The End of the Week

Phew – no diseases have shown up!  No Fifths and no Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease in our house!! Thank goodness! 

On other news – we have a walker!! On Thursday night Alex really stated to take a lot of solo steps.  For the past few weeks it has only been maybe 2 or 3 steps here or there – but on Thursday night, he was standing beside his rocking chair, looked at me, giggled and then walked half way across his bedroom to me! I was so proud!  I really have to stop getting all excited and squeeling as he walks – I think it is scaring him and causing him to stop.  Ooops!   This weekend I will try to get video and post it for viewing.

We also have molars coming in.  I discovered that this morning when he stuck my finger in his mouth and bit – and I think that is why he was up at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30… you get the picture.  Tonight I will be much better prepared!

When Alex wants something he makes this cute caveman type grunt and stares at the item he wants – then he looks at you – and does it again.  So on Thursday he kept grunting and staring at the apple I was cutting pieces from for him.  So I gave it to him – just to see what he would do.  And the little stinker ate most of the apple!!

Yumm... Apple!

Yesterday we also had a short but fun play date with 3 of my gal friends Cathy, Steph, and Andrea and their babes.  We went to a small park a couple of blocks away.  Their kids are almost 2, while Alex being just 1, so he went on the slides and ate sand while the other 3 ran around and had lots of fun.  It is amazing to see how far Alex will be in just a few months!  Unfortunately the camera had something on the lens, so I’m stealing Steph’s pictures – hope you don’t mind Steph!

Yumm... Sand!

Harrison and Blair

And then this morning I discovered that I won the Mystery Shopping Spree at BriarClaire on Etsy!! BriarClaire is an Etsy shop founded by two fellow adoptive mommies – Shelley from A Sister for the Bean and Kelly from Life with Briar.  They sell fabulous hair clips and headbands for girls of all ages!!  Shelley has another giveaway on her blog - don’t miss out on it!  The giveaway closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday May 12. 

And today is Birth Mother Day.  Tonight we will be once again talking to little Alex about his birth mother and his foster mother – two very important women in his life.  They are both such strong women who have made such sacrifices and have given so much of themselves so that Alex can have the new life he does.  It is really quite amazing and heart wrenching – they will always be remembered in our family.

Birthdays

Today Alex is 6 months old!  We wish so much that he was home with us… or at least we were in Korea with him…  But, instead we will be sending him a care package this week.  So far there is a pair of pj’s, a onesie, a wacky wabbit weirdo (that I made), a cloth book that we can insert pictures of us into, and we will be getting some disposable cameras that hopefully the foster family will use for us.  Our paperwork was mailed out on Friday, and will be processed on Wednesday.  We are anticipating to travel for Alex in early January.

My birthday is also coming up this week, and last night my friends and I went out for dinner.  It was really nice to see (almost) everyone together again – it has been a while! 

From the left – Me, Sarah, Suzanne, Cathy, Beth, and Melinda.  My lovely friends gave me a baby food grinder and a picture frame with a quote written on the matting “A mother holds her children’s hands for just a little while, but their hearts forever”.  Sarah is going to take a pic of Alex holding my finger for the frame.   So sweet!

Quilting

For the last few months I have been working on and off on a baby quilt made with Amy Butler’s pink lotus fabric.  I was thinking it would be a quilt for our baby if it turns out to be a girl.  Well, I have a better use for it.  Turns out one of my house mates from University is pregnant!  Laura and I lived together for 3 years and you know how life is, you tend to grow apart.  It wasn’t until I was out walking with Sarah a couple of weeks ago, who was also a university house mate, that I discovered this exciting news.

So of course, I sent an e-mail right away and got the scoop.  She is due in November, but unfortunately is having a scheduled C section at the end of September.  Seems that during the ultrasounds the doctors discovered a 5cm mass of cells on her intestine and they cannot determine what it is.  So, the early C-section is to prevent the baby from getting too large and putting pressure on the lump.  And since the baby is going to be a girl… I thought this quilt would be a perfect gift. 

Here is the final product.  (I was home sick from work today - the Library Cold – and thought binding the quilt would be the best watching tv past time).