Updates

Where has the year gone? I can't believe it's OCTOBER!!

We went to the fair this week and when we first got there Reed covered his ears and said "too loud". He did enjoy it after he warmed up to everything and got to ride a few rides.

Speech therapy is going ok- we can't really tell a difference yet and when we try to do our homework Reed usually gets shy and does not want to practice for us. Any ideas?

Update

I'm WAY behind and there's no way I'm posting 30 pictures at once. So, here's an update of yesterday and today's pictures. As you can see, our baby is now a boy. I can't believe how fast it happened!

365 updates

My how quickly you can get WAY behind doing something like this. It's easy to take the pictures everyday and it's going to be fun to put these into a photo book and look back at the changes that happen so quick over just one year!

Aug 22-

Aug 21- Custom made "speedway" for Lightning McQueen.

Aug 20- Oops! That's NOT my chapstick.

Aug 19

Aug 18 Aug 17

Aug 16, just hangin out with new friends Aug 15- Steak & Shake, YUM Aug 14- Jeff, Becky and Noah came over and we had a great time. Reed has been talking about Noah for weeks so I was glad they finally got to play together. Aug 12- Aug 13
Aug 11- mama's new rug :)

Panic setting in

These last few days I've felt like it's urgent that we get Reed in speech therapy. I guess the last year has been spent focusing on surgery, family and everything else that goes on in our day to day lives. Now that school has started back and we've still not heard from the speech pathologist, I feel like I'm in panic mode. I've realized that we are VERY behind and we have a LONG way to go. I find myself not sleeping and worrying about the day he starts school and the teacher/kids can not understand what he is saying. My heart hurts for what he may have to go through.

Aug 10 (Day 37) My little jumping bean

Aug 9 (Day 36)

Aug 8 (Day 35)
Aug 7 (Day 34)
Aug 6 (Day 33)

Sometimes we forget

Sometimes we forget that Reed is adopted. Not that he's adopted, but that he must have questions and feelings about his adoption that we just don't realize. Although he's only three, his little mind understands so much more than we think.

The other day Reed was acting like his silly self laughing and cutting up. His personality has really flourished lately and he is just so full of life.
I looked at Tim and simply said "Just imagine how different he would be if he was still in that place". Before Tim could say anything Reed said "you come to China to get ME-- for me, on a airplane!!" He knew exactly what I was talking about without me even saying it.

Today we went to the cleft clinic for a checkup and they said he is very behind on his speech and that he has a long way to go (we're still waiting on his first speech session and aren't very happy about the wait). Dr G suggested that we hold his nose and try to get him to learn how to say words that start with P and B, this is one of his biggest struggles right now. When we got home we were talking about how when he drinks through a straw he sucks air in his nose. I was trying to show him how to close his lips tighter and suck through his mouth and he said "I don't want to do it through my nose anymore" I felt so bad because he thought he was doing something wrong :(
Pictures from this week:

Aug 5 (Day 32) Doing our homework- blowing through a straw

Aug 4 (Day 31)

Aug 3 (Day 30) Aug 2 (Day 29)

Aug 1 (Day 28) BBQ or Chocolate?

Water park fun

Day 27 (July 31)
The perfect way to spend a hot summer day!!

Weekly pictures

The hardest thing about this project is getting all the pictures posted in the right order. It's not easy trying to move things around in the posting window!! Anyway, hope you're not getting bored with the pictures because I'm having fun :) As you can see, one of our cameras needs replacing- ugh.

Day 26 (July 30)

Day 25 (July 29)

Day 24 (July 28)

Day 23 (July 27)

Day 22 (July 26)

Day 21 (July 25)

Day 19 (July 23)

Well, I do see something that is growing...... It's not Reed- it's his hair!!! He just had a hair cut on day 1 and it is long again.

Day 20 (July 24)

Today we went to Noah's birthday party. Reed has been talking about Noah for weeks and couldn't wait to get to the party. We got there and he did not want to play with anyone. He sat at the back of they gym and watched everyone run and play. Just one of his off days I guess but it really makes me wonder if he plays with the kids at preschool or if he just keeps to himself. He's sure not shy at home :)

Grief

How do you help a friend who is grieving? Pray for them, send cards, spend time with them, listen to their thoughts and sometimes not even say anything, pray, pray and keep praying. I wish there was more I could do. It hurts to see a friend in pain. My sweet sister is also hurting because her best friend is living her last days in the flesh. She has suffered and fought the ugly cancer beast for a few short years and is now ready to join her grandmother and mother and walk the streets of gold.
I was reading a blog about a week ago that linked to a book that was for the grieving parent. I can't find the blog now and I'd really like to purchase this book for my friend. The book was titled "Heart To Heart" or something like that. Do you know this book?? Please comment if you do!

Day 13- Reed's new bed:

Day 14 Grandpa's boy:


Day 15: Day 16- silly boy!


Day 17 getting ready for nap time with Woody and Buzz:

Day 18- chocolate banana milkshakes, yum:

I have 2 different cameras and it's so funny how the settings make his skin tone look completely different. My sweet boy is growing up. Tonight when we were getting ready for bed he said "I love you SO MUCH mama" Thank you Jesus for placing this precious child in our care. I love him SO MUCH!!!