Catching Up

Wow!  I cannot believe that I have not written to you since September.  There have been some pretty amazing moments in the last three months and I have no clue where to begin.  Our lives are changing daily and you are growing so much.

Lets begin with September... M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!  Thats right, your dream came true and you had a private meeting with Mickey Mouse!  We had a wonderful vacation with family in California and of course part of that trip was spending time in Disney and California Adventure.  To see your face light up when Mickey walked into the room was absolutely priceless and a moment we will never forget.

It was so nice to be able to spend time with family and allow them to get to know you a little better.  It is one thing to hear about you through the blog or phone calls but it is a whole other adventure to spend a week with you running around...

Also in September we had to continue to look towards the future and I had to make a very difficult decision.  You were thriving in the home school environment academically but you were not getting the social interaction you so desperately wanted and you needed.  I had to weight the pro's and con's of your academic success, social success, and behavioral control.  Since the beginning of summer you had been the most stable I had ever seen you. You had limited self-injury, were using your communication device, continuing to expand your expressive language, and overall just content with the world around you.  As much as it killed me to rock this boat I honestly felt it was the best decision for you.

After much research, prayer, and thought, you started in a new school at the end of September.  You are now attending a very small district (Grandview Heights) that has one school at each level and only 1,000 students total.  Basically we have a private school feel in a public district.  I continue to hold my breath every day that I drop you off and worry about you daily.  I know you are capable of succeeding in this environment but it is requiring a great deal of patience for everyone involved.  You have already had many great moments and more success in this school then we have seen in the past and we could not have asked for a better community!  The peers are wonderful and want to engage with you, they are curious, and they are understanding.  I see so many opportunities in your future.  To see you with your peers at school and when they come over shows me we made the right decision and you are right where you are supposed to be at this time.  

Of course you still work hard to find your place in the community also.  You have continued with hockey this year and I could not be more proud watching you on the ice.  Slow and steady wins the race but you try so hard. You played in your first tournament in November in Pittsburg and we have many more to come.  On top of this you also joined Cub Scouts.  I am not sure I am up for the camping that we will be doing but for you I will step out of my comfort zone and try.... You will owe me big time for this when you get a little older!

I am so proud of you and all that you do.  You continue to put yourself out there everyday and work hard to step up to the challenges that are put in front of you.  You great each day with a new smile on your face and even though at times you get a little feisty and have your moments you have come so far in such a short period of time.  I love the adventure of raising you and cannot wait to see what is around the next turn.

Keep on Truckin'

Love

Mom

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the most determined, passionate, and amazing boy!  I cannot believe that today we celebrated your 9th birthday and how far you have come.  Between horseback riding, a party for your classmate, and a celebration for you with your buddy Addison it has been more then a busy day.

With all of this though my mind has wandered and I cannot help but think today is not the day we should be celebrating. This is a difficult concept to explain to you and I hope that as you grow and mature you will understand where I am coming from.  Nine years ago today you were brought into this world and if it were not for that moment you would not be my forever child.  For this I am grateful and I know you were meant to be my son.  I love every bit of your personality, your determination, your desires in life, and every little characteristic of who you are.  I know that some of this comes from you biological parents such as your deep passion for music, your button nose, and your endearing smile.  But I was not there nine years ago.  I was not there for the first five years of your life to celebrate with you, encourage you, and be your rock and foundation.

However, I was there 3.5 years ago when you walked into my life and began to teach me what is really important and what the world is all about.  I was there to see you learn to walk up and down stairs independently.  I was there to hear you say your first words, to hear you say "I love you" for the first time, and to hear you contagious giggle.  I was there to see you try some of your first foods, use utensils for the first time, and to experience your "happy feet" when you allow your happiness and energy to take the better of you.  I have been the one to wipe away your tears, fix your boo-boo's, and allow you explore the world around you.  I have witnessed your successes with climbing, teaching you to ride a scooter, and watching you play ice hockey for the first time.  Everyday I have had the joy of watching you experience a new adventure, conquer a fear, and master a new skill.

You see, in all honesty, while you were born 9 years ago today your life did not start until May of 2010 when you boarded the airplane from Idaho and came home.  Neither of us could have ever imagined how much our lives would have changed and where we would be today, but it is our life and what we have created together as a family.

So while today is your birthday and I will always acknowledge this day and celebrate it as part of your past and where you come from,  the true celebration of life is your "Gotcha Day."  We will throw our parties, invite our friends, and dance until the sun goes down every May in celebration of your birth with me and our life together.

I could not be more proud of who you are today and the young boy you have become.  You have recently grabbed ahold of life and you are now steering your own destiny. Instead of you chasing me I am now running to keep up with you.

Keep On Truckin
Love
Mom

Sippin On Sweet Lemonade

I don't really know why but "Sippin On Sweet Lemonade" seems to sum up our life right now. This summer has proven to be one of growth, acceptance, and discovery for you.  I watched you become grounded in the world around you, seeking new adventures, and exploring more then ever.  In the past when you have taken three steps forward in one area there has always been another that has taken two steps back.  Recently though, all the pieces have started to come together at the same time and allow you, and I, to enjoy the moment.

This summer you trusted others enough to enjoy weeks of summer camp....

This summer you explored enough to see the world from a different view....

This summer you relaxed enough to enjoy your friendships....

This summer you were confident enough to truly enjoy the little moments life has to offer....

This summer you grew enough to make a new friend....

This summer has been about learning, loving, and living. You continue to teach me more daily then I ever thought I needed to know and you remind me daily the importance of slowing down to enjoy the moment.  You have shown me this summer that you ready for the next phase of our life and that you are ready to spread your wings even more.  Your perseverance, determination, and personality continue to allow you to soar and the sky is your limit.

Keep On Truckin'

Love

Mom

Friends Forever

I have been meaning to post these pictures for some time now.  No matter where you are in life you will never forget about your three favorite little people.  I cannot wait for the day that you can tell them how much they mean to you to and how much they have helped you, but for now, the look on your face in some of these pictures says it all.  This was a fun day at the winery a few months ago...

Starting with my favorite... Just a little boy time...

And then a little Heart To Heart with your first girlfriend...

Sweet and Innocent

Whats mine is yours and yours is mine... 

Trouble with a capital T

Priceless (Gap Commercial Anyone?)

Sisterly Love

If only we knew your inside jokes

What would be a day at the winery without a game of spoons?

You will always look up to and admire all that they do

Keep on Truckin Baby

Love

Mom

Dewey Beach 2013

So I am a little late on this one but a picture is worth a thousand words.... We had an amazing time at the beach for vacation.  It is hard to believe that this was your third trip to Dewey Beach but based upon your reaction this is the first one you will remember.

Light of my life - A smile to light up the world - Your face says it all

It only took you a few days to figure out how to fill the bucket with water. By the end of the week you had me convinced me to buy you a bigger bucket so you could make less trips back and forth to your tent

So full of yourself - You could make yourself laugh for hours and bring a smile to anyones face who walks by

Surfs Up Dude!  Needless to say this picture was taken right as a wave took you under but it was a nice photo shoot!

Uncle Michael and Aunt Suzanna came to join us for a few days.  Don't worry baby, I promise Michael will grow on you....

Who needs a leash when you have a towel?? I promise you were both laughing

You ate more sand during the week then any child should!  You thought it was cool to dip your fruit in the sand before you ate it... oh well, boys will be boys!

Looking for shells

You quickly learned it was easier to get us to look for your shells for you versus you actually doing it yourself.

Superman!  You are my little HERO!

I cannot wait for our next adventure
Keep On Truckin
Love
Mom