With Two Pugs

Colonel Mustard 1 Year Later.

2012-02-09T09:46:00.059-06:00

One year ago today, I made the big announcement that we were moving! 12 months later and I'm completely impressed by how far we've come! I never knew we had it in us to be home renovators, but I've loved it (most of the time) and I'm hoping to eventually sell this house and do it all over again in a new location. Someday....

Looking back, we might have been a little bit off our rockers to take on an adoption (we were between trips at the time we closed), a move and a remodel all at once! Kim Zolciak, of the Real Housewives of Atlanta franchise, recently said, "There is nothing more stressful in life than having a baby and moving." And if there is anyone respected for their words of wisdom, it's gotta be Kim. ;)

But, we had a list of things we wanted in a home and we liked the idea of having a new home to bring Crosby back to when we came home from Russia. Plus, we didn't want to bring him to the U.S., get settled and then move into a new house soon after. So we went on a hunt and ended up finding our home, Colonel Mustard.

We knew going in that the house needed some improvements. What we didn't realize was that we would eventually gut it in a many ways. A year later, we have changed so much that we could have been on one of those episodes of flipping the house. It's been a ton of work, frustrations and stress, but the end results have made us so happy! We've added a ton of value to our investment and we're living very comfortably. While we're still not completely finished, we have made a lot of progress. Just look at my giant project list from a year ago. I added the blue items this week for things we have left to accomplish that were not on the original list:

1. Kitchen:

~~tear out cabinets, donate appliances, pull out vinyl floor~~
~~new floors~~
~~take down wall?~~
~~new floor plan~~
~~cabinets, countertops, sink~~
~~appliances~~
~~light fixtures~~
~~paint walls and trim~~
~~bench seats~~
~~new furniture~~
~~blackboard wall~~
backsplash
curtains/throw pillows

2. Downstairs Bathroom:

~~tear out everything! ;)~~
~~flooring~~
~~new vanity~~
~~new mirror~~
~~new toilet~~
~~new light fixture~~
~~paint walls and trim~~
~~replace door~~

3. Living Room:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~wax/buff hardwood floor~~
~~crown molding~~
~~install french doors between LR and DR~~ We decided against this idea!

4. Dining Room:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~wax/buff hardwood floor~~
~~find dining set~~
~~add chair rail and trim~~
~~new light fixture~~
~~curtains~~
decorate walls
add buffet

5. Family Room: Now an Office:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~fireplace?~~ Decided against this!
~~tear down wall btw FR and kitchen~~
~~new light fixture~~
~~wax/buff hardwood floor~~
~~new furniture~~
new office chairs
add seating area
finish decorating: curtains, art

6. Eating Nook:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~new flooring to match kitchen~~
~~wainscoting~~
~~new light fixture~~
~~new pantry door~~

7. Hallway & Staircase:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~refinish and paint staircase~~
~~add foyer/entrance furniture~~ Decided against this - no room after closet was moved!
~~new light fixtures~~
~~replace closet doors~~
~~organize closets~~

8. Master Bedroom:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~replace closet doors~~
~~install closet organizers~~
Install DIY headboard
Hang mirror and artwork

9. Baby C's Nursery:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~replace closet doors~~
~~install closet organizers~~
~~add wainscoting?~~
~~hang art, shelves~~
~~find rug~~

10. Large Guest Room:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~replace closet doors~~
~~find furniture~~
~~add chandelier~~
~~new blinds~~

11. Small Guest Room:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~replace closet doors~~
~~completely redecorate~~
~~new light fixture~~

12. Master Bath: To be completed!

paint walls
new vanity, sink
new toilet
re-do wall cabinet to become more effective
new light fixture

13. Guest Bath:

~~paint walls and trim~~
~~re-do tiling~~
~~re-do vanity~~
~~new toilet?~~
~~new light fixture~~

14. Outside: To be completed this Spring and Summer!

update front bushes, plant flowers
re-do front walkway
plant landscaping in backyard
lay down new patio
add firepit
put in fencing
install new outdoor light fixtures
~~change house color~~
~~change house numbers~~
~~new front door~~
someday - add deck and sliding glass doors off of eating nook

26 Rules for Mothers of Sons.

2012-02-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

25 Rules for Moms with Sons

found on pinterest

Source: pre-schoolplay.blogspot.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment. He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement. Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference. Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion. Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games. There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics. There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts. There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade. He will tell you to stop. He will say he's embarrassed. But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.

3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt. He may not always choose to do it. He may not ever have to do it. But someday his wife will thank you.

Source: offbeatmama.com via offbeatmama on Pinterest

4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books. Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles. Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever. Writers are the transcribers of history and memories. They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important. And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.

5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals. No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three. It doesn't have to be good. Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things. If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this: If you have done any of the following: a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero. do not doubt yourself for one second. Seriously.

Source: simplymontessori.blogspot.com via Terry-Anne on Pinterest

9. Teach him to have manners
because its nice. and it will make the world a little better of a place.

Source: swagbucks.com via Adriana on Pinterest

10. Give him something to believe in
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there. Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

Source: theberry.com via Chris on Pinterest

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.

Source: heatherbeadles.com via Heather on Pinterest

12. Let him ruin his clothes
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable. Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes. Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.

13. Learn how to throw a football
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song. Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.

Source: shanna-kaye.com via Shanna-Kaye on Pinterest

14. Go outside with him
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away. Just go outside and follow him around. Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions. It's like magic.

15. Let him lose
Losing sucks. Everybody isn't always a winner. Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't. He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed. And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids. This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....) Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean you ever give up.

Source: None via Emma on Pinterest

16. Give him opportunities to help others
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help. Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities. Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.

Source: data.whicdn.com via Meagan on Pinterest

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life. You become a better writer by writing. You become a better listener by listening. You become better speaker by speaking. Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing. Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip. Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier. Practice, practice, practice.

18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"
Answer him, or search for the answer together. Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches). Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself. Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Maegan on Pinterest

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
especially the wipes.

Source: babyhold.com via Katie on Pinterest

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things
...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.' If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything. You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers. And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom, you will stay connected to what is happening in his life. Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.

Source: familyfun.go.com via Kate on Pinterest

21. Give him something to release his energy
drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog. Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff. and then you'll be sorry.

Source: bleubirdvintage.typepad.com via Marybess on Pinterest

22. Build him forts
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic. Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders. For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.

Source: None via Tabitha on Pinterest

23. Take him to new places
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.

Source: None via Anne on Pinterest

24. Kiss him
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet. They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day. But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender. So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?' Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild. Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old. You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it. p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).

Source: smallesthings.blogspot.com via Sherry on Pinterest

25. Be home base
You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.

26. Let Go.
When the time comes, the hardest job of all is to let him go. Let him be the man you raised him to be, to take care of his own wife, children and family. Like #25 says, you'll be home base if you've done your job... so in the meantime, let him fly and be proud because you built those wings.

Click!

2012-02-01T13:27:00.000-06:00

Mama got a brand new toy to play with!!!! And it looks a little something like this:

So yeah be prepared. You have been warned. Photos are going to start flooding the blog. (Let's be honest, who would possibly mind seeing more photos of this little face?) And hopefully, many less iPhone fuzzy pics... and many more, crispy, clear, pretty pics.

And because I need to practice, practice, practice, I'm going to be taking 2 photography courses and making little goals for myself. Each month I'll be posting a list of images to be taken throughout the month. These are February's "can't miss" images:

To that list, I'm adding any image that encompasses:

Leap Day
Red
Love
Romance

If you want to join me, I think that'd be swell!! :) We can meet back here on March 1st to see how many of these images we can check off our list. Now let's get clickin'!!!

Recent Admissions.

2012-01-30T06:02:00.000-06:00

1. I've been sporting red lipstick. Yes, red. A friend of mine begged me to go try on make up with her. (Okay begged is an exaggeration. She asked and I happily agreed!) When we got there she admitted that she really just wanted to buy red lipstick. HUH??? As in Gwen Stefani red? So she convinced me to try it on and shock of all shocks... I liked it. Maybe it's because my hair was in a messy bun and I was wearing a leopard print scarf, but it didn't look as scary as I thought. Not even a little bit. So this is the color I choose. And the biggest surprise of all.... Buzz didn't make fun of me when he got home. He actually really liked it. Lesson to be learned? Try something new and you just might be pleasantly surprised!

While shopping I learned that 100% of the proceeds to go help people suffering from HIV and AIDS. Also, this color was the lipstick that got MAC on the map, when Madonna wore it on late night tv.

2. What? You don't browse the web like this? (I do not have the red lipstick on in these photos btw.)

3. This morning I had leftover Chicken Curry for breakfast. It was a homemade, cooking light recipe. If you're interested, I'll share the recipe. It's delish! I might have been Indian in a previous life.

Now, go ahead and make your own admission in the comments!

Maybe This Weekend

2012-01-27T06:39:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've been ~~really into~~ slightly obsessed with checking out estate sales that are listed online. In my head, I like to go through these photos with a mental check list of items I'd purchase. Then, I get strategic about my game plan. First stop estate sale in neighboring community, second stop estate sale a few miles further, etc, etc. But, alas, having Crosby and a million and one home projects to do here has prevented me from going out on the hunt. Maybe this weekend....

I've also been abnormally happy about my updated software on my iPhone. Having a reminder list right on my phone is great... especially for a list freak like me. Oh and that little swipy thing you can do to get your weather and reminders (at the top of your phone - swipe downward) is super! I'm weird, I know. Why didn't I update my phone sooner? Oh yes, because I couldn't bring myself to separate from it for the amount of time it took to "sync." I'm so glad I was able to pull myself away. These little updates are so fun! I keep telling Frank he needs to update his phone, too. Maybe this weekend....

Another bizarre fascination of mine. Watching you tube videos of people who have completed P90X and Insanity workouts. You know, (or maybe you don't), the freakishly excited people who have "earned their shirt." Why am I intrigued by this? I think to myself, gee I want to try that. Then I realize that they look like they are dying while doing it and I come to my sense. Perhaps I'll order it and just give it a whirl. Maybe this weekend....

Then again, I have a list of home improvement projects to do:

touch up paint in bathroom upstairs
touch up paint on staircase
caulk misc items throughout house
attach light switch covers that have been removed

I hope I actually get through my to-do list this weekend.

Chatter Box.

2012-01-26T05:14:00.000-06:00

A quick Crosby update.

While Crosby is definitely talking a ton of jibberish and seems to have a few words down regularly, he seems to be delayed in speech. He doesn't finish his words. Often the ending letter is left off. For example, box is said baaah. Pug is said paaaah. Also, yes is said as an enthusiastic head nod and "lep!" (It's actually super cute, but probably not something we should be encouraging.) We had him evaluated at school and the speech therapist found that he is only delayed in motor speech, but is advanced in cognitive speech (understanding). Since that time, we have not made much progress in the way of finding him a speech therapist to work with one on one. We are still waiting to hear back from the school.

In the meantime, I've contact the Child & Family Connections of DuPage County to have him re-evaluated. This is a program provided by the state of IL for children under the age of three. I do not have the date scheduled yet, but when it all goes down, I will be sure to update.

I'm not typing this to label Crosby as a kid with a speech problem or whatever other connotations may go along with this. Truth be told, Crosby is very, very smart. (Not just because I'm his Mom and I have to say that.) Everyone at school, or that comes into contact with him, tells us the same thing. He is advanced in a lot of other areas, so I am not asking for sympathy or providing a poor me sort of post. Instead, I'm hoping to keep things real about the post adoption journey.

Honestly, I feel lucky that this is the only issue we've had to deal with after being home. We are truly blessed with our beautiful, happy, healthy son.

Hmmm... 4.

2012-01-25T07:59:00.004-06:00

For those of you who guessed moving to Las Vegas, you were right!!! While this is still up in the air and we do not have an official date, there is a good chance we're going to be saying good-bye to the Windy City and hello to Sin City! This is a work related situation and I have mixed feelings, but I'm never one to turn down an adventure. (And no, Lauri, I'm not becoming a glittery show girl. I'm not quite up for that much of an adventure!)

I love that some of you thought we might be adopting a little girl. I wish!! Sometime in the future that will happen, but not just yet. A trip to Vegas was also technically correct because we are making a trip out in early Feb to tour neighborhoods and look at real estate. (Sorry Nancy, we'll just miss you!) I think my favorite guess of all came from Dede with "a human valentine's card." LOL. I'm sure Frank would appreciate it, but sadly that is not in the foreseeable future. ;)

And for those who didn't put the first clue together, it came from this song!

More information to follow....

Hmmm... 3.

2012-01-23T15:17:00.000-06:00

Random note: I've been really into cacti lately.

Hmmm... 2.

2012-01-21T15:13:00.000-06:00

I sure love to travel.

Pesky Problems.

2012-01-20T14:31:00.005-06:00

I have had a running tally in my mind of little annoyances throughout our home that need fixin'. So, in an effort to ~~put my husband over the edge~~ organize my thoughts, I'm writing a list here in hopes of completing each and every one over the course of the next year.

Touch of paint (corners of walls, small patches in kitchen, small patches on staircase, dining room)
Update calking on moldings
Finish moldings (toe kick)
Install new doorknob on front door
Paint trim outside around new storm doors
Finish closet door
Remove hook in dining room and fill hole
Install last two handles on office drawers (need longer screws)
Finish railing (fill holes, add varnish/poly, wall railing)
Touch up staircase paint
Install back storm door
Update master bath
Update guest bath
Install roman shades in kitchen
Backsplash kitchen walls
Finish office light by adding something to filter the light/hide the view from below
Touch up ceiling where hall lights were installed upstairs
Add photos to kitchen frames
Finish gallery wall in kitchen
Add throw pillows to kitchen benches
Sew pillows using fabric I already purchased for LR (MIL project)
Make skirt for laundry tub and paint tub itself
Enclose sump pump area
Add covers to basement window wells
Install headboard and mirror in MB
Yard Makeover
Clean out garage
Find a way to hide storage area in basement

Apparently there is a lot more to do than I initially realized. Feels good to have it written down, though.

p.s. - I'm loving your guesses! Keep them coming!

Hmmm...

2012-01-19T08:11:00.000-06:00

There are lots of things going on around here. Changes on the horizon - so to speak. I think I'll have a little fun with you all and post a hint or two here or there. And for those of you who know what I'm talking about... shhh! Just play along.

I wonder if I'll have to shake some glitter off my clothes anytime soon?

Let the Party Planning Begin!

2012-01-18T09:22:00.000-06:00

Crosby's 2nd birthday is in April, so I've decided it's time to start planning for his party! While it's his second birthday, it is the first one we'll be able to celebrate with family. If you remember, we celebrated Crosby's first birthday in Russia with friends at the VMI. While we were thrilled to be with him at the time, this year will be extra special to be able to celebrate with all of our loved ones at home!

So here's the plan:

Party at my Mom's house in MI so that everyone can come
Theme: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Decor: VHC theme, bright colors
Food: Taken from the VHC book, picnic style, hotdogs, fruit, cake, etc.
Outift: I'm hoping to find Crosby a vintage style VHC T-shirt. If no luck, I'll make one!

I've found some great ideas on pinterest that I'm hoping to incorporate and I've discovered a bakery that will make us a VHC cake! :)

invites

decorations

cake

rainbow fruit kabobs

sandwich caterpillar

A New Room for Nana

2012-01-17T03:33:00.000-06:00

The Buzz and I recently made the decision to move my Nana (my Dad's mom) into our home for a six month trial period. I don't mean that to sound harsh or business-like. That's what we're all calling it.... including my Nana. No one is 100% sure it will work out, though I'd say I'm about 99.9% sure.

Crosby's daycare costs recently went up and with my Nana here, he will go to school part time. She will keep him on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which saves us money and gives him a mix of socialization and school exposure and the love of a family member at home. I think it's a win win! My Nana will also be saving money by living with us, so she's getting more than just the benefit of our spectacular company out of the deal! ;)

Once the decision was made it was time to figure out the living situation. We decided to give our second guest room a makeover to make Nana feel more at home. Here is the result!

light, bed, dresser: Ikea
rug and bedding: West Elm

See that mirror on the dresser?
Frank said (and I quote), "every older lady needs a mirror."
I laughed and then purchased it for Nana.

chair: Target
side table: Ikea

Frame reads: Nana and Me

Since completing this room, Nana has slept in it over the Christmas holidays. We also added some photos of Nana with Crosby to the frames. It was clear that she was touched by our efforts to make it her own and we won her approval on the new mattress set! I think that's a green light on the move in.

Before and After:

Christmas Recap: Part 2

2012-01-16T03:33:00.000-06:00

After breakfast, we were able to get Crosby excited about his stocking. Here he is with Daddy opening something from inside.

Though there were lots of little trinkets in his stocking, Crosby was most excited about his mini MnMs!

After his stocking was emptied, we told Crosby he had more toys to open. He swiftly ran to his toy box in our office and opened it to show us his toys. I don't think he quite understood that we meant he had more new toys to open. So we just let him play and my Dad (Papa) put together his new police car.

Crosby took his morning nap and we all sat around having coffee and relaxing. When he finally woke up, he was ready to open his presents!

an action shot of the paper riping... Crosby was very good at it.

a new doctor's kit

Frank and I both agreed that our favorite gift item (surprisingly) was Crosby's reaction to his new rain boots. He wanted them on immediately! And once they were pulled on, he tried walking around in them. But because they're very flexible rubber, he was really wobbly in them. We cracked up while he walked around looking like this!

Another big favorite of Crosby's was his police uniform. I think we might have an easy Halloween costume for next year....

Yes, there's more. Stay tuned for part 3...

Christmas Recap

2012-01-13T03:32:00.000-06:00

Bright and early on Christmas morning, Frank and I snuck downstairs to make our final adjustments. We couldn't wait for Crosby to wake up! Crockett, on the other hand, was less enthused.

Santa brought Crosby a lot of presents this year! He must have been very good.

Why yes, that is a giant pug in a shopping cart! And there's nothing unusual about that....

While we waited for Crosby to wake up, I baked my cinnamon rolls that I had prepared the night before. They were delicious and I'm happily adding them to our list of new Christmas traditions.

And then it happened... we heard the sound of a Crosmanov waking above us. I think I darted up the stairs singing Christmas carols and Frank dashed to get the video camera. Here's a brief clip of Crosby's first ever Christmas morning:

He played with his pug and shopping cart for about half and hour before we decided we should eat some breakfast. The hope was that after breakfast we could get him excited about the other presents under the tree.

At first, we had to feed him while he was "on the go" with his cart and pug.

Eventually, though, we were able to get him into his seat, where he insisted on wearing the reindeer headband.

Crosby even made time for a few family phone calls to wish them a "Merry Christmas!"

After breakfast we asked him to pose for us on the stairs. It was a short lived moment, but I was able to snap a few photos.

Part 2 coming soon.....

Christmas Eve

2012-01-12T16:29:00.000-06:00

We celebrated Christmas eve with my Nana, Dad, Frank, Crosby and myself. Our family tradition is appetizers, stockings, church, a big meal and then presents.

We cooked a beef tenderloin and many, many sides.

It was delicious this year!

My Dad and I about to "shake up" some martinis.

The table was set.

Crosby loved his snowman cup and got in on the food action!

He paused just long enough to give me a smooch and there wasn't even mistletoe forcing the situation.

After dinner, everyone was ready to open presents... including the pugs.

Crosby wore his Christmas sweater and accessorized it a bit. ;)

This kid just has a thing for hats.

Part two coming soon....

A Year Ago Today: We Met Our Son!

2012-01-11T13:11:00.000-06:00

Ten On Tuesday.

2012-01-10T08:31:00.019-06:00

1. I'm having fun showing off some of our home renovation projects. I think I'll keep it going. Stay tuned for a guest room makeover.

2. In my make myself a priority efforts this month, I've already had a pedicure, taken the time for two long, hot baths and made efforts to light candles every evening. I know it sounds silly, but I swear I'm in a much better mood overall.

3. Another big effort for healthier living is our recent purchase with a local CSA farm. (CSA = community supported agriculture). We'll be receiving fresh, organic vegetables for 20 weeks from spring to fall. I'm excited to see what new recipes I can try! Plus, this will force us to eat healthier! Do you have any suggestions for cook books or recipe websites?

4. Last weekend, I had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish. Let's see how I did:

So here's the must do things for this weekend:
Take Crosby to our neighborhood park tonight - Fail! It was too dark!
Gymnastics class for Crosby on Sat morning - Fail! We went, but the class is still on winter break!
Workout at gym for Frank and I on Sun morning - Fail! We were too tired and sore from remodeling the bathroom all weekend!
Church and the library with Crosby on Sunday afternoon - Fail! See number 3.
I also didn't get to any of the items on my "wish list." Instead, we gutted and began remodeling our guest bath upstairs. And for the crazy amount of work this has required, I think I'll give myself a pass on the other items for the time being. Besides, sometimes you have all the best intentions and it just doesn't happen.

5. I'm so happy the winter shows are back on! Frank and I have had nothing to watch in the evenings the last few weeks. Are you looking forward to a particular show returning or a new one altogether?

6. Normally, I'm a big fan of the ridiculous Bachelor series. This season, I just can't get into it. I think it's because I don't find the Bachelor to be attractive or appealing personality wise. He comes off as plain ole boring to me. Anyone else feel this way?

7. Another show we've been watching is the HBO 24/7 Winter Classic hockey series. Crosby loves it! He's been saying "hah, hah" when it's on. (His attempt at saying Hah-key or hockey.) I think we might have a future hockey player on our hands! Okay I admit it.... I'm doing everything I can to guarantee it. ;) We were rooting for the Flyers, but sadly they lost.

8. My Mom gave Crosby some Minnetonka moccassins (I want those boots!!) for Christmas and he's been loving them! Here's a recent iPhone pic:

9. In other Crosby news, recently scheduled his circumcision surgery for March. I'm not looking forward to it, but it will be good to get it over with.

10. And in Buzz news... Frank will be leaving to go to extra training for work soon. He has to spend 3 weeks in Georgia in January and February. Then, he has to return for an additional week in March or April. Ugh. That's a lot of time apart and a lot of time being a single mom. :/

All About You, Yes You!

2012-01-10T05:08:00.000-06:00

I created a short survey to learn a bit more about you. Please take a minute to fill it out! :) If you do, I'll buy you a Chicago dog. No, seriously.

Click here to take our survey!

Twas the Eve Before Christmas Eve

2012-01-09T12:35:00.000-06:00

Here's a recap in photos.

My Dad and I rode the train downtown.

Our first stop was Bloomingdale's to see their stunning Christmas tree!

After walking Michigan Ave, we needed a break for hot cocoa and some peppermint bark at Ghirardelli.

We made a few stops along the way like Tiffany and Co., Filene's Basement, Apple, etc. Eventually worked up an appetite and had some authentic deep dish pizza at Giordanos.

Finally, I had to pay my debts to my Nana for watching Crosby while we hung out downtown. She had one simple request: Garrett's Popcorn!

When we returned home I set up the Christmas presents in preparation for the night to follow.

A Year Ago Today: We were on our way to Russia!

2012-01-08T15:45:00.001-06:00

Looking back, I don't really have much memory of the long flights. (Except for the man with the gas problem who sat next to me flying from NY to Moscow. Yuck!) My memories are more in line with moments of conversations between Frank and I, where we spoke about our excitement, our fears and our hopes. I have a lot of memories of waiting in NY to get on the flight to Moscow. There were hockey players from the Russian national team waiting with us and I felt so close to Russia while listening to them speak in their native tongue and wearing their countries colors with pride.

I remember in my mind (and on my iPhone) I kept picturing Crosby's referral photos. That's really the memory that stands out the most. Just staring at the photos wishing the travel would go by quickly.

And it did.

We were there before we knew it. After we got there is when the real stress, exhaustion, excitement, fears, reality all set in. Some major high (and low) points I remember:

Crowds cheering at the airport for the returning hockey champs!
Being nervous going through customs and immigration, but literally walking through with hardly a word between us and the agents
Our driver never showing up!!! Overpaying for a cab to take us to the hotel and being nervous the entire time we'd end up in a back ally with our money stolen and beaten to death. (I think exhaustion played a role here lol!)
The beauty of our hotel in Moscow. Our room was okay, but the view was gorgeous, the shops were luxurious and the service outstanding.
Paying something like $80 for 2 burgers, fries and cokes and loving every bite!
Watching the city skyline with Frank from our hotel room window

I guess looking back the thing I remember most about "going to Russia" for trip one was the preparation. In fact, I wrote about my endless to-do list and scrambling at the last minute. And I would tell anyone who is waiting to go on trip one, that the preparation is worse than the actual traveling. Probably because by the time you travel you are wiped out from preparing yourself to travel, but also running on pure adrenaline.

I took some time today to re-read my old blog posts like this one. It's amazing how just re-reading my words brought back the images and memories of those moments in my mind. Things I hadn't even thought of before sitting down to write this post. I would highly recommend to anyone who has adopted... go back and read your journal. It feels great to see how far you've come and to remember that initial excitement involved in the process! And for anyone adopting, write everything down that you can, take photos, take videos. It's so worth it to have it recorded.

Russian Christmas!

2012-01-07T13:40:00.000-06:00

Today is Russian Christmas.

We're celebrating with Crosby by having a little extra fun at an open gymnastics class! Then, we're going to eat some traditional Russian food. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it turns out alright!

Spring Energy = Weekend Motivation

2012-01-06T13:57:00.000-06:00

It's in the mid 50s here in Chicagoland. That's unheard of for mid-January weather! And I'm loving it. In fact, I recently tweeted that I would perfectly fine with just skipping to Spring right now.

Today, I suddenly felt this burst of energy and I realized it's because it feels so amazing outside! I actually thought to myself, "man I'd love to ripe out the bushes and plant some flowers this weekend." Then, of course, I remembered it's January and the snow will eventually fall.

While flower planting is not on my weekend to-do list, this spring influenced energy has led me to develop quite a lengthy wish list for this weekend's accomplishments. (Besides the sunshine, I think finally feeling rested and recovered from the holiday madness has led to my need to "do something.")

So here's the must do things for this weekend:

Take Crosby to our neighborhood park tonight
Gymnastics class for Crosby on Sat morning
Workout at gym for Frank and I on Sun morning
Church and the library with Crosby on Sunday afternoon

Here's the "I'd really love to do ..." that I have planned for this weekend:

1. Sam's Club shopping to restock our essentials

2. Organize our linen closet, coat closet and back (cleaning supplies) closets again

3. In efforts to help with #2, take a trip to Target to pick up some organization storage bins

4. Paint our front door ~~red~~ blue

5. Hang our new outdoor porch lights

6. Touch up our new, old buffet turned tv stand

the midcentury buffet we recently turned into our tv stand in our LR

7. Drop off at least one bag or box of donations to our local Goodwill from junk collected in the basement, closets or Crosby's hand-me-down toy bin

8. Take the pugs to be groomed... pug pits are not appealing even to a true pug-lover like myself.

Kitchen Nook Before & After.

2012-01-05T15:31:00.000-06:00

I've made a lot of empty promises about showing updates of our home renovations. But with a new year, I've become re-energized and excited to share a ton of projects we've accomplished.

Here's one of the easiest transformations that made a HUGE difference in our kitchen.

Here's the space before remodeling.

This is during construction.

When we remodeled the kitchen, we created a bench seating area in the corner using two base cabinets from Martha Stewarts cabinetry line. I had the bench seats made at a local upholstery store, but those could easily be a DIY project. (Very similar to our headboard, which will be in another upcoming post.)

We stopped by a local, estate furniture store in hopes of finding a round or square table that might fit the space. Imagine our surprise and utter joy at finding a table that was square on two sides and round on the other. We compared it to our measurements and knew it would fit perfectly.

Here is the table primed and ready to be painted.

I painted on two coats of primer allowing time for it to dry between coats.

Later that day, I painted my first coat of paint matched to an anthropologie measuring cup decorating my counter.

I even tried out a pinterest tip for painting without drips and I am happy to report the rubber band worked!

I made sure to use a high gloss enamel so the result would be a shiny finish.

This paint can lid shows the color formula if anyone is interested.

And the after!!!

The art on the wall in the background is temporarily hung until I receive a few more pieces to create a "gallery wall" look. I'm also hoping to add some throw pillows in some of my favorite fabrics very soon.

And a side by side for dramatics! ;)

January: Make Myself a Priority

2012-01-04T03:40:00.000-06:00

If you read my 2012 resolutions, then you may have noticed this month I resolved to make myself a priority. Though it's possibly the most obvious and over used resolution, this month I'm hoping to focus on my health. That means the usual hit-the-gym and eat healthier routine, but when I stated that I hoped to make myself a priority, I meant my happiness, as well.

So this month, I vow to:

light more candles
read before bed more frequently
drink more water... and maybe a bit more wine, too ;)
take a long, hot bath at least one time per week
listen to more music that does not involve children's songs
get a pedicure

Selfish? Maybe. But, I feel that I've earned it over the course of the last year. One month of a little extra attention on myself. Resolutions have never felt so good! haha.

Resolute.

2011-12-31T20:08:00.003-06:00

It's NYE and we are sitting at the computers in our office waiting for the festivities to begin. Truth be told, my Mom is watching re-runs of Dexter to get caught up and my sister is watching Mtv on the kitchen tv. Since Crosby has long been asleep, that leaves the Buzz and I to waste some time with a little internet surfing.

I just asked him what his resolutions are and he said he needs time to think about it.

For me there is a long list and I'm having trouble coming up with just one. I think I'll list them in a monthly form, (like last year's resolutions), though if I'm being truthful I'm not certain I'll attain each one. Here's hoping the New Year is filled with promise and happiness for us all!

20 Months.

2011-12-29T15:48:00.000-06:00

This month was probably the most special we've had so far with Crosby. Christmas, of course, was the highlight! It's surprising how much having a child of your own makes the holiday so much more enjoyable and meaningful. Another significant event was introducing Crosby to Frank's extended family at the holiday party. They had not met him before and I was happy to see them welcome him with open arms (and gifts)!

Possibly the cutest "new trick" Crosby has started doing is answering our questions with a no (shake of head) or overzealous "yeah, yeah, yeah," which comes out like a whisper while he bounces up and down excitedly.

We've also found that Crosby is able to say about 25 words. (according to the speech pathologist at his school). Some words sound a lot a like. For instance, milk, mine and a shortened mama all sound like ma. He's working on finishing the ends of his words.

Crosby loves Shrek. It's his favorite movie. He also liked Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His favorite book is the Very Hungry Caterpillar. A close second would be any book with naming words from pictures.

A new game we play is "ride the pony." Crosby will climb on one of our backs and we crawl around whinnying and neighing. His favorite part is when the pony bucks him off... gently rolling him onto the carpet. This always produces belly laughs and a request for "more."

Recent Article about Vladivostok BH#3.

2011-12-27T16:29:00.000-06:00

Another blogger linked to this article, so I had to click over and read it.

While I was happy to see they asked for donations to improve doors and windows for the upcoming winter season, I was also outraged to read the line, "They have plenty of food and all things good." Plenty of food? All things good?

Have you seen the conditions, I wonder. Not even close to plenty of food or all things good.

Then, the article continues to say, "Those who are interested in adopting may email her at..."

Oh, if only it were that easy......

Crafty Christmas and (those infamous) Ugly Sweaters!

2011-12-22T08:18:00.002-06:00

Bare with me... this is a random jumble of postings all in one.

First, Crafty Christmas....... This year I decided to make some of the gifts I will be giving my parents. They are each receiving a decorative wine cork board, which spells out their last names. Huh, you say? Let's let the photos do the talking.

I started with 2 large bags of these. Probably 500 or so. (And no, we did not drink all of that wine! Some were ours, some were my parents, some were given to me by a local wine shop.)

Then, I used some of this to attach the corks to a precut shelf (12 x 48) bought from Menard*s.

It took awhile, but eventually they turned out like this x3.

Next, I decided I would make my Dad some pinterest inspired dominoes for our family cabin. (Maybe on the next hunting weekend, I will have something to do now...)

For this quick project, I used 2 bags of black river rocks and 1 white paint pen. (All purchased at Hobby L0bby. The rocks were in the vase filler section.)

Finally, some snapshots from the Ugly Christmas Sweater party. (You may have noticed there was one on our Christmas cards this year.) Yes, I'm wearing a bright green tight. It gets better. The other leg was red! haha.


Me, my SIL and nephew. UPDATE: THIS PHOTO MADE IT ONTO A MICHIGAN NEWS PROGRAM! LOL.

Frank and I. Yep, I convinced him to wear a woman's xmas sweater! haha.

Something about those ugly sweaters made his family's party get out of control... Crosby even ended up in this, um, outfit?! lol.

A Year Ago Today: We Got the Call!

2011-12-21T01:11:00.000-06:00

It was a year ago today that we received our referral for Crosby. As I sit here typing this, it's hard to put into words all of the emotions I feel. Relief that it's over and our son is home. A heart bursting with love for his sweet cheeks, little kisses and hysterical antics. A bit of sadness at the thought of other children who are still waiting for families. And gratitude for all of the people who helped bring Crosby home, all of you who supported us during the process and for God who united our family in such a perfect way.

Last year, at this time, I posted about receiving the call, receiving the referral photos, Frank's reaction and the immediate rush to plan our first trip during the Christmas season.

It was a magical Christmas being able to share such exciting news with our families! Such a gift. I don't think any gift will ever compare to that as long as I live. It was also a crazy, whirlwind of planning, phone calls, emails, booking travel, sending visa applications, realizing my passport was in another state and figuring out how I would possibly get it to the embassy for our applications. All of this really overshadowed our holidays. At the time, we were so happy it didn't matter, but I can honestly say I'm so looking forward to this Christmas being just about family. No stress, no panic, no rushing around. Just our family... home together.

When I saw Crosby's referral photos, I loved him instantly. As soon as I saw them, it opened a whole new world. I had tons of questions and worries and fears. It was as if seeing his face made him real and then everything became more emotional and involved. He just looked so innocent and lonely and beautiful and I remember thinking we could not get there soon enough. And today, I feel so blessed and thankful.

Some of Crosby's referral photos:

Some recent photos of Crosby:

I'm amazed at how much he has grown and that little smile kills me! What a difference a year makes?!

Crosby Christmas Shopping.

2011-12-20T07:43:00.000-06:00

My biggest concern going into this Christmas was that it was going to out of control! Well, in some ways it has. For instance, I have family coming for 4 days, then a 3 day break and then more family coming for 4 more days! It's a lot of work to prepare for that and plan ahead for everything. Plus, I've been the one doing all of the shopping and wrapping and planning this year. Frank has just been more busy than usual this season and I took on a little too much.

On the positive side, I think the presents have remained somewhat under control. I knew I didn't want the number of presents to be nutso considering Crosby is not even two. It's not like he fully grasps the concept and I keep envisioning this big Christmas jubilee with Crosby wanting to play with whatever present he opens first. In other words, will he even sit there and open that many presents? I'm doubtful.

The solutions I came up with are as follows:

1. Grandparents can only give 3 gifts. (Of course there's some leeway, but mostly this is the rule.) One gift for each of the gifts the wise men brought to baby Jesus. A want, a need and a read is what we asked for from each of them.

2. Frank and I did not purchase gifts from us this year. The gifts are coming from Santa alone.

3. Christmas day we have made no plans. (We will have family here staying with us.) Crosby will be able to open as much or as little as he wants at a time and go back for more when he feels like it! We've got all day! :)

So what is Crosby getting for Christmas? I honestly can't even remember everything because I wrapped it awhile ago. I'll have to report back after the presents have been opened.

This all being said, I do wish I would have slowed down a little to enjoy this Christmas preparation a little bit more. But, there's always next year and the big show hasn't happened yet! I still have time to get all holly jolly around here!

Be Merry.

2011-12-19T16:20:00.000-06:00

I love our Christmas cards this year. Here's a preview:

front

back

Hunter Men.

2011-12-14T10:57:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we spent a few days at my Dad's cabin in northern Michigan. While Crosby is a little too young to go out into the great woods to hunt, we did manage to have a good time while his Daddy & Papa were gone.

The first necessity was to prep by dressing him in "up north" clothing. :)

the mark on his nose is from his sippy cup accident

Then, we had to try out some "tents," which Frank correctly called blinds.

Finally, we were ready to head up north, where Crosby did a lot of relaxing. He rocked...

and rocked....

and napped with Nana (and the pugs)...

and because fresh air is just so exhausting, he napped a little more...

He tried to get ready to go hunting with Daddy and Papa, but the equipment and attire didn't fit just right...

The big boys had to get out to the woods...

Crosby said his good-byes...

And he was left behind to bake and cook chili with Mommy...

Mommy with no makeup :/

But eventually the great hunters returned... and he was happy to see them!!

Crosby with Papa (my Dad)

Crosby and Papa. His new favorite up north activity - being tossed up into the skylight!

"Pa Up!"

19 Months!

2011-12-13T10:50:00.000-06:00

::The last month went by in a blink and now Crosby is officially 20 months old! Wow. Getting to be such a big, big boy::

This month Crosby:

Experienced his first Thanksgiving. (Actually twice!) I was especially moved by my Nana's prayer giving thanks for his finding his family and coming home.
Spent his first hunting weekend with Dad and Papa. (Though he didn't get to go out in the woods this time.)
There have been a ton of words spoken around here randomly... none of which are being said consistently, but the fact that Crosby is using new words is great! Some of these words are: up, truck, shoe, foot, puppy, cat, hug, good, kim, papa, gigi, tubbs, craaah (crockett), and more!
Crosby is becoming more and more of a comedian. He loves to impersonations! This month my favorite by far was his impression of my Mom's dog, Fred. When we ask him, "what does Freddie do?" Crosby will stick out his tongue and pant while bouncing ever so slightly. It's hysterical!
We have also recently started taking gymnastics classes on Saturdays. Crosby has so much fun running around, climbing on equipment, bouncing on the trampoline, attempting to hold onto the rings and doing the stretching routines.
Some of Crosby's new tricks include moon walking, stomping his feet "like an elephant," showing his Buddha belly (and rubbing it), and pointing to body parts.
This month we also had a few injuries from falling down a couple stairs, tripping and falling on his sippy cup (which cut his nose), tripping and hitting his cheek on a coffee table, sliding head first down the slide at daycare (which ended in a bloody nose).
Crosby has began walking up and down stairs while holding our hands.
He has also put two words together to form a sentence. For example, "Papa up," when asking for my Dad to toss him up into the skylight.
We've also gotten 3 phone calls about biting at daycare. Though it seems this behavior has stopped after a little discipline in the classroom. I keep being assured it's totally normal.
Crosby signs for more when he is eating or drinking...
He's also begun to pay closer attention to books, cartoon movies and puzzles.
My most favorite new thing is the occasional "Mmmm" we hear him say when eating something he enjoys
Was evaluated by a speech therapist and needs a little work with finishing the ends of his words, as well as using them more consistantly (we're working out details with insurance and school)
Attended Adoption story hour at our public library
Had pj week at school with his friends!
Picked a tie for Daddy for Christmas (cheesy, yes, but cute... he really did grab it himself)
Raked up leaves with Daddy and cousin Christians
Gives closed mouth kisses (finally!)

Random Photos.

2011-12-12T10:11:00.000-06:00

Crosby at the park in our neighborhood

Nana treated Crosby to a milkshake!

Driving somewhere...

Ride 'em cowboy!

Eating breakfast out at our favorite place in town.

Fresh out of the tub at Nana's house

he looks like he's up to something here....

Saying good-bye to Daddy in the morning

Crosby giggles!

"Pin"e Trees and Reindeer

2011-12-09T06:14:00.000-06:00

Pinterest has been a source of great ideas, recipes and tons of time wasting! I have managed to create quite a long list of DIY projects, two of which I recently completed!!!

We decided to transform Frank's foot (center), my foot (left) and Cros's foot (right) into reindeer. Crosby, of course, became the glittery, red Rudolf nosed deer.

Then, I dipped Crosby's hand in green paint and "stamped" a Christmas tree onto a canvas. I painted the star and trunk, added some glitter and let it dry. I love the finished product and it warms my heart to think that I'll always have these two Christmas projects from Crosby's first Christmas home!

Here it is hanging up by our tree. The tree is hung on the other side of the opening between our LR and DR.

The Spirit of Christmas is Calling!

2011-12-08T08:38:00.010-06:00

I know, strange title. Let me explain.

This Christmas season has been so exciting and fun and all the things I had hoped it would be with Crosby home. But with the holiday season upon us, I can't help but think of all of the little children left in Russia who do not have families to read Christmas stories to them at bedtime or to wrestle around with underneath a Christmas tree. Those children will not have stockings hung, taste hot cocoa, see the magical sparkling lights, hear carols sung out in church or maybe even know who Santa Claus is... and it just leaves me feeling a little bit empty in the corner of my heart. There are ways to help, but somehow it doesn't seem enough.

I feel so called to go back to Russia. I can say I honestly think about it nearly every single day. And I talk about it a lot. Thankfully, it's not just me. Frank feels the same way.

Crosby will be spoiled with gifts and love this month. He'll start making memories of what family means during the holidays. I so wish those other children could have even half of the love he has in his life. And so the title of this post really means that this spirit of Christmas has torn open our hearts widely. We feel that calling again.... already. The calling to adopt another child.

I don't know when or how. I just know it has to be done. I have no idea where we'll find the money, but I know we'll figure it out. We want Crosby to grow up with siblings, but more than that we can not walk away from having had this incredible experience in Russia without looking back.

If only adoption were free (or just a little more reasonable). We would fill up this home with as much love as we had to share. And after all, that's what Christmas should be about... for us this year, it's the true spirit of Christmas.

First: Trimming the Tree.

2011-12-07T05:46:00.003-06:00

While Crosby was napping on Saturday, Frank and I set up our tree. We strung the lights and turned them on just as nap time was coming to an end. You should have seen the look on Crosby's face when Frank turned the corner into our living room! I'm sure he had no idea what was going on or why a big tree was now placed in his living room... but his mouth opened and his eyes got wider and wider. Then, a little smile grew across his face and he just wanted to touch the tree.

Crosby hung the first ornament and then we all started adding things to tree.

Crosby, of course, only hung the unbreakable ones. His placement choices were entertaining, but I was surprised to see how picky my little decorator was... he must have moved one snowman about 4 or 5 times before he was satisfied with it's placement. (Pushed deep into a lower branch upside down).

Maybe my favorite ornament this year is a pinterest DIY project.

We painted clear glue on Crosby's hand, made a hand print on a clear glass ornament and then glittered it!

And as the sunset, our tree began to glow. Crosby stood admiring his handy work...

And making a few more adjustments to that darn snowman...

Taking a little time to watch some Grinch Who Stole Christmas (playing on our tv)...

And maybe dreaming about the presents Santa would soon be putting underneath his tree...

Finally, for your enjoyment... a video! FYI this video could be titled:

Crosby decorates his first Christmas Tree
He's got the whole world in his hands! ;)
Mommy's voice is slightly irritating
How Tubbs protects us from dogs on television

Ten On Tuesday.

2011-12-06T05:40:00.002-06:00

1. We've got all kinds of things going on around here!

2. Home-wise, we recently began updating the exterior of our home. Pictures to come later this week!

3. Our plans last weekend fell through, so we enjoyed a weekend home to ourselves! It gave us some time to get all of the Christmas decorating completed (both inside and out)!

4. Frank really wants a real tree this year. I normally am not a fan of the needles, the sap, the watering, etc. However, I'm liking the idea of putting up 2 trees, so I'm leaning towards a yes. Do you like real or fake trees?

5. Speaking of Christmas, we've started the Elf on a Shelf tradition this year. I'm not sure how much Crosby understands it, but we're having fun with it. Here's an adults only Elf on the Shelf website that had me cracking up!

6. Are you watching Once Upon a Time? It's so cheesy, but for some reason I love it! It's a great family show. Any other great shows you're watching?

7. Melissa recently posted about her experience one year ago. This got me looking through my old archives. One year ago, I had a really rough day. I remember that feeling like it was yesterday and I am so thankful our life has moved forward in such a wonderful and fulfilling way.

8. I get my hair done tomorrow!!! I am currently sporting roots so long that I look like I'm intentionally trying to go brunette. As of tomorrow I'll be back in full blown blonde mode!!! (maybe with bangs...)

9. Speaking of me (lol) I got my eye makeup done as a test run for holiday eye palettes. The truth is I would never have the guts to wear it this dark and intense.

10. P.S. Christmas shopping is almost done around here! How about you?

Prepping Crosby for Christmas

2011-12-02T15:42:00.000-06:00

My current stream of thoughts:

On Sunday, Crosby will be 20 months old! OMGosh. He will be TWO soon. Scary and sad and all that "my baby's growing up" stuff.... but, wait.... ::smile coming across face:: .... does this mean I get to start planning a birthday party?! WOO HOO! :)

Then reality sets back in:

Christen... focus on the holiday in front of you. Christmas is enough to take on for now. So yes, I'm in full blown Christmas mode now. 23 days and counting! But, the problem is how much does a 20 month old really understand about Christmas? Probably more than I realize, but still not enough to make a huge ordeal of everything, right? Right?

I love Debbie's idea of counting down to Christmas, but that seems more like a 2 or 3 years and up kind of thing. I'm also slightly obsessed over the countdown to Christmas by doing random acts of kindness thing. But again... Crosby's too young to get it. So what can we do in the meantime to help explain what all the hoopla is about?

We are reading Christmas books before bed each night. One of which is always a nativity story book because I want him to start learning that we celebrate Jesus' birthday.... not just that Santa Claus comes along with gifts! I'm also singing him Christmas carols instead of the tradition lullabies at bedtime. Usually in the mornings, we let Cros watch episodes of "brainy baby" or Sesame Street, but now we've replaced them with Christmas movies for the month of December.

Is there anything else I should be doing to help him understand what's going on? Any ideas? What did you do with your kid(s) when they were itty bitties this time of year?

18 Months.

2011-11-30T02:09:00.000-06:00

I can't believe Crosby is 19 months old!! The 18th month was a huge month in Crosby's development. I would say the changes have been more this month than in the last two combined.

This month Cros started walking backwards! When he does this, he gets a huge smile on his face like he is really proud of himself. I've tried to catch it on video, but miss it every time.

Crosby recently started saying "outside." He also said his name for the first time this month. He was sitting in the bathtub and just said it, "Crosby." Another word he said that surprised us was "bubbles." I couldn't believe he could say a two syllable word so easily.

He has learned to wipe his hands and wipe his face when he is all done or falls down outside. He has also learned to hand me his dishes when he is all done eating and wants down from his seat.

We finished his playroom this month, too! Crosby loves to tunnel through his fort and go down the slide.

Crosby's interaction with the pugs has increased a ton this month, too. He no longer just pets them. Now he rolls around on the rugs with them and belly laughs. It's so adorable to watch.

His favorite word this month, by far, was "oy!" I'm not sure he realizes he's Catholic. lol.

When reading books, Crosby loves to lay on his belly on the floor and flip through them on his own. He won an award at daycare for reading the most books. This doesn't surprise me because he would read one after another all night long if we'd let him. Who knew I'd have to tell him to "step away from the books."

Crosby riding a tricycle at daycare

Another quirk this month is throwing his hands into the air when we ask him a question. For instance, if the phone rings and we say, "who is calling?" He'll toss his hands up like he's saying, "Who knows?!"

My bathtub cu-pie doll

He has also started climbing on top of everything and wanting to wear shoes all the time. He specifically loves his loafers (which are a size too big for him).

This month we also experienced pink eye. Fun times.

We had visits with Nana, Gigi, Grampy, Aunt Teresa and cousin Christian this month.

Crosby and Grampy at the park near our home

Crosby also trick or treated for the first time!!

12 Days of Christmas 2011.

2011-11-28T12:34:00.000-06:00

These things might not be consecutively accomplished, but this is our 12 days of Christmas goal list for this year! We give ourselves between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to accomplish them all.

What are you hoping to accomplish between now and Christmas?

Dear Christen

2011-11-25T06:48:00.011-06:00

Dear Christen,

You're five years old. And you are way too serious. Lighten up a little, life is pretty amazing and you have an extra amazing one! Please stop thinking so much about how Santa Claus couldn't possibly be real and just have fun opening all the toys, new clothes and Lip Smackers he somehow magically left in your family room. Enjoy the dress up time, your imaginary restaurant, playing Olympic gymnast in the front yard and the dance recitals. Don't bother asking for a little brother. It doesn't happen. Love on your new Golden Retriever, she won't be around forever. Pretty soon you're going to be in Mrs. Weiss' class. Enjoy each day with her. She's an extraordinary woman who will teach you about Russia, science and technology. She will have a huge impact on the person you become. Oh...and one more thing. Don't "borrow" the tulip out of Mrs. Rongus' yard for your Mom. It won't turn out like you've imagined.

Dear Christen,

You're twelve years old. You have been dancing for eight years now and you are really serious about it. Enjoy it because cheerleading is starting up and you just might have to choose. Cherish your dance class friends and your cheerleader friends. These girls are going to go off with you to college one day. Don't worry so much about the boys. Your prince charming doesn't come along for four more years. This year, you will start learning German. Soak it up. It will lead you around the globe and give you a taste of international travel. Would you believe me if I told you that you just might live outside the US one day? And spend lots of time with silly Grandpa. There aren't that many years left. Oh and when you start your freshmen year... don't try smoking. Dad will find out, and besides that, it's gross!

Dear Christen,

You're a teenager. Say thank you when Dad gives you the car. Don't complain about the stick shift. Oh and while we're on the subject of driving... you might want to reconsider driving through town before you get your license. It won't turn out well. Trust me. You are about to graduate from high school and you are about to break up with your boyfriend. The boy that you will one day marry. Make sure he comes to your graduation, though. Even if it's uncomfortable. You'll regret it if he doesn't. I think deep down inside you know he is the one, but life is crazy right now and the minute you are single you will be lost. I think saying yes to those other dates is a good idea, though, because you have never seriously dated anyone other that that boy that you will one day marry. But Christen? Break up with those other boys before summer ends. And you might just get back together with that boy that you are going to marry a little sooner. Be nice to your mother. She's adjusting to you leaving for school. And don't hang out with those bad kids... you know the ones. They aren't good for you. Do whatever it takes to raise the money to sing at Carnegie Hall. It'll be magical. And quit being too nervous to try out for the school plays. Your voice gets complimented by the Toronto Opera Company soon... be confident!

Dear Christen,

You are currently living with Kristen-K. You are having the time of your life in college and you have no idea that the next year of your life is going to be absolutely crazy. Frank is going to propose soon. Bring a camera on that trip! And you are going to plan your wedding. Don't freak out over things that don't matter. Really these things do not matter. As long as the people you love and care about are with you, it doesn't matter if you don't know the odd couple at table eight. When you and Frank travel to Europe, take one extra day in London and ride the horses in Scotland. Oh and don't eat Kim's cereal while you are there... you'll want to avoid her freak out, trust me. Mom and Dad are going to get a divorce. It's not going to be easy. Try to stay out of it. And believe me that one day it will turn out okay. You'll get two new sisters out of the deal. Be there for Dad. He'll need you, but support Mom, too. Soon, you are going to graduate college and start applying to medical school. Believe in yourself. You will get in. You are going to move in with Frank. When things stress you out and when Frank makes you mad, talk to him instead of letting them build up inside and saying you're fine. This will save you lots of wasted time. Be patient and gentle with his heart. And don't add so much garlic salt to that meatloaf.

Dear Christen,

You are twenty-two through twenty-six. Stop spending money on things! Sure you have a double income and no kids, but that is no reason to buy lots of, well, lots of everything, that you will inevitably sell in a garage sale for a small percentage of it's worth. It's wasteful and silly. Oh, and soon enough you are going to buy a house and adopt a baby, so a little extra money in the bank would be nice. Study hard and quit questioning yourself with medical school. You can do it. Don't compare yourself with all the other ladies. Don't worry so much about ... so much. You're finally going to get the little dog you've been wishing for! Actually, surprise! You'll get two. Pugs. They'll pee all over everything and wake you up at night, but they'll be so worth it. Make up with your Dad even when you don't want to. Soon the wicked witch will be gone and you'll be sorry you missed out on things. Start running. It's a great stress reliever and it will help you stay in shape. Waiting just makes it harder on your older self. Enjoy your vacations with Frank. Soon they will be with Frank and a baby. When you're in Rome, take an extra day to see the Colosseum. When you live in Grand Cayman, spend more nights eating dinner on the beach and spend more days in the sunshine. Listen to those waves crashing because you won't have them outside your front door forever.

Dear Christen,

Today is your twenty-ninth birthday. Remember those times you used to daydream with Frank about what your life would be like? Well this is it! Enjoy it! These are just some of the things I am thinking about our life right now:

I can't be positive, but I am pretty sure sometime in the near future you will have time to cuddle in bed with Frank while your children are sleeping in the next two rooms. And although I'm not certain, I'm pretty sure you're going to succeed beyond your belief in school. You've always been too hard on yourself and soon enough you will realize you don't have to be! Don't forget to take pictures of you and Crosby together. You're right, he is darn cute alone, but he is going to want to see pictures of you together. And so are you. Invest in the good camera. It'll be worth it. Go to church more often, get outside as much as possible. Relish your new home and have some dinner parties... you worked hard enough to make it the way you dreamed it would be. Do the work to be healthy even when it stinks. And keep being creative, kind, generous and spontaneous. Life is meant to be lived!

Remember, you are doing this whole thing right. Keep it up, give yourself a little more credit and enjoy. Oh, and happy birthday!

Love,
Me

30 Before 30.

2011-11-24T10:18:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is my last birthday in my twenties! So in honor of myself (lol) and my obsession with goal lists, I'm posting one here that I will be held accountable for by all of you blog buddies. Here are 30 things I want to do before I turn 30:

buy a DSLR camera
learn about photography, photoshop, etc
take family portraits for someone for free
get a new iPhone
cook one new recipe a week for one full year (52 new recipes)
clean out our garage
volunteer somewhere for a day with Frank
ask for advice and take it
attend church more regularly
read from the children's bible to Crosby
have my blog professionally designed with a new template
pass my boards
graduate from Medical School
start another adoption!!! (or have a start date planned)
take a vacation with Frank each year
re-organize my holiday decorations
plant a garden and cook with the veggies
create a baby book for Crosby
see at least 3 shows/concerts each year
attend all of the Chicago sporting events (Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks)
have family portraits taken downtown
finish my MBA
reach my goal weight
give Frank a gift for supporting me throughout medical school
take a girls only trip with my Mom
sing karaoke
go on a cruise
run a race
finish a photo-a-day project (365 project) each year
write a letter to myself when I turn 30

Fab(ulous)ric

2011-11-17T10:23:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've been pining for some beautiful fabrics to put the finishing touches on several rooms in our house. (Or should I say I've been "pinning" for...)

Here are my fabric choices for:

The Office: We have a moroccan tile orange PB rug on the floor and not much else in the way of decor. The room is across from our LR, which has a navy, beige and mustard decor scheme going on. I think this might be a way to tie the two together.

Schumachers Hot House Flowers and Betwixt

Love the roman shade fabric... Maybe drapes in the office or covering my cork board.

Our Master Bedroom: The walls are already painted "Opal," a pale green-blue. Our bedspread is white and we have grey, gold and turquoise accents.

Kravet's Jellybean for 2 throw pillows or curtains.

Headboard fabric.

The Kitchen:

Do you like mixing prints? Any fabrics you've been coveting lately?

Wishlist 2011.

2011-11-15T06:31:00.001-06:00

With Crosby at home, the upcoming holidays are more exciting this year than the past few! Last year, of course, was the most memorable Christmas we've ever had! I always enjoy gift giving and who doesn't like a little gift receiving in return? ;)

This year I thought I'd put together a wish list.

Mostly all of those that I exchange gifts with read this blog and maybe this will serve as inspiration if they are looking for a little something special. And if not, that's fine, too. Maybe you'll find an idea for yourself! Worst case scenario... I can refer back to this post when ever I come up with some extra pocket change that doesn't go directly to Crosby's wardrobe. (which is almost never!) ;)

click to enlarge

1. Notebook
2. initial ring
3. "E" monogram
4. DSLR camera
5. stamp set
6. You can never go wrong with a gift card to any of these stores!
7. Personalized Stationary
8. Fingerprint jewelry
9. Catch all plate for bedside
10. Personalized necklace
11. Help for Children in Russia
12. Wireless keyboard and mouse
13. Family print for living room

What's on your wish list this year? Happy Shopping!

quack quack.

2011-11-14T08:46:00.002-06:00

Last night, Crosby brought me his letter D book. It's his favorite. The first page says, "deer," the second, "dog," and the third, "duck." Nothing was unusual about this occurence until he opened to the third page pointed and said "Duck!"

I couldn't believe it.

He must have noticed my dropped jaw and wide eyes, because he then repeated the process and said, "duck" again.

It's official. He's a genius. ;)

Snow Way!

2011-11-10T14:21:00.001-06:00

It's official... the cold fall to winter season is here. Today we had our first snow fall! And not a little... a lot. And it stuck! I can't wait to see Crosby's reaction when he comes home from school today. Here's a picture taken from our front porch. Brrrrr!

Bark Worse Than His Bite!

2011-11-10T10:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we received a call from daycare. Crosby got himself into a bit of trouble. When another child kept trying to take his toy away, he apparently bit the other boy on the arm in a moment of frustration. We were assured this is a common thing in the toddler room and that Crosby was disciplined appropriately.

I am slightly embarrassed and hope this is a one time incidence. I do, however, admit that I secretly giggled to myself when hearing this news because I couldn't help thinking...

Was he behaving badly or is he taking his puppy dog role a bit too seriously?

Do you think we have a method actor on our hands? ;)

Vlog: Trick or Treat!

2011-11-09T15:53:00.000-06:00

A quick video recap of Crosby's First Halloween! If you've got a spare 3 minutes, check it out!

First: Halloween (Photo Recap)

2011-11-07T16:33:00.000-06:00

Crosby got a Halloween bucket filled with goodies from his Gigi. (My Mom)

He liked the dracula sippy cup the most!

Then, Crosby decided to try on some "nerd chic" glasses.

We thought he looked pretty cool.

But before long, we had to get ready to go out for our first trick-or-treating!

My little puppy with skele-Tubbs in the background

We added the finishing touches.... his doggie hood

With a little adjusting, my puppy was ready to go!

Crosby-Pup on the move!

In awe of the other kids' costumes

(notice Pumpkin Crockett in the background)

Excited about his candy!

Our real puppies all suited up for Halloween

Off to go trick or treating!

Crosby's favorite part of the night was handing out candy to bigger boys and girls!

He was the "official candy inspector." ;)

With his handy pugs by his side, Crosby hung out at the door watching as the trick-or-treaters walked down the sidewalk and out of sight.

Orphan Sunday

2011-11-06T06:51:00.005-06:00

A video is making it's way around the web recently in honor of Prayer for Orphans day, which is today. It is in Russian, but you do not need to speak the language to understand the message. Can you imagine what it feels like to be an orphan? They all long for one simple thing — a family. It seems so innate to most of us, yet for 147 million children in the world, it’s not.

Crosby, December 2010

Our family has most certainly been blessed to have known one particular little orphan who has found his forever family, but there are many more out there who need to find theirs. Please say a prayer today in hopes that they will go home soon.

Smooch.

2011-10-27T20:30:00.000-05:00

Today Crosby blew me a kiss when he was leaving for school (without me prompting him to do it).

And just like that... my heart burst.

Immunity.

2011-10-24T07:34:00.001-05:00

Don't be fooled by the blog title. This is not a recap of an exciting episode of Survivor, rather it's in regards to my own inherent lack of survival skills. I have come to realize I must have an immune system about as strong as, oh... a toddler! For every single cold or flu bug Crosby has gotten has been quickly passed along to me. It's to the point of almost being embarrassing. If one can be embarrassed by their immunity (or lack there of)?!

I'll be the one with the toilet paper roll and anti-bacterial gel next to my keyboard....

Home 6 Months!

2011-10-20T02:12:00.000-05:00

As of today, Crosby has been home for 6 months! Can you believe it? It flew right by.

The changes in Crosby in this short amount of time have been more than we expected.

He was crawling then, and now he is running!
He was not saying much of anything, though he did say "mama" for the first time in Russia. Now, he is jibber jabbering (in baby talk) constantly and says several words regularly.
In Russia, Crosby ate everything we fed him, but it was all jars of baby food. Today, he still eats everything we feed him, but the food is a wide variety of fruits, veggies, proteins and grains. He will eat whatever it is we're eating (unless it's too spicy) and loves to drink from cups.
Bath time went from a horrendous event to a fun, playtime we look forward to sharing with him.
We've gone from two naps to one, but this kid is still a great sleeper!
And the attachment we feel for him has grown leaps and bounds. There are times when he wants Frank and times when he wants me. It's nice to see him bonded to both of us.

The things I was worried about seem so silly and far behind us now. The paperwork, the caretaker gifts, the feeding schedule, the home study. None of that matters. We truly are blessed and thankful to have him home and part of our family.


an outtake from a recent photo shoot - lol

We call this his superman pose. After all, "superman was adopted, too."

Ten on Tuesday.

2011-10-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

Crosby came down with pink eye this weekend. Thankfully it was gone by Monday! Double thankfully, we did not catch it!!
This weekend we are visiting the Overstreets!!! We're super excited to see how much little Boston has grown and, of course, catch up with the whole family. Added bonus: a visit to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard are in store!
We managed to get some of our house projects completed this past weekend. I may finally be able to come through on those house tour pics very soon!
I've been cooking loads of new recipes that I found on pinterest. If you are looking for something new, try searching there. Our most recent favorite was drunken pork chops and crock pot orange chicken.
I'm in the process of completing our video montages of both trips to Russia. I'm not sure why it took me so long to finish them, but I have to say it's mentally taxing to go through all of the photos and videos and edit them just right. I think it's also a sad reminder of the life Crosby had before us and maybe that's why I avoided it until now.
My goal is to be able to post the videos next week in honor of Crosby's six months home!
I love the fact that Crosby is wearing his hats and coats again. He just looks so darn cute - I can hardly stand it!
Crosby is being evaluated by a speech therapist next week. I'm interested to hear the results and will keep you posted.
My MIL recently came to visit. She had loads of fun with Cros and even managed to sneak him off to Arbys for some french fries and milkshakes. What would those Russian doctors say? ;) lol.
I'll close with a cute pug story. Last night, Crosby woke up crying in the night. I went in and changed his diaper. Then, I rocked him back to sleep and laid him in his crib. I didn't realize Crockett had followed me into his room until I noticed Crosby roll over and press his face close to the bars. It was then that I saw Crockett also had his sweet little pug face smooshed between the bars and Crosby was kissing his velvety jowls. So adorable the love between those two.

Lonely Without Him.

2011-10-04T02:24:00.000-05:00

Regardless of how busy my days have been, I find myself wondering what Crosby is doing. I wonder what he's eating or what he is playing with. I worry that he's not napping enough or not warm enough. But mostly, I worry that he'll forget about me.

I know this is ridiculous. But still I'm fearful.

I feel great being back to school/work, but I miss him. And I feel riddled with guilt sometimes. I can't help but think to myself, "Will he think the daycare workers are his Mommy now?"

I went grocery shopping this week for the first time without Crosby in the cart. As soon as I started pushing it, I felt my eyes burn with the welling up of tears. I pushed them back and told myself I was being absurd. Most moms are thrilled to be able to run in and out of the store without the hassle of carting around a little one. But here I was going through the produce and missing my weekly lessons of which fruit is what with my little Cros. It got worse when I went down the baby product aisle. Something was playing a lullaby and my eyes filled with tears again.

Bottom line: I'm not saying I want to keep him home forever and I know I'm doing what is best for our family, but I miss spending my days with him.

Will this ever go away?

Hey Ladies...

2011-10-03T04:42:00.000-05:00

... you know you want a piece of this! LOL!

Crosby in his new favorite car seat position. Must be comfy?!

My son, the stud muffin. Truth be told, he only has eyes for one little Sunshine. ;)

17 Months.

2011-09-30T06:26:00.001-05:00

This month Crosby seemed to grow before our eyes. He is almost 30 pounds now and 2 foot 10 inches. I swear the kid's hands are going to be bigger than mine within the next year or two. He is between a size 5 or 6 shoe depending on the brand and he is wearing 18 month clothing now consistently. (This bums me out because he has SO many cute 12 month outfits that have been retired to the storage bin for our next baby boy.)

Crosby loves to dance (bounce around) to music. We often find him clapping on his own when he hears applause or sees people clapping on the television. He loves his children's cd that we play in the car... favorites are 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed and I love the daffodils. Frank says he enjoys rap. :/ I beg to differ.

He will eat anything and everything. If we don't pay attention he'll shove 3 pieces of pancake (or whatever else) in his mouth at one time. It's kind of cute, though, because he'll use his palm to shove that last piece in. We're working on better table manners now.

Wearing Daddy's hat

Crosby has switched over to one nap a day. Usually it's about 2 hours long, but it's an adjustment for all of us.

This month we:

Attended our block party! Everyone oohhed and ahhed over Cros. He loved the bouncy house and eating popcorn with his buddy, Jimmy, while watching Finding Nemo in the driveway. (the movie was projected on the garage door.)
Went from walking to running!
Spent a few days in Michigan visiting Gigi, Grampy, Papa and Little Nana. (My parents and my Nana)
Went to work with Daddy (zoom in for full effect)

Split my lip open with a head butt!
Spent a lot of time outside

Bought tons of new fall/winter clothes at a Mom-to-Mom sale!!! :)
Experienced hand foot mouth disease. Yikes!
Enjoyed his last time home with Mommy before starting daycare

my most favorite picture of us

Went for walks with Daddy to the park and watched little league games
Spent a weekend in Traverse City visiting family and going to the apple orchard
Cheered on the Bears in his team outfit

Completed our 6 month post placement report
Really loved his new backpack!

From This to That.

2011-09-29T05:18:00.000-05:00

How did this happen already?

.... and in just a few months!

6 Month Post Placement Report.

2011-09-28T08:40:00.000-05:00

We have survived our first major post placement evaluation. It was not without hiccups!

First, I greeted the SWer at the door and introduced myself. I called her Heather, when her name is Elizabeth. I have no idea where that came from or why I said it.... but, right from the start I felt like a flake.

Then, the pugs came in from outside and greeted our social worker by jumping all over her. She followed that interaction with questions about how well Crosby gets along with the dogs. I'm sure she was wondering if they are like that with him. Thankfully, one of the photos I submitted was an image of Crosby sleeping on Crockett. Proof is in the pudding. :)

She asked the standard questions and I responded honestly. I asked her for information about early intervention. It is free to have Cros evaluated, so I figured it is a good idea for his sake. Though, she expressed her belief that he is right on track and we have nothing to be concerned about regarding speech or physical delay.

It was a bit awkward overall because this is a new SWer. The one we bonded with during our homestudy process is no longer working with our agency. Kind of a bummer, but it went smoothly enough and I'm relieved it's over!

Ten on Tuesday.

2011-09-27T16:19:00.001-05:00

1. Being back in school has revitalized and re-energized me! I do miss Cros during the day, but it feels great to be my old self again for part of my day.

2. Last weekend was so much fun! We spent it in Traverse City visiting Frank's dad and his family. We ate way too much, laughed too much (my abs are still sore!) and we can't wait to do it again!

Crosby and his cousin, Christian

3. Crosby is going to be a puppy for Halloween. We figured it's only fair since doggies seem to be his most favorite thing.

4. Speaking of Crosmanov, he's come down with a cold. I'm not sure if it's the change in season (and temperature) or starting daycare. I'm leaning towards daycare. Fingers crossed that we can get rid of it with over the counter meds and a little extra loving.

5. I realized I never blogged about Crosby's baptism. So that is coming soon.... with pictures!

6. This weekend we are staying home and working around the house. I'm hoping to paint the furniture that we've never been able to finish. If we do, I'll post before and after pics.

7. I finally applied for Crosby's SS card. Boy was that an interesting experience. Let's just say that SS offices are not my favorite place to hang out.

8. I'm half way through with #10 on my fall goals list. I finished the Jaycee Dugard book. Such a sad story there. Hard to read at times, but also oddly inspiring. To survive such a thing is unbelievable. Now I just need to decide what book I want to read next. Suggestions?

9. I also am well on my way to accomplishing goal #13: try one new recipe per week. Well, one week and going strong! lol. Last week we had Drunken Pork Chops with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. I highly recommend it.

10. This week we're trying Shrimp Pomodoro. And I'm going to attempt to cross off another fall goal by baking an apple pie.

Mama Mondays: Halloween Costumes

2011-09-26T16:38:00.000-05:00

What are your kids going to be for Halloween this year?

At what age do you let them start choosing their costumes?

Have you ever used your power of veto for a costume you didn't approve of or like?

First Day of Fall.

2011-09-23T09:25:00.001-05:00

Fall has officially arrived and I couldn't be happier! While I love sunshine and long summer days, Fall is probably my favorite season. I'm always ready to break out the sweaters and cute boots. I love the outdoorsiness of fall. And yes, I just created that word. Every new season brings new excitement with Crosby because it will be his first time experiencing all of our fall favorites!

And what would a new season be without a new goal list!? So here it is, our 2011 Fall Goals. These are also found proudly written on our kitchen blackboard.

First: Day of School.

2011-09-22T07:59:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Crosby had his first day of school.

Everyone warned me that mornings could become hectic if I didn't organize myself ahead of time, so I made sure to have our clothes laid out, backpack and bags packed. Waking Crosby up in the morning was hysterical. He rolled over in his crib, arched his back with his hands behind his head and stretched. Then he rolled back over and gave me the stink eye. Clearly this kid is not a morning person.

We had a big breakfast and got ready for our day. Crosby put on his little backpack and walked out with Frank. And then the tears came. Like a cliche, I stood in the doorway waving with tears streaming. Yes, I am officially a dork. And a mom.

It was my first day back to school today, too. A short day, orientation and good news that I will be able to have Halloween off. Besides that I only get one other day off in 6 weeks. I'll be in Park Ridge for the first 3 weeks and then downtown for the 3 after. I'm excited and nervous, but anxious to get back to work.

During my day I received two updates from the daycare staff. It's great knowing Crosby is attending a school that cares about it's families. I was also sent several pictures of Crosby partaking in activities throughout the day. When Frank brought him home from school, there was a note from the teacher. Each day we will receive one. Highlights from the note told us that Crosby had painted with acorns, danced to music and sat with the other kids for story time. He only napped for 45 minutes and wouldn't nap at all without his backpack. We were told he was very attached to his backpack and the teachers let him wear it most of the day. I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of him toddling around the classroom with his backpack on. The only thing I can think to make sense of the backpack attachment is that I put a picture of our family in the front pocket, which is a clear plastic cover.

Here are some photos from Crosby's first day:

Ten on Tuesday Wednesday

2011-09-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

Well, we have survived and I have finally drug myself out from the cave (aka our bedroom, more specifically our bed). This past weekend I was probably sicker than I have been in years. Wow did that virus kick my behind! The only positive is that I'm down a pant size from a complete lack of appetite.
It's funny, while I was in bed we seem to have switched over from summer to fall here in Chicago. The weather is perfect! It's maybe my favorite time of the year. You know, when the crisp air comes back and the humidity disappears. Sweatshirt weather is right around the corner.... I love that.
Crosby is starting daycare soon. I'm torn on how I feel about it, but we're going to meet his teacher this Friday. I'm sure I'll be back with a full report. Then again, I've been a bad blogger lately, so maybe not.... ha.
Our 6 month post placement report is on the 20th! 6 months!! I can't believe it. At all.
I'm taking my final management level accounting class for my MBA (in health care administration) and I am so thankful for Frank's help. Just putting that out there.
I'm dying to do a double feature movie date like I used to with Mr. Buzz. A perfect combo for us would be The Help, followed by Contagion. I'm going to see if I can make this happen. :)
The silliness that goes on around here:
Just because it's cute.
My son loves his dogs. A little too much. ;)
This week I seem to be swamped in paperwork. I'm attempting to accomplish:

social security card for Crosby
adoption documents sent out to agency
daycare paperwork dropped off and picked up from ped
take Crosby for his bloodwork

Holiday Weekend.

2011-09-02T12:29:00.000-05:00

Any big plans this weekend?

We are planning to enjoy three full days of family time. No visitors, no trips, no big plans.

I will be recovering from my tongue bite, which has now turned into hand-mouth-foot disease. Yeah... fun times. I'm 99% sure that's what caused Crosby's strange fever and rash last week. And I have officially been diagnosed since then by our family dr. If you're wondering what this entails... it's blisters on your hands and feet (I have none on my feet), arthritis like pain in your joints, generalized fatigue, sore throat and ulcers in your mouth. (It feels like chancre sores.) How did I get it? From Crosby and, most likely, because I already had an open wound in my mouth from biting my tongue.

::Insert Frank's endless "bite your tongue" jokes here.::

So yes, my big plans include recovering and letting Frank and Crosby have some fun daddy play time. Other than that, we'll be refinishing some furniture for the house, hanging some closet organizers and maybe seeing a movie. Most of all, we'll be relaxing and cuddling our little monster.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Lives Interwoven.

2011-09-01T08:12:00.001-05:00

Have you ever bought a new outfit thinking you'd never seen it before, only to wear it out and see two other women in the exact same thing? That's how I feel about adoption lately. It's amazing how your eyes and ears are opened when you are a part of the adoption community. It seems we've been surrounded by adoptive families in the last year.

I remember my Little Nana (great grandmother) had a favorite poem (I'll have to look and see if I can find it). It was about life being like a quilt and God being the weaver, who combines the right fabrics together at the right time. Our life has been like that lately. And so, I have to believe God has found a way to interweave these adoptive families into our lives... for support, for community and to normalize adoption for the children.

*Update - I found the poem*

God's Quilt

Of pieces that make up my life,

from many fabrics torn,

some are new and beautiful,

some are old and worn.

Here a thread of silver

there a few of gold

And there are grays and blues and

blacks among the bright and bold.

Some fabrics wear the jewels of joy,

others scarred with pain.

Fabrics here are traced with loss,

others wreathed with gain.

Seen apart and separate, they

show no purpose clear.

You see, the pattern set of them

cannot be viewed from here.

He Who does the quilting

sets the pieces from above.

Carefully, He chooses them

and binds all with His Love.

He has thus designed for me

the fabric of His Grace.

Quilted, every piece is fitted

lovingly in place.

And patterned by His Mercy,

my life for e'er shall be,

assembled with His Masterpiece

for all eternity.

--by Gloria Small

-------
Here's another similar one, but not the one my Nana kept:

I Think God is a Quilter
(Author Unknowned)

I think God is a quilter
Who takes His needle and thread
To piece our world from nothingness
And give it form, instead.

I think God is a quilter
And everything I see
Are pieces from His careful hand
From tree to bumblebee.

I think we see God's stitches
His texture everywhere;
The velvet moss, the grainy sand,
The silky strands of hair.

I think God is a quilter;
Stitching tight and tiny rows,
Adding to my scraps and pieces,
Seaming everything He knows.

I think He cuts the patterns
From what I'd throw away.
He shows me how to use each scrap
In His redeeming way.

I think God quilts a pattern
From everything I live;
But He can only stitch the quilt
From what I choose to give.

I think God is a quilter
Stitching strength where I am weak.
Showing me that life He touches
Embraces everything I seek.
I think God is a quilter

From the patience in each thread;
Proving length of time no barrier;
Treating time a gift, instead.
I think quilts are lessons

God uses just to teach
That our pieces and our remnants
Have kaleidoscopic reach.

So, in the life I'm living
With pieces everywhere
I'll give them to the Quilter
To stitch with loving care.

I'll give them to the Quilter
Unwanted though they be
And with His work of quilting
He'll make a quilt of me.

Nicknames.

2011-08-31T18:30:00.000-05:00

Crosby has a lot of nicknames. Not that uncommon for kids, but I still find it odd that we come up with random names that have nothing to do with our kids' real names.

For instance, I was called Boo, boo-boo, boo-boo-kid, Chri-ten, Christen L, beans (goes with Frank), Jinxie, etc. Frank had tons, too. The short list includes Buzz, Jr, Frankenstein, Frankfurter, etc.

Crosby's list is a little different. He's Cros, "the" Cros, Crosmanov, Cros-baby, monster, punkin', lil' man and most of the time, biggie or biggie boy. If that last one sticks, I'm certain he'll love me forever when I call him "biggie" in front of his future girlfriend. ;)

Do you have nicknames for your kiddos?

Fever.

2011-08-25T07:50:00.001-05:00

Tuesday night (or early Wednesday morning) Frank and I were awoken to sounds of screaming coming from Crosby's room. It was highly unusual because he rarely wakes up in the night. (I think it's happened maybe 3 times in 4 months.) It was also alarming because the sound of his scream was not like anything we've heard. I leaped out of bed and got to his room in about 2.4 miliseconds. In that amount of time, I had the mystical ability to run through possible scenarios in my head. My best guess was that he had somehow managed to climb out of his crib and had broken something. Paranoia, I know. The kid can't even come close to climbing over the railing and has never attempted anything like it.

When I got into his room, he was screaming and balled up, face down under his blanket. As soon as I touched him I knew we were in trouble. He was soaking wet and hot... like a rock baking in the sun in the middle of the Sahara hot. He was clinging to me and screaming in the same horrible way he used to in Russia when we made him take a bath. It was that terrible fearful scream and my heart broke.

I quickly changed his diaper and jammies and dropped him with Frank so I could find the thermometer. Of course, in my panic I couldn't find it and realized it was downstairs in the kitchen "pharmacy" area. I ran downstairs to grab it setting off our alarm in the process. Wailing alarm sounds... wailing baby screams.... not a good combination for your nerves.

When I got his temperature taken, the thermometer read 103.2. PANIC!

Immediately I gave him a dose of baby tylenol and started a tepid bath. I got in the tub with him... pj shirt and underwear on... bc it would have made too much sense to strip down. Though I somehow managed to remember to take his clothes off. We sat together in the cool water with a washcloth over his head and while I was soothing him, the tears started to flow.

A small amount of those tears were because I was fearful of all the horrible things that could be wrong with him. (Being a med student I know just enough to be dangerous, so I was going to the zebras and thinking meningitis or malaria. Ridiculous.)

Here's the weird part: The bulk of my tears were because in this moment of fear, it occurred to me that I truly, deeply love this baby. Obviously I was aware of this before hand, but until something frightening happens and you have a moment to process that this child could be taken away from you.... only then do you really comprehend it. And I cried like a baby.

Frank came in thinking I was scared and I told him through sobs, "no I'm fine." He must have thought I was a nut.

We called the after hour Peds line and I gave a brief summary of what was happening. I got some (probable) intern or resident who was half awake. I could tell in his voice. I could tell he hadn't grasped a single thing I had told him. I've been there. I get it. But when it's my kid, I'm not okay with it. So I became slightly enraged, restated the situation (this time in a physician to physician sort of way) and told him to call me back when he woke up. Suddenly he realized he wasn't speaking to some clueless mommy and his voice changed. He told me I was doing everything right. I knew that, but needed someone knowledgable to reassure me. We made an appointment for Wednesday morning at the Peds office.

Yesterday, I took Crosby in and the doctor checked his ears, throat, belly, etc. All things I had already done at home with my own otoscope. He told me he thinks it will run it's course and to keep doing what I'm doing. I was reassured, but not fully satisifed. I wanted him to run a urinalysis and had a ridiculously long list of things I thought we should check out. He chuckled and told me we'd do all that if the fever lasted through to the weekend.

So now we wait. I'm nervous and worried and sad for my sick little baby boy. I'm hoping today the fever will break. But, on the bright side of things, last night I caught up on my sleep and in the midst of all of this chaos, I've been reassured that my love for Crosby is deep and true. And that feels good.... even if he may not.

Lately.

2011-08-19T08:51:00.000-05:00

A quick dump of things we've been doing lately:

Did I tell you that Frank, my Mom, step-dad and I went to the American Idols live concert? It was a ton of fun. For those of you who are fans, I'll give you my quick take away thoughts, for those who aren't skip to the next bullet point. (Stephano was not a favorite of mine during the show, but live he was really good... though, removing his shirt and throwing it into the crowd of screaming teeny-boppers kind of turned me off. And btw he's about 4' 10". Pia was stuck up, just like on tv. All she did was stand still and shake her booty. Girl can sing, though. I'm just not a fan. Lauren was really good, but you can tell she's a teenager. Not polished and a little silly on stage. The winner, Scotty, was great live, but he kind of annoyed me with his cheesy southern talk. He called Haley a "darling," as in "she's a darling." I mean, come on, you are 17. Speaking of Haley, she was so, so good live! I was really impressed. Paul was great, too. Did less of that silly walking. Casey was awesome live, too. He played the bass and I was loving every second of it. When Jacob sang, I took a bath room break. Not a fan. Finally, James was AWESOME! He rocked the whole place.)

This Sunday Crosby will be baptized. I still have no dress to wear. I'm hoping to find something tomorrow when I go shopping with my Mom. As for Crosby, I scored him some really nice white polo pants on ebay on the cheap! I also got him a white button up from Gap. He outgrew his sandals in the last week, so we'll have to come up with something for shoes...

I'm getting involved with this charitable organization. Much more on that in another post.

A Crosby pic bc it's required. ;) (This one is not as smiley and "cute" as others, but I think it shows what he really looks like. Plus, I think he's gorgeous, but he is my kid so I'm a little biased!)

Crosby eating goldfish. A daily occurrence around these parts.

I started going back to Body Pump this week and OMG I'm in pain! Seriously.... my triceps have never hurt this badly. It'll be worth it!! :)

Two new favorite purchases: (1) This lovely 2012 calendar and (2) a pink, glittery binder. (Yes, it's the same thing I would have chosen in 3rd grade, but it's okay to be a kid at heart and it keeps me organized!)

Hope you have a great weekend!

Life With Crosby & Two Pugs.

2011-08-18T08:52:00.002-05:00

With Crosmanov running around, it may seem as though the pugs have become second class citizens around these parts. Do not be fooled. They are still as spoiled as ever.

Sure they get their ears tugged on. And open mouth kisses from Crosby. (Eeewww!) But, they also get their fair share of cuddles, hugs and naps with their new little brother, too.

And they aren't complaining when he purposely drops them goldfish or eggs in the morning.

Our routine has changed a bit. In the morning, the pugs get a little extra attention while Frank and I work out in the basement. I wish I could have snapped some pictures this morning while Frank was doing crunches. He had one pug licking his head (tubbs) and the other sitting on his stomach (crockett). It was hysterical! After our workout, the pugs go play outside and then come in for their breakfast. Shortly after Frank leaves for work, the pugs take the first of many naps. This one happens under my desk while I check emails and blogs.

But before we know it, Crosby calls out, "mama, mama, mama," and the real pug fun begins.

Several times in the last month, Tubbs has mysteriously gone missing. After a quick search of his favorite lounging spots, I usually find him upstairs sitting beside Crosby's crib. I still haven't figured out how he manages to sneak up stairs and pry open the nursery door without my knowledge. This dog is very stealth-like. When it happens, I'm most often alerted by a "woof, woof" sound coming from Crosby's room. That's right, Crosby will be standing in his crib, leaning over the edge and barking at Tubbs. I'm not sure if Tubbs really loves Crosby or if he just wants him to get up and start eating his breakfast, in hopes of receiving the aforementioned egg droppings.

Our day continues on with lots of play time. The pugs benefit from this play, as well. You see they like to follow Crosby around while he's popping his popcorn bubble/vaccum toy.

They like to wrestle with him, while Crosby jumps around on the couch pillows or me.

They like to scheme ways to snatch up Crosby's toys and run off in corners to chew them. And they are awfully cunning when it comes to sneaking off with a sippy cup full of milk. Those pugs love to lick the tops and drink up that milk drip by drip. (Oh yes, I do lots of dish washing of sippy cups throughout the day.) We average about 2 per day for Crosby and 3 per day for the pugs. ;)

When they aren't playing or eating, the pugs are commonly found in these precarious positions. Oh yes, they have it rough folks.

Bath time is also an amusing event for the pugs. They love to lean over the edge and drink bath water or climb on top of my lap and attempt a high dive into the bath tub. Crosby gets a kick out of this and I swear he deviously plots along with them to distract me just long enough for one of the pugs to dive over the edge. Twice now we've had a combination Crosby and pug bath. Fun times, let me tell you....

Apparently I have no control over this situation, because somehow it still happens even when I give Cros a bath in the sink.

And our day ends with bed time. The pugs are banished from the nursery because it's nearly impossible to get Crosby to sit on my lap for story time if they are present. We sing lullabies and put the baby to bed while the pugs lay pitifully outside his bedroom door hopelessly awaiting the start of the next day.

Somehow we manage to pull them out of their depression long enough to get them to follow us back downstairs. (Okay we bribe them with milkbones.) And then those unfortunate pugs get an hour of cuddle time on the couch with us before we head upstairs to bed, where they each have their own cozy and cushioned pug bed in our room.

Looking back, I shouldn't be surprised by this bond between Crosby and his Pugs. It seems they were somehow in the background of everything from the first day we brought him home. Proof below in photo taken in our first week home from Russia.

And I'm pretty certain our boy is happy to oblige his pug brothers in all their mischief each day.

finding motherhood

2011-08-12T09:44:00.002-05:00

I've written this over a period of time. It's my truth and I don't mean for it to come off as depressing, but I want record of a honest account of this time period of my life. Becoming a mother is a process with a beautiful ending.

For the past few months I did almost nothing. I mean, besides keep a baby alive. And visit family or friends every single weekend of the summer. The path from my bed to the nursery to the bathroom and back was well traveled. Life was slow in motion, each day impossibly long. I would start the day by opening my shades to the morning sun and lay in bed until I could muster the energy to go make a cup of coffee. What has been a post~~partum~~-adoption period has seemed more like a decade of my life. I attempted to bow out of mostly all of my responsibilities, sometimes even the ones associated with being a mother... but, somehow that wasn't allowed. Turns out, the work wasn't optional. ;)

Having construction going on didn't help. Strangers in and out of my home, doors missing from frames, washing dishes in the basement laundry sink. Nothing felt comfortable. Nothing felt like home.

My husband did everything I needed and more. Laundry, cleaning, ~~cooking~~ microwaving, answering the door, answering the phone, scrubbing the kitchen counters and giving me lots of hugs. He became the sole caretaker of Crosmanov in the evening - bathing him, dressing him, changing him, putting him to bed. Even waking up with him a few nights during hours we haven't known since college. And he did it willingly, because he wanted to help me and be there for his son. And I love him oh so much for it.

But for awhile I started to feel claustrophobic. My thoughts weren't going anywhere, they were just sticking inside my brain and rotting my motivation. My to-do list sat stagnate, medical school felt like a distant memory and I had too many thoughts at once to accomplish a single thing. Another blogger described this feeling as a human snow globe, shaken up and full of floating bits in her head. When I read that it was thought, yes - that is exactly how I feel! Nothing was settled. I had all of these things I needed and wanted, but had completely forgotten how to get anything done. I kept wondering when things would look familiar again... when I would feel like myself again.

Then Buzz went out of town for work, leaving me with Crosby and a new, foreign life. It was hard, but the best thing in the world for me. It forced me to wake up. It called me out of the shadows of post-adoption numbness.

This is who I am, a wife and mother. Soon I'll be a medical student again. But, for now I like this place. I realized it didn't mean I am old or unattractive or boring. I like being a mother. I like the physically challenging mornings, the cleaning, the piles on the laundry floor. It means I also get morning cuddles, playtime with Cros and the chance to dress a cute baby in those sweet baby clothes we melt over in the stores. I even like taking a shower as if I were at camp, forced to get in and get out before the hot water runs out. I like the challenge of it all. I could eat up my quiet break during nap time like dessert, and drink the bedtime cuddles and lullabies, too. I like sharing my food with my baby. I like the endearing looks people give my son and the generous compliments I receive about his behavior or his cute, chunky face. I like looking at his chubby cheeks while I push the grocery cart.

I have fallen in love with motherhood. It took me a minute, but I am there.

Vlog: Crosby Giggles.

2011-08-11T07:53:00.004-05:00

I've never posted a video on the blog before, so hopefully this works out correctly. If you can't see it on the blog, you can view the video online here.

And yes, for those of you who are super observant, this video was taken while I was laying inside Crosby's crib with him. An explanation of why I'm in the crib coming tomorrow.

16 Months.

2011-08-10T04:08:00.001-05:00

Some things to remember...

Current measurements: 26.5 lbs. and 33.5 inches

He is officially walking! He took his first steps on June 16th and was really walking around all the time by around July 16th.

He loves his pugs more and more. Last week, I turned around to find him sitting next to Tubbs and rubbing his back. Apparently he's watched us pet the dogs and learned how to do it himself. Another day I found him asleep in this same position. In turn, twice now Tubbs has waited as long as he could outside of Crosby's bedroom door. Finally he got tired of waiting and pawed his door open so he could sit next to his crib and whine until C woke up. (I was not too happy about this...)

His favorite word has switched to "go." In April it was gaga. In May it was mama. In June it was dada. I've also noticed that he mimics the dogs when they bark.

In the last month, he started screaming a lot. Although it's less than pleasing to the ear, my understanding is that this is normal in child development as they like to hear the sound of their own voice. In the last week or two, this has mostly stopped.

His voice, however, has changed a little bit. Sometimes it's the high pitched, happy baby talk and other times it's a deeper, little boy voice.

Crosby has been enjoying looking at and reading books with us. He loves to turn the pages.

His favorite toys are balls, trucks and pens/markers. He has also taken to his puppy dog stuffed animal and pets it like the pugs. He pretends to write with pens/markers and holds it correctly in his hand. (The hand switches minute by minute.)

He has 4 teeth on top and 4 on bottom. He has 2 molars on the right, 2 coming in on the left and an eye tooth cutting through on the right.

He has learned how to turn on my iPod on my iPhone. Seriously. Now if he starts playing a specific kind of music, I'm going to go ahead and declare him a genius.

Frank noticed that he dances (bounces) when music is playing overhead in stores or in the background of the television. It cracks us up!

He knows "arms up," "peekaboo" (cover his face) and "say hi/bye-bye" (waves). He points at everything and gives lots of kisses. We're working on blowing kisses.

A curse and a blessing (+ pictures!)

2011-08-09T12:44:00.000-05:00

A little cheek smashing makes my day!

Living so close to Chicago means we are on the Metra train line. It's a blessing because we're able to get into the city in a jiffy, but a curse because I am often held up by trains at the center of our town. (By often I mean it's a rarity that I'm going into town without being stopped at the tracks.)

My little secret is that I use this time to talk to Crosby in the back seat. Or we might sing a song. Or we might make funny faces at each other. Sometimes, though, I use the time to snap a few pictures. So while the rest of the pedestrians are cursing the train, I'm secretly loving my little "pause" with my biggie boy. Here are some photos I snapped with my iPhone recently. Nothing special, but a glimpse into a real everyday moment in my day to day life.

After all, that's what a web-log (blog) is all about....

The train - this time not Metra... which means a longer wait.

My most frequent summer look - hair in a messy bun.
Humidity makes my hair curl like crazy, so I don't bother doing anything with it most days.

<3 i love when he looks all squishy while he sleeps :)

And totally unrelated, but because I think it's funny:

He's still not a huge fan of posing for the camera.

Finally, because it's so cute, I'm adding in this one:

I love surprise baby kisses!

This Week:

2011-08-08T06:37:00.000-05:00

It seems as though summer is flying by and the checking off of my summer to-do list has stalled out. So this week I'm on a mission to accomplish at least one thing every day of the week.

Refinish side tables for our master bedroom - MONDAY
Order pulls for our side tables - SUNDAY
Order light fixtures for the den and our bedroom - FRIDAY
Cook a recipe from pinterest every week night (except Tuesday - girls night)

Mon - Tortellini Spinach Bake (add grilled scallops)
Wed - Italian crock pot chicken
Thur - Chicken Tikka Masala (Indoors Date Night!!)
Fri - Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Order interior doors and exterior back door - MONDAY
Take Crosby to reading time at the library - THURSDAY
Finish adoption related paperwork - TUESDAY
Finish adoption video montage - WEDNESDAY
Finish Crosby's lifebook - TUESDAY
Order our adoption photo book - TUESDAY

TGIF and Holy Water.

2011-08-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

What a title, huh?

TGIF! I swear my weeks just go faster and faster now that we have Crosby home. It's a good and a bad thing. Good because I know how much the Buzz loves being home with his son on the weekends and it's extra help for me. Bad because as the weeks tick by I'm getting closer to going back to school and putting Crosby in day care. (I have a post coming soon on day care.... I have such mixed feelings about it.)

Crosby is being baptized in a few weeks and I received his invites yesterday!

obviously blurred out for privacy.
via

Instead of the traditional array of religious gifts, we're asking that friends and family make a donation to Crosby's baby home #3 in Vladivostok. We'll then combine everything together to send to our facilitator in the region for purchasing medicines, diaper rash creme, etc. I'm kind of excited about it and there is something special about welcoming our son into our church while giving something away for other children at the same time. It's a double blessing.

We've ordered a cake with a navy blue dove, croissant sandwiches, fruit and veggie platters and we'll be serving coffee, water and punch. The table clothes will be navy blue and the center pieces will be a simple glass square vase with white flowers. Frank insists that it not be "too girlie."

My biggest problem now is what to wear! What do I wear? What do I put Crosby in? Of course, he will have to wear white from head to toe. Problem is I'm not a huge fan of the all white suits. Any ideas?

Of course (because I think it'd be so hilarious) I want to put him in this! lol. Maybe underneath whatever he's wearing or maybe a quick change for the party. ;)