Updates

Hannah has been changing so much so fast lately.  Today, I felt a new tooth starting and her bottom tooth is already been popping through.  She's really close to crawling, she scoots pretty good all over and she loves to play tummy time!!  She likes to jump in her jumper and laughs a lot at her silly big brother, Thomas.  She smiles a lot and is talking a bunch.  It's all baby babble but it's such a great thing to listen to.  She's growing out of her clothes faster than she wears them.  Her newest favorite discovery is frozen grapes.  She sucks the juice out of them through a baby net holder.  It's really a great invention.  I've put pears, green beans, and now grapes in there and it locks in so she has no way of getting the actual food, just sucks the juice!!!  It keeps her happy for like 20-30 minutes.  She loves her bath time, splashing the water and grabbing the toys.  It's nice that fire season has slowed down a little and Jim is able to be home more to see Hannah grow up.
Thomas has gone from a little toddler to a little boy.  He's really smart, loves airplanes and he is eating us out of house and home.  He's having fun going to big boy school 2 days a week.  We've started homeschooling this year, and this little boy loves math!!  He did 5 pages today in his workbook.

UPDATE:
The court process to finalize the adoption has had many similarities to Thomas's adoption case.  We haven't had any birthmom visits since June, so we see the social worker monthly, just so she can see how Hannah is doing.  Today's court case was to terminate parental rights of the birthparents.  Some appeals were filed, so that didn't happen today.  The outcome will be adoption, but these birthparents keep doing things to stall the process from moving forward.  Our next court case is in 6 weeks, so we will just pray, wait and keep loving this growing little baby girl.  Please continue to pray for this process and I will continue updates when they happen. 

Our new journey of homeschooling

Today was the first OFFICIAL day of being part of our homeschool group.  We have a park day every month where we meet and share important dates, cirricculum and other important stuff.  I am so excited to start this journey and once we get it really moving, it'll be fun bringing Jim on board to help during the winter when his schedule slows down.  Our first field trip will be to Julian to a "behind the scenes" look at how they make the apple pies, then we'll head to the orchard to pick apples and pears!!!  So much fun :)  Thomas is so excited to have so many new friends!!

He's starting his 3rd week of school at the Ramona Christian School, which he attends 2 days a week.  He's enrolled in Pre-K there but we'll be homeschooling at Kindergarten level.  The two full days at school gives him time to learn other things, attend chapel and sing songs.  It gives me 2 days to get things done around the house as well as Hannah's weekly physical therapy appointment.  We'll be busy with that school as well as the homeschool group.  They have family nights, special dinners and events there, too.  So our lives are gonna get busy, but it's just the beginning.

Through this whole experience of adoption (fostering), raising our kids and now being able to teach them, is such a huge blessing in my life.  I'm so grateful for my extremely hard-working husband who provides for us and allows me to be a Stay-At-Home-Mommy.  We are so blessed!!!

We have a court date coming up for our process with Hannah.  We haven't had any visitations since May and so we're hopeful this will help speed this process up.  Please be praying for our upcoming court date (Sept 30th).  She is growing so fast, trying to crawl and loves to babble.  Jim and I think we heard her say "Dada" the other day.  I would love for her to say "Daddy" first as he is such an amazing Daddy!!!  She is loving the new foods we're introducing to her and she's gaining weight like crazy.  She loves her big brother, and can laugh so hard at his crazy humor.

First day of BIG BOY school

Yesterday was Thomas's first day of "big boy" school.  He misses the cutoff for Kindergarten by a few weeks, but we're not going to crush his spirit.  So he's going to Pre-K at the Lutheran Christian School, and he knows it as big boy school.  We are going to homeschool part-time as well as have him attend 2 full days a week at the school.  He is such a smarty pants.  He can do work in his Kindergarten workbooks no problem.  I have a feeling we're raising Doogie Howser #2.

A boy with a little attitude

Had no problem making friends from the beginning

On a side note, Hannah is also growing like a weed right now.  She is really trying to crawl and can roll all over the floor.  She is trying to talk and babbles a lot.  She has started to develop a little personality and it's fun to watch how she's changing each day.
Please be praying for us as the next court date is next week.  Tuesday will be the court hearing to terminate parental rights.  As we know from Thomas's situation and have heard from our SW that this doesn't always happen quickly and is usually appealed by both or one of the birthparents.  That doesn't mean that God can work a miracle and make our judge see the benefits to terminating rights sooner.  All things are possible with God.  I will fill you in next week after court.  (PS- I get to go with the SW to court, so be praying for me, too)

Jim has been gone a lot this summer.  It seemed slow at first, then boom it got busy and it seems like he's been gone more than home the last 3 months. 

Yay for healthy baby!!!

Hannah had her 6-month Well Baby Check-up today and is doing great!!  She is 15.5 pounds and 26.5 in. long.  She's in about the 75th percentile for her age group.  So given her rough start, the doctor feels she's right on track and doing great.  He's impressed with her rolling, sitting, laughing and personality in general is happy.  She got a few more vaccinations today, and barely cried.  He said he can see some teeth pushing through, so that explains her random fussiness.  Other than that, he's happy to see her growing and moving forward.  Looking forward to seeing her for her 9-month check-up in a few months. 

She is loving her foods that she gets to eat now.  Her favorites are squash, bananas & chicken w/ apples.  He said I can slowly start to introduce other foods to her, as long as they aren't nuts, hot dogs, candy or grapes.  And she can start to enjoy a little water and some 100% juice.

So thankful that God blessed us with yet another healthy child, despite her beginning. 

Two months...a lot of changes

I can't believe it's been 2 months since I've posted on the blog.  The kids have changed SO much in 2 months.  Hannah is now enjoying baby food like chicken & apples, bananas, green beans, squash, etc and she's really gaining weight now.  She's rolling on the ground a lot.  Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back.  She likes to sit up with help and she loves to spend time sitting in her bouncy chair.  She has really discovered her voice and makes a lot of cooing and other noises.  She loves to blow bubbles, now since she's teething, too.
Thomas starts Pre-K in a few weeks.  He's excited to start a new school and a new chapter.  I will begin homeschooling him, 2 days a week, and he'll go to his school 2 days a week.  He's sure a smarty pants!!!  The boy knows so much about airplanes and jets.  Right now, he's really loving the Blue Angel jets.  Most people who meet him for the first time, can't believe he's only 4.5!!  He's half of Jim's height and he can sure eat a lot, too.  He has turned into a little fish in the swimming pool this year.  He has no fear of swimming down in the water, diving or the deep end.  He's really doing a great job!!
Well this momma is tired, but I wanted to keep our blog updated.  Sorry it's taken me so long.

Update on the process

We are so happy that God has answered another prayer of ours!!

We are moving forward in the process to adopt Hannah.  At this phase of the process we were waiting to get a new Adoptions Social Worker, who will be with us from now until the finalization.  I heard that we'd get a social worker out of the office that's closer to us.....North County.  I told Jim, it probably was a slim possibility, but I was praying that we'd get the same Social Worker that we had with Thomas's case. 
Well yesterday, I got a phone call from (caller ID) the County of SD.  So I answered it and heard a very familiar and friendly voice on the phone.  It was Sarah, Thomas's social worker.  She was calling to tell me that she was our adoptions worker with Hannah.  I instantly got chills up and down my spine.  An answer to prayer!!!
We are so excited that Miss Sarah is part of this process again.  She made Thomas's adoption process so much easier and she always had encouraging things to share with us.  What a relief!!!  Jim & I talked about how this will make this process seem easier.  We've always said Miss Sarah was part of our family, since she was Thomas's social worker, but now she really will be a BIG part of our lives, as she's the social worker for both kids!!!! 
Our next court date is in September, so we'll just be patient and do weekly visitations with Hannah's birth mom. 

Hannah has reached the 12 pounds mark and is changing a lot.  She now has a distinct laugh and she has a tickle spot that can make her smile!!  She's already wearing 6 month clothes and stretching out length wise.  She gets every other week baby massages.  She loves spending time with her Daddy, too!!

I apologize for not blogging more often, but it's gotten a little busier around here now :)
I posted a bunch of blogs today.  Hope you enjoy catching up!!

May is here.....almost summer time!!

I don't know why but I love these pictures.  Hannah was asleep and Jim fell asleep while Thomas was watching a TV show.  I guess Daddy's lap was so comfy, that he fell asleep, too!!  It was a nice way to end a day, with everyone sleeping peacefully.

Thomas has loved doing this ever since he was little.  He loves to help Papa do yard work especially when it involves the tractor!!  Papa is getting so brave at letting Thomas drive (in 6 speed) according to Thomas.  They were going fast!!

 We went to the mall as a family, just to get out of the house.  Thomas loves to ride the train there and he wanted Hannah to ride it for the first time.  So I sat in a car with Thomas & Daddy had Hannah behind us in a car.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful kids!!  God answers prayers, in His time, in His way.  Thank you God, for our answers!

Look who I caught playing with Papa.  So special to have these pictures!!