expose our baby to all the chemicals and off-gassing of plastics.

36 weeks 4 days!

2011-06-20T12:53:00.000-05:00

Wow....never thought I would be posting our birth mother is more than 36 weeks!

On a not-so-good note, Mark's cell phone went through the washing machine last night. He had left it in his swim trunks and put them in the dirty clothes pile. I'm keeping up on laundry right now, so I quickly had all of our dirty lake stuff in the wash. Well.....a cell phone doesn't like to go through a complete wash cycle. Go figure....easyedge still works!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T19:53:00.000-05:00

We had a great day today! It was a wonderful day to be at the lake. We swam, boated, and finished the new swim dock for the kids. Right now, I have a very tired Luke laying next to me, and Dominic and Mark and playing catch in the backyard. What a great way to end the day.

Took the plunge!

2011-06-19T10:51:00.000-05:00

I just took the cloth diaper plunge! I bought part of our "stash" this morning. I found a great WAHM (work at home mom) that makes cloth diapers. They are so cute and she has a great return policy. I bought 6 covers and 12 inserts - these are the AI2 type cloth diapers - a cover with a snap-in soaker. My next step is to purchase the pocket diapers we liked in the store. That would give us a small variety to choose from. My fear is I will fall in love with all kinds of diapers and won't be able to resist all the cute patterns and covers. Buying more than really needed will defeat the whole purpose of saving money!

Almost 36 weeks!

2011-06-14T21:52:00.000-05:00

Our birth mother, H, had an appointment today. She is dilated more now and her doctor said that she should go to the hospital with any change. We are as ready as we can be before the call comes in. We are all getting super excited to meet this new little one!

A fun Pool Day

2011-06-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

Miss A and Big B now have a pool in their yard! They all had a great time - notice I have no pictures of my own children - they were not being cooperative!

Baring Lake Time!

2011-06-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Adoption Update

2011-06-07T11:36:00.000-05:00

The birth mother is doing great! She had an appointment this morning and is still holding strong. We are looking more and more hopeful for a 36 week healthy baby! Keep the prayers coming....they are working.

Few Pictures

2011-06-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

This is Luke yesterday riding in the boat. Obviously not happy to be getting his picture taken.

This is Luke this afternoon. He begged for another mohawk. It's just hair and his way of expressing himself. Notice I had to take this picture while he was taking a nap! I will admit that I was a little sad to see the large pile of curls laying on the kitchen floor this morning.

All ready for the baby to come home!

100 cloth wipes are ready to go too!

More Baseball

2011-06-04T12:43:00.000-05:00

This picture is from the game on Tuesday night. Dominic is rounding 3rd base and head for home for his first home run of the season.

This morning's game was hot and humid!! Luke is standing on first after hitting a single.

Dominic's look of determination as he heads for 3rd.

Luke....so silly.....and doing so well for playing with 6-7 year olds!

Dominic on deck.

And here is the HOME RUN swing and hit!

Going to 3rd.....

And almost home!

Luke on deck and ready as ever!

This was a great solid hit .....good job buddy!

Luke touching home plate.

Toothless!

2011-06-03T11:32:00.001-05:00

Dominic is now toothless! He is missing both front teeth and is super mad that he won't be eating much corn on the cob this summer. I think he looks so cute! I need to get a picture. He has 2 more loose on the bottom too!

Almost done!

2011-06-02T20:49:00.000-05:00

I made great progress today! The baby stuff is all packed and ready to go. Now it is time to start getting things ready for us to leave on short notice.

Results

2011-06-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

Dominic's results were sent home today. He just barely missed qualifying for the program. We are still super proud of him for even trying.

Tested

2011-06-01T21:15:00.000-05:00

Dominic has his evaluation for the gifted program at school today. I asked if it was hard. Dominic said, "Oh, I don't really know. But I think I did pretty good." I have no idea when we will get the results.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for Dominic. Then we have baseball games Thursday and Friday this week.

Emotions

2011-06-01T20:27:00.000-05:00

What a whirl wind of emotions today. I finished painting the kids bathroom - yeah! I put up a 3rd towel hook.....starting getting teary eyed. Moved on to washing and folding 3 sets of new towels......got teary eyed. Put the clean car seat cover back on....got teary eyed. Washed bottles and pacifiers.....got teary eyed. Set up the changing pad....got teary eyed. Set up the crib....and lost it.

I cried when I took the crib down over 2 years ago. I never dreamed I would ever set it up again. Fitting I had happy tears today putting it back together. We are so happy we can hardly contain ourselves. The boys are so excited that they are telling everyone they meet that their new baby brother or sister is almost ready to come home.

Luke is so funny. He explains simply, "My new brother or sister is growing in H's tummy. All of Mommy and Daddy's baby seeds died. H's baby seeds don't die so that is why our new baby is growing in her tummy instead of Mommy's. Did you know that is called "adoption"? Adoption in when a baby grows in a different tummy but I will still be a big brother."

Baseball!!!!!

2011-06-01T12:57:00.002-05:00

The boys had a game last night. Dominic did AWESOME!!!! Two triples and a home run! Way to go Dominic.

Adoption Update

2011-06-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

No news is good news at this point. The birth mother is almost 33wks. Luke and I have been working hard this week in preparation. We have been washing clothes, blankets, car seat cover, etc. We even got the kids bathroom painted this week! I need to keep going with making sure I have some of the "less" thought about items ready - like our cloths for court and the Wii for the kids. After my little blogging break, it will be time to clean up our bedroom so Mark can set up the crib when he gets home tonight. We can hardly believe the time is so near.

Miss A and Big B's Baptism

2011-05-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

We returned from our trip in time to make it to Miss A and Big B's baptism. We are their God Parents so I don't have pictures of the actual baptism since I was standing up there. But here are some pictures from afterwards.

Dominic looking so handsome in his shirt and tie. Luke was not cooperative at this time!

Grand Canyon Vacation

2011-05-29T16:19:00.000-05:00

We have just returned from our family vacation to the Grand Canyon. We had a wonderful time. The weather was amazing. We literally saw maybe 6 clouds the entire week. When we were walking to our van in the KC airport, Luke says, "I want to go back to the place without any clouds!" because it was storming in KC.....again.

Like I said on facebook, family vacation + new camera + handsome family = 650 pictures! I will share a few here.

Luke handsome as always. Ready to make the final few steps to "edge" of the canyon. FYI - I was scared to death the kids would get too close to the edge. There are no rails or fences......

Seeing he Grand Canyon for the first time. WOW. Luke is standing about 8-10 ft from the edge. That is as close as my heart could take. Mark is standing just out of the camera view too!

Dominic thought that since he is older, he should be able to get closer to the edge! I don't think so Mister!

Need I say more?

We hiked part of the Bright Angel Trail. It is one of the most traveled trails into the Canyon.

This is the overlook at the Watch Tower. Great views from here.

The boys had a great time at the pool. The biggest bonus was the water was nice and warm!

Walking on the road to the Devil's Bridge trail head. The boys were fascinated with red sand.

Dominic was taking a break as we walked up the trail. It was just shy of 1 mile up the mountain! He did great....all by himself....both up and down.

This is the first of 4 or 5 sets of "stairs" cut into the rock to reach Devil's Bridge.

We decided to to take a little break on an overlook before making our final push for the top!

Devil's Bridge.....a unique rock formation that literally forms a bridge between 2 other cliffs. Yes, you can walk across it if you are not bothered by the 150-200ft drop.......no thanks. While it is not roped off, we heard from other hikers that it is not recommended you actually walk across it because the integrity of the rock is unknown.

We then hiked under the "bridge".

We went to Red Rock State Park too. As seen on Luke's face, the boys were done with walking and hiking. They had enough walking by then!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Dominic from our trip.

After hiking, we spent the afternoon at Slide Rock. This is a really neat place. It is Oak Creek - which ran by our hotel/cottage. At this particular place, the rocks are very smooth and slippery. It forms a natural water slide. Mark was not having any part of the 55 degree mountain water...so it was up to me to swim with the boys. The creek swallowed up my favorite flip-flop....but that is what I get for wearing them into the water.

Hint to others......rocks are still rocks. If going to this place, I advise water shoes or tennis shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Also shorts and a t-shirt to actually go down the slide would have been helpful. My hips / butt are sporting little strawberries and bruises from the rocks.

We visited the "Chapel in the Cliffs". It is a Roman Catholic church that has only non-denominational services. But the views were really nice and they had a great gift shop!

Adoption News

2011-05-29T15:13:00.002-05:00

The birth mother had a great report this week. She has remained unchanged and the baby's head is not engaged. Good news! I have 4 days off work this week and my time will be spent getting us all ready for the "it's time" phone call.

First baseball game of 2011

2011-05-20T18:17:00.000-05:00

Adoption Update

2011-05-18T11:50:00.000-05:00

The birthmother, H, is now 31 wks. She continues to show signs of pre-term labor. Looks like our little one will have a June birthday instead of July. At least we hope June and NOT May. All prayers are appreciated.

Trying out the NEW camera!!!!!

2011-05-13T19:30:00.000-05:00

It felt like Summer!

2011-05-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Today was very sunny and HOT!!!!! It felt like a late June day. Luke was so excited to break out the water slide for the yard.

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-10T10:04:00.000-05:00

We started the weekend off with Luke's soccer game. He has informed us that he is not a fan of soccer! He says it is way too much running.

Luke loves playing goalie - and when he is paying attention to the action at his end of the field, he is actually very good at it.

After the game, the boys had baseball practice. Dominic is doing fantastic and Luke does well when paying attention. Then we left for KC for the remainder of the weekend.

On Sunday, my mom, sister, and Miss A participated in a Mother's Day walk/run. We walk. This year the weather was perfect (the runners said it was a little too warm) and the boys came too! As you can tell, Luke was having nothing to do with a family picture - yes that is him in the background with his back turned to us!

Again - Luke not cooperating with getting a picture. I keep threatening the kids that when they graduate from high school, get married, etc., these are the pictures I'm showing off - the ones when they were truly "being kids" and not cooperating!

I did manage to snap a quick picture of Luke when he was not looking. Here he is catching a ride on Dad's shoulders.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Miss A wanted Grammy to hold her hand while we walked. How sweet........

And lastly, silly Dominic. He climbed this tree in front of Grammy's house right before we headed home.

Cloth Diapers!

2011-05-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I have managed to convince Mark that we should use cloth diapers with our new LO! I'm so excited. We were able to see several different brands in a store, ask lots of questions, and even try them out on a doll. I think Mark is even a "bit" excited about it too. All our family thinks we are nuts. But I (and now Mark) are trying to tell people that it is not cloth diapering from the 70's and 80's. These diapers go on just like disposables - but instead of always throwing them away (with money and not to mention bad for the environment) - you just wash them.

Baby Update - 29 weeks

2011-05-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Our Little Firecracker is growing......BIG!!! Yeah for good news. The baby is measuring in the 60% for growth. However, the birth mother is showing more signs of pre-term labor. Her OB had her take the steroid shots to help develop the lungs - just in case of an early delivery. We are praying and keeping everything crossed for another 4+ weeks.