Fall is our favorite

Here they are, some of the cutest fall fotos we took while enjoying the weather. It is our favorite time of the year next to winter, spring, summer:)

Florida Finale

I just had to post some last pics from our time in Florida. The timeshare we have takes "resort" photos and actually sells them to you quite reasonbly. I also used a few of these for the infamous post adoption update, which we are happy to say we don't have again until April!! Yeah!!!

8 months old Yesterday!!!

Okay, I'm one of those moms who takes portraits of her kids every month the first year. It's genetics, my mom did it of us four sibs. The way Michael is growing I have to, he's changed so much the last 3 months. Anyway, I finally got some where he was smiling and enjoying himself, so I got sucked into buying the cd. Might as well get my money's worth and post them since I bought the copyright. My husband said good thing we can write some of it off since I sell Creative Memories and it's considered advertising if I put them in my books. If anyone wants some products let me know, I give generous discounts to adoptive parents. I'm so addicted to scrapbooking and stamping, it's the one thing that's been hard to give up time on for my boy. We had a good time that day together. I also finally got the post adoption photos done, so those will be next.

Florida Fun

We've been in sunny, hot Florida the last few days. Michael was able to meet the last member of my family, my older brother in Orlando. Not bad for only being home for 2 months. He's been enjoying the pool, and walking around in the sunshine. Not to mention going to downtown disney. We'll have to save the parks for a later date. I'll post more pictures later, right now we have to enjoy the hot weather before heading back up to chilly Minnesota tomorrow.

Sleep is a good thing!

Yeah, I was able to figure out how to send these photos from my camera. Michael was suddenly quiet in his exersaucer, I went to check on him and by golly, he had fallen asleep. It beats the usual fuss for a half hour and then sleep for 20 minutes. Often he falls asleep while I have him in the baby carrier like yesterday when I was running errands. His sleep pattern is so funny. Down about a half hour after breakfast, then he takes his long nap around lunchtime(1-2 hours) then another 1/2 hour or forty minutes in the afternoon, and down for bed at about 730-8 pm. Hopefully, one day I can get him to sleep in the am and afternoon dropping the 3rd nap and not around lunchtime.

Of course I had to add the naptime of the 2 boys in my life. I love being a mommy and wife, my 2 best dreams come true!!!

What a difference...

At 7 1/2 months, our little Michael is doing quite well. He's in the 50-75th percentile in weight, and made the height charts at 10 percent. He wasn't even on the chart 4 weeks ago. I'm trying to show how his foot has healed, but of course I didn't really take pictures of it before the treatment began. It looks like he's turning it in the original picture, but his foot was actually stuck like that. Now it looks normal:)

I also had to throw in naptime with the dogs. I've not been successful at getting sleeping shots as he is so light sensitive and I always come in right about the time he is getting up!!! They have made fast friends. Taz, our "big" dog tries to get him to play with his stuffed squirrel by laying it in his lap but Michael can't quite throw yet to his dismay. Michael just laughs and smiles at them. When they curl up to him he puts his hands on them just like he's petting them, of course I couldn't find the camera in time before they all changed positions. I know one day the dogs will start to be more wary as I see Michael wanting to grab their ears!!! I need to be a better baby photographer!! I've missed so many shots, including when he fell asleep in his exersaucer this morning!!! Oh well....

The BABY sleeps!

Aug 3, 2007
October 4th, 2007
August 11, 2007
October 4th, 2007
I can finally post more frequently, knock on wood because Michael has started to sleep 10-12 hours. He still wakes up and screams for his bottle but that is because by that time he is REALLY hungry.

He's learned to stand on his brace. Great, sitting to walking, no crawling. I've heard that there's no advantage. What do you expect when he weighs 19.2 lbs and the brace weighs 2.2 lbs. He lifts that thing up like it's nothing. His legs are getting strong!! Now he just needs to work on those arms, and maybe he'll crawl. He's also learned how to kick off the brace, twice I've awaken to find the brace off, or if it's off one foot it's the foot that needs to be braced, that little houdini!!!

Putting together the pictures for the adoption update I've saw some amazing gains he's done in the last 40 days. I thought I'd share and hope you enjoy these and how far Michael, our little guy, who we really love, has come!

Life with a club foot

Happy Fall Everyone!!! Can't believe it's October and the leaves are starting to turn!! I love fall. Anyway, I finally got some good pictures of our boy getting his club foot fixed. First ones are of him and my lovely husband John showing the "blue cast", then of him getting his cast changed. Finally, the brace he has to wear as long as he can now that 6 weeks of going in every week to get a new cast is done. What is a club foot? It's when the foot is turned in and needs to be corrected, it often involves tight tendons and if passive casting does not do it they cut the heel cord or do surgery. Our prayers may have been answered, they are thinking they won't have to cut the cord or do surgery. I would love it because it's hard to keep the cast sanitary, and Michael missed his baths and immersing himself in water. Next week we are going to Florida, and YEAH, we are going to the pool!! I can't wait. Famous people that have had it? Kristi Yamaguchi had 2 club feet, and Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys quarterback had a club foot. Yes, Michael will be fine, but pro sportsman or olympic gold in the future, we would love to say YES!!! Anyway, I hope to get in some fantastic fall pictures in before the month is out and that may be a good option since post adoption report is coming due here soon!! By the way, Michael weighs 19.2 lbs without the 2.2 lb Ponseti brace and is 26 inches!!!