Happy 1/2 Birthday, Little B

B turned 6 months on Friday so we celebrated with chocolate chip cupcakes since we are big 1/2 birthday celebrators around here!! It is even more important to me to celebrate everything with him since we don't know how long he will be here.

At six months he is sitting, starting to eat solids, he laughs aloud, rolls both ways, sucks his thumb like crazy and is just a happy little guy!!! He went to the nursery for the first time (because Jeremy made me)...I could have kept him with me until he was 2!! He did great, but when I picked him up he instantly cuddled up and grabbed my hair...his security blanket :)!

So here we are at his little party...of course Blake (the neighbor boy) made his way over, p.j.'s and all, when he heard we were having cupcakes. I call him my 5th child.

Gotta love Abby's mix-matched p.j.'s!!

Grandpa stopped by just in time for a cupcake and rocked B to sleep. He just LOVES
to rock.

What a blessing the last six months have been...this is one of those things that has and continues to change us forever...no matter what happens. If he stays... if he leaves. What great times we are having!! To see so many people LOVE this little boy is amazing. The ladies at the pool have been passing him around all week trying to get in some hugs "just in case" he's not there next summer. A few have teared up and told me how much they have enjoyed watching him grow over the summer. Such a blessing. Some people still say how lucky he is to have us, but I ALWAYS think how lucky we are to have him. Every. single. time.

I am SO thankful that when that call came through about a little 5 1/2 week old we did not give in to fear of unknowns and said YES!! Happy 1/2 birthday little man!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Fun Day with Grandparents

My Grandma was in the hospital over the weekend (but is doing fine now) and since it is so close to our house and since my parents had a little free time since Grandma was snoozing away, we went to one of my Dad's friends home for a picnic. His home is on 50 acres and it is BEAUTIFUL. The land is like a great big park/retreat center...it is really something. Two huge ponds to fish in, a creek, fire pits and swings all over, a pool with a slide. I can't imagine!!

It was such a fun afternoon!! The kids LOVED it and it was so peaceful!!

Grandpa and his buddies. He just loves little B. Abby enjoyed swinging with him. There were several of these swings on the property in fun little places.

Sweet Caraline looking for fish in the pond.





I love our little Abby. She is such a funny girl with a little mind of her own. She is creative and imaginative and a free-spirit!!

Great day!! Fun times and great memories!!

First day of School

Today was Jake and Cara's first day of school. Jake was eager to get back to his friends. Cara was excited until we got there and then she cried quite a bit. When Jeremy and I picked her up, she ran to the car and said, "I love it! I'm going to do it everyday!!" Good thing, isn't it?

I love Cara. She is such an encourager. We have been giving her lots of encouragement as school approached. We have told her how good she will be at certain parts of school etc...

While driving home today she must have been feeling like I needed some encouragement because she said, "Mommy, you will be a great lunch lady." I am a "lunch mom" on Fridays. All I have to do is walk around and open things and get kids napkins so the teacher don't have to, but hey, I'll take the encouragement where I can get it :)!

SERIOUSLY. LOVE. THIS. BOY.

I do.

I love this baby boy.
I forget that he did not grow inside my belly.
I kiss him like crazy.
I hold him a whole lot.
I play with him.
I talk to him.
I rock him.
I get up with him.
I care for him when he is sick.

Thankful that I get to be his Mommy for now.

OH SWEET ABBY

I just adore this little girl at this age!! She is so fun and cute and full of imagination.
We are so glad she is ours!

Happy Weekend

(doesn't Abby look thrilled??!!)

We went to a Foster Parent/Family picnic today hosted by a local church and Jake's school. It was so nice to meet others in the area who are fostering! We had a great time and it was so thoughtful of the two organizations to put it on.

We also got to spend time with our little guy's first foster family and that was great too! They are so nice.

Just can't get enough

They really do love each other so much! Aren't they so lucky to have each other?? I hope they grow up to be the best of friends!!