Home for Four Months and BAD BLOGGER

Mikayla came home four months ago tomorrow. WOW. I know I say it every month but where on EARTH is the time going??? She is SOOOO close to crawling. She is getting around though...she just uses "different" ways to do it. LOL. So funny to watch.

Today I took Mikayla to have her 1 year pictures taken for her party. I had to wake her up from her nap to take her and she was not thrilled with the entire process. We did manage to get a few good shots so I am glad about it. I am also glad it is DONE now. For some reason I really dread getting professional pics taken. She smiles all day long but the minute we get there she stops. Oh well.

This week has been so crazy busy. It has been something every single day and it is not stopping anytime soon. Tomorrow I head over to my school to sign up for my fall classes and change my student status back to active. Then I am going over to the place where we are having her party to sign the contract. Then I am coming home and Kris has a softball game..not sure if he will play...although his knee is feeling much better all of the sudden. On Friday I am heading over to a friends who is going to help me fill out all of this re-adoption paperwork. I am so SICK of paperwork...but Mikayla has been home for four months and we could have had this done and over with had I gotten on the ball earlier. It is time to finish this adoption up and do her name change. Then that evening Alec has a T-Ball game. On Saturday, Alec has his T-Ball pictures bright and early ay 7:45 A.M!!!! Then that afternoon we are heading over to Gina and Joe's for a cookout and to help them celebrate Christian's 1st birthday, which is Sunday. On Sunday...I AM RELAXING. LOL. I am excited for this weekend though.

As for Mikayla's party...it is on Sunday, June 24th in the early afternoon. I can't wait and it is a princess theme. OF COURSE.

As for the bad blogger part. That is me. I have been so bad about getting on all of your blogs and getting my comments on there. I haven't forgotten about all of you...I just have been so busy lately...look for a comment soon...I am coming:-)

I took this when we got home today. SHE SAID NO MORE PICTURES MOM. Her hair was all messed up and her tiara was crooked but you get the idea. This is her dress for the party and yes, she is wearing a real tiara....LOL.

If the crown fits...then wear it!

Guatemala Mommy's Meet at the Akron Zoo!

Back in December I decided to organize a Christmas Luncheon for all the people that I have found in our area that have or were adopting from Guatemala. There are a lot of people around here who have adopted from Guatemala and I thought it was time to get together. It was such a hit that we have continued doing it each month or so. This month I decided it was time to go to the zoo. When we had our first get-together in December, there were only two babies home in the group...and there were about 15 of us. Now there are TONS of babies home and each month that we get together, more and more babies get to join in on the fun! It is so wonderful that we can all be supportive of each other. We are all friends and 3 of the children were actually in the baby home that Mikayla was in. Small world isn't it? Literally. So today we braved the high temperatures and headed to the Akron Zoo. Here are some pictures but not all the babies are in the group photo that we took. There were also three big brothers there today...of course Alec being one of them! He had a great time too. Mikayla was tired from the long weekend...as you can see in the pictures. She was half asleep most of the time. LOL.

Stroller Line-Up

The Big Kids Riding the Train

This is Izzy and she was in the baby home with Mikayla. We met her when we visited the baby home on our pick up trip and took pictures of her for her mommy and daddy. She is now home and doing great! Does Mikayla look tired? I think Izzy wanted her Gerber Fruit Puffs!

Izzy and Mikayla checking each other out

Finally! A smile from my girl!

Memorial Day Weekend!

We had a crazy Memorial Day weekend. It was a lot of traveling and a lot of fun.

On Sunday, my youngest cousin graduated from High School! WOOO HOOO Brittany! We are all sooooooo proud of you! They live in WAY southern Ohio (Jackson area) so it was a little drive to get us there (three hours or so) and we got in just as the party was starting...LOL. They live out in the country on a BEAUTIFUL piece of land and it was so amazing. A lot of the family was there and it was so nice to see everyone. Kris and I were tired, and so were the kids, but we are so, so glad we went down to share that special day with Britt and the family. Seriously....I am so proud of her for getting to this point in her life. It is a BIG accomplishment!!!!!

We spent the night down there and then today we headed over Washington Court House, where my dad's side of the family lives so that Mikayla could meet her great grandma and grandpa for the first time! They live on a farm and Alec always loves it there. He picks strawberries, goes on tractor rides...and does things that we cannot do in the city! LOL! It was such a nice vist and I was glad that we finally were able to make it down there so that they could see their new grand-daughter. Mikayla was in a great mood today and even let them hold her for a little bit....which is unlike her.

I am too tried to write much more but I wanted to get these pictures on here. Tomorrow is our North East Ohio Guatemalan Day at the Zoo I put together. There will be about 15 moms there and a lot of babies! I try to organize something every month for us all to get together and since it's summer we are heading to the Akron Zoo. So off to bed I go and I will post zoo pictures tomorrow!

Hanging out at the party!

Mikayla and Grandma Cheryl

I am posting this because they SAID it would be a blog picture and they are right....how could I EVEN resist?!?! These are my aunts, my uncle and my mom.

From left to right

Aunt Zell (Brittany's mom), My Mom Cheryl, My Aunt Chris, and My Uncle Richard

Kayla and me

I LOVE the attitude she is showing in this picture!

You eat cake...I eat strollers!

My Girl:-)

Me and my Girl

My handsome son

Down at the pond

Me and my cousin Brittany

My grandma, Alec, and my grandpa

Great-Grandpa Jones holding Mikayla for the first time!

My mom and Mikayla with her cheese smile!

I remember when Kris used to do this with Alec....oh how quickly they grow!

Sitting pretty....she always crosses her legs:-)

Grandma and Me

Grandma, Me, and my Daddy:-)

Checking out the Flowers

Yummmm!!!!! STRAWBERRIES!

Alec and his Great-Grandparents

She slept for 2.5 HOURS on the way home! She was one tired girl....and I couldn't resist this picture!

Happy Birthday Kris!!!!!!

I met Kris just weeks before his 23rd birthday. I was just 20 and we were so young when I look back at it! WOW! So we have been together for most of his twenties and all of mine (I am 27). Today, my sweet hubby turned 30! So now I feel like we are entering a new phase in our lives.

My husband is just the best. Truly. I cannot imagine my life without this man in it. We are true soul mates and do everything in life together. He always puts me first in his life and takes care of all of us the best that he can. He is my best friend in the entire world. We always make each other laugh and smile and I know that when I need to talk...he is there to listen. Somehow....he always manages to adore me and has never, ever once made me feel bad about myself. He always compliments me, always kisses me goodbye in the morning and hugs me first thing when he gets home. If I am not in the same room as him, he wonders where I am. He notices me....still...just like he did the first day we met. My husband makes me feel beautiful, secure, and loved. And on top of all of that...he is an amazing father who changes diapers, feeds cereal, gives baths, and tucks the kids in just like I do. I could never, ever ask for anything more. I have it. I have it all...in him.

So Happy Birthday Honey! And even though you are 30...you look just the same as you did when you were 23 to me! OK...so maybe we had to sell the Honda CVR crotch rocket along the way and get a mini-van, and maybe we traded in the times out on the town for cartoons, and so what if we eat Goldfish now instead of chips, and you know what honey...those toys all over the house add character. Life has changed...but life it now complete....here's to the best years of our life....still ahead!

Love ya!

A Fun, Hot Trip to the ZOO!!

You really meet some wonderful, wonderful people when you adopt! I met my really good friend, Gina, on the adoption.com forum and we have really been friends ever since! We talk for hours on the phone and have been great suport for each other. We are a lot alike and I know we will be friends for life. Gina also really helped me when my grandma passed away. She was in the midst of leaving for her pick up trip and still took the time to make sure I was OK. That really meant so much to me. So Gina and her husband just brought their son, Christian, home from Guatemala a few weeks ago! He lived in the same baby home as Mikayla did and he is about two weeks older then Mikayla. And today I got to meet him for the FIRST TIME! Oh my what a DOLL he is!

Gina and I met up in Fairlawn and then drove up to the Cleveland Zoo today. I think today was the hottest day so far this year and the poor kids were sweating and covered in sunscreen. But it was SO much fun! I truly think Mikayla knew who he was....when Gina put him in the carseat in my van she was really checking him out!

After we ate lunch, we headed out to see some animals. Mikayla was asleep in ten minutes and sweet Christian fought the sleep-bug and stayed awake then entire time we were there (of coure he crashed as soon as we got back in the van)! He was so interested in everything and is a curious little boy! Alec adored him and has said several times since we got home..."I sure do miss that friend Gina of yours and that little baby boy!"

We spent about three hours walking around and rode the little train there too. Alec was a champ. He had to walk the entire time but Gina helped him out some by giving him some piggy back rides here and there. Alec thought that was GREAT.

Love ya Gina! I had so much fun today...can't wait to do it again!

Alec checking out the deer

Picture Pose!

How tall is he? He is getting close to Four Feet!

Wide Awake! LOOK HOW CUTE HE IS! Can you see Mikayla sleeping in the background?

The zoo is so much fun I think I will take a NAP!

OK...I am up and ready to see a bear or fish or SOMETHING!

Mikayla and Christian!

Look how HOT she looks here!

How cute!

Let me touch your face!

This is my favorite one!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Today Alec was officially introduced to the world of team sports...it has begun people....I am not sure life will ever be the same around here.

He loved it and did so well. It's a beginner team of course since he is only four and they don't keep score or anything. Each kid has a chance to bat each inning and they play three innings. It was the most adorable thing I have ever witnessed. Most of the kids didn't have a clue what to do...including Alec. After he hit the ball he didn't realize he had to run to the bases. LOL. He learned quickly though and my oh my does he have a arm on him! He sure can throw that ball! It was so much fun. We have games every Wednesday and Friday until the end of June.

Mikayla was ready for some T-Ball action!

First time on the field

Running the bases

Watch out everyone...my kid can THROW!

Making Friends

He was in amazement over the whole thing

Catching and Throwing

Getting some pointers from dad (notice the brace on Kris' knee)

Ready to go!

Catch THIS!

Whew....this was exhausting!

They all got baseball cupcakes from the coach after the game!

Here is a video I took. Alec is the one right in the middle holding his glove up. He is #9 and you can hear him laughing hysterically at the end!