Pre-Birthday Fun...

Now there's a face for ya...
Bear Cub and his Aunt S!
He LOVES to open cards...so this birthday card was a hit!
Check out the look of intense concentration...he could not WAIT to get into this!
BC and Uncle T...checking out the cool new toy!

It is official...in exactly one week, our Bear Cub will be TWO!!! It is very hard to believe that it has almost been a year since we were in Russia, celebrating his first birthday with a room full of other babies. Amazing. More amazing are the things he has accomplished in this year! This past weekend we had a great visit with BC's Aunt S and Uncle T ... that was celebration #1 for him!! This Saturday, we'll be having the family birthday party at my mom's and then on his real birthday, we're having a few of his friends come over in the morning to play and celebrate! Oh...and then another celebration in Indiana the following week. Ok...he's going to think the entire month of JULY is his birthday! Well, the way I see it, if anyone deserves a month long party, it's this little guy. Enjoy the pictures from last weekend! I'll be sure to post more pics after all the festivities.

7-1-2000

Happy Anniversary...to the man I met when I was 15 years old, and introduced himself using his real name, and not the nickname that everyone called him. The real name stuck for me.

Happy Anniversary...to the man who once tried to cheat off of my German tests.

(Don't deny it!)

Happy Anniversary...to the man who became my real friend and laughed at (and with) me in 12th grade as I made all sorts of mistakes in our typing class. I finally got better at that. ;)

Happy Anniversary...to the man who sat on a stool at a New Year's Eve party 11 years ago and gave me a tight hug, showing me that he was truly happy to see me again.

Happy Anniversary...to the man I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with after our very first date.

Happy Anniversary...to the man who got down on one knee to ask me to be his wife in my college dorm room.

Happy Anniversary...to the man that I joyfully said "I do" to eight years ago.

Happy Anniversary...to the man that was my friend before all else.

Happy Anniversary...to the man that can make the sun shine for me, even on the gloomiest of days.

Happy Anniversary...to the man that continually lights up my heart with his bright smile and beautiful blue eyes.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend and husband!

I love you so very much!

A walk down memory lane...on the treadmill

I was at the gym this morning, doing my usual walk on the treadmill, when I had a memory flash before my eyes. It's short and sweet and reminded me of the time that we waited to bring our precious Bear Cub home. Before he came into our lives, I went to the gym almost daily. I was as dedicated as one can be. After we met him, I'd find myself just daydreaming about him at the most random times. These would be the times that I'd say a little prayer to myself and wish for God to send him my feelings of love that very instant.

So...back to the treadmill. I remembered today how I used to gaze out the gym's windows, look beyond the pool, and stare out onto the hillside beyond. I would imagine that every step I took on that machine was getting me a step closer to my baby, who at this point, was still halfway around the world. For some reason, this thought always comforted me and made me realize that each step in life is truly getting us somewhere. I would have walked to Russia to get him home if that is what I needed to do. I guess this daydream of mine can apply to anything in life and it comes right back to the thought of taking things one step at a time. Each step counts --- as I now know --- since that sweet boy of ours is sleeping peacefully in his crib as I type. So where do today's steps on the treadmill take me? Who really knows? But I can say that there is a bounce in my step always because of the pure joy my BC and family bring to me.

I hope you can find yourself walking with a bounce in your step today and always. :)

Have a good one.

Dedicated to Zoe...and her unending patience!

Well, it's the dog days of summer around here and poor Zoe Belle is constantly at the whims of her little brother, Bear Cub. Here's the conversation between BC and me when I went into his room yesterday after his nap:

Mama: Hi! How was your nap?

BC: (laughing and pointing at Zoe as she follows me in): Zah!

Mama: I know... Zoe came in to say hi to you too!

BC: Mama, pi up Zah (pick up Zoe).

Mama: Ok... (picking Zoe up) I've got her...now what do you want me to do with her?

BC: Pu Zah in bed!

The pictures tell the rest of the story!

At this point, he laid down and said, "Night, Mama!"...and I'm sure Zoe was thinking, "Oh please, please, don't leave me in here with HIM!" Poor girl...she puts up with a lot and never puts up too much of a fuss. She is the best dog ever!

Girls' Night Out, Birthday, and Swimming Lessons!

My cronies and me heading out on the town!
Mimi had the best idea...drive the cars on the chair! He loved it!

Mama & me...her 30-year-old "baby"
Birthday wishes...and a squirming toddler!

Phew! More busy times around here! I had a great birthday weekend. My mama came over to help celebrate and we did our usual fun shopping, eating out and just playing with Bear Cub. I was so happy to have her here for my birthday. She came over on Friday and actually baby-sat BC while I went out on a little "Girls' Night" adventure. A good friend of mine is moving to North Carolina this summer, so all of us teachers went out for a wild night. Yea....those words, "teachers" and "wild night" just don't seem to go! Talk about an oxymoron there! No, this is a fun-loving group and we went out in style in a limo. We had a great time at dinner and then at Pat O'Brien's, which is a piano bar. I love my friends and miss working with them all...so a night out every once in awhile is fantastic!

Yesterday Bear Cub started his swimming lessons! He's doing really well -- jumping in, putting his head under water, and learning how to kick back to the wall once he's in. The lessons last for 2 weeks so we'll just have to continue practicing what we learn afterwards. He loves the water and is happy to go to his lessons, so I am very pleased about that.

Enjoy the pictures from the last couple of days! I'll blog again soon....

Oh my, oh me...

This little girl turned THIRTY!

Boys just wanna have fun...

We had a fun play date at a friend's house this morning. All three of these young fellas are going to be two this summer....what a sight to see them playing together! Here are some photos from our morning out. Bear Cub is sound asleep now...as you can imagine, after all that F-U-N! :)

Our visit started with a little finger painting!

Then it was time to chase the dog, Jake...who BC called "Drake" the whole time

Time for some water sports now! This picture cracks me up...look how they all have their own "thing" going on. Totally oblivious of one another!

Bear Cub loved "Drake" and just thought he was the funniest dog ever!

Checking out the sprinkler -- "How do you think this thing works?" or...."How many toddler boys does it take to turn a sprinkler on?" Now there's a question for ya...