A Christmas in Pictures

Sienna pondering the meaning of Christmas at Christmas Eve service.

 

Christmas morning.

Christmas at Grammy and Guapo's house.  Brae keeping Canon from blowing out the Advent wreath candles too soon.

 

The story of Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus in a friendly kid format.

 

Finally!

 

We had too much fun this year!

 

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

First came the letter, and then came the call

A couple weeks ago, we received the letter from the State of Oregon, Department of Human Services, stating that our paperwork was complete and we were now assigned a case worker.

Finally. Ok, so it hasn't really been that long (maybe a few months), but after the State initially losing all of our paperwork, it's a relief to just have it done with.


I  was so excited, I immediately called the name and number listed on the letter.  After a few voicemail exchanges, I finally connected with our case worker.  She said there are 2 families ahead of us in the homestudy process, and another family that may/may not make it all the way through.

Our goal has long been that we be "on the wait list" by the time Sienna turns 2 in June.  Our case worker said that seemed reasonable.

I know the journey to #3 will likely feel like the longest, and most winding road so far.  Adopting through the state is not for the faint of heart.  It's a brutal, agonizing process.  It's long.  It's a bureaucracy.  These children are waiting for a forever family, and yet there are so many hoops for a forever family to jump through.

But, we do trust God's timing, and will wait patiently (or, at times, maybe not that patiently) for the next child to come.

Although I still long for (and pray for) a spontaneous miracle pregnancy (and probably always will), I am really excited about this process, and hopeful for the child(ren!) God has for us.

As Tygh and I were driving to his company's Christmas party this last weekend, I mentioned, with some sadness, that we wouldn't be able to name our next child.  Our next child will already come with a name.  I remarked that I hoped we at least liked the name. 

Tygh quickly put me in my place with this, "We will love their name.  Whatever it is.  It will be the most beautiful name we've ever heard."

And, he's right.

And with that, some levity following a heavy-hearted week:

Sienna: 18 month stats

Little Miss continues to enjoy the larger side of life (I say that with the utmost affection).  I'm starting to think basketball, volleyball, modeling (!) may be in her future.  I've long since known I would be the shortest of the bunch.  However, now it seems that Brae may be joining me there (sorry, buddy). 

There is an old wives' tale that for boys, you double their height at age 2.5 to see how tall they will be as an adult.  Brae is "supposed" to be 5'10".  Not super tall, but not short, either.  Right smack at average. 

For girls, you are supposed to double it at age 2, because they grow faster than boys.  Little Miss just needs a little over an inch to grow in the next six months before she will be 3 feet tall, and thus, 6 feet tall as an adult.  Seeing as how she grew more than an inch just in the last three months, I think it could be a safe bet she will be at least 3 feet tall by her second birthday.  (She has always been at least 2 inches taller than Brae at his same milestone). 


Here's her stats:

1) Height: 34 5/8 inches.  Off the charts.  Again.

2) Weight: 27.2 lbs.  Scaled down to the 80th percentile.

Doctor reported that her 18 month checkup showed no signs of autism.  She is generally growing and functioning at a typical age/rate.  She is feisty and fearless.

And I love her.

Brae's 4 year stats, and some -isms

Brae's 4 year stats:

1) He weights 37 lbs; 8 oz.  60th percentile.

2) He is 3 feet, 4 3/4 inches tall.  50th percentile.

Both of these are shifts for him.  He's always, up to this point, been below 50% for weight, and above 70% for height.  Guess he's evening out!

3) Doctor said that he is physically developing on track.  He did give me some pointers on getting him to eat better at home.  We tried one last night, which included he has to eat what the family eats for dinner, and has to sit at the table with us.  When he cried and refused, we just put the dinner on the table, and he eventually came over and ate it. 

4) Doctor said he was very impresed at how smart he is, and that he is intellectually ahead of the curve.  (Warmed the cockles of my heart).

And with that, here are some frequently confounding, but always amusing, Brae-isms:

• In the car, after just picking Brae up from preschool, he announced: "Mommy, my friend Captain bonked his head on a chair today at escuela (school)." 

          "Ouch," I said.  "Is Captain okay? Was he hurt?"

          "No," Brae said, matter-of-factly.  "But the chair sure was hurt." 
***

• A couple weeks ago, I stayed home from work with Brae because he was sick.  He'd been throwing up frequently.  Finally, at the end of the 2-day stint, I put him in the stroller and we went for a nice brisk walk.  It was a beautiful fall afternoon, and I was feeling particularly affectionate toward my little boy, so sickened by this little bug.

         "Brae," I said, "I love you," as I pushed him in the stroller.

          Silence.

          "Brae, did you hear me? I said I love you." 

           More silence.

           Different tact.  "Brae, do you love Mommy? Can you say, 'I love you, too'?"

           At that, he spoke.  "No, Mommy.  I can't say that.  If I said that, it would make me sick again."

***

•     While watching football on TV the other night, Brae asked, "Mommy, why do all the football players line up to scratch the grass?"

***

• Brae's preschool was closed a couple weeks ago in observance of Veteran's Day.  So, he and Sienna were with my parents.  Apparently, during a conversation with Brae's grandma about why Mommy and Daddy have to work, Brae commented: "I know that both Mommy and Daddy work.  But only Daddy makes money.  Mommy just rides a bus."

Love you, Brae.  Thanks for always keeping me laughing.