I probably should back up a bit and tell you that Millie Janalee had a birthday too!  Our baby - the one that made me a mama - turned THREE years old just weeks after we moved.  It was a chaotic time, but we did manage to move into our home, in the midst of all the painting being done, and have her third birthday in our new home as a little family of four.

What can I say?  I don't really cook too much.  And I rarely cook breakfast for sure.  So donuts is always our birthday treat of choice.  Ha!  She was just as excited over a donut as she would have been over anything I could have made.  Probably more so.  Smith was pretty excited too.  He had just begun pulling up at this point.

July 18, 2012.  The day our entire world changed for the better.  God is so good!

Millie Janalee wanted to swim for her birthday, so we did just that!  It really was the first time we spent a day in our pool with just us.  We enjoyed it very much!  Having our own pool has some major perks.  For example, when Smith was ready for his nap...I put him down and came back out to the pool for fun.  Thankful for that luxury and all Russ's hard work for so many years to get us to this point. Finally home!  Permanently.

Millie Janalee had a BALL!  We had a sweet friend come teach swimming lessons in our home the week before, and Millie Janalee had really warmed up to the water.  She is just a little fish.  Not swimming on her own, but not afraid of going under water at all!  We had her swim instructor come back for a second week in August.

After a fun day in the water, we rested and loaded everyone up for a trip to Corinth.  We visited Russ's parents for her birthday and opened her gifts there.  This was the last night we saw Russ's dad awake.  We told him good night and gave him a kiss before he retired for the evening.  Such a special memory on Millie Janalee's third birthday.

We are so thankful for the three years of pure JOY...and maybe a test in patience too...we have been given.  So much more than we ever could have imagined or asked for.  God knew the desires of our hearts much better than we did.  Thankful always that He knows more!

The New Kid in Class

This year is a whole new "first" for me and for our family.  Our first permanent home, Russ's first job after medical school and training, our first time to be so close to family, and our first year with a preschooler.  That means doing the  normal school things like checking weekly folders, making lunches, and car lines.  We love our new little life of "firsts!"

To say that Millie Janalee loves school would be an understatement!  Her excitement each morning and her questions about school before bed are just a small reason I know she loves it.  You all know from just reading our blog that Millie Janalee is a social butterfly who loves her friends and meeting new people.  I knew she would love it, and I feel so blessed that God placed us in the perfect spot for our children to grow and learn and love.

Millie Janalee has been blessed with such a sweet class of 3 year olds and amazing teachers.  My heart literally explodes when I hear from other teachers and how much they love our girl.  She is learning new things and making us so proud.  Every time I check her weekly folder, I can't wait to see what new skill she learned that week.  And if I listen very carefully at the most random moments, she may tell me all about school and her friends and her teachers.  The other night we were driving home from Jackson after our cousin's birthday party...and she begins to recite the entire Pledge of Allegiance.  You just never know!

She's a little sponge!  For the good and the bad.  So we really have to watch ourselves.  Ha!

We conquered our first homework assignment and created a page all about Millie Janalee and her family for the class family book.  We got the class book a couple weeks ago to help us learn all her classmates and their families.  Such a great way for the families to get to know each other!  Especially us newbies.

Being the teacher and new parent that I am...I have already talked to her teachers asking how she was doing.  Is she making friends?  Is she being nice?  Is she following directions?  I am thankful for the responses from her teachers and so happy to know she is playing with everyone.  Specifically wanting everyone to play dress-up!  Ha!

Moving can be hard.  But those around us have made it so much easier!

Happy Birthday, Smith!

We celebrated Smith all week for his birthday.  Having an October birthday in a football family proves a little challenging.  So we planned his party around game days and just celebrated him all week.  Beginning with his actual birthday.  Russ took off for the week, and we were delighted to spend the morning with our little family.

We got Smith up for his first birthday surprise - a sugary, sprinkled donut!  He was so intrigued and after inspection dug right in!  I think we have a sweet tooth on our hands.  And that's close to how many actual teeth he has on his first birthday...2 little bottom teeth.  Sweet boy!

After breakfast, he enjoyed playing with his gifts.  I have learned so many things along the way after my first baby.  And one of those is don't even worry about wrapping the gifts!  Stick a bow on it and be done.  Haha!

We were so happy to have Susu, Kay Kay, and Hughes come visit us while Millie Janalee was in school.  They took us all out to eat lunch and even brought a few surprises for the birthday boy.

And no birthday is complete without cake and lots of icing.  After lunch, we lit another candle and sang another version of "Happy Birthday" for our one year old.  He wasn't sure at first, but ended up devouring the cupcake.

That's a happy birthday boy!

It still blows my mind how quickly this year has flown.  I've been beyond terrible at documenting Smith's little life on the blog, but I have cherished every moment and memory made!  Such a blessing to our family.  We love him so!

Happy Birthday, Smith!

OH How the Years Go By

How is it possible?!  Where did this year go?!

October 13, 2014 our precious baby boy entered this world.  In a whirlwind that hasn't slowed down since!  Everything about his arrival was immeasurably more than we had ever imagined.  A complete surprise and JOY!  From the day I got the call and had to sit down to finish the conversation to the day we finally were able to bring him home to Missouri, where we lived at the time...it was all so crazy and joyful and challenging and PERFECT.  Perfectly planned by God.

He created this precious life, and He entrusted Smith to his birthparents first...and then to us.  The magnitude of that never escapes me.

And OH, how the years go by!  

Oh how the love brings tears to my eyes.  

All through the changes, the soul never dies.  

We fight, we laugh, we cry 

As the years go by.

My sister made Smith a DVD, as she has always done for Millie Janalee, full of pictures from this year put to perfectly selected music.  Russ and I watched it today with tears in our eyes.  Memories flooding our minds.  Many of those tears were wishing for moments back...moments we could hold a little longer, love a little better, laugh instead of stress.  A haunting memory of how quickly the years go by.  A fresh breeze through our hearts reminding us to cherish these days.  The busy days, the hard days, the lazy days, the little things and big.  Because very soon, we will look back on these days and realize just how quickly they escaped our grasp.

Our beautiful Smith has grown into such a happy, fun, and mobile toddler.  He's walking all over the place!  He loves loves loves to play with balls!  He carries them, throws them, kicks them and holds them.  Any shape or size - footballs, baseballs, soccer balls.  It doesn't matter.  He is all boy!  With quite an arm.  He still adores Millie Janalee and prefers to play with her above any toy in the room.  I hope they always love well.

Smith is wearing 12/18 months in clothes and a size 4 shoe.  He is taking 3 bottles a day - morning, afternoon, and night.  He is eating some big boy food too, in addition to his baby food.  He really is growing up so fast!

So fast that I don't even get a chance to blog all his monthly photos.  But I promise I take the picture! Hopefully, one day he will have two young children and understand how the second child may get the shaft on lots of things.  The positive side is when it comes to discipline and anything of major importance...we had to practice on Millie Janalee before we learned lessons and did it better with Smith.  Every family position has it's perks.  Smith will have his!  Ha!

Yesterday, our little family had the delight and joy of spending some time with his birthmother.  Precious time spent with the angel who placed Smith in our arms one year ago.  Adoption is such a beautiful picture of love.  I pray Smith always understands how deep, how wide, how high is the Father's love for him.  And may he always feel the immeasurable love that surrounds him on this earth.  From his beginnings in his mother's womb.  Though it wasn't my womb...he was loved by us all.  Prayed for.  Named.  Planned.

He gets his dimples from her

God's plans for Smith's life are just as our entire journey has been - immeasurably more than we could ever dream of.  I pray that Smith follow His will for his little life.  Loving his Father and following after Him.

Happy birthday to my youngest love and favorite little boy!!  We love you way more than you could ever know!

New Beginnings!

Millie Janalee had a great first week of preschool.  As expected, she LOVES it and asks everyday if she can go to school.  Or dance class.  Or gymnastics.  Ha!  We had Russ's family over for Labor Day.  we planned an earlier dinner so we could get kids bathed and in bed at a decent hour.  They had a ball swimming and playing after dinner, and the adults enjoyed visiting.  It was Russ's mom's first time to see our new house, so we were excited for her visit.  I was able to get Millie Janalee to the bathtub and bathed with only a medium meltdown for all to see!  But she was bathed and ready for bed at a reasonable time.

I sat in bed with her and read her current favorite "princess book" and then I pulled out my First Day Jitters book from my teaching days.  We read the book and talked about school and friends and her teachers.  She was so excited about seeing all her "fwiends."  We said our prayers, I kissed my toddler goodnight, and I laid all her school things out for her first day!  Because I would wake up with a PRESCHOOLER!

Since I was walking her in to school, I had to be up and ready too.  So I set my alarm, started getting ready, and walked across my quiet house.  I walked in Millie Janalee's room and rubbed her back to wake her up.  She woke up just as pleasant as could be.  I asked if she was ready for school, and she said "YEAH!"  She jumped out of bed and enjoyed breakfast before getting dressed for pre-first day pictures.  Thank goodness Russ was off work last week, because he was a huge help taking care of Smith while I did all the morning things with Millie Janalee.  Surprisingly, we were both ready with plenty of time for pictures and calmly gathering our belongings for the drive to school.

Smith was also very interested in what was going on.  He didn't realize yet that he was going to be so sad and miss his big sister so much during the day.  Bless his sweet little heart!  He has had some adjusting to do.

I was doing so well, and I have been so excited about preschool.  Then we pulled into the parking lot.

And I felt a lump in my throat.

Millie Janalee was asking to get out and go to school, and I was frozen unable to talk to her without my voice cracking.  Yep.  I had a moment.  I wiped my eyes and tried to gather myself as I got out of the car to let her out.  I put her backpack on her and we walked hand in hand across the parking lot as the other students arrived.

We walked into her classroom - like maybe two feet into the room - when she turned around and looked up at me.  "Bye Mama!"  What?!?!  There were no tears.  No hesitation.  Nothing to make me say, "Oh, you don't want to grow  up?  Okay.  Let's get out of here!"  Nothing but excitement.  Sigh.  We found her little cubby so we could hang her backpack and it was right next to her friend, Jack.

Her teacher led some of the children over to the table to color apples.  She sat right down and went to work.  Oh, how my heart aches at how fast this happened!

So, as you can imagine, I walked to my car and sat there for a little while.  Tears streaming down my face.  It was a ridiculous sight, really.  Lord help me when my kids go to college.  I am so proud of how confident my little oldest girl is.  I am proud of her personality and her love and her smile.  And I pray others see her the way I see her.

Precious.  A gift.

Here's to new beginnings and new stages!

Ten Months

Y'all.

This cuteness overload is brought to you by a TEN MONTH old baby boy that I love!  I know I have been so terrible at recording his last few months, but trust me when I say that I have been right in the thick of each change, month, and milestone.  This boy is keeping me on my toes for sure!

In fact, he is almost eleven months old.  That means we are quickly approaching his first birthday.  Whaaat?!?!  So let me do a quick update on the past few months with our precious addition to our family.  I believe my last update was at seven months.

Since May, Smith has been through lots of changes.  He FINALLY has his own room and our children actually live in a house...not an apartment.  He has two sweet bottom teeth.  I'm pretty sure he may be cutting more - at least I'm hoping that is the reason for his mood this past week.  He is standing on his own and I project will be off and walking anytime now!  He talks and giggles and smiles with his entire face!  He still has the sweetest dimples I have ever seen and his eyes disappear when he's really tickled.  I love it!

Smith is mostly wearing 12 month clothes and size 4 diapers.  He is actually wearing size 3 now, because we have lots leftover...but size 4 is a better fit.  He takes three 8 ounce bottles a day (morning, afternoon, and night).  Before his morning nap, he also eats one pack of baby food with oatmeal.  For lunch, he eats one pack of veggies and one pack of fruit.  Same for dinner.  My favorite times in the day are when I go in his room after he wakes up from his sleep.  He is just the sweetest thing playing peek-a-boo in bed!  Also putting him to bed at night as that is the ONLY time he allows me to hold him close and rock.  The rest of the day, he is wide open.  Play, hold him, get down, play, pick him up, get down, play, find Millie Janalee, play and giggle with her, pick him up, get down.  It's pretty much like that all day.  I just want to snuggle his sweet cheeks so badly!  And nighttime is my time to do it.  He likes banana slices, and he didn't seem to like green peas.  He simply spit it back out and threw them on the floor. Ha!  Other than that and puffs or mum mums, we haven't tried much table food.  He also doesn't seem to like drinking from a sippy cup - he just wants to play with it.  Sigh.

Smith wakes up between 7 and 8 usually.  He naps at 10 and again around 2 or 3, depending on Millie Janalee's schedule.  And he goes to bed at 8.  However, last night I put him down at 7:30 and it was the best night this week.  He must be going through some change -maybe teeth.

He can say "Dada" and "Mama".  He also clicks his tongue and plays peek a boo.  Peek a boo actually looks more like he's slapping his face, but I know what he's doing.  Exactly what we do.  Holding his hands over his eyes and taking them down quickly.  He's just super fast and ends up hitting himself.  Outsiders may think he finds some kind of enjoyment in hurting himself.  Ha!  His favorite toys are really anything - pink or not.  Lately, he has been VERY into playing with balls.  Our  neighbors encouraged us to buy the boy a ball that isn't pink.  This was after I took him across the street to visit with Millie Janalee's pink soccer ball.  Ha! He loves to throw things.  Anything.  But especially balls.  He's got quite an arm!  Last week, we sat in the floor and practiced rolling the ball back and forth to each other.

He loves, loves, loves his big sister!  Oh my.  Since Millie Janalee started school, Smith is lost during the day.  He goes into her room looking for her.  When she's napping after school, he goes to her door and bangs.  He misses her.  And so do I, honestly.  In the mornings this summer, I would let Millie Janalee go "check him" in the mornings while I laid in bed a few more minutes.  I could hear them on the monitor giggling, talking, and having such a good time.  By the time I made it in there, Smith would be sitting in his bed with the biggest grin on his face!  Surrounded by every toy in his room.  Ha!  Their favorite activity during the day is singing and dancing to Millie Janalee's kids gospel music on her karaoke machine.  Smith has got some moves, and it is the funniest thing watching him when the music starts.  He also learned how to "sing" in the microphone.  The two of them can entertain themselves in her room forever.  I just smile listening to them play.  I pray they always enjoy one another.  Riding in the car is fun too.  Millie Janalee plays peek a boo with Smith.  They also have some kind of game they play that involves lots of kicking and cackling.  I'm not sure what the back of my front seats look like, but it's worth it to hear the happiness and love between those two babies.  Watching them grow to love and enjoy each other - watching their personalities grow - is one of my greatest joys in life right now!

Smith has had a very busy few months.  In fact, his entire 10 months of life have been busy and full of activity.  But he has rolled with the punches just fine, and I think he loves it here.  We love you, Smith, more than you can ever know.  I pray you grow to understand more each day how much love your Daddy and I have for you!  I pray you understand how high, how deep, and how wide our Father's love is for you also.  You are precious.  You were chosen.  And you were part of a perfect plan - worth every single punch along the way.

Happy TEN MONTHS sweet boy!

Preschool…Here We Come!

This has been a big week around here!  We officially have a "preschooler!"  Not a toddler.  Not a baby. A PRESCHOOLER.  I feel like that might make me more official as a mama.  Ha ha!  The week Russ signed his letter of intent with the radiology group here was also preschool registration most places.  So I immediately got on the phone with two of the most highly recommended preschools here.  The preschool director called me back and said she had one open spot - and it was in the three year old class!  Sign me up!

Everything about our move feels like it was totally and completely meant to be.  From Russ's job and buying our perfect house to getting Millie Janalee in a fabulous preschool and having some of the best neighbors.  It really has been a great experience so far.

Last week, Russ and I took Millie Janalee to her Preschool Open House to meet her teachers and all her new "fwiends."  She is one of two new students in her class, and I think the other little girl is native to the area...so we are actually the only newcomers.  Everyone was so welcoming and couldn't wait to meet the new parents in the room and find out who the little girl with the glasses was.  We were blessed with an amazing teacher, and we cannot wait to hear all about each school day.  We were some of the first ones there and some of the last ones to leave.

I blame that on the playground...

My parents took Smith with them to celebrate my brother's birthday in Starkville.  So Russ and I had Millie Janalee all to ourselves for the night.  We asked her what she wanted to eat for supper.  I had a fun hibachi grill in  mind.  She wanted pancakes.  So that's what we did.  We and a big date night at IHOP.  Where she didn't even eat her pancake!

But, that's okay.  We celebrated her.

Millie Janalee has been SO EXCITED about school and playing with her "fwiends."  I have been excited for her.  I just can't believe how fast the time went.  When did I turn my back for her to grow up?  She looks so grown.  And acts it too!  We have struggled through potty training, and we are improving.  We are learning to obey, and it's a process.  We are loving her fiercely.  And she loves back.

As I watched her play in her new classroom the night of Open House, I began to pray that she be the friend who is kind and compassionate.  The friend who welcomes the new student.  The friend who asks the little girl sitting alone to play.  The friend who sees someone crying and offers a hug.  I began to pray for compassion.  Because those are the things I hope the other friends offer her.  It's funny how you can worry about a three year old being accepted and loved for who she is.  Because we all know three year olds don't really care.  They play alone or with others - usually without prejudice. Ha!

I pray for a great year of making new friends and having FUN!  It's sure to be an adventure!