All things pumpkin....

Today has been all things "pumpkin" at our house! Garrett and I have carved 3 pumpkins. And by saying "Garrett and I" that means that I was really the only one to get out the goop and carve. Garrett started too but decided the goop was just too much for his little hands to take on. So, he gladly gave me directions and I was just fine with that. Oh, and he rolled each pumpkin into the house (literally) so that I wouldn't have to carry them. Such a gentlemen!


I think the cutest thing I will remember about this Halloween season is the "car-vender". When we purchased our pumpkins Garrett saw a little package that had carving tools in them. One was a knife thingy and the other was what Garrett is holding in the above picture. He calls it his "carvender" and WE. LOVE. IT.

And because Garrett just couldn't stand the thought of not carving or giving attention to the little pumpkins and because I wasn't up for trying to carve them, too, we decided to paint them. G-man was thrilled!

Today has started off on a good foot....now if only I can get the mister to nap so we can enjoy some festivities tonight!

Trick or Treating at Daddy's Office

Kenny works for a consulting company so he is not technically at his company office each day but rather a "client" site. He has been at the same client site for the past 2 3/4 years and each year they host a Halloween trick-or-treating for the kids! Today was the day and Garrett was THRILLED to be able to wear his costume again! He and Daddy gathered lots of treats and had so much fun!

Gathering Treats

It all pertains to Africa.....

This will be a quick post....just wanted to share that we have still not received a court date but did hear from our social worker today. She stated that a bit more paperwork was needed by the government agency in Africa (and was submitted already) and that we should hopefully (but not to get too excited) hear something back from the orphanage director by the end of this week or early next week.

Again, people, that's not a promise of news....so peeps, I'll call or post when I know more and not a minute later!

Two other side notes:

1. Our friends leave TOMORROW to travel to Africa and meet their beautiful Ella!!! And, well, technically, they'll be meeting our future daughter, too, and delivering our love packages (clothes, jammies, toys, voice recorder of Kenny & Garrett singing to her and me reading to her and so much more). You will be in our prayers guys!!!

2. Today I had to do the dreaded, dum-dum-dum, blood work that I typically pass out from and let me just say, I was. not. thrilled. Then in walks one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen from our daughter's birthplace. I immediately burst into crocodile tears. Crazy. I know. But people, she was the closest resemblance I had to my sweet Ellie today. She bent down and hugged on me like crazy cakes. Kenny and I had a chance to show her our daughter's pictures and hear about her view birth land and oh my, we hugged again as we parted ways.

Anyway, off to bed and all for now!

Softball & Sneak Peak of Halloween

Today Garrett and I (finally) went to see my best buddy's little girl, Prestyn play softball!! She's a rock star in her hot pink helmet and with her pink bat! Great job today, Prestyn!!


And this evening the little man and I had our second date of the day at one of his best buddies (well, okay, his momma is one of my great buddies, too) Halloween Party! When we asked Garrett in September what he wanted to be for Halloween this year, he boldly told us "A PUMPKIN!". We tried to remind him that he'd already been a pumpkin as an infant and he might think about choosing something new. But NOOOO. Mister insisted on being a pumpkin! And, so, here is a sneak peak of the Halloween Hottie:

Look carefully at this picture (maybe click on it to enlarge)....Garrett is making such a funny face!

Pumpkin and Cowboy (aka: Anthony)

Yours, Not Mine and Letting Go of Control

Lately my mind drifts to what our sweet baby girl is up to in Africa...is she well, is she loved on, is she, is she, is she? Eventually I start to panic but the reality is her care is out of my control. Ah, control. I like to have it. God is teaching me it's not mine to have. It's His.

While driving the past two days I have heard this song which refreshed my memory with the fact that our sweet girl and my sweet boy are not "mine". They are God's and He has control over their lives. I can stop trying to "gain" control over there lives as a parent (I do not mean bossing them at all times, simply worrying about their care, their well-being). It was never mine and never will be. God has simply allowed me to parent them while here on Earth - not forever.

They Were a Swingin'....

This weekend Brandon, Jess and Jordyn came out to play! We shared some yummy cupcakes (decorated by the one and only cupcake connoisseur, Garrett) to celebrate Jess' birthday and then headed out to a neighborhood park. The weather was GORGEOUS and we had so much fun hanging out with family and watching the kids play!

Both Garrett and Jordyn are growing up SO FAST...it seems like just yesterday Garrett toddled into the hospital room and climbed up in the bed with Jess to meet his baby sister, Jordyn. Now they are runing around like little Indians squealing and hugging and chasing and having so much fun! Where have the past 3-4 years gone? Hmm, time flies!!

Diapers = Tears

Oh, friends. I am a mess. Wanna know HOW I know? I cried this morning while picking out diapers for our future daughter.

I know. It's pitiful. My hormones are all FINE and yet these weird moments of emotions sneak up on me ALL. OF. THE. TIME. now.

I had a great coupon for some diapers and thought, heck, it can't hurt to start stocking up slowly now. As I grabbed the diapers and bent down to put them in the buggy, I could smell that baby smell. And that's when it hit me: I am buying these for a baby. A specific baby. Named Ellie. Who lives in Africa. But will one day live here. In my house. And will need to be diapered.

Sometimes I just cannot believe it is really true. That I am going to be a momma to another little one. That after a year or so of infertility issues and about 3 years of deciding HOW to get to child #2, it's all coming together. I am really going to be a momma, again.

And so, yes, I got all teary over two packages of diapers. Hmm. Looks like I'll need to also start stocking up on Kleenex for the journey ahead!

Welcome Sweet Ella!

Some of our friends that we met through our adoption agency found out last night that they "passed court" after NUMEROUS attempts and are now the proud, proud parents to their little girl, Ella!! Head on over to their blog to see Ella's sweet, beautiful face and congratulate them!

D & A, we are beyond ecstatic for the three of you and cannot wait to meet Ella once you bring her home! Although we haven't known ya'll long, it is evident that ya'll will make AMAZING parents. Lookin' forward to lots of play dates with our two "E" girls!

Love you guys,

Kenny, Jill and Garrett

And the Thunder Rolled

Last night, just as Kenny had finished tucking Garrett in bed, it began to thunder.And rain. And the rule at our home is that if it is raining, lightening or thundering, the little punkin' can sleep in our bed. So, after hearing the thunder, Garrett immediately got his pillow and made his way into our bed.

For some odd reason that I cannot even remember now, Garrett and I had the giggles. And the sweet talks going on. At one point while sandwiched in between us, Garrett began saying the sweetest things that made me, as a parent, want to freeze him immediately. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little boy and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the rare moments when all is calm and he speaks right from his heart. I hope this type of openness in our relationship never goes away. I want him to always want to "snuggle buggle" (that's the term he coined at two for snuggling) with me. But, I know, the day will come sooner than later that it's either not cool or not appropriate. See why I want to freeze him?

Oh, yes. The pictures. That was the whole point of posting....we got so tickled that Kenny ran to grab the camera and capture our sweet, unexpected night in pictures. Which brought a whole new round of laughter as we pretended to sleep!

As things settled down and the boys drifted off to sweet dreams, I began to miss someone I've never even met and began to wonder what spot would be hers in the bed on nights like this one. I began to wonder what we will look like as a family of four. I began to wonder if Ellie will like to "snuggle buggle" or if she prefers her space. I began to wonder so many things....

G-A-R-R-E-T-T

WOOO-HOOO! I am SO proud of the sweet little G-man! He has been working for a few months on how to write letters. His OT prompted me to buy this workbook and other supplies to teach him back in the Spring. We tried to do it prior to getting his glasses but he was NOT interested .... and we eventually realized it was because he was frustrated. But now, each and every day, 7 days a week, Garrett BEGS us to "do handwriting". Today he completed enough letters of the alphabet to be able to write his whole name (they learn them in a certain order). Garrett was SO proud of himself and told me to get my camera (really!) to take a picture of his fabulouso work.

YAY Garrett! Can't you just see his pride oozing in the first picture!!