Big Things for July

July was a busy month for our family. We bought a new house, and moved from Alabama to DC. Leo turned 6 months old. We finalized his adoption. We painted every room in our new house, and unpacked a LOT of boxes. We went to Utah for a week for Leo's sealing and baby blessing. Jack started his new job. It's been a wonderful and busy month.

We'll post some photos of the new house, just as soon as we're finished with a few more projects...

Families are Forever

Last week we took Leo to the Salt Lake Temple and were sealed together as a family. It was such a special day. We thank God for blessing us with Leo, and that we are now an eternal family. We are so blessed.

Oh Happy Day

Our adoption of Leo finalized today. We could not be more thrilled! We are so blessed.

We thank God for all the little miracles that have happened over the last week (and months) to make this day possible. And we thank all our friends and family for their prayers and support.

We love our baby Leo, and are so happy to be a family.

Happy happy day!

Videos of the boy

Jack has been busy with the video camera the last few weeks. Here are some of his favorites:

Leo has become increasing ticklish lately, which is really fun for us. Sometimes just the anticipation of being tickled will make him laugh... it's so cute!

Leo goes through phases where he'll blow raspberries... and then forget about it for a few weeks. Then he will suddenly rediscover the art of raspberry blowing, and will do it all day long!

Leo still goes crazy in his jumper. He's learned to really get those arms pumping, and legs jumping... he gets a major workout.

5 months old

Leo turns 5 months old today, and he is getting huge. He is 17 pounds, and 271/4 inches long. Everywhere we go, people think he's 8 or 9 months old. He is a big, big boy! His hair is growing too-- it sticks straight up, so he looks a little bit like a dandelion.

Leo loves to look in the mirror and laugh at that funny baby he sees. He loves to jump and bounce and play. He loves watching other kids. He loves blowing raspberries, and being tickled.

Last week he rolled over for the first time, from his back to his stomach. His legs are very strong too. For the last month or so, he can stand up on his legs. We hold his hands, and he can support all his own weight. We get so excited about these small milestones, but we also get scared that our little baby is growing up too fast.

4 months old

Leo turned 4 months old on May 8th, and he is getting very big! 27" long, and 16 pounds!

He is getting cuter and cuter by the day. His new tricks are sticking out his tongue, playing with his feet, and making a kkkkcccckkkk sound in the back of his throat. He has also started laughing- real, laugh-out-loud laughter! It's the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.

Nana and Grandpa drove out here to Alabama (from Utah) for a visit week before last. As usual, they spoiled Leo rotten, and loved every minute with him.

While they were here we made a trip to Toy-R-Us and they bought Leo a jumper toy that he is just crazy about. His legs are getting pretty strong now, and he loves to stand up, to kick and bounce... so this is perfect for him at this stage.

Check out the video below for all the exciting action...

Leo's first Swim

We took Leo to the pool for the first time last week. He seemed perplexed by the water and unsure how he felt about it. But he sure looked cute in his swimming gear!

HAPPY Mother's Day.

During our years of infertility struggles, Mother's day was NOT my favorite day. I would try to keep a stiff upper lip, but half way through church I would start bawling like a baby. I just couldn't listen to all those talks about motherhood, while the fear of NEVER becoming a mother grew in my chest, until I could hardly breathe.

One night, as I was telling my friend about the dread of an upcoming Mother's Day, she told me: "You know, you don't have to go to church that day." And it was like a revelation. So the next two years, I just didn't go to church on Mother's Day, and it was a much easier day.

Of course, this Mother's Day was very different. As I hugged my sweet little boy, my heart was full of gratitude for the privilege of being Leo's mom. And I didn't have to hide when they were passing out flowers to all the moms. Like a trophy, I happily accepted the tiny plant in a Styrofoam cup.

Our hearts were also full of gratitude for Leo's birth mother, Melissa. We will be eternally grateful that she gave Leo life, and that she chose us to be his family. She is a very special mother (in every sense of the word), and the most selfless person we know. We love you Mimi!

Arghh Matey

Jack has always been fascinated with eye patches. He snaps photos of mysterious patch-wearing strangers everywhere we go. (He's seen all types: simple black patches, the leather piratey type, or the doctor-issued gauze ones.) On one trip to France we saw about 5 guys with eye patches in one day! We figured they must have had a sale at the eye clinic that day...

Well, today Jack became one of those mysterious patch-wearing strangers. Here he is, sporting his lovely new eye wear. Say cheese, Jack!

Jack got a stye in his eye, right after Leo was born. It was a huge red bump on edge of his eyelid, that just would not go away. We did the Epson salt thing, but two months later, it was still there. He went to the clinic and got a prescription for some eyedrops, and some ointment. But neither worked. So now, it's FOUR months later, and he finally gets back into the clinic. They had to cut it open and let it drain. (ouch.)

He's so glad that it is finally gone, and that people won't be staring at it when he's talking to them anymore... And of course, he got a really cool eye patch out of it.

Giggly Boy

Nursery

Well, I finally got around to shooting some photos of Leo's room. And here they are. I am so excited to do his room in the new house because 1) we can paint the walls (no more beige!), and 2) we know that he is a boy, and can decorate accordingly. But for our short time here, this has been a nice place for Leo to lay his head. Leo loves to stare at the brightly colored vinyl dots on the wall, and we've had lots of wonderful moments in that rocking chair for feeding time, and reading books.

The frame with Leo's name was made by my best friend, Kristen, who is a very talented artist (and recently, children's book illustrator/writer).

Cute Buns

Leo will probably be very embarassed by this photo when he is older... but for now, it's just too cute!

New Digs

We're moving to the DC area mid-July, and Jack will be working at the Pentagon for the next 4 years. I have been house-hunting online for the last 2 months, but I flew out here for the weekend to see some houses in person.
A new house came on the market the day that I got here. I went to see it yesterday, made an offer last night, and they accepted it this afternoon! It is a great house, and we are very excited! It's a nice, brick rambler that was built in 1962. It's in a great neighborhood, at the Springfield/Annandale border, just 1 mile from the Beltway... so Jack's commute won't be too bad. It needs a little bit of work (replacing the pink toilet and bathtub in the hall bathroom, for example) but for the most part, it is in really great shape. It even has a swing set in the backyard, that Leo will love... in a few years.
Happy, and relieved that we found a house, I hopped on the Metro for an afternoon of sight-seeing. I walked around the national monuments and spent a few hours at the Museum of American History. I saw a fabulous exhibit of the First Ladies' Innagural Gowns, Fonzie's jacket, Dorothy's ruby slippers, and Julia Child's kitchen. So cool. I have been to DC a few times, but living here will be great-- I want to see everything!

Random Videos

Here are some random videos of the cutest baby in the world!

Yawn.... Giggle.......Yawn.

Three months old

Leo turned 3 months old yesterday. He is changing so much every day. He has started grabbing things (fingers, toys, blankets... anything he can get his hands on) He can sit in his Boppy chair, holding his head up on his own. And as of this week, he can sleep through the night. (Yahoo!)

Our neighborhood pool opened this week, and we were excited to take him swimming for the first time. We got him all suited up... but when we got down there the water was way too cold to go in. So, we came back home and took a swim in the bathtub. Someone gave us this cool bath toy, a blue star that spins, has flashing lights, and sprays water. Leo thinks it's pretty cool.

Happy Easter!

Leo celebrated his first Easter today. Here he is with his Easter basket, and the giant Easter bunny that was Jack's when he was a little boy. I had to include 4 different photos, because Leo's facial expression is so cute in each of them. The second photo looks like the bunny is whispering in Leo's ear, and he thinks it's quite funny. What a cutie!

Growing Boy

Leo had a growth spurt this week, weighing in at 14 lbs, 6 oz, and growing over an inch in length, to 25 inches! (3 weeks ago he was 12 lbs 7 oz, and 23 1/4 inches long) He's also been sitting up in his Bumbo chair, like a very big boy!

Here are our favorite photos of the week:

Spring Break

Jack had Spring Break last week, so we took Leo on his first camping trip to Sherling Lake. We camped in our little trailer (Big Red) and took our kayaks out on the lake. It was Leo's first kayaking too! Apparently, he found it relaxing to be out on the water, because he promptly fell asleep!

Life vest? Check.
Sunscreen? Check.
Binky? Check.

We had a great time at the lake, sitting around our nightly campfires, and playing cards inside the trailer when it was chilly outside. Even though the trees haven't started leafing out just yet, the campground and lake were beautiful. I love the Spanish Moss that hangs down from the trees-- it's exactly how I always pictured the South.

Smiley Face

Leo is such a happy baby, and he has been particularly smiley the last few weeks. Jack and I have been on a quest to capture these adorable smiles on camera. What a cutie!

Chubby Cheeks and Fuzzy Hair

Leo is growing so fast, and changing every day. Last week his cheeks got really chubby and he grew a double chin. This week, he's sprouting new hair. His head is covered in a layer of fuzzy dark hair. His original hairs (the long ones) protrude from the crown of his head, poking out from all the fuzzy new stuff. It is so cute!

Leo is also smiling more and more. Especially when he wakes up from a nap. As soon as he sees me coming into his room he gets a huge grin on his face, and it's enough to melt my heart! I am forced to pick him up, and smother him with kisses from the top of his fuzzy head, to each of his chubby little cheeks. I adore him.

Leo will be 2 months old tomorrow. I can hardly believe it. Jack and I can't imagine life without him. He is such a joy, and we thank God for him everyday. We are so blessed.

Welcome to the Jungle

We bought Leo a Jungle play mat yesterday. He loves it!

Home Sweet Home!

After 4 long weeks, we finally got clearance from ICPC last Tuesday, so Leo and I flew home on Wednesday. It is so good to be home!
Montgomery got 2 inches of snow on Friday- which is very rare for the South. All the businesses and schools shut down for the day, which meant Jack got a 4 day weekend! (Today is President's Day) It's been wonderful to spend all this time together as a family. We love our little Leo!

Daddy Time

Jack flew out here for the weekend, so we could spend some time with him. (He's been back home in Alabama for 3 weeks now) We've really missed him!

It was wonderful to be together as a family. We took a walk around the neighborhood with the stroller, made dinner together, had bath time, and snuggled together in bed. It was heaven!

Jack flew back to Alabama this evening. We were sad to see him go. Hopefully we'll join him at home very soon...