Photo Challenge

For the month of May 3 Dumplings is having a challenge for anyone interested in participating. I've volunteered Jared as my subject of choice for the month of photos since this is his birthday month. He turns 6 on May 9th. Go over to my other blog and check it out! :)

*Jared made a wrench out of his toast - he's got the "tools" in his genes!

Friday Photos

Rotten Milk

How do rid the smell of rotten milk from your auto? It appears daddy found one of Jaiden's bottles in the backseat yesterday...a time bomb just waiting to explode. And boy did it ever! It smells like we hid a body in the trunk...except it's an SUV and we don't have a trunk. Daddy removed the bottle and all remnants of any spilled milk, and I vaccuumed the carpet, sprayed resolve and febreeze until the carpet is soaked and now have all the windows open with it sitting in the sun trying to air out. Please wish us luck on removing the odor or we may have to seek professionals to come in and fumigate.

Nap Nap Time

This is so cute I just had to blog it before I forget...

Our morning routine is this:

0730 we take the boys to school

0800 Play time

0900 Nap Nap time/Blog time for Mommy :) - well this morning I was on the phone with my Mom and at 0850 as Jaiden was playing with a plastic Easter egg she suddenly squealed and flopped herself down on the floor in a mini fit. My mom said "What happened?" I said "oh something didn't work right with her egg" *the mommy alert that a nap is in the near future...so I go to get her bottle ready and before I get it poured she's alread found her blankie, has her binkie and leads me to her room; where she climbed up into her bed by herself! (She has a toddler bed now that we moved into our new house and converted her crib into Jared's bed since it was originally his crib) This is the first time she has initiated nap nap - she's always been a good napper and doesn't ever complain when it's time but she has never actually gotten into bed on her own. My baby girl is growing up!

Tommorrow she will be 16 months. I can't believe how fast time has gone by! Last night she had a tough time sleeping because she's got two (or four?) new teeth coming through - back molars and they are giving her lots of pain. I've been trying ice, lot's of baby ambasol, teething tablets, rubbing her gums etc...but last night nothing was comforting except laying against my shoulder and having her back rubbed.

This is another first since she hardly ever wants to be held at night and will scream bloody murder if I try to rock or cradle her in my arms. It was a very special time and I think at moments like these that she may be actually warming up to me...something I've wondered still since she usually pushes me away (when I try to hug her) and still hasn't said "Mommy". I know when she does it will be a special gift and I know she has a lot to work out in her mind that she is still adjusting to our new life together. She doesn't like me to be out of her sight and gets very jealous when her big brother Jared climbs into my lap or hugs me so I know there is some sort of territorial feelings there...which hopefully will grow into unconditional love and she will want and need me just as much as I've always wanted and needed her.

How she gets clean...

Jaiden LOVES to take a bath! This is how much she loves bubbles. She dunks her whole head face first into the bubbles and takes a big bite!

This week in photos

Adoption Day

7 Month Gotcha Anniversary

It's so hard to believe that it's been only 7 months since Jaiden was placed into our arms. The wait was endless and we didn't think it was ever going to be our turn and then almost overnight our lives were changed forever. I'll never forget the moment we first looked into those deep chocolate eyes and felt her warmth. The smell of her was pungent and very wholesome - kinda like a field of wheat after a rain. She never cried and she fit into our lives like she's always been here. Our little miracle of life that amazes us every day with her smile and her deep gutteral laugh. We aren't always sure of how to handle the temper streak that runs so deep and we can't quite figure out how she can go from screaming like a banshee to laughing hysterically in the same moment. But each moment is a treasure and she is our shining jewel. More precious than all the jewels on Earth. Happy 7 months Group 117B!!!

Introducing... Chloe Elizabeth!

5 min at the docs office...

is just sheer exhaustion...now I remember why I avoid that place as much as possible but today I had to take Jared in for the gosh awful erruptions on his face. He developed a crusty yucky eye infection during our road trip across America last week (Minnesota to Louisiana and back in one week) we had Scott's Dads funeral and then a family reunion to attend so the kids were exposed to hundreds of gazillions of strange things so no telling where the infection came from. We thought it was pink eye but his eye started getting better, then he developed a nasty red blot on his undernose area which since he had a slight running nose thought was due to that but then it started crusting up - yucky yellow crust. Then he developed little pimples around his cheeks and then they started getting crusty too so I broke down and took him to the doctor today...

Not only is it in the teens here but the wind is blowing like crazy so getting two kids into a SUV and to the doc is one thing but once we got there Jaiden wanted nothing to do with sitting in the reception area or getting her hair done for the umpteenth time this morning so she wiggled and squirmed until I let her down and she headed off to the nearest lady she could find...an elderly woman who just couldn't wait to get ahold of her and what was I supposed to say "uh no lady you are in a clinic - how do I know - you might be contagious or something" she was a sweet lady and we were on a military base so the lady held her for about 2 seconds...then they called our name to go and I snatched her up and ran out of the room quickly. Then when we got to the room and got Jared settled into the chair, she wanted to go to the med tech girl who was checking him in...so there she was typing all his info in with one hand will Jaiden sat like a little angel on her lap. Then the doctor walks in...and Jaiden couldn't wait to go to her either. It's starting to feel a bit like the new has worn off the Mamma and Jaiden is ready for a replacement. She is such a happy girl and never meets a stranger. I worry sometimes that she may not be bonding well with me but then she will lay her her against me and make kissy noises that sure melt my heart.

Anyway...turns out that Jared has infantigo so I will have to give him antibiotics 4x a day and rub antibiotic cream on the lesions. He's a trooper and has not complained or itched them at all. He told the doctor "I looked in the mirror and saw my face and said *Big Eyes and open mouth* Uuuuuuh (deep indrawn breath)" the doctor was very impressed with his explanation and the drama he used to point out the effect it had on him

New photos of Jaiden

6 months and 7 days

That is how long Jaiden has been a part of our lives and yet it seems like she's been here forever. She is the sunshine of our days and brings so much life into our dull routines.

The past 3 months have been just absolutely crazy. We arrived in Grand Forks on 11 Jan and have been locked tight ever since - no internet, no home, not much of anything but snow and more snow. The temps and the wind kept us inside yearning to be outside. Jaiden took her first steps in TLF (temporary living facility) and has grown so much in dialogue since leaving Germany. I would love to share some of her babbling but I swear she's speaking Chinese. She's gotten a pattern down now though - babble, babble, babble SCREAM babble, babble, babble SCREAM it's the funniest thing (the screams are a bit like a squeal but if it's possible to have a happy scream that would be what she's doing) She's certainly found her voice and seems to like it :)

I will try to post photos to update you. Jaiden was baptized this Sunday - in the room with her Granpa Klein who is about to go home soon. He has lung cancer and he's ready to go. It was an emotionally spent weekend to see him off and spend time with relatives we haven't seen in years. Jaiden just loved all the attention - except for Jared and cousin Casey who are both 5. She seems to have developed an allergic reaction to 5 year old boys. Everytime they would come close or touch her she squeals at them.

We now have a new house (closed on it last Monday) and have painted some of the rooms. Jaidens is now lime sherbert green - it looked more sage on the paint chip but the color is light and refreshing and stepping into her room will be like stepping into a spring day...which may not come here for a while. The temps dipped down to 7 degrees yesterday! Brrrr....the cold and the wind never let up here.

Jaiden's First Steps

I don't know if I can get a video going or not just yet (we still don't have interenet yet) but just wanted to share that Jaiden is taking her first steps!!! She gets stronger and braver every day! Won't be long until she is running all over the place :)

Ok, I can't seem to be able to load photos right now and I have been in the library for about 3 hours so I need to get back to the kiddos. Thanks for visiting!

Birthday Slide Show

Busy Weekend

Jaiden's passport arrived just in time Friday morning for them to get to the airport and make their flight home. I picked them up at 6:30 Sat morning and we have been in a non stop whirlwind ever since.

Jaiden got a little upset tummy on the plane right before landing, so Daddy had a mess to clean up on the plane in the dark - just glad there wasn't anyone sitting next to him. Jaiden had her own seat going and coming home!

In addition to being smelly, she was in a bit of a trance when they rolled out. She had little tremors like she was cold and I think she was in a bit of shock to finally be home. After we got her home and fed, bathed and a little nap she was back to her usual perkiness.

The sun was trying to shine when we got home so Cody was finally able to mow the grass and then we had our followup homestudy visit (2 hours of more questions and paperwork)
then a run to the commissary to pick up a cake since I wasn't sure if Jaiden would be coming home or not so I didn't actually order a cake...we found a really cute one already made! Then we had to get the house clean and straightened...so by the time we finally went to bed we were all pretty exhausted.

Jaiden woke about ever hour through the night but she slept pretty well and woke around 8. It wasn't the greatest night of sleep but she seems to be slipping back into her routine very nicely and not too cranky when she stays up all day.

Sunday
Jaiden's Birthday Party! It was a fun day. Jaiden ate a banana and some scrambled egg and then took a nice nap. Woke had lunch...took another nap and then it was party time! She was a very good girl and never once got cranky. We had the Slater family, the Markowski family and the Sanders family join us for cake and ice cream to celebrate her special day. The house got a bit busy at times but it did seem to faze her one bit. She really enjoyed all the children and all the extra attention.

Getting the toys out of their boxes kept me pretty much "tied down" for the rest of the evening! I've never seen so much wiring!!! There's no fear of those toys ever falling out of their boxes if they suddenly get the wild urge to run...

Jared's quote of the day "I'm so glad I have a baby sister" :) aaaawwww isn't that sweet! He also likes that she comes equipped with some cool new toys - he enjoys playing with them almost as much as she does! I have to constantly remind him whose toy it is when she wants to play too. They are some pretty cool toys once you get them out of the box...

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Thank you all for praying for our family and Praise the Lord that they were answered!

Much Love,
Kim

Sigh of relief...

The passport is in the mail - Seattle sent it out on Wednesday hopefully it will arrive on Thursday (today) so they can fly out tomorrow (Friday) Being in a time zone warp is crazy when you are trying to get very important things done. I am 7 hours difference from Jaiden and Seattle is 2 hours difference from them...I just can't wait till she's back in my arms. I've got lots and lots of kisses and cuddles stored up with her name on em'!

You gotta be kidding me!!!

Last night Scott tells me that he contacted the passport office to check on Jaiden's passport - it was supposed to have been ready on Monday but he was in Grand Forks...well it seems that whoever took the application didn't know the process much and neglected to inform us of one very MAJOR detail - they will not process a passport for her until they get a notarized letter from me! WHAT?!!! You tell us this NOW - just two days before they are supposed to come home!! If Jaiden doesn't have a passport by Friday, Daddy has to come back to Germany without her! We may miss her First Birthday and Christmas!!! This cannot be happening!!!

I faxed them a notarized letter this morning - I hope they can get it together and fix this - I will be one very angry Momma if they won't let my baby come home! Grrrr! I'm about ready to fly over on my broom and get her right now. It was one hellova day yesterday and this news came just before I gave up and went to bed...praying that the day was just a really bad dream that I would wake from and everything would be better.

Today, we are still waiting to see what tommorow brings...and praying for a miracle to come and bring our baby her passport so she can come home. I miss her so much!!!

You complete me

Jaiden has been gone a week now - and it's just miserable here without her! I didn't know I'd miss her so much but the house is too quiet and I am having baby withdrawals...I hope next week goes by quickly! They'll be home on Saturday!!!

Little Miss America

Jaiden flew out today to become an American citizen! She is on her way to Minnesota with her Daddy heading right into what has become the first big snow storm of the year and shutting down airports from Dallas to Chicago. They are scheduled to arrive in Chicago on time (although their flight out this morning was delayed due to the plane being delayed coming from Chicago) but their flight to MN has been cancelled so looks like they will be spending the night. Jaiden's first night as an American will be spent in a snow lock. Good thing we packed her snow suit! Looks like she's gonna need it.

kisses

OK ya'll - before you start thinkin Jaiden really don't like us I'd better update. Friday night was a ladies night and the girls were on fire - Jaiden was burning up with fever and so we were up together most of the night keeping the flames at bay with motrin and a cool cloth. She is cutting her top toothies and they are giving her heck but she never did cry she just fussed a bit. She didn't even want her binkie because her throat was too sore to suck on it...so we just cuddled and rocked the night away.

We had a lazy weekend just being good and lazy. Never getting out of our jammas and veggin in front of the tv all weekend.

Sunday night Jaiden made this sound with her tongue - a kiss sound I had to go run and get the camera to get it but I will have to somehow magnify her and cut me trying to get her to repeat it over and over. It's the cutest sound and I don't know how she does it - kinda clucks with her tongue and upper lip but it sounds like a pucker kiss. It's soooo cute! So it's not quite my first kiss but it will do. It seems that she is growing attached after all and she definitely likes having me around even when I make her mad sometimes. Sometimes she just gets a little overwhelmed with it all and I need to let her take it all in at her pace. She has been adjusting so well to us and it melts my heart every day when her face lights up in an ear to ear smile and she gives a happy squeal when I walk through the door.