Ahhh... enjoying the last days of summer!

We have had such beautiful weather for August these last few days. We have made the most of it with lots of lunches, walks and swinging outside. Although I love fall weather, I will be sad to see summer go. We have enjoyed our time outside. Sophia had her meet the teacher night for her four year old preschool tonight. She is nervous, but excited to be in the "Brave Bears" room. She was pretty thrilled to get to take a balloon AND stop for ice cream on our way home! She even gets to bring her favorite bear to school with her next week for the first day. She has already decided to bring her very special "Cheer" Bear!

Happy Baptism, Joseph!

It's Official

In the Chinese culture, the number 8 is a lucky one. Apparently it is for our family, too! We had our finalization today (08-08-08!), and our sweet little guy is now officially "Joseph Michael Standard." Fortunately, we were able to have the hearing via phone so we didn't have to travel to Iowa. Brett's Aunt Bobbie served as the notary, and all of us were present for the hearing over the phone! We knew Joseph belonged to us from the moment we saw his face, but what a relief that it is finally official!

At this time a year ago, we were so overwhelmed with paperwork, essays, forms, interviews, birthparent letters, home visits, background checks, that the end result of our adoption process looked so out of reach. And even once the initial paperwork was complete, the phone calls and need for frantic decisions, the"hopes up" moments followed by the "let downs" almost got the best of us. We were told over and over "You'll know when you get the right call." But after months of waiting for the right one, we were feeling discouraged. We didn't know it then, but there was always a bigger plan for us...."It [does] seem so exceptional that things just work out after all," Sarah McLachlan, Charlotte's Web Soundtrack.

First Teeth!!!!!

Surprise.....Not only did Joseph get his 1st tooth.... he got his 2nd tooth at the same time! For two good months Jo Jo has been chewing on everything in sight. Last week at our 6 month well check, our pediatrician told me she didn't even think his gums were swollen. I couldn't believe it... I thought for sure those teeth had to be coming soon! I guess we were right and the doctor was wrong...because today Brett discovered not one, but 2 teeth poking through! Hooray! We are so excited for him...maybe once these come in, his little toothers won't hurt so much! I tried to get some pictures, but as you can see, the new little guys are at their earliest stages...just peeking through the gums! Congratulations Jo Jo!

Cleaning and Scrubbing Can Wait till Tomorrow...

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, for babies grow up I've learned to my sorrow. So, quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep..."

I remember reading this over and over on a tiny plaque my mother had in our old house. It seems like it has been the perfect week to post it. The last few weeks have brought about many firsts....Joseph's first time in the high chair, Joseph's first taste of baby food, Joseph's first time in the "bigger" baby bathtub, Sophia's first time to have a friend over (without her mommy), etc. All of these firsts have meant change.. Feeding and nap times have been random.... Sometimes there have been no naps at all. So, I feel like order has been lacking in my life lately. If there aren't regularly scheduled nap times, then when does the laundry get done, when is dinner made, when can I finally clean the oven so it doesn't smell like burnt quiche crust every time I turn it on????? I have been sooo worried about when I will get all of these things done. But today I realized just like the saying says, that these mundane every day chores will always be around, but I will never have a second chance to relive this time with Sophia and Joseph.



Joseph had his 6 month well visit at the doctor today. I can't believe he is already 6 months and that it was almost four years ago that I was taking Sophia to this appointment. When I looked at her health book to see what she had weighed at this age, I stopped to think about how quickly she transformed from a "baby" to the little girl she is now. It seems like yesterday. She is already talking about kindergarten and telling me that we need to get her a lunch box for when she is old enough to eat lunch at school. And as she says... "We need to buy me a new bike" (2 wheel). I will only have one chance to buy her her first lunch box and her first bike....but many chances to clean the oven and wash the floors. I have to keep reminding myself of this and put things into perspective. Someday I will miss these hectic times because I know they won't last forever.

Sweet little "Jo Jo," as Sophia calls him was excellent for his doctor's visit today even though he had FOUR shots. What a trooper. He struggles still with his bottles and reflex, but SMILES the rest of the time! He is now eating some rice cereal at breakfast, some veggies and milk at lunch, and veggies, fruit, meat and milk at dinner (with bottles in between of course). He LOVES LOVES his baby food Maybe he is taking after me....he is only in the 5th percentile for height! He weighs 15 pounds; 8.7 ounces and is 25 inches in length. He is a little thing with a BIG personality.

Happy Half Birthday Joseph!!!

It sounds so cliche...."where did the time go?" But truly, I can NOT believe our little Joe is already 6 months old. It seems like yesterday that Brett and I were frantically packing our bags so we could get to Iowa in time for Joseph's birth. We were full of excitement, but soooo nervous. In fact we were an hour or so into our drive before we realized we had not asked what hospital we were headed for. We were ecstatic when we received a phone call along the way and learned that the birthmother had given birth to a healthy 6 lb baby boy. We had prayed for so many months for this call, and yet when we finally arrived at the hospital late that evening, we were both overcome by nervousness...I remember knocking on the hospital room door with sweaty palms and butterflies in my stomach. With the whole adoption process we had so many ups and downs and we felt like many of our prayers weren't being answered. But when I saw Joseph for the first time... I realized he was the reason for those unanswered prayers. He was the one God chose for us.

We are in love with his personality. He is the sweetest thing....smiles at EVERYONE, especially his big sister and his daddy! Even though he has tummy aches, reflux, etc.... he still smiles, smiles, smiles! I think he likes to put me to the test. Anyone who knows me, knows how I love to rely on schedules and routines. Well this little guy has thrown me for a loop! He likes to keep me guessing about what he is going to do next. Miss Sophia was very consistent about her naps and feedings, but Joseph likes to keep things interesting. I know God gave me him for a reason...he is just what I need. Like Brett always reminds me, "I need to change it up a bit!"

A new calling!

Sophia and I visited Fire Station #3 this week! I think we may have a future firefighter in the works...ha, ha! She had a ball sitting in the trucks and trying on their gear. It was super nice of the firefighters to give us such a wonderful tour! We even saw where they slept. Grand Finale: A firefighter slid down the pole for us to see!