Check-up Time

Both Benjamin and Nolan had annual check-ups yesterday, and I am happy to report that both boys are big healthy boys.

Nolan- 4 years old

47 pounds -97%
43.5 inches – 97%
Blood pressure 99/51 – good.
Eye chart was great!

He picked up Nolan and said he was just a big solid boy, nothing to worry about. This was the first time Mike had seen Dr. Love and after Dr. love saw Mike and looked at Nolan’s height information declared Nolan will be tall. Nolan got 2 shots and was not so thrilled about it.

Benjamin - 16 months old

27 pounds – 75%
32.5 inches – 75%
51 centimeter - 97%- head size

Ben head stayed above 97%, Dr. Love spent a good amount of time feeling his head and says everything looks good. He said most likely he came from a big headed family.

Oh, Ben has ANOTHER ear infection. Ben got 4 shots

He is EVERYWHERE!

Soon after Benjamin took his first steps he got really good at walking. Now he is into EVERYTHING, it is really amazing how much he can reach and get into. You can tell him no a hundred times and it not going to stop him. He just gives you that wonderful smiles and keeps on.

Ben is trying to give kisses and you are never really sure if he is going to give you an open mouth kiss or bite you, but he sure is cute. He is speaking new words all the time. He can now say baby, up above the world (from twinkle twinkle little star), car, cracker, and tons more.

Mike has always said that Ben would eat rocks...well last weekend he tried dirt. So far the only thing he has not liked to eat was the dirt.

Nolan is doing great also, I can not believe at the end of this month my baby is going to be 4 years old. How did that happen? Nolan informed us yesterday that he has been in action movies, he is so funny. He was helping me bake this weekend and I asked him if he wanted to be a chef when he grows up. He was very serious and looked at me and said, no I just want to be a Nolan.

Nolan and Ben are still getting along great and Nolan loves to play with him.

I have uploaded new pictures of the boys at:

www.kodakgallery.com/littlefamily

First Steps

Last night Ben was standing in the living room and all of a sudden took his first step! Watch out world Ben is on the move.

Birthday Time

I did not give birth to you in a physicial way, I gave birth to you in my heart! Bringing Ben into our family was a journey we had no clue about when we started last February. When we start Ben was not even born yet, but we knew our new son needed us and there would be a perfect child for us in Kazakhstan.

We (really meaning me) worked through the mounds of paperwork and many trips to Fedex. Then in early December 2008 we got "the call" , the call that told us to get our plane tickets and start packing. We packed our bags and headed for Kazakhstan, a trip that took us two and a half days to complete.

On Monday Jan 5, 2009, our coordinators picked us up at the apartment and drove to the baby house. I have never been so nervous! When we got to the baby house we walked into the baby house directors office , there was a women standing with her back to us holding a baby. We sat down , she turned around and handed us Ben. I think we were both in shock , I did not expect to see him right when we entered the office. We remained calm waiting for the baby house doctor to enter and tell us all about Ben (or as they called him Kairat). We only saw him for about 20 minutes, but we knew we wanted to see him again.

We would call home and talk to our pediciatrican about what we were told , he was able to put our minds and hearts at ease. We very quickly feel in love.

We had to leave Ben in Kazakhstan , but on March 7th we welcomed him home. Now we can not image our lives without you.

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

There are pictures of Ben's birthday party at www.kodakgallery.com/littlefamily

Life with Ben

We are finally getting into a grove. The first week and a half Ben was awake at all hours of the night, but we finally got his clock turned around. Nolan just adores him and wants to play with him all the time. I am sure once Ben is walking those boys will be everywhere and into everything.

Ben loves to eat and will eat ANYTHING! Mike says he would eat rocks and I believe it. He loves veggies, fruit, meat (Mike is thrilled one of his boys eats meat).

Ben seems to just fit in with us and seems like he has always been here. He has cut a new tooth , so we are up to 4 teeth and he is working on more. He said mama for the first time the other day and my heart just melted. Nolan wants so badly for Ben to say Nolan, but understands that may take a while to be able to say.

This is my last week at home so Ben is trying out daycare for several hours each day. So far so good, he has even made a little friend , Noah.

I am so proud of Nolan he is becoming a great big brother and is very helpful.

I have uploaded new pictures at
www.kodakgallery.com/littlefamily

Consider Adoption

If you want to grow your family adoption is the perfect way. Yes, you can love a child you did not create just as much as one you gave birth to. Yes, there is a mound of paperwork and it is really expensive , it is emotional journey, but in the end it is 100% worth it!

I would not trade Ben for anything in the world and I love him just the same as Nolan, they are my boys!

Finally a family of 4!

Long story will post more later...

here are pictures from last night

www.kodakgallery.com/littlefamily