What's happening around here...

so much to post! nothing terribly exciting about me but I feel like i have neglected our loyal followers for too long! lol.

first of all, remember my friend Hallie and her family that I vowed to publish at the top of my page to remember them myself and for you to think of should you come across a potential adoption situation for them??? They have been matched with a birth mom in UTAH! she is due with a GIRL on Valentine's day and they I'm sure would love your prayers that they will indeed receive this baby (the birth mom could always change her mind so it's never 'done' till they have the baby and signed paperwork -usually by 10 days after birth) if that is God's will and of course we hope it is! We will be praying that this birth mom is confident with her decision and sees what a wonderful family she is giving this gift too. So... Gretchen, get ready for some good vibes coming your way when Hallie's family gets their daughter, you're family is going in the hot spot on my blog. :) he he he. Congratulations Hallie, Mike and Landon, we are praying for you!!

next: My computer is unusable. I have successfully ruined the Laptops battery within 6mo-1year of owning it by not understanding that i should UNplug it more. that was about 5 years ago and it's been really good to me, my Toshiba Satellite. I have managed to damage the connection from the plug to the mother board? and can no longer plug my computer in and use it. special, i know. so blogging hasn't happened for a few days and I'm bummed because I was going to blog about this awesome editing i've been doing on my pictures since realizing i can use www.picnik.com for free like what i used for my header on the other blog. my friend marrion used lightroom but before i could get a chance to see if i could figure that out, i stumbled back on to picnik (only to find out i was the last one in the universe to know about it. oops?). i'm computer illiterate, give a girl a break but... here are some examples i was able to do...



{BEFORE of me as a baby with my aunt Angela and oldest brother Carl}



{AFTER enhanced and beautified - so fun!}

 

{just the after of this now outdated -by 3 grand babies and 1 spouse of my nieces - California family photo}

 

{i just couldn't bare that you all saw cora grace's birth mom so tired looking so i softened her dark circles and enhanced all of our color, including teeth whitening! it's totally addictive!!!}

{another of c.g.'s birth family that looks more upbeat now}

{i'm too lazy to look for the original of this picture of me from kindergarten but, it looks better}

{our engagement photo at fall creek falls where mike proposed to me. literally on this spot}

{13 1/2 years ago, we were married in the Los Angeles, LDS Temple and someone caught us making out on the front lawn... how embarrassing!! .... he he he he... just kidding, it was planned to give a sweet kiss but I had you going for a minute didn't i? lol}

anyway, some of the pictures above were done for a new blog project i'm working on. some of you have noticed you can now add tabs to the top of your page? well, if you don't know what it is, you soon will cause i'm working on some that i've not only wanted to do but have had requests about our adoption journey being more prevalent so one tab with be that. the other tab will be my own life timeline. i want to write it, it's going to be very detailed but but not completely detailed if you know what i mean. it's not really for you, it's for my family and children to hear me tell my story of who i am and since this is my blog, it's only appropriate it is about me. i love the life I've been given, I'm grateful for it and want to tell why through the good and bad. so, you have that to 'look forward too'. ;). one day i hope i can get mike to do the same (but on paper) so our children and their children will have that history. If we are lucky, grandparents will get the idea too and it would be the best gift our kids to ever have. a gift of their family history. so... annnnnyway, what am i typing on do you ask? why my husband has graciously allowed me to borrow his computer until we come across a major deal on a new one for me (hopefully it will fall gently from heaven for free!?). I like the new Toshiba Satellite i saw this weekend for sale but it would have had to be cheaper then the sale for $499.00 this weekend if we are to afford it. keep your eyes open for us please. we're on a budget of $0.00 so something around that price please and no smart alecs with your 'why don't you get a mac?' lol .

lastly... i have volunteered for something i hope is going to be ok. being an LDS family who has adopted, we are automatically associated before, during and after adoption with "Families Supporting Adoption" or click here (FSA), a support group for LDS families touched by adoption. Not only are the adoptive families invited to participate but friends and family that are willing to support it can also help out. it is supported by but not run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and so it adheres to our Church's values. Anyway, in order to get the emotional and educational support needed in the adoption process this 'club' is designed to educate and edify the families. Volunteers, ordinary people who are members of the group, give up many hours a day, week,  month to organize education conferences, new member support, FSA outings, media and legislative watches etc. There are usually a husband and wife team asked to 'be in charge' of the local chapter where they live for a few years before passing the torch to another couple etc but there are many minions beneath them to help. Well... these "chapter's", usually encompass an LDSFS Adoption agency's territory. The agency I currently belong to is Indiana/Kentucky(/Tennessee) territory, before that, Atlanta. While currently we do not have an LDSFS Adoption Agency in Tennessee, they have however decided to give us an FSA chapter here. I know, lots of "words" and abbreviations etc. Point being... a family who was just placed with a daughter, less that 24 hours after being chosen - 2ish weeks ago... are the Co-Chairs, Amy and Asher in N. Nashville. Amy has asked me to be the Vice Chair to get things organized here in TN. Why???!!! do you ask did I agree to do such a crazy thing when i already chase after 2 little ones, own my own business that i'm needed for not just the days i work, have a church calling that requires a lesson every sunday - that i already have to put off till saturday night EVERY week... :) because... the Lord asked me to. When we signed up for adoption and they told us about FSA then we went to our first conference with workshops... i knew i would be part of it one day where i could help organize things. the families benefit from other families seeing success so they don't lose hope and stay positive that their babies are out there. we help them with tools to keep the word out that they are interested. you are only as successful as your 'advertising' in some cases. it doesn't mean you have to go over the top, just tell EVERYONE, tell 'everyone' to tell everyone, then tell some more and the flood gates will open. anyway, i've been put in charge of getting the blog up and when it's together I'll post it so you can check it out. Hopefully some of you will be willing to help when we have an event, either with ideas or your physical body's to do something for us. I am actually really excited to help out and hope we can be successful in setting the ground work for future FSA members in Tennessee to have success with the program. Wish me luck. Pray for my sanity. ha ha ha. :)

p.s. sorry about all the rambling and lower case letters, i'm so tired!

RCFFSFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSAASA

Mike and I woke up from our peaceful Sunday afternoon nap, to find this...

1. this blog post title typed in the computer.

2. keys methodically removed from the left half of my laptop and removed keys neatly placed in one half of a 'barrel of monkeys' barrel.

3. one guiltly looking 2 year old saying, "why did you break that?", "why'd you do that" etc etc over and over 'scolding' himself then after being punished said with big brown eyes staring right through you (we averted our eyes but did give in).... "Oval-Teen?". :/, sigh.....

Eat your heart out.

We celebrated Grandma Jennie's birthday last night in Nashville (her actual birthday was Friday, Jan 21st). Cora gave us a special show of her laughter. Michael's brother Matt has a gift to make our kids laugh. Cora is his most recent 'victim' in his quest to make them giggle but here, Evan helps out by slapping the table and she about laughs her head off. You may remember her laugh from my December California Visit post in my 1st blog when Ashley made her laugh too. This new laugh is bigger,  better and cuter. :)qqqzzzss3dzsw11qqx4feced ' (< from evan.  explained on next post)

Drum roll please...

As promised here is a post of my self cut, new "Do". I recently decided I wanted to cut my hair off significantly. Normal people would actually go to a hairstylist to do such a thing... well... I did, MYSELF! :) he he he. I got my razor out, hatched a plan and off I went and documented it too! I hope you enjoy seeing me with greasy hair, spare tire and no make up on cause that's what you are about to witness and I'm obviously 'ok' with is cause here it is. :) You will be rewarded towards the end with a picture of today WITH make up on but all the pictures aren't the best since they are from my phone so if you think I look kinda ugly, lets just blame the phone camera, shall we? Thank you. :) And for your information... don't be surprised if I go shorter. Fun. he he he.

Before

Sooo long.

Half way there..

All done!

Again, please ignore the greasy hair. I washed it the day before but slept on it and ran out the door. This is what I get. Oh well. :)

The Carnage.

This is this morning, with it washed and blow dried. :)...

I look mad sort of but I'm not. I'm not sure what happened.

There it is... a smile. ;)  and It ain't half bad if I do say so myself. ha ha ha.

Ahem. You didn't think I'd write a post with out sneaking in a few newbies of these cuties. :)

Here's Evan playing stick the suction dart on each other's forehead with Daddy. (Daddy always plays the most... "creative" games, thanks daddy. ha ha ha)

UGH! Nothing can be said about this cuteness!! My friend Lisa makes and sells these hats and it is perfect. I love it to pieces. She also makes them with flowers on them and I think I will see if she will still make that on it cause it will only be more adorable. The baby however is not for sale and can't be made More adorable than adorable... right? :)

 

i know it's past my bed time but i'm headed there so chill. i'm having blog reading withdrawl! i don't have time to read others tonight but saw some great topics i can't wait to read tomorrow night. also tomorrow night i will reveal my transformation. I CUT MY OWN HAIR TODAY!.... OFF! I cut about 6-7 inches off and layered it up with my Hair Razor. I'm impressed with myself! I'm pretty happy with it except I really need to color it tomorrow so then I'll have a full report for you. I know you can't wait to see it. :) read you tomorrow....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA JENNIE!

 YOU'RE 29 TODAY, RIGHT?

LOVE, EVAN AND CORA GRACE

Top of the Blog- Helping a friend

This is my friend named Hallie (he he, I'm sure you don't mind if I borrowed your picture. wink). I have talked about her before. She and I grew up in California together for a few years after her family moved to our Town and into our ward. Years later, after we were both married a number of years and had both moved away from home, I accidentally found out she and I were in the same club: Adoption club. :) Their son Landon came to their family through Adoption about... 3 1/2 years ago. Their family is always doing something fun, taking advantage of life at every moment they can. Currently they live in Detroit Michigan where Hallie's husband teaches at their local University while she is able to stay home with their son. They love to travel anywhere they can and anytime they can. They are both in love with each other and with their son. They have been trying to Adopt again for well over a year (sorry I don't know the exact time frame) and are very motivated. They are not shy about talking about Adoption and they are not afraid to tell everyone they know that they are in search of their 2nd child. I will speak for myself and say that no matter how good of an attitude you have about 'waiting' to hear that a birth mother has chosen you, it is a very sad and depressing weight, full of emotion. In my case, I have never been able to be pregnant (not even to miscarry later) and it is a bitter pill of reminder when you are 'waiting' for your child to be placed in your family when you just wish it could be 'easier' and you could get pregnant 'like everyone else'. I know pregnancy is not easy but when you are dependant on another to find you; thin enough, young/old enough, cute enough, smart enough, wealthy enough or worthy...I myself have feel that paranoia that I wasn't good enough, therefore not chosen. It seems only fair that you only have to pass one test, Heavenly Father's. So, if you would be prayerful for my friend Hallie's family to find their baby that is out there somewhere, sometime and be prayerful that a birth mom is out there preparing herself for a family like Hallie's, I know she, and I would appreciate all your thoughts and prayers. In the mean time, if you hear of someone who is pregnant and considering Adoption, please encourage them to talk to a professional at our agency's website:

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/ct/eng/site/pregnant/

then let them decide if they would consider Hallie and her family here:

http://lookingtoadoptagain.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for your time. I have included a link to their Adoption blog at the top of my blog posts that will remain there until they receive a child that will add blessings to their home. It will remind me to say another quick prayer for them. God Bless everyone.

Neeeew Bed

Hooray for Evan!

So as you may know, a couple months ago I tried Evan out on the toddler version of his crib which was immediately apparent, he wasn't ready for but after seeing some of his friends of the same age graduating to their toddler beds, I felt it was time to try it again. SUCCESS! Yesterday after his nap Evan and C.G. "helped" me take the side wall off, add a piece of wood and waa la, insta toddler bed. Evan sat there pretending to listen as I explained his 'big boy' bed and that when he sleeps in it, he has to stay in it and 'not... get... out'. He seemed to be and not be paying attention but I was satisfied something had gone through his cute little brain. Last night, we put him to bed, explaining again to 'not get out of bed' (especially torturous to him as I had a shiny humidifier on in his room, mere feet from his grasp, that he cannot resist touching-no matter the punishment). The challenge was set, we turned on his moon nigh light, shut the door and went straight to the video monitor. Now mind you, normally when he goes to bed he jumps for 30min + so I expected 'some' rebellion in the bed but with his recent low fever (i think is gone as of this morning - fingers crossed), I think the poor kid was exhausted. By the way it was only 7 instead of his normal 8pm bedtime so this was even MORE impressive. Anyway, from the video monitor, we watched as he quickly fell asleep to the hum of a humidifier, soft melodies of his Scout dog, Vick's vapor plug in the wall and again, moon night light shining. We are very proud of him... Around midnight, I couldn't help myself and went to check on him in person (as opposed to on the monitor). He woke up and sleep talked. I hugged him and whispered, "I love you". He answered me in muffled whisper.."ge owww". I said, "what baby?" and he repeated, more clear, "Get...Out". !!!! LMBO! I wanted to die laughing and then he said, "High 5", of which I gladly participated, gave him a kiss, another 'I love you' and quietly left his room. :)

THE MORNING AFTER: Before C.G. came, Evan would sleep in until 9 or 930 in the morning but that is to be seen no more. He's pretty much up when she is up anytime after 730 now. So... at 750am when I was in a deep sleep, dreaming of a deep sleep (ha ha ha), I heard a little whimper over the monitor in Cora's room that she wanted to get up and be fed now please. I pressed the "snooze" button (aka; turned the volume down and ignored my adorable daughter for a few more winks) but a few minutes later, I could swear I heard the 'pitter patter' of size 7/8 socked feet, dancing across the living room floor. I was about to check his monitor but as I sleepily glanced out the bedroom door, there stood a 'statue' of an adorable dark shadow of a 2 year old who said, in a whisper... "Mama? You help it?" (normally the very first thing I hear from him is "Ovaltine!?"). I jumped from my bed with a grin on my face of what he could possibly need my help with but also from pride that he made it the whole night in his bed. He led me to his room where he showed me that he had indeed dismantled the humidifier (of which he was gently scolded. lol). After a lecture, he jumped in his bed of his own accord and said, "Big Boy Bed, Mommy." Yes, it is sweet son, you are such a Big Boy now. :)

Let's see how nap time does or doesn't go.... cross fingers! :)

 pretty accurate on what it's like to try to keep Evan in one place. :) j/k.

New Project

I have been looking for an inexpensive and space saving way to add some sort of book shelf in Evans room and I found it, here. It is so perfect! I plan to make it under his window possibly where there is 'wasted' space. I have found many versions, including ones with the childs monogram or ABC's etc. Anyway, hope you're excited too cause when I found the diy, it seems totally simple. My biggest obstacle is always, finding a stud in the wall to attach it for goodness sakes! Here's a picture of what I hope to make:

Crawling Video

It's hard to believe there is a moment of these childrens lives, not yet recorded by picture or video but I believe I have not yet shared Cora's crawling efforts so here she is after one of her favorite toys from Aunt Sunny. :) It was actually just taken today after we had to leave church early for Evan having a fever. I think it's finally gone but we're keeping a close eye on the little guy. If he's feeling happy tomorrow. I'll try to finally get a video of him on here... it's been awhile. :)

An oldie but a goodie video

As I explained in the 4 video posts I did last night/this morning... :) I have finally got my videos off my phone and this is one I wanted to post from our trip to California December 7-14th. It's my sister Ashley (10th of 11) playing peek a boo with Cora Grace and it was fun for everyone. Cora's laugh is infectous because she's always so silent and content, it was surprising to see Ashley get such a rise out of her. It's also funny because my nephew Liam is trying to make her laugh too so he can be part of the fun. ;D.

Conversation with a 2 year old...

{ i recently decided it was time to teach Evan his last name, which is long and difficult to say for adults. I taught him on monday and after about 4 tries, he actually had it down. I resolved to try practicing it with him again soon. Wednesday was it. Many of you know our last name but I try to avoid "advertising it here for some semblance of privacy so for this purpose, let's say our last name is "Johnson", shall we? }

Scene: Mother and children driving around town for some errands... take 1.
Mommy: "Hey buddy"
Evan: (prys himself away from his car view of traffic and the current intersection to look at me) "Mama?!"
Mommy: "Hey, what's your name?"
Evan: "No." (new word in his vocabulary and first word he says these days, even if he changes his mind 10sec after declaring it, that started about 3 weeks ago but I am happy to report is already tapering off)
Mommy: "What's your name?"
Evan: "No Mo-" (is cut off by Mommy with her new tactic to get him to play my game NO MATTER WHAT! he he he)
Mommy: "Is it, Evan 'Johnson'?"....
Evan: (considers if he wants to play mommy's game).... "Evan?... 'Johnson'?" (sound of rod reeling in it's catch... lol)
Mommy: "Yes, Evan... 'Johnson'."
Evan: (immediately becomes 'dreamy' and while looking back out the window and eventually drifting off in his own imagination of who knows what says...) "Evan, 'Johnson'.".... "Evan"... "Evan 'Johnson', Evan 'Johnson', Ev-an, Ev-an, Ev-an 'John-son'....
Mommy: (smiles to herself that she not only won the game but her son is proudly recognizing his first and 'last' name, exactly as she taught him.)
suddenly Evan snaps from his dreamlike trance of repeating his name to yell to Mama....
Evan: "Mommy!?"...-
Mommy: (about to answer but realize he isn't finished...)
Evan: "...-'Johnson'...Daddy 'Johnson'.... Cora 'Johnson'."
Mommy: (picks jaw from floor...) "Yes! That's right buddy, you are so smart. (repeated what he discovered that all of us have the last name 'Johnson' without ever being taught that!) High five!"
*Slap* :)

It was so awesome and we are so excited to experience this sweet moments with our children. Evan is quite interested in knowledge of things, we hope this continues but whatever he decides to be interested in, we will be excited to see what he chooses. Love you buddy, you light up our lives with your perfect spirit and endless energy!

C.G.'s spoon food finally in video

These videos are from last week when I tried, yet again to get this girl to eat rice cereal from a spoon. Well, I'm happy to report that she is doing really well with it despite the reaction to push the spoon with her tounge (like sucking a bottle motion). Evan started cereal at around 4 months (Mike reminds me) but when I tried it on Cora at 5 or 6 months she just didn't get it. In the mean time, I started mixing the rice in with her formula a few weeks ago and this week, even started her on Gerber Peas (hated and would NOT eat) then bananas to see if she liked the texture better, she did! Tonight she ate a whole Gerber Sweet Potato! I'm really proud of her for eating so well when she naturally wants to reject the spoon. She has been a pretty messy eater, even spitting the food when she's done but I've learned some tricks. Now to teach them to the poor babysitter :).

Crazy Faces Video

So, I have FINALLY got Michael to figure out how to download all my pictures and videos from my phone to the computer so you're about to get some treats. This first one is actually from tonight and you really don't want your sound up cause I didn't realize how loud my voice comes across (yes i know i'm loud but this is different). Just a warning. Cora has been increadingly making this hilarious faces that I love and hope you do too. :) xo

This was earlier this week. :) I think she's progessing in cuteness. Possible? ha ha ha.

Here is an old post of C.G. at 7 months that I have added a video to.

Encouragement

We got an email last night confirming that Cora's birth father rights have officially been terminated in California. This progress is an answer to prayers as he has no interest in parenting her and we have to have that done in order to get her legally added to our family. We are still waiting for them to work on her birth certificate there in California then send all this information to Tennessee so we can submit it to the court here for Adoption Finalization. Thank you for the prayers many of you have helped us with and if you don't mind to think of us one more time so we can finalize in this month. We are trying be specific and to stay positive and motivated that we can Finalize this month. Ahh... this is great news... needed news. :)

Next Year's Christmas Card :)

Cora Grace, Mommy, Daddy (he doesn't wear scarves) and Evan

Next years card... What do you think? ;)

You know this angel baby didn't make a peep out there in the cold and she was out with us for at least 30 min. When I looked up from making the 2nd adult snowman, her little nose and cheeks were all red and chapped poor thing but she didn't even care, she gave me a humoungus snotty smile and kicked her chubby legs. Still, I took her in the house while I finished the snow kids. Thanks for being such a good sport C.G. and I'm glad it was warmer out today and better snowman making white stuff!

We sure had a fun and full day out in the snow today (except Daddy has been at work.. boo). I personally think I did an amazing likeness to ourselves with the snow people. :)

We love SNOW

Dreaming of a white backyard....

Man, I'm gonna start getting her to dream some more awesome stuff! ;) We got about 4 inches today (the most I may have ever seen in my 9 years in Tennessee) and I couldn't wait to get the kids dressed to go out in it. Tomorrow we may get more snow and maybe then I'll finally build the snow family I was planning for today? We'll see...

The following picture is AMAZING! I have no idea how it came out so neat-o looking. If I knew how to edit photo's, I couldn't have edited it this more awesome looking. Evan, my boy, you look so super cool with the very white back drop.

The trees looked really really cool and Evan looks so very very tiny next to them.

C.G. didn't really go outside and the close up I took won't load. Cross your fingers for a good one tomorrow though. ;)

Looks like it's gonna be snowmen in the morning! :)

Catching up.

So, of course we sorta did another photoshoot a couple days ago while the kids were a-playin' and really captured a few cuties. :) Hoping for the 4 inches of snow tomorrow that has been promised so I can post more fun. :)

tom boy already.

It reminds me of a picture in this old post on my other blog.

 So Grandma Jennie got Cora an interactive pink dog for Christmas, which she loves. The problem is, Evan loves it too and from Christmas day on, he was carrying it everywhere with him and talking to and about it every second of the day until Monday when we went and bought him Scout. :) It was a suggestion from Evan's buddy, Serifs parents to get a Scout dog for him when they babysat and 'branded' him ( ha ha ha, I mean tattoo'd him) recently and when we saw his obsession with the pink dog (we named "Love"), Mike went right out and got him his own doggie. He carries it everywhere and loves it so much. Thanks Grandma Jennie for inspiring us to jump into action and thanks Godby's for your intuition. ;)

Evan's new and adorable thing is to first say "Hug me?" or "I hug you?" with the most adorable pleading brown eyes you've ever seen then once he's hugging you he squeezes you really tight and and yells, "Squeeze, Squeeze, SQUEEZE" while pumping his arms around you. Here is a demonstration of him carefully giving Cora Grace some "SQUEEZE's". UGH! sooooo cute! (man, i gotta record this soon!)

 I think she want's out of this one. ha ha ha.

I'm having so much fun with these little kids. I am grateful for them every hour of every day. Parenting has been a gift to me. I'm grateful to have Michael at my side, having fun raising our children. I know it may be annoying to hear over and over for some but it is a dream come true after all...