Busch Gardens

I love my Big Bro!!

We had a fun day at Busch Gardens on Saturday. Sha Sha will go on the rides, but only if her big brother goes with her, so sweet. Ethan is such a great brother he of course goes. He will hold her hand all they way through the ride, what a sweet guy. The cooles part of the day was the concert we saw, Matthew West and Third Day, AWESOME!!!! Ethan loved it and knew all the songs. It was a great family day.

Shaohannah's Hope

Just catching up on some old photos and blogging. About a month ago Jay and I and our dear friend Chelsea volunteered for Shaohannah's Hope at the Steven Curtis Chapman Concert in Roanoke Rapids, NC. We had lots of fun. Got to meet other adoptive families and share with lots of concert goers what Shaohannah's Hope is all about. We raised $3000 through the change for orphans buckets and the $$ was given to a family adopting a little boy from China. They got to go up on stage at the end of the concert which was cool. Unfortunately we were not able to go backstage to meet SCC, too small or something, so I made the Shaohannah's Hope Representative pose for a pic with us. Nic was a pretty cool guy and lots of fun. I told him I had to have a picture for my blog. If you are interested in helping orphans through Shaohannah's Hope click on the link on my sidebar.

New Slide

Playing on Charlotte's new slide.

 

 

 

 

Pics from Ethan's Ballgame

I forgot to post that 2 weeks ago Ethan hit is 1st homerun!!!! He was so excited.

 

 

 

 

Struggling....

So, I had hoped to post yesterday, but it just did not happen, so here goes. We have been struggling a little as of late. Charlotte is really not adjusting well to me going back to work and although it is only 3 days a week she is still having a difficult go of it. ANd as we are realizing her reaction to stress or sad emotions are not that of a typical 2 year old. And rightly so, as she did not have the same interactions and touch and love that most children in a home have. Not to fault the orphanage for that but it is a reality that she because of circumstances beyond anyone's control did not receive the same love and care that say Ethan did from us. Her first 16 months of life were a struggle, and she learned quickly that survival was up the her. She had to be strong and independent to survive. And unfortunately it is going to take lots of love and time to change all of that, to rebuild her little heart, like it talks about in the video below. It breaks our hearts to see her in pain, and to not be able to make a quick fix for her. We can't just pick her up give her a kiss and it is all better. So for those reasons we are having to adjust life a little and come up with a plan to help. We will work through it all I know. And we are so lucky to have wonderful family and friends at the ready to help and pray for us. I was also able to talk to the Social Worker at our agency and she had some wonderful suggestions and resources and helped me to realize that I should follow my gut. Even though I don't completely know Sha Sha yet and she does not trust me 100% we are definitely the closest and I need to follow my mommy instincts. So all this to say, keep praying for us, we will have many triumphs and some set backs in this process but that happens with our biological children as well. We will get through it all trusting in His perfect plan. I told a fellow adoptive mom friend that I thought all the stretching and growing in my life and faith was supposed to happen while we were "patiently" waiting for Charlotte. I did not think it would keep happening once she was here. But the journey has really only just begun. I will post some cute pics of Charlotte on her new slide later today. Love you all, Carla.

How can you say no to this face??

 

Thankful Thursday!!!

I had this dress made for Charlotte by a friend at school, I had to get some pictures of her in it. Unfortunately we had Occupational Therapy this morning, so Charlotte was not in the mood for a photo shoot. I did get a couple of good shots though. I think she will wear this in her next professional pictures. Anyway, enjoy the pics. Oh and we could use some prayer right now. Next WEDNESDAY I have to start Charlotte on a new eating program. She still only eats from a bottle and will not try liquids other than formula or solid foods. Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess. So when I am home next Wed. through Fri. our Sha Sha will probably not be a happy camper. But hopefully this new approach will end in success. We will need all the prayers we can get though.

 

 

 

 

Life!!

Have you noticed that I mainly post on Wed. and Thurs. That is because I am home on those days. I wish I could be home every day but that is not possible for us right now, maybe one day. Life has been moving at an ALARMING pace, here of late. Between therapy, baseball, tae-kwon-do, softball and just having time to sit still we have been flying through life. It is hard for me because I am such an ordered person. When we are out all the time doing something, that means other stuff at home does not get done. It is so hard for me to just leave stuff, but I am realizing that with 2 kids, if you would like to remain sane, you have to do that. Ethan is doing so well right now. We had a couple of months where the other shoe finally dropped and we began to see behaviours that we are not used to. But his little mind was still trying to take in everything that has happened over the last 5 1/2 months. He has turned a corner now and he and Charlotte are so sweet together. Ethan loves to play and wrestle with her and he will even come and get her if she is trying to get me to pick her up and I am working on dinner or something. What a great big brother he is!! On the way to school today he said, "Mommy I think we should bring another baby home. A boy this time. I don't want to be the only boy, I need a brother. But if we do that Charlotte would be the only girl, so I guess we need to get a boy and a girl." Okay, Ethan - Mommy and Daddy will get right on that-LOL!!

Charlotte is doing well, she is beginning to show her age-can we say TERRIBLE 2's. But I guess it is par for the course. She is really testing her boundaries and us. Some days it is hard, but we will get through it. She did have to have a stitch put in her head last week. She ran into the corner of a tabel. She is a little dare-devil and so full of energy and life. I see casts in my future. The other day she climbed all the way to the top of the ladder on Ethan's bunk bed before we realized it. She has also figured out how to climb on Mommy and Daddy's bed by herself. She is an independent, fiesty little thing. Guess she gets that from her Mommy-LOL! We'll see if I am still laughing when she is 15 right??

But even though life is moving fast, I have never been happier:) Everyday that I look at my precious gifts and take a moment to breathe, I realize it is all worth it. This is what I have always wanted and longed for. And God is truely giving me the Desires of my Heart.

Thankful Thursday

Don't think any words are needed for this post. The pictures say it all!!

Playing at the Park

Finally some warm weather to play outside. Charlotte and I went to the park this morning for a little fun. She loves the slide, up and down, up and down. Still won't try the swings though. But I must say I am loving my new camera. The pictures are just so beautiful.

Charlotte's First Pig Tails

Last Friday, Charlotte and I were hanging out at home, while Daddy and Ethan went to Softball Practice for Church. So we had a girls night doing hair and playing music. Aren't her pig tails so cute!! We also played the piano, which Charlotte also likes to do. I think she is a natural.