My Big Girl Turns Four

We were in Florida for Laina's birthday--went down south for my sister-in-law's baby shower, and Laina was thrilled that she got to celebrate her birthday with Grammy and Papa at the beach! She decided on a Little Mermaid party, though she hasn't seen the movie, because she felt it was beach-appropriate. :)

Last day as a three, in her new dress and ready to go to church:

And first day as a four, in another new dress! (Laina is quite the dress-wearer. She almost never wears anything else.)

Making cupcakes with Grammy.

Party time! We spent some time down by the ocean, and then found a great place for dinner, cupcakes, and presents. 

(at the party: all of us, Grammy and Papa, Phil and Kelly, and Kelly's mom) 

(Legos! A gift from Cory, and not the only Legos she got that day. Also present: lots of Tinkerbell stuff. And more dresses.)

 (bubbles!) 

Turning four is a big deal at our house. It marks and important rite of passage: being allowed to play with Legos. Laina got some great ones for her birthday, including some special ones from her brothers. The next morning, before they were even out of pajamas, Laina and Iain were trying them out. Love these sweet pictures.

Although we didn't light a candle this year (since the party was at the beach), this day in my girl's life did not pass without me thinking of and praying for her birth mama. How I wish she could see sweet, happy, full-of-life Laina turn four. 

Laina Bug, you are a delight. All it takes to make your face break into a beautiful smile is someone catching your eye and smiling at you. You are so eager to embrace life, to enjoy it, to laugh and play and have fun with your brothers. Your moods might be a little more prone to drama than the boys, but your return to joy is so fast. We are so very blessed to have you in our family. We love you, four-year-old girl!

(See Laina turn one [and here], two, [and here] and three!)

Guest Post on the CAC Blog

This month, I guest posted on the Christian Adoption Consultants' blog, telling our adoption story. Check it out if you are interested! 

Jeremy and I discussed adoption before we were married. It was always something we knew we would do. We had the “adoption gene,” the desire to grow our family by asking God to place the lonely into it… Read more.

The Mason Edition

Sweet Mason. Jeremy calls him the magical baby, because he's so easy (in all areas but sleep!). He is happy, smiley, rarely fussy. He plays by himself or with his siblings. He grins when he meets your eyes, if he knows you. If he doesn't know you, he smiles and hides his face shyly. It's intoxicatingly cute. 

Mason is a constant reminder to our family of the goodness of God.

First picture of all four kids (Mason's on the phone):

 First picture with Daddy and Mama:

Mason through the months (that's the same M in the one month and twelve month pictures. See how much he's grown!)

one month

two months

three months

four months

five months

six months

seven months

eight months

nine months

ten months

eleven months

twelve months!

Then: six-and-a-half pounds tiny!

Now: twenty-four or so pounds huge

Then: loves formula

Now: loves formula, baby food, and baby oatmeal

Then: woke up even two hours or less

Now: wakes up once a night, but for a long time. Likes to clap randomly while Daddy's trying to put him back to sleep.

Mason said his first word in early November: bye! Said to the Shibleys as they left small group. He has six teeth--the top two being very recent additions. This poor boy teethes hard and long. He took two steps a week or so after his first birthday, and has taken one or two here and there since.

Current vocabulary: peek-a-boo (said "ahhhhhhhhhh, ba-ta-da!"), bye, come back (yes, it's so cute. Says it when Jeremy goes downstairs to work. Sometimes I say it too.), zipper (thanks to Grammy this Thanksgiving). 

He does this crazy crawl when he's being silly that involves raising his hands up high and smacking them down as he goes.

He claps. All the time.

He grins and scrunches up his eyes when he's being silly.

He has this awesome, deep belly laugh. I can always get it out of him by doing This Little Piggy.

He is happy, sweet, wonderful, amazing. He is, as Cory says, "a very charming baby." He is a blessing, and we are so thankful for our boy.

Catching Up - November

On to November! 

The famous green shoes: All four of my babies have worn these shoes. Mason's feet are…rather wide. So I wrestled them in a couple of times, but I think their days are done for this kid.

New trick: climbing onto the hearth. Thinks he's hot stuff.

We babysat Jenna's guinea pigs, one of which had four babies on our watch. And yes, we watched. And a good science lesson was had by all.

Mason loves standing at the windows and looking out, and yelling to the imaginary people down below. One night I went outside to get a picture of him from the yard. So cute! And maybe a little creepy?

Family day at the park.

We've been enjoying the fall of the leaves in our front yard.

(note the flip flop flying off his foot)

Footie season. My favorite.

Cory's been doing great on his handwriting practice, so long as he doesn't think of it as practice.

It's been such a great month for adoptions at our church! I got to attend TWO airport homecomings, and another family leaves in a week to get another step closer to their own homecoming with two new kids. I love adoption. It's a beautiful thing how God makes a family.

A new son from Ecuador:

A new daughter from China.

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year for the first time. Jeremy's parents (Grammy and Papa) came, as well as his brother and his wife Phil and Kelly, and their dog Sanford. They all arrived on Tuesday, and we spent the (very cold!) days inside playing games, doing bubbles, talking, opening presents (Mason, for his birthday), playing with Sanford, and eating. Phil, Kelly, Jeremy, and I got to double date on Wednesday night, which was fun.

Second Thanksgiving for this little turkey!

Cory running past in a blur.

I know this post has been full of Mason pictures, but come on. If you had this cute face in your house, you'd take a lot of pictures too. :)