Half a year old, already?!

Yes, little man is 6 months old today. Holy cow time really flies. What's next? High school?! :)
Today: February 25th...Declan is 6 months old!!
Weight: 15 lb., 8 oz+ (from last Friday)
Height: 26 3/4 inches
Things to remember...
-Can you say tall and thin? Mr. man is wearing 6-9 month shirts and 12 month pants. Future b-ball player?? I was really pulling for soccer.
-Moving on, my soccer dreams are still alive...Declan is constantly "running" his legs. Cute stuff.
-Declan has TWO teeth (and he's working on more)
-He loves sweet potatoes, rice cereal, bananas and natural applesauce. My parents call him a piranha because he attacks the spoon as it gets near him. Very funny stuff. I've gotten in a couple "laughing matches" with him...I'll start cracking up because of how he eats and then he starts laughing at me (food spraying everywhere, you get the picture).
-I love how he sits in his stroller. It's nice to ditch the snap in car seat and let him sit up. He holds on to his straps like he's on a roller coaster.
-Decs reaches for EVERYTHING. It immediately goes in his mouth.
-Thankfully, he still sleeps 8am-8pm but needs his pacifier popped in his mouth a couple times a night.

I can't believe how much they change. Just 6 months ago, he was this little peanut:


Now, he's this bigger peanut:

Ahh! We just ADORE this little man!!

Me and the hubs...

My high school bestie hates when I call Mark my "hubs" so I was sure to work it in to this post. ;) Here's a little survey about us:

1. When is your "engagement" anniversary: August 27th, 2002

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: May 30th, 2003

3. How long have you known your spouse: 10 years

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 3 year, 2 weeks...way too long ;)

5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time? High school group at our church (that we still attend)

6. What is your spouses full name? Mark Victor

7. Do you have any children: YES :)

8. How many - boys - girls: sweet baby boy

9. Do you have any house pets: YES...our 2 dog children...Jack & Sophie

10. Do you own a house or rent: We live in the 2nd house we've owned together (and no plans to move very soon...we hate moving)

11. Do you live in the country or town/city: City

12. What is one of your favorite activities together: Going to sporting events and going out to eat

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: We absolutely love Mexico but we're also quite fond of Vegas

14. How many siblings (including in-laws) do you have: Lots. My brother Shaun, sister Kellie. Mark's sibs- Andrew & his wife Nicole, Erik & his wife Jess, Kinsey & her hubs Jason

15. What church do you attend: Berean

16. Is this the church you were married in: Yes

17. What town is your current address at: Lincoln, NE

18. Do you work or stay at home: I'm a full time mom and semi-fullish/part time realtor

19. Where did you go on your honeymoon: Playa de Carmen, Mexico

20. Leave a piece of advice for the other couples: Continue dating and stay best friends

Pres., DGFC

Yes, sir. I'm the new the president of the Danny Go.key fan club. He is seriously the BEST singer on Ameri.can Idol this season!! I'm predicting him to get the big win this season. He seems like an amazing guy and came to the try outs weeks after losing his young wife. I can't imagine the tragedy but you can hear the soul and emotion dripping from his voice. Check back in a few months and I'm sure I'll be excited about his big victory!!

Wordless Wednesday

Teethers

"Hey, you, guess what I've had a for few weeks now??"

"TWO teeth!!"

Ashley needs...

So, this is hilarious....You go to google.com and type in your first name and then the word "needs". Then transfer over the first 8 things that come up.

Here's mine:

Ashley needs an escape.
Ashley needs you like she needs water in her lungs.
Ashley needs to get something off her chest.
Ashley needs to get a new agent.
Ashley needs a nap.
Ashley needs to take control of his club.
Ashley needs prayer.
Ashley needs Zac to reach out and touch her.

My favorite is FOR SURE that "Ashley needs you like she needs water in her lungs". Niiice.

Here's Declans:

Declan needs to be over on the right to be able to see everyone else.
Declan needs a good shower.
Declan needs to work on his bedside manner.
Declan needs to avoid nuance like the plague.
Declan needs Connor to show him the ropes.
Declan needs to gain 70 more Vampire points to reach the next level.
Declan needs a hair cut.
Declan needs to be with Lori.

Oh brother!! I have so many favorites in Declan's list. Hmm..I really like that he needs to work on his bedside manner! ;)

What do you need? Do a google search and type a few of the things you need in my comment section!

Great Article

I was sort of guilty of wondering how some of my friends with kids had NO time. I felt like I'd be able to "do it all" and have plenty of time. Ha. I'm eating my words now...

Snow Day...uh huh!

So, if you need me, I'll be in my warm house wearing sweatpants.

Not Forgotten

What was I up to a year ago today? Answer: fertility hell. Long time readers, do you remember this post? I was a burnt out, trying-something-new-before-I-bail, somewhat excited pin cushion trying to get pregnant through injections. A year ago we were going to give it two more rounds of shots. Interestingly enough, I was ready to be done after only one round. I had one foot in the world of adoption and one foot in a reproduction endocrinologist office. It was a weird and exciting time in our lives.

When my last round of trying to get pregnant failed, I had one bad day. It was a Sunday. I cried at the thought of not seeing a baby toddle around with Mark's lips and my eyes. I cried at the idea of not feeling a baby kick inside my expanding belly. I cried at not being able to have my mom coach me through my labor. It was a dream that died.

That next day, I woke up with a renewed strength. I wanted to be a mother. How God brought that child to our lives was irrelevant. I wasted no time in contacting the agency and getting an application and the rest is history.

We have NEVER TURNED BACK. We were Declan's parents the minute his birthparents set his car seat down on our living room floor. We are bonded like any other family would be- our DNA or not. Our hearts swell when he smiles and laughs (we can make him laugh like no one else can). I melt inside when his eyes follow my every move and the sound of my voice. I love our secret language of words and phrases that make him grin. I love love LOVE watching Mark be his daddy. He's a natural and was from the beginning.

As we still pay off our fertility treatment bills, it's hard to forget that phase of our lives. I could not have even imagined in my wildest dreams that one year later from our last fertility treatment that I would have spent the entire day with my near 6 month old son. Mind blowing.

What I also haven't forgotten is all my friends that are still waiting for their babies. Adoption is SO HARD. The wait is excruciating. The cool thing is that it only takes 1 phone call to completely change a life. So, all my bloggy buddies waiting for their sweet babylove, hang in there.

February '08: Fertility appointment
February '09: Pediatrician appointment :)
I love my sweet muchkin. Go ahead...eat him up with a spoon.

Wordless Wednesday...60 degrees in Nebraska in Feb!?! Woot woot!

Oh, little David...Yeesh...

If you haven't seen this video, watch the entire thing at least once or twice right now. It's a little boy named David drugged up a bit after a procedure at the dentist. HILARIOUS.

Adoptive Mommy Questionnaire

I hijacked this off of Tracey's blog:

1. HOW MANY MONTHS (days, weeks, YEARS...) from 1st paper signed to placement? We put in an application to our adoption agency for a first meeting the same week a friend asked if he could give our number to a gal he knew that was early in an un-planned pregnancy and considering adoption. Our total wait from putting in our application to holding our new son was 5 months. We were very lucky considering our agency says it can take nearly a year to be approved before being put in the waiting pool.

2. WAS YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER EXCITED? I would said he was excited about "closing the door" on fertility treatments but nervous (and excited) about the future.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS WHEN YOU GOT "THE" PHONE CALL? Well, it was a text from the birthmom we had been talking to for a few weeks. The text said that we were "chosen" by her and the birth dad and that the agency would be contacting us soon.

4. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FOUND OUT? Working in my home office.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 26

6. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH-COUNTRY (and province or city)? Nebraska

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? I called Mark and then our parents. Then I called my sister-in-law in Seattle and she woke everyone up (her hubby, my other SIL and her hubby that were visiting). We all shared a good cry.

8. DID YOU REQUEST A BOY, GIRL, OR EITHER? Either!

9. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD AT REFERRAL? He was 7 days old when relinquishments were signed and he joined our family

10. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR CHILD'S PICTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME? I went with our son's birth mom at one of her midwife appointments and I saw him on ultrasound. The tech was like "wow...look at that..." and I freaked!! She was talking about how he had tons of hair! ;)

11. WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR CHILD? I went out and bought a Pottery Barn bumper (which I returned because I changed my vision for the nursery). I also bought these teeny weeny shoes at Target that he only wore a few times. I felt weird buying baby stuff.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Oooo! I've been holding back posting about this and probably will in the future but I was really irritated that people were 98% "cautious" and only 2% excited. I was basically pregnant and hardly anyone talked to me like I was expecting a baby. It was mostly conversation about the birthparents going through with things or not. All I wanted to talk about was baby stuff, nursery, formula, etc. I could tell people were just uncomfortable in general talking about our "maybe baby". When we bought a crib and other big stuff, we got more "what if she changes her mind" comments then "oh, cute pattern", etc. It tore me up inside but I only usually vented to poor Mark. :( Oh, and I'm still a little bitter that I was robbed of my paper pregnancy if you can tell so, again, I'll post more later.

13. WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO TRAVEL? No travel necessary...just a 10 minute drive to the hospital.

14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes!! It was fabulous. We did it when he was 5 weeks old.

15. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU SAW THEM IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME? He was about 2 minutes old.

16. DID YOU PACK ANYTHING SPECIAL JUST FOR YOUR BABY? No. We were shocked he was here so early and just grabbed a book (because we thought she might labor awhile...she labored 30 minutes).

17. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THE MOST? N/A

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH YOUR PAPERWORK/PROCESS? Very much so. If you're a reader of this blog you know, but the birthparents needed more time so they took him home from the hospital instead of us. We waited 7 excruciating days before he joined our family. Though that week was the worst of our lives, we trusted that God had a plan for our future baby (even if he wasn't it).

19. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR PLACE YOU VISITED IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY?THE BEST? N/A

20. HOW MANY DAYS/WEEKS WERE YOU IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY? N/A

21. FAVORITE PLACE/THING TO EAT WHILE THERE? N/A

22. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP WHILE THERE? N/A

23. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU ON THE PLANE GOING/LEAVING? N/A

24. WHO MET YOU AT THE AIRPORT? N/A

25. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DID AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT? N/A

26. WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR ADOPTION DAY? We haven't had ours yet, but we'll celebrate his finalization day some time in April.

27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Declan Isaac

28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 5 months, 1 week and 5 days ;)

29. ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO BACK TO THEIR BIRTH COUNTRY SOMEDAY? N/A

30. HAVE YOU STARTED OR ALREADY MADE YOUR CHILD A LIFEBOOK? I've started his baby album but I also have a big box of stuff....his outfit he wore when he was dropped off at our home, the newspaper from the day he was born, a few sentimental things, etc.

Now it's your turn....if you're an adoptive mommy, tell us your story!

Wordless Wednesday - stroller ridin'

25 Things About Me

This random little ditty has swept Facebook so I thought I would post it here as well.

1. I am obsessed with reality TV. It's an illness. As it's gotten more popular, there are definitely some extra stupid/pointless reality shows I can't watch but my faves are: Bachelor, Kitchen Nightmares, Survivor, Real World, Work Out, several real estate ones, Apprentice, Celebrity Rehab, Hopkins, The Hills, etc, etc.
2. Mark and are a total "dog people" but I'm still a little anxious about dogs I don't know...especially little yappers. We will most likely always have at least 1 boxer.
3. I'm a worrier and have irrational fears. I hate flying, being on a boat, being on a subway or bus, small spaces, riding in cars with others with the heat super high or on icy roads. The list goes on and on. Weird, I know.
4. The unpredictability of my full commission sales job is what I love the most and what I hate the most about it. Also, I'm the only one in my company that does not have a college degree and I'm also the youngest.
5. I have emetophobia. It's the fear of vomiting or being around vomit. My husband diagnosed me but I googeled it and it's me 100%. My mind gets stuck on it when I'm around someone that's recently had the stomach flu or if I ate something that might be "bad". Sometimes I think I'm going to get sick and my husband reminds me "it's all in my head". Then, I feel better. Totally nutso, huh?
6. I grew up in Texas until 2nd grade but I still consider myself "from Texas" because those were my most impressionable years. I don't have any accent but still use the word y'all.
7. I have an insatiable sweet tooth. I love anything peanut butter and the richer the better (not for my hips).
8. I have a craigslist addiction. I love finding good deals. Yet, I hate garage selling. Hmm.
9. I'm serious about recyling and finding ways to be less wasteful like using metal water bottles, rags instead of paper towels and "green" cleaners. BUT...I will not do cloth diapers. The thought of it grosses me out (all power to those that do them).
10. My dad was the first husband EVER allowed in to the operating room during a c-section. He and I are featured in a newspaper article to prove it.
11. I played soccer until high school but stopped due to a knee injury. I always regret not going back after my knee healed. I think if I would have focused on the sport, I could have possibly played in college.
12. School annoys me. I prefer the school of life.
13. Though I'm really outgoing, I have stage fright. I was a narrator for singing/drama group in high school and my heart was always pounding out of my chest.
14. I feel the most sane when my house is super clean but I've never cared about our master bedroom. Clothes are constantly on the floor and I could care less.
15. I take wayyyy too many pictures and always have. It irritates my husband but I'm convinced one day he'll thank me.
16. My secret ambition is to own my own company- I'd love to be a photographer or graphic designer or something creative. I can also see myself selling a niche product. Whatever it may be, I'd love to run a business with Mark and pass it on to my kids.
17. I own 3 sizes of clothes at all times. My weight fluctuates ridiculously. I'm either totally "on" and crazy about eating right and exercising or totally "off" and don't care. Ug. I'm working on learning moderation in '09. It's going good so far.
18. Struggling with infertility was the toughest thing I've ever done...until I experienced the waiting and uncertainties of open adoption. My #1 peeve is people that take having children for granted (and those that talk about how easy they can have children around those that they know have struggled to conceive).
19. I love seeing how people live. It's probably why I read a million blogs. I love seeing their pictures and hearing their stories. It's probably why I love selling real estate too. Touring homes is always entertaining.
20. I wish I spoke Spanish and Italian. Mark and I took a Spanish class last year but dropped out.
21. My favorite days are laid back college football Saturdays. Nothing beats them.
22. I don't try different alcohols. I'm set in my ways for the most part- red wine, margaritas, diet jack & coke, colorado bulldogs, martinis. Beer: gag.
23. I'm told that I'm a picky eater. I don't really think I'm THAT bad. Some of the things I won't eat: olives, tomatoes, bacon, non-skim milk, most red meat (I only eat ground beef...no steak, roast) baked beans, etc.
24. Mark was my only real boyfriend (I don't count a short 9th grade "relationship"). I'm proud I didn't really date and I attribute it to a close relationship with my dad and some really close guy friends.
25. We plan to adopt another baby when Declan is 2 (the earliest our agency allows us to enter the waiting pool). We'd love to do international adoption for #2, but can't imagine affording it so soon.

Declan asleep at the LOUDEST basketball game ever last week (Nebraska vs. Kansas). He's holding his daddy's hand *sniff sniff*.