Pretty Good News

We had a triple whammy today...8-12 at VBS, 2-3 CPS visit and at 5 a surprise attorney visit...Baby boy's attorney.
Our CPS worker was so surprised at how big baby boy is. She loved his new nursery and had some information for us that is great for us/bad for birth parents. It's so weird being so happy that you have a better chance at keeping the son you have raised for over 3 months now but knowing that somewhere the women who birthed him is dealing with the fact that she probably won't parent him. As christians it stinks even more to know that she is looking to other things to fill whatever void is in her life. I never felt such mixed emotions towards someone I have never met. Loving her for giving me my family, worrying that someday she may try to sabotage their lives, being angry for past hurt she has caused them and praying for her salvation at the cost that it may trigger a closer relationship with my kiddos (and us) later on. I almost feel like a coward hiding behind CPS and lawyers and an adoption agency when so many of my other friends have open adoptions and are more than willing to share their lives with the birth parents, knowing the risks involved.
Sooo then baby boy's attorney came by--with little notice and boy was that not at all like we pictured. From what we knew of her she was not on our side. She stood no chance against Ribbit and Goober though who charmed her from the minute she pulled into our driveway...thats right before she hit the door. Ribbit loved on her, talked to her, bossed her, made her lay in her "princess bed" with her, made her take her shoes off, ride like a horsey, showed her birthday pictures and pictures of her papaw and begged for her milk...my child needs some help with the whole " stranger danger " deal. The attorney was also shocked at how big Mr. man is.....she showed me pictures of him coming home from the hospital and we laughed at Goober's reaction when he compared the two :). She also gave us "great for us/bad for them" information and updates on both mom and dad's lives. She loved all over us and spoke encouraging words.
So even though its not 100% that we will get to keep baby boy it is a step in the right direction and it does take a huge weight off of my shoulders. Therefore we are going to start heavily thinking about a different name for baby boy, what next year will look like with momma at work, 2 kids at school with her, daddy at work (hopefully) and baby boy in childcare ---we gotta find that childcare :).

It was funny to hear Goober's imput today as we told both CPS and the attorney that we wanted more children (yes, we know, we are crazy). He fully agreed and said that he wanted at least 5 more siblings. Adam said "well then you are going to have to go to work" and he was okay with that :).

I have been taking Goober to the bookstore lately so to knock out some of the 8 pages (in Ribbit's words " HOLY COW") of summer reading. He is doing so well, taking on books that this time last year I would never had thought he could have read. He has read 6 so far and treating them like nothing :).

                                                       Football Camp

 The first of many " mom stop taking pictures of me" pictures :)

                                                   Balancing :)

                                               He is a great little athlete!

            He got lots of extra fruit snacks for winning Most Enthusiastic and Best Tackler :)

Busy Weekend

Yesterday was Goober's last day at football camp. He won the " Most Enthusiastic" and "Best Tackler" award. I was very proud of him and he had so much fun all week long. After camp we headed out to our friends home who basically live on a farm. The kids spent the afternoon petting horses, sheep, pigs, ducks, goats and puppies. There were three families there total with 4 older kids and 4 babies. Needless to say it was busy. Then we ate a late lunch together and visited some. When we got home at 3 all the kids went down for a nap....and little one slept for 45 minutes before getting hungry. This means that mom and dad got little naps too :).
Today mom and Goober spent the entire day at Sonic helping with a fundraiser. My 7th and 8th graders pledged to give $600 to the Sower of Seeds ministry which fights human trafficking. We served for 7 hours and all the tips we made went towards our ministry. At the end of the day we made over $1000 in tips and my students were so happy! Goober did so well holding the doors for people as we walked out with the food. Being a waitress is  hard work, especially when you don't sit down all day and run like a crazy woman during Sonic's happy hour :).

Cuteness Warning...the next two videos will make your cheeks hurt from smiling so much!!!

I just can't take enough pictures of this sweet face :)

 I'm one cute guy!

 I look so little in my big boy bed!!

 Conked out again at the Splash Pad....with my mohawk of course!

 Fun with our neighbors at the splash pad!

 Smiley, Smiley!

 They had so much fun with water balloons!

 Look mom, I can stuff 15 chips in my mouth!

 Ribbit and "her Jadah"!

 probably bossing "her Jadah" around :)

My Funny Children

Yesterday was a great day.
We did football camp, grocery shopping, momma got her nails done during naptime, we went to the splash pad with our neighbors, we ate dinner and then I had my last bible study until August.
Last night was hilarious. It thunderstormed like none other and the two older kids were in and out of our room. Goober eventually got tired of being in our bed and went back to his own room. Ribbit wanted me in her bed so we laid there and every time it would thunder she would say " rain rain go daway, come dagain anoder day" and shake her fist. When it thundered again she would say " da rain not listen to me first time". I finally thought she was asleep but she put her head as close as she could to mine and said " momma, you not touch my stuff, okay?". I died laughing. Today out on the porch she and I were sharing an apple and she said " excuse me", looked down at an ant on her toy camera and said " get off my toy bug". She is just so bossy. I laugh 80% of the time and get on to her the rest :).
This morning when I dropped off Goober at football camp another mom told me that she stayed yesterday to watch the whole thing and that he put forth the most effort out of any other little boy. I have been going to watch the last few minutes each day and I have been impressed at how far he has come in showing good sportsmanship, especially when he loses. We have been doing a christian character trait each night at dinner, we discuss what that trait is, a scripture that applies and how we can show that to others. The next night we award whichever child did their best at portraying that trait in the last 24 hours with praise and that card goes to them. Sometimes both kids get it, sometimes neither and sometimes one or the other. Goober did so well at Thankfulness and Respect....we were smothered in hugs and gratitude both days :).
Baby Boy is still a joy. He is smiling, laughing and flirting. He loves to take a bath and he loves mirrors. He is pulling on his taggie blankets and is laying on his tummy for about 20 minutes at a time. My mom got him a nightlight, that shows a picture on the ceiling and sings songs and he falls asleep to it almost everytime. He laughs along with it and when the timer is up he is out. He is in the nursery now and is doing well...but he looks so little in that big ole crib.

Our garden is coming in well....Adam gets excited everytime he goes out :).


Someone decided to dress herself this morning :)

 Cuddle time after shower

 Time to go to the splash pad...looking good!

 And this is what we do at the splash pad...conk out every time!

 Someone found herself under the big bucket when it dropped full of water, it pushed her to the ground and she screamed. I was crying from laughing so hard by the time I got to her. She was okay within minutes and I snapped this crazy picture of her hair .

 I sleep so well because mommy puts a fan on me :)

 Playing on the playground afterwards.

 We sure do love to swing!