King of the Hill!

Jon Michaela and I shoveled all of the snow in our back yard into one corner, making an awesome sled hill for Michaela once she gets her Christmas present (shhhhh!). The snow almost reaches the top of the fence. So far, Michaela's favorite thing to do is stand at the fence and talk to people walking by, in her typical, friendly way.

Last Flashback, I Promise!

Santa!

This was the first year Michaela and Nathanael both went to see Santa! They were so good, and we had to pull Michaela away to give other kids their turn. She was her usual chatty self, and wouldn't let Santa get a word in! As we were driving to go see Santa, I asked Michaela what she was going to ask for, and she said, in a "Duh" kind of voice, "I don't know....a sled, I guess". Well our next stop was a rush into toys'r'us to pick up one of the last two remaining sleds left in the entire store. This was the first year Michaela had even asked for anything, so I had to get it! In this picture, Nathanael is wearing a reindeer sweater which is special because it was one of the very few outfits that came with Nathanael when he was brought to us, in fact he wore it the first time he visited our home, before he moved in with us. I can't believe it still fits!

December 14th

December 14th, 2007

One year of our lives has gone by, one very special year! Nathanael, we love every bit of you! Thanks for making this past year so full of excitement, joy, happiness and laughter. Thank you for being our son, and for being such an awesome sibling to Michaela. I love watching the two of you play. On December 14th, 2006 you moved into our home. I had the flu, you were sick, and teething, and Jon was working overtime to get stuff done before Christmas. I didn't know how we were ever going to make it through those first few difficult weeks, but we did, and you have grown into our handsome pride and joy. We love you!

December 14th, 2006

My Son

December 4th 2006. This is my favorite picture from the day we met Nathanael. It was one of his few smiles, and in the months that followed, crying far out-numbered smiles, but this special smile was caught on film, to be remembered always!

I Can't Believe it's Been a Year!

Yesterday, December 4th (above) marked one year since the day we went to go meet Nathanael for the first time. We were so nervous and stressed. We questioned whether we were doing the right thing. It was scary. Then we met him, and he was so small and sickly, with a horrible chest cold. It made us even more scared! So much has changed in a year! I can't imagine life or our family without him. Thank you little Nate for joining our family. Thankyou for one exciting year of milestones, ups and downs, and cute little kisses. I even forgive you for learning to say "Amma" (Grandma) before learning to say Mommy!
Missie and her brand new brother, Nathaniel.

Snow Wonderful Snow!

The kids are having so much fun playing in the backyard. It just reminds me of how glad we are to have moved out of the apartment. When we lived in the apartment we never went to go play outside. As soon as there was snow on the ground, within a day it was covered in dog droppings. It was horrible, and in the summer it was even worse, because you couldn't see it as well, and it didn't freeze. People can be so disgusting! Now, with our fenced-in backyard, we know the kids can play poop-free! It's awesome!