House Photos

Many of you have asked for photos of our new house. Well, most of our big projects on the main floor are complete, so we finally took some photos of it. And here they are!
(I have included the "before" photos at the bottom)

BEFORE PHOTOS

We removed the various wallpaper borders, painted over the sponge-treatment walls, got rid of those bizare valances, replaced the country blue countertops and ugly tile backsplash. We painted the brick fireplace white, painted over the olive green walls, and so much more...

Master bedroom & Leo's room

Philadelphia Phun

Jack had to attend a work meeting in Philadelphia last week, so Leo and I decided to tag along. (It was about a 3 hour car-ride from here.) Jack's dad is from Philly, so he's been there lots of times, but this was my second trip there, and Leo's first.

Leo and I took a tour around the city, and got to sit on the top of the double-decker bus. Leo loved the feel of the air blowing in his hair (it made him giggle), and he also liked smiling at all the foreign tourists sitting behind us. We had a great time seeing all the sites from our birds-eye view. Philadelphia has such a rich history. I'd like to go back sometime to spend more time seeing everything...



We picked Jack up after his meeting and then went to Valley Forge, where Washington and his troops encamped the Winter of 1777. (It's just outside of Philadelphia) We saw some log cabins (like those that the troops would have lived in) and the house where Washington stayed.

We enjoyed the pool at the hotel where we stayed. It's been about 2 months since Leo swam last, so he had a great time! Check out the video below, if you want to see the cute little guy swimming.

7 months and 7 years

Jack and I celebrate our 7 year anniversary today, and Leo celebrates 7 months of life! It is a happy day for all of us.

Leo is still the happiest baby on the block. He has completely charmed everyone in our new ward at church. They all have to come by our pew to catch one of his million dollar smiles, and to run their fingers through his fuzzy hair. What a cutie!

Leo is talking and babbling a lot. He's discovering new sounds that he can make every day. He can just entertain himself for hours. He's rolling all over the place, and is learning to move himself closer to the object he has his eye on. And lately he's really into faces. He'll stroke your cheek, pull your nose, touch your eyes, and grab at your hair.

Leo is a whopping 18 1/2 pounds now, and is 28 1/2 inches long. He is looking less and less like a baby, and that makes us a little sad. He's growing up too fast.

For our anniversary Jack and I went on a real date! My friend Candace watched Leo, and we drove into DC. We had dinner at the Bistro Bis on Capitol Hill (Yummy French food) and then went on the "Monuments by Moonlight" tour. It was very cool to see all the monuments at night, all lit up. (I love Washington, and am so excited to be living here.)

It was wonderful to spend the evening with Jack, and to have some one on one time. He is still my sweetheart, and I love him with all my heart. Happy Anniversary honey! Seven years of wedded bliss. We have had so many wonderful experiences together, and we look forward to many, many more.

Fun with Leo

We've been trying to get some video of Leo's talking and babbling... Here are a couple.
He sure loves chewing on that green spatula while he watches me cook in the kitchen. And look at that crazy hair!



Here are a few of our favorite photos from this month:
(His chubby legs get stuck in the Bumbo chair when we lift him out, so it looks like he has a big blue booty!)

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!