seriously....this is my life

only getting cuter...and bigger

Our little Karsten is now 13 months old and I realized I needed to write an update on how he's doing.  This blog is a great resource for me when I go to work on his scrapbook :) 

• He isn't walking yet, but is always standing up holding onto things like the couch, coffee table, bookshelves, us.

• He crawls really fast and just figured out he could crawl backwards, which he thinks is quite fun!

• We really should be working on weaning him off his bottle, but this Momma is having trouble with it...not because he is having a hard time, but because I am.  I love feeding him his bottle and I will be sad when those sweet moments of baby sucking sounds and him allowing me to hold him are over. 

• We're not planning on taking his wubbies away anytime soon...yes, we know we'll pay for it...he is SO attached to them. 

• He is eating more and more table food and less and less baby food.  I'll still use baby food occasionally in his oatmeal in the morning, but that's about it. 

• He LOVES grilled cheese sandwiches and blueberries.  He would be happy if every meal consisted of these two things.  He loves fruit (strawberries, raspberries, bananas, grapes, kiwi, and mango)  His desire for vegetables varies each day.  He will eat carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, zucchini, squash, and beans, but not consistently.  He also likes deli turkey (I buy low sodium Boar's Head) and I tried "healthy" hotdogs and he wouldn't touch them.  I don't blame him...I'm not a fan of hot dogs either! 

• He goes to bed about 7:30 each night and sleeps until 7:30 in the morning.  If he wakes up earlier he is content to just play in his crib with his animals and wubbies untiil I come get him...and he always greets me with a smile!!

• He goes down for a nap at 11:00 almost every single day and sleeps until about 1:30-2...Today he slept until 3...when I finally went to check on him he was quietly sitting in his bed playing with his animals.  

• He loves going for walks and has the cutest little tan line on his legs.

• He loves his toys, especially balls which he rolls under his pack and play (which blocks the entry into his playroom) out to the hall which is hardwood flooring.  He also loves pulling things out of baskets and putting them back in.  

• When I quietly check on him during independent play he is often looking at books and babbling to himself.  

• We're trying to teach him to wave goodbye and blow kisses.  He doesn't have the waving thing down, but he often takes his little fingers and goes back and forth on his bottom lip making this cute little bu-bu-bu-bu sound.

• We recently bought him a front facing, big boy carseat which he LOVES...and I love it to.  When we sit at a stoplight I can look back and talk to him.  

• He's also outgrown his whale tub and is not bathing in his big boy tub (reg. tub).  Brian bathes him and Karsten thoughtfully chooses his bath toys each evening.  

• He is completely captivated by the "Sunnyside Up" show on Sprout...he especially loves Chica the chicken puppet...I agree...she's pretty cute!  

• He is in full discovery mode and discovered recently that cabinets open...so Brian spent Saturday installing cabinet locks on on the lower cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms.  

photos from the weekend

To see more photos and stories from the weekend visit Kelly's blog

What a great weekend we had at our house.  Kelly brought X and E for a visit this past weekend.  I had planned on driving to visit with them, but after a long week for her husband Ryan she felt it would be better to  bring her kids here and leave him with a quiet house! 

We went out for breakfast on Saturday morning at Mimi's Cafe, went to my Aunt and Uncle's pool so the kids could "swim", went to church Saturday night and then out to dinner with some of Kelly and Ryan's friends from when they used to live here.  (Brian and I now go to the church that Kelly and Ryan went to when they lived here years ago).  We were going to make PW homemade doughnuts, but Kelly and I were both too tired Saturday night to make the dough...plus it's just too easy to go buy doughnuts, a treat for al of us!

I loved watching X and E play with Karsten.  We call them cousins because Kelly and I are like sisters. 

putting a puzzle together

X and E looking for turtles at our neighborhood pond

E sharing his train tracks with Karsten

and Karsten doing a taste test of the train tracks.

and a random bathtime photo

Karsten's Birthday---decor

This is the last installment of Karsten's Birthday---I kept the decor rather simple; primary colors, balloons, and a pennant banner.  This was his birthday invitation and the basis for my "theme", if you can call it that!

These banners have been taken down, but will put up in his room this weekend. I used double sided patterned paper and white ribbon.  Here's the PDF of the pennant template Download IMG_0001

Karsten's Birthday--Family Photos

My cousin Chelsea came over a bit early so that she could take some family photos for me.  I enjoy being behind the camera most of the time, but there are times when I want family photos.  Remember, in October when we went to Colorado, my friend Carrie took family photos of us in Garden of the Gods.  With Karsten growing so quickly, I would like to do this every year, around his birthday and then around his adoption anniversary. 

I mean seriously...look at how much he has changed!!!! Poor baby, he lost a lot of hair...Thankfully, it's all grown back!

So Chelsea took over 150 photos in just a few minutes...these are my faves!!!  Please don't think I'm vain...in fact I hate the way this dress looks on me, I have a double chin in most photos,  and you can tell by my hair that it was windy.  I just love my little family so much and I'm so proud of us!

 

Karsten's Birthday--Give me Cake!

Instead of having a birthday cake, I chose to get cupcakes from Crave and then my Mom made an angel food strawberry dessert (which sadly, I didn't take a photo of)

This boy didn't even know what yumminess was in store for him, but he sure was excited!!  The photos are a bit blurred because he was moving so much...but I still adore these photos of my happy boy!

I mean really excited---I laugh everytime I see this photo!!!

And then he calmed down and became introspective..."What does all this mean?"  He wondered.

Hello???  Where's my cake??

Mommy...what's that? Can I have it?

It's my birthday and I'm not getting my way!!!! 

The first thing he did was take off the "button" that said Happy Birthday! 

and he ate it!

and then Momma and Daddy gave him kisses

Yes, I completely forgot about his birthday hat until the end, but it made for some cute photos of the messy birthday boy!

 

Karsten's Birthday--Party Time

We had such a great 1st birthday for Karsten.  Lots of family, food, and fellowship.  The smartest decision I made was to have the food catered and delivered by Lupe Tortilla; beef and chicken fajitas, flour tortillas, salsa, pico, charro beans, rice, refried beans, etc.  I also made Sangria and we had beer for the guys.

My super sweet cousin Chelsea took charge of my camera for the entire party so that I could be in photos and not be worried about taking photos.  I completely trust her with my camera, she's the one who took these photos 2 years ago.  I knew she would capture everything I wanted to be captured and more!  Thanks Chels!

Although I hadn't planned on having much of the party outside, that is where we ended up spending the most time.  The weather was perfect.  We put a quilt on the grass for family and others stood around and talked. 

Jessica and Colton

Having dinner before the party

Sisters---my Mom, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Molly

Colton loved Karsten's walker

Jessica and Barry

love this photo

Karsten had just discovered his nostrils the week of his birthday...yes, this momma is so proud that he is slightly obsessed with sticking his finger up his nose! 

Shanda, Chris and Braedon

gift time...he loves his puppy that Kelly and her family sent him

Shanda, aren't you so proud?

Kate and Emma---adorable photo!

from Kiki and Grandpa---a Cardinal jersey :)

sitting on the lawn in our backyard...Emma must have been getting up while the photo was taken

Colton (7 months) and Karsten (1 year) visiting together

my cutie cousins...Chelsea, Suzy, and Jessica.  Colton is Suzy's son.

I have more photos of K eating his birthday cupcake coming tomorrow!!! 

Karsten's Birthday--Children's Museum

After having a yummy breakfast we all got ready and headed out to the Houston Children's Museum.  I had heard great things about it, that it was great for kids of all ages, so that's where we began our birthday celebration.  Let's just say that I was so impressed by this museum that I bought a membership so that we can take Karsten as much as we want in the next year.  I can also take Karsten by myself and take another person for free, so if you want to meet at the Children's Museum let me know! 

Kate and Emma

I love all the colors

Mom and Dad having fun with the magic mirrors

Brian having fun with the magic mirrors

Kate pulling Emma up

We loved the Tot Spot...a perfect place for children under 3 to play. 

I appreciated the fact that they had mesh bags hanging around where you could put toys that your child has slobbered on so they could be cleaned! We filled a bag :)

Then we found our way outside which was another gem! 

The Moore Families---I LOVE this photo!!!

Braedon and Chris at the Flow Works station

Kiki, Papa K, Brian, Me, and Karsten (Karsten was getting tired by this time)

Leaving

Lunch at Maggianos---yum!

hello cutie

Braedon was being shy :)

Back home and time for a birthday walk

reflections on my first year of parenting

A year ago today we received the call that we could come meet and bring home our precious baby boy.  I remember having a multitude of feelings skittering around my mind and heart that entire day.  What if I didn't love this baby?  What if I hated being a Mom?  What if I was so exhausted that I didn't enjoy it?  What if my baby cried all the time?  What would happen if I couldn't soothe him?  How would my relationship with Brian change?  What if this baby had colic?  And in rapid succesion these kind of questions flew through my mind...and yet I was excited and confident that this was God's plan...that He would equip me with everything I need...that everything would be just fine. 

Fine...it's been much more than fine...it's been absolutely wonderful!  As I reflect on the past year here are some things I take with me.

1. Adoption is just magical. Being a part of  God taking someone's mistake and turn it into someone else's greatest blessing is inspiring and humbling.

2. The book BabyWise and the principles in it work...I think every new parent should not only read this book, but implement the ideas in it.  It's not always easy, but it works.  I believe that a huge part of Karsten's happy, content disposition and healthy sleep habits have been molded by the implementation of these principles. Now I need to get Toddler Wise.

3. Although I miss Karsten being a newborn he really is becoming more and more fun as his personality develops. 

4. I did remarkably well with less sleep than normal in the early months.

5. Brian and I make a great team and see eye to eye on most things. 

6. Brian is an unbelieveably fantastic Daddy.  I knew he would be great, but he finds such joy in being a Daddy and he loves playing with Karsten.

7. Without a doubt I will be the disciplinarian.

8. Karsten makes parenting easy, so far....we'll see how I feel next year! 

9. Naptime and Baby Einstein are worth gold.

10. I have a love for Karsten that knows no boundaries. 

11. I have become much more sentimental this past year. 

12. I'm much more relaxed about things than I thought I'd be.  I feel I have a good balance of being in a routine and being flexible.

13. Because Karsten is so easy going it's easy to push him too far when running errands.

14. I am the biggest fan of pacifiers and dread the day when it's time to take it away. 

15. As someone who always saw herself being a Momma to a girl, I now cannot imagine not being  a Momma to a boy.  I love being Karsten's Mom and wouldn't trade it for anything.

16. We are completely content with Karsten being an only child, but if God moves us to adopt again we will follow.

17. The thought of adopting again scares me to death.  Karsten has spoiled me...and I know it!

18. I really treasure my Mom friends, one in particular, who has been there for me since the very beginning and is always willing to listen and give advice.  Since I have become a Mom, the two of us have become really close friends and have realized just how similar we are in most areas of our lives. You know who you are :)

19. Much of my daily life revolves around Karsten, but I feel like I have a healthy balance of allowing him to play independently and getting things done around the house.  I continue to pursue my own activities and have identity away from him. 

20. Brian and I love being his parents.  There is nothing we enjoy more than going for walks as a family and playing with him...BUT...we know that keeping our relationship intact and thriving is very important for his development and security. 

Here are some fun comparison photos:

our first family photo, taken a year ago today

and our most recent family photo...taken on his birthday

His first car ride

A car ride on his birthday

Aunt Shanda holding him on his first Easter

Aunt Shanda holding him on his first Birthday

Auntie Jessica holding Karsten for the first time

Auntie Jessica "Yissy" holding Karsten on his first birthday

Brian holding him for the first time

Brian holding him on his birthday

**If you're new to the blog and haven't read the long detailed story of Karten's journey to us click here**

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY KARSTEN EDWARD!!!!!!

Dear Karsten---

As I type this outside on a beautiful Spring day I am nearly brought to tears that you are already one year old.  You are our dream come true and have surpassed all of our expectations of what a baby would be like.  You are happy, funny, groovy, delightful, energetic, and a determined little boy.  Our biggest joy is being your parents and getting to care for you and love you every day. 

Many people have come to celebrate your first year.  Kate and Emma arrived from San Antonio, Kiki and Grandpa K came from IL,  and Uncle Chris, Aunt Shanda, and cousin Braedon came from Dallas. Today we're going to the Children's Museum and tonight many other people are coming to party with the birthday boy! Today is a day you won't remember, but I promise I will remember this day like I remember the day I first met you, nearly a year ago. 

Love you forever---

Momma (and Daddy)

I have over 800 photos to go through over the next few days, but here's one that caught my eye to share now!

Dear Karsten (11 months old)

Dear Karsten---

Time if flying by...way too quickly!  You're actually 11 1/2 months as I write this, but I hope you'll forgive me.  Daddy and I attempted at getting some good photos yesterday, but you were more interested in putting your toys in your mouth.  You must be getting some molars in because you're always chewing on something and have been running a low grade fever on and off for the past week. 

We are in full swing of planning your birthday party.  Which I know will be fun for all of us.  You are certainly a great reason to celebrate! 

This month you have begun talking more and more.  You consistenly say "Da da da da dy" and "Key ca" which means kitty cat.  You're also babbling more and more, especially in the car.  You've also discovered that your voice can be LOUD and you think it's funny to shriek now and then. 

You continue to be a pretty good eater, but are hesitant to pick up foods with a slimy texture like, bananas, mango, kiwi, etc.  You love turkey, string cheese, strawberries, raspberries, and of course puffs, and cereal bars.  You eat Greek yogurt mixed with baby food fruit and cereal for breakfast.  You're great at feeding yourself, but don't want to hold your cup up to drink. 

You love to play and will play by yourself as long as we're not in the room.  If we're there, you want our attention.  You love crawling all over us, using us as your personal jungle gym.  You still enjoy watching Baby Einstein videos, jumping in your Jumperoo, looking at books, playing with your toys, and walking in your walker. 

You love being outside and taking walks in your stroller.  You get SO relaxed on walks.  You just kick back and enjoy the ride. 

I'm guessing you're about 21 lbs, which is right where you should be based on what you weighed at birth.  I know you're healthy because your hair and nails grow really fast.  I had to give your hair a good trim the other day and now you look like a big, big boy! 

We love you little bug!

Love,

Mommy (and Daddy)

Karsten with his best buddy

love that drool!

and one with Momma and Bug after his bath