Little Man

Please stop growing....

what's next?

What's next with our adoption journey? I wish I knew. As we approach yet another update with our current agency (with very few showings), we are at a crossroads. We applied with another local agency and interviewed for the 4 open spots. There were 20 other couples that interviewed for the same 4 spots. We got a call today that they filled those spots with 4 childless couples. They loved us, but thanks no thanks. Frustrating for sure.

A ray of sunshine in this darkness is that we just completed our second week of 10 weeks of foster care training. We aren't sure fos/adopt is our correct path but we're getting prepared if it indeed is. From here I guess we research different possibilities (facilitators, agencies, attorneys, etc) and see what our next adventure is. By calling it an adventure instead of an incredibly draining and annoying process of meetings and paperwork, I feel a little better. Ha! Everyone copes differently, eh?

love this nugget...

Friday iDump

I'm resurrecting the ole iDump. I love the ability to catch the random day to day with my phone.

my little artist with his picture of me:

Jack is such a weirdo. He'll lay like this forever:

 Got to babysit my nieces this week. They are so adorable:

 We've been getting adjusted more with all the sickies going around:

 Just chillin' at the chiro's office. This kid cracks me up:

 Keller Grace

 Declan threw a fit about not being able to see Dora while eating. This was our solution. Some battles aren't worth it:

 We hosted our first b.day party for my brother:

 lazy dogs:

 When the temps are about 40, this little guy heads outside. Love having a big fenced yard. It's going to be a fun Spring/Summer:

 Pizza night with the cousins!

 story time with Uncle Ryan:

 some serious Mario playing...

 relaxing and getting better:

 My favorite decor item: a huge 42x42 Instagram display:

sickies

Days after finally moving in to our home, Declan woke up with that horrible sounding croup cough. He struggled to breath and we spent the rest of the night going in between the steamy bathroom and the cold outdoors. The next day I scheduled an appt at 1:30 but about 10:30am after taking his temp (it was 101.3) I gave him Advil and he puked. Off to the doctor (early!) we went. By the time we got there he wasn't being very responsive and his temp went to 103.9. YIKES! We left with a croup diagnosis AND an influenza diagnosis. The next couple of days were a roller coaster but he bounced back so quick! Phew. So, we settled in to the new place by staying holed up in it for a solid week. Good times. Stir crazy, much?!

Soooo out of it. Poor buddy.

Please excuse my absence...

So happy to say we have moved and are mostly settled. This process started in May when we bought the lot and it's been such a wonderful journey. The move, well, this sums it up:

Heat Wave

Okay, so it's only been 50 degrees the last few days but for winter in Nebraska that's pretty balmy. Wednesday we met some of our favorite buddies at the park.

2012, it's been real...

What a fabulous year 2012 has been! Despite the emotional roller coaster of our failed match in April, this year has been packed full of great memories. Work has been a windfall of blessing which has lead to us finally being debt freeeeee (cue Dave.Ramsey music) and allowed us to fulfill the dream of building our new family home. Though we were super confident baby #2 would come to us in 2012, it has been fun to be our little crew of 3. A little look back....

 January

We took a Vegas trip with my office which was a huge highlight of a normally boring month.

February

 We had an abnormally small amount of snow this winter but there was one big storm in February and Declan milked it for all it was worth. :)

 March

 We had lots of fun outdoors in March. It was so mild. Our first sunburns came from a fun day at the baseball stadium.

April

 Ah, April. We got a little beat up in between meeting our potential birth mother, creating a sweet nursery, meeting our precious potential daughter and learning that the adoption would not happen. Such heartache. But, God is good and we held each other a little tighter and moved forward.

 May

 After nearly 5 months of training for my first half marathon, I ran the last 4 miles only (because of injury) with my running partner, Sara. Even though I didn't get to complete the whole half, the experience was amazing.

 June

 My brother got married to my sister-in-law Heather. It was so fun to see family and share their special day. It was also a whirlwind month of crazy busy work (but we slipped in pool time nonetheless). Check out Declan the photo bomber:

 July

 We were able to hang out with a lot of out of town friends the month of July. In addition, we hosted a 4th of July party, hit up some outdoor concerts where Declan fearlessly danced and made friends with strangers and, again, took up space at the local pool.

August

Mr Decs turned 4 in style with a Sonic birthday party. We also took a little family vacay to Great.Wolf.Lodge. Declan threw out the first pitch at a Saltdogs game as a rep for Nebraska.Children's.Home. 

 September

 Such a fun month like usual! My sister was in town and ran her first 5k, Declan played soccer again, and we had a blast at Mahoney.State.Park.

 October

 Ahh, I love Fall! We spent the day at Valas.Pumpkin.Patch and another at Roca.Berry.Farm with family. Our little Luigi hammed it up like expected.

 November

 November was a blur. I had too many closings to handle this month. Got it done but I don't think we did much except visit the new house and just get by. We did have family pics, though!

 December

Halle-lu-yer (in my best Oprah voice)!! December slowed us down. Work was slow, sickness was plenty and boxes began getting packed. 

 

Our 2012 was blessed. Very blessed indeed. I still believe God's plans for us are big. Can't wait for their reveal. Next year will be a fresh new year to grow as a family. My prayer is that we stay in the center of God's will. With our jobs, future children and with our marriage.

Thankful for what has happened and excited to see what is to come...

And, this guy, he is THE BEST.