Decking the Halls

I broke tradition this year and got Christmas down out of the attic and partially up before Thanksgiving. I know, I know, I know... but I didn't want to dread coming home from Thanksgiving and knowing I still have to get Christmas out of the attic (which means I have to do with when Nick can help me) and get the house decorated.
I knew this year it would take a little longer due to my "helper".

I convinced Nick to get the Christmas down, but I had to bargain with him and tell him we didn't have to get the Christmas dishes out this year. That is such an ordeal! And those boxes are heavy! And I have a million and four pieces of fiesta ware that has to be packed up, so while I will miss the beautiful snowflake dishes this year, it was a win win.

We started unloading the MANY boxes from the attic with our little helper and I couldn't help but take some pictures.

He was fascinated by daddy being in the attic. He would run to the stairs and shout "DADDA". He even managed to climb almost all the way to the top before I made him get down.

Nick would hand me something down and if it was light enough and not too breakable,
I would hand it to Bates.
He would turn and walk all the way down the hall to where we were setting things. and put it in the pile.
He would then turn around and RUN back to me shouting MORE PLEASE.
It was too cute, and while yes, it did slow down the process of getting it all out of the attic, this little guy's joy is so contagious it's worth every minute of waiting for him to carry something!

an airport homecoming

It's no secret I LOVE adoption. I love adopting, but even more I love seeing my friend's families grow through adoption. There is no greater joy!

My favorite part of international adoptions is the airport homecoming. I had never experienced one before we walked through the gates with our son in our arms, but now I have had the pleasure of witnesses two families arrive home with their newest members.

Our latest airport homecoming was the arrival of Ms. Haven. We have prayed and prayed and longed for this African Princess to be home and well.... she is!

Here are some pictures of her long anticipated arrival!

Welcome home, sweet Haven.

a new adventure

November is National Adoption Month and with Thanksgiving this past weekend,
we thought it was a perfect time to share our big news.

Check out our newest, latest, crazy adventure....

A Brother for Bates

Veggie Tales Live

Last week, Casey and I took the boys to see Veggie Tales Live.

Bates was dressed and ready to go after a VERY short nap.
I was a little nervous about how he would do. He doesn't watch Veggie Tales, because he doesn't watch ANYTHING yet. I knew he would like the music, but an almost two year old doesn't have a very long attention span.

He was excited when he saw he got to go in the big sanctuary at church and when he heard the music, he began to clap and dance. Off to a good start.
He enjoyed the show for the most part. He would climb up and down and ALL.OVER.ME during the show, but all in all was pretty good. He ventured into the aisle one time to dance with Will, but quickly came back when the strange little boy behind him kept patting him on the head like a dog. I don't blame you, kiddo, I would have come back too!

The show was cute, but by an hour and 45 minutes I was OVER wrestling him and glad to be headed home!

Oh where is my hair brush, oh, where is my hair brush..... oh where oh where oh where oh where OH WHERE is my hair brush!

Catastrophic Cookies

One of my friends blogged about making muffins with her son. The pictures were just so cute, he was sitting so sweetly on the counter stirring the mix.
Bates and I can totally do that, I thought!

Well, I guess that's what happens when a mom gets one of those "romantic" views of doing something with their child and then when you actually try to do it, it all falls apart.

I had the stuff to make those no-bake cookies, we call them cow patties. Super easy, fast, and they have both peanut butter and chocolate to fatten little guy up.

I pulled a stool over to the stove for Bates to stand on while I heated the ingredients.
Now, don't judge me but he fell off the stool (and he was fine). He fell not because I wasn't standing there, but because he was being somewhat uncooperative.
Yes, dear sweet Bates was being uncooperative.

Hot stove+uncooperative toddler=not a good idea, mom!
At that moment I realized I needed to get the camera to document this fiasco!

I got Bates to sit on the stove, no more stool- learned that lesson. He would "help" me stir, but please check out those big ole tears on his cheek.

Not two minutes later he was O.V.E.R cookie making. He was ready to get down.
He grabbed the vanilla and marched all around with it.

He kept calling it his "juice".
He carried the "juice" into the den. He carried the "juice" outside.
He tried to hid the "juice" in the drawer of the oven.
Well, it was time for mom to use the vanilla, so I had to take the precious "juice" away from him. And well, meltdown....
Well of course meltdown happened during the critical,-get the cookies off the stove and onto wax paper time.... so I did what any mom would do. I sat him in front of my laptop and let him watch his favorite youtube video.

He watched his videos while I finished the cookies, alone.
First baking experience with my son, major fail, certainly not the cute baking pictures I was hoping for.

Oh, and to top it off, he didn't even like the cookies!

no tears

Today is a monumental day.

Bates has been going to Preschool since August. At first drop offs were TERRIBLE. I mean he was climbing up my leg, screaming, kicking, etc. Good times.

Gradually, the drops offs have gotten easier. He still cried, but they were fake tears and usually stopped before I got out of the building.

Bates didn't go to school last Wednesday because mommie had a double eye infection and wasn't in the condition to drive. He also didn't go on Monday because he was super fussy and just needed his momma (and my eyes still hurt!) So after a week of playing hookie, I though today would be a bit of a difficult drop off.

I carried him in and was talking to his teacher Ms. Brandy. I was ready to leave and Ms. Brandy actually came over and took him out of my arms. Normally I just put him down at a table or activity center.

I turned around and walked out.
I got to the door and turned around.... I didn't hear him crying....
because he wasn't!

It was his first day of no tears, not even fake ones, at drop off.
And to be honest, kinda makes this momma a little sad.

I think Bates AND momma deserve a trip to Sonic after pick up!

Next goal, getting him to walk in and out of the building without me having to pick him up!
Oh, and can a momma get a goodbye kiss, or is that too much to ask!

fall leaves

Part of the fun of helping daddy rake leaves

Is running through them with Addie!

oh yeah, Halloween

I know, I'm a bit behind on my blogging and I'm in the dog house with MawMaw. Part of the reason is I'm overwhelmed by this Halloween post... so many pictures, I've been battling a MAJOR double eye infection for a week or so, and we've just been plain B.U.S.Y. So here goes ... Halloween....

MawMaw was in town overnight, so she got to participate in part of our Halloween festivities. Saturday afternoon, we carved/painted pumpkins.

Bates "helped" daddy cut the big pumpkin.
Then he decided it was more fun to paint his pumpkin.



He made a big ole mess, we still have paint on the patio.
Oh and in the midst of this, he took a spill of the one brick step onto the concert. I picked him up knowing we were headed for our first stitches. He was crying like crazy, but it was only a scratch, and as soon as I put him down, the tears stopped. He was only crying cause I was holding him and he wanted to PAINT!

The finished product!
Last year at this time, we had three little pumpkins on our porch and I was dreaming of next Halloween with our new addition home. Wow, can't believe that was a year ago!

Saturday night, we dressed up our little monster and headed to trick-or-treat.

Having a little candy on the way to Nana and Chase's house
Walking up to their door.
Waiting on someone to answer. He was a little confused, he didn't know why we just didn't walk in!
As soon as Anna answered, he just walked in. Ha!
With his Nana and Chase.
Next stop was Robert and Emily (which Bates pronounces Emmie).
Knock, knock.
Again, as soon as the door opened in he walked!
Auntie Em and Robert
He liked picked out his candy!
We made a stop by Will's house on the way home.
Best buds, Will the Wiggle and Bates the Monster
Sunday morning, we skipped church (shhh!) so Bates could get a nap in before Hoedown!
We had fun decorating cookies, digging in the sand, and playing bubbles.

But, by far, Bates' favorite part was the worship. He was front and center clapping and dancing!

We walked around and visited with some friends.

Then we headed home, with a pit stop at Sonic. The monster needed a milkshake!
Grant came over and trick or treated.
This picture makes me laugh, Grant is only 3 months older than Bates! This is what the difference in 95% and less than 3% looks like!
We took our monster across the street to see Kevin and Jill.
If you look really close, you can see Kevin answering the door in a mask, and poor scared Bates climbing up his daddy's leg. He was terrified!
We took our boy home, put him in his monster pjs and let him hand out candy.
He loved standing on the front porch with daddy and waiting for trick or treaters.

But soon, it was time to put the little monster to bed.

It was a happy Halloween with our little monster!
And lets just say "candy" is his new favorite sign and food group!