13 months!

Bookworms!
Bookworms!

The boys turned 13 months on Monday and I still cannot believe how fast they are growing. I am finding it impossible to get a photo of them both looking at the camera at the same time. They are very active and really a lot of fun.

They are both crawling everywhere now and are getting very fast. Ezra started walking and is doing it more and more. I find it fun that they are both mobile now, everyone seems to think it would be more trouble, but I am finding it easier. Noah is so much happier now that he can also crawl and get into stuff, no more throwing fits when Ezra goes off and leaves him! Yep most days my house looks like some miniature tornadoes have been at work, but they are both happy so I am happy. 🙂
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Noah has his front two bottom teeth now. He loves to say momma especially with his growling voice. He loves books, legos, and door stoppers.
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He still loves to play peek-a-boo and clap. He also loves to make the cutest fish face which I still haven’t caught on camera.
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Ezra has all four front teeth, two of them are most the way in the other two are just breaking through. I am hoping he gets a break from teething for Christmas. He loves things with wheels, books, and door stoppers (of course).
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He loves to play his own version of peek-a-boo and claps all the time, especially when he is supposed to be asleep.

They stopped sleeping through the night and need bottles sometime between 3:30 and 6 am. Meal time is becoming very interesting at our house, they are wanting to feed themselves more and more and don’t want us to feed them. Foods they love: enchiladas, spaghetti, pizza, corn bread, stuffing, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, bananas and oatmeal, graham crackers, and craisins. Ezra loves apples. Noah loves cheese.

This stage is a lot of fun and we are really enjoying it.

Photo Friday – 12.11.09

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Two little cuties playing the piano.
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Do you like my hat?
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Daddy’s little helper (if only he knew he was helping install cabinet locks)
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Three babies eating blueberry pancakes (please ignored my seriously cluttered counter behind them)
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Pancakes are my favorite!
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You eat these?
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I prefer apples!

6 months

6 months ago today we had this moment:
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It was the day we became a family!
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Look how tiny they were! I cannot believe how much they have changed in the last 6 months. They couldn’t even sit up and now they are crawling everywhere and Ez is on the verge of walking!

What a wonderful blessing the last six months have been! Happy half anniversary Noah and Ezra!

Re-adoption Day

Today was re-adoption day which is the domestication of a foreign adoption. What does that mean? That the boys are now legally Noah and Ezra and we will be getting AZ birth certificates for them.
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Us and the Judge, he was super nice and Noah really liked him
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Ez and mom
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Ez and dad
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Noah making more friends, he was very happy to meet people today
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Noah and his favorite lady, Grandma
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The boys having some fun with a glass door

Photo Friday – 12.04.09

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Playing with Uncle Jason
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Auntie Michelle’s arms are full
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Kitty!
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Love that smile!
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Love this one too!
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Getting a back massage
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Scalp and back massage at the same time.
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Noah was walking with dad and Ez just had to join in.

Last Day

It is the last day of November and that means it is the last day of NaBloPoMo! I hope to keep posting often, just not every day.

I wanted to take this last post to remind all the waiting families that it will happen. I know sometimes it seems it never will. I remember this time last year and just willing my phone to ring. All I wanted for Thanksgiving was a referral and then all I wanted for Christmas was a referral. We were ready to find out who Tom and Jerry were! We were often feeling like it would never happen, but on February 11 of this year it finally did. I know the wait times are increasing, but there really is an end to all that waiting.

It is such a joy to celebrate the holidays this year with Noah and Ezra. I am so thankful for them and am looking for many, many years of celebrations to come.

Gift Giving

I thought I should follow-up my last post with saying that we are not against gift giving/getting. We do love to give and get thoughtful gifts. I think one of the points of advent conspiracy is to give less and give better. Right after I posted my last post, I was thrilled to read Gretchen’s most recent post.

It isn’t about feeling guilty….or sticking it to “the man”…..but it IS exciting to think about how our Christmases might be transformed from empty gift-giving to a thoughtful exchange of gifts for not only our friends and family, but our brothers around the world!

Well put Gretchen!

I would also add if you cannot find a fair trade gift that is a thoughtful gift for someone you know, please shop local. Buying from a local artist, craft person, or store owner does so much more for you community than a big box store.

Advent

The season of Advent begins tomorrow.  It is a season of anticipation of the Second Coming and celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Advent Conspiracy has served as a good reminder to me about the focus of this season, about God’s love for us and the hope that He offers.

Matt and I are continuing to learn what we should focus on during this season and what changes we can make to teach Noah and Ezra what its really all about.  We don’t have it all figured out just yet and maybe we never will, but I have hope that we can find more ways to show them what the season is about.

Last year I shared Advent Conspiracy’s video with you and linked to some charities that provide clean water to those who need it.  I encourage you again this year to give clean water.  If you would rather give locally then please do!  You could do something as simple as forgo one side dish at your Christmas dinner (we know we all have more than enough) and give that portion to your local food bank.

I have started a campaign through charity water to raise just 10% of a new well in an area that desperately needs it.  Please feel free to help us reach or better yet blow away our goal of $500. The campaign ends 12.27.09.

Photo Friday – 11.27.09

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My little cuties
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Sleepy Noah
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Sleepy Ez
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I love the wind in my face
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Abby on the attack
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Rock on
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Thanksgiving is awesome!
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No that is not stuffing mashed potatoes mushed onto my sippy
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Drinking a bottle in the wagon is the way to go
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Bagpipes are so awesome