Birthday Party Pictures!

I love our village...and it does take one.

This part weekend Aunt Missy took some wonderful pictures of S outside near the river where she lives. I wish we could show her face!

Month Five

Dear Baby S,
You've been with us for five months now!

The biggest thing that happened this month is that we celebrated your birthday! You have been in this world for one whole year!

We celebrated on your actual birthday at Burger King with your family. Your mom, half-siblings, aunt, cousins, grandmother, and several friends met us and celebrated. You ate some french fries and ketchup for the first time and hamburger bun. You also enjoyed digging into the chocolate cake your mom brought.

She also brought you three presents and an outfit.

On Saturday we celebrated with our friends and family. We had quite the party in our front yard! We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had cake and ice cream.

While we were getting ready, you spent some quality time with Uncle Jar.

Your favorite part was the fruit we arranged in cups. You ate more blackberries than anything else - even cake!

I'll have more pictures to post of your birthday party soon. I was so busy having fun that I didn't take very many but Maggie and Melissa did and I will get them soon!

Before your birthday we had a busy month!

As soon as we got back from the mountains last month you had a double ear infection. You were pretty grumpy and didn't feel very good for several days. You got to take yummy pink medicine until you felt better and spend some time at home with me.

You've started cruising around holding onto furniture. You're getting very comfortable with walking and holding our fingers to take steps.

You want to be moving all the time now. Barely stopping for a bottle!

You're only interested in eating things you can feed yourself. You're really good about trying new things. The only thing you consistently don't want to eat is mashed potatoes - which I can't believe! Your favorite thing to eat seems to be yogurt melts. Here you are eating with a fork!

We let you take a bath in the bathtub now without the baby tub in there. You have no fears about water. I'm glad you like the water but it makes me nervous that you like to put your face in it so much! (Don't worry - I'm not including any embarrassing bathtub pictures:))

Most every night we are home we watch Family Feud on tv after dinner and before your bath. You LOVE it. You like to watch the bright lights flashing and every time anyone on the show claps (which is often) you clap and laugh!

You're saying a few more words. You still say "dog" every time you see our dog or the dog that lives at my parents house. You say "hey" all the time to us and random people! Sometimes they don't say "hey" or wave back and that makes you mad! You also like words with "p" sounds. When we zip or snap your clothes or pajamas you say "zip" or "snap." You also liked everyone telling you (and singing to you) "Happy Birthday" so now you repeat "hap" and sometimes "happy." You are calling Bubbie "DeeDee" and sometimes say "Meggie" but usually it comes out "mamamamama." You say "MMMMM" when you eat things you like and when we get in the car you look for and call for your "baby" that Susie's parents gave you for Christmas. You make all kinds of other sounds. We can't wait for you to start saying more words!

This month we met your CASA Volunteer. She's someone who volunteers to make sure that you're getting what you need and everyone involved with you right now is doing what they are supposed to do. We hope she will be helpful and we are glad to have this person looking out for you.

We also just celebrated St Patricks Day. It wasn't your first...but it was a good one. Mrs. Suzy at church made you this fun shirt!

Bubbie and I are so happy we've gotten to know you for almost half of your whole life! You are a blessing to us and our families and friends and even strangers. You are such a happy girl. You are a gift from God. On people's birthdays I usually write in their cards (or on facebook) that I am glad they were born - and that's always true - but right now I am celebrating that you were born and that I get to know you and love you. You have no idea - and you never will probably - all that your presence in this world and our lives has done for me, Bubbie, and our families and friends.

So keep it up, Happy Girl. Keep learning, and growing and smiling and waving. Keep trying to copy what was say (mostly) and do (mostly). Keep moving and exploring. Keep being curious. Keep being excited about the people around you. The world is full of wonder and mostly good people. Keep being you. I hope you will someday hear about your first birthday and all the people who celebrated you because they love you.

Gotta go. You're starting to stand up in your rocking chair! You keep things interesting!

Love,
Meggie

Hope

I'm not sure if you've noticed but anchors sure are trendy right now.

Before we were called about our first placement I spent a lot of time on Instagram and Pinterest looking for anything I could get my hands on about fostering. There was a lot of waiting to do and I don't wait easily.
I came across a hashtag on Instagram that foster parents were using to connect with one another. It seems they have adopted this verse kind of as a group verse.

It comes from Hebrews chapter 6.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about hope since we've started fostering. There are a lot of things I hope for. There are a lot of things that give me hope. Some of them are very simple and some are very complicated.

Most of all I hope that I love well through the source of hope.

And that is the anchor for my soul. That hope and love.

In this adventure I need an anchor more than ever. Fostering means there is always something happening. Visits with family. Visits in our home. Training hours to make up. Doctor appointments. Screenings for Babies Can't Wait. WIC appointments. Court. Ugh. Court. Panels. Papers to fill out. Papers to turn in. Papers to get refilled out because my name or baby's name is spelled wrong. Lots going on. And then there is the normal stuff of life. Work. School. Church. Family. Friends. Things that are life-giving for me.

Something has to be an anchor.

Hope and love. The hope of love. The promise of hope.

So forgive me if I indulge in the anchor trend. :)

Month Four.

Baby S,
I'm sorry this letter is a little bit late but things have been very busy around here recently. You've been with us for four months now and you just turned 11 months old.

On January 18th we celebrated MLK Jr. at the "Dream Lives" event with lots of people from our city. We walked in the procession with people from Circles. It was very very cold - but you stayed bundled in the stroller in the sun and enjoyed the music!

That weekend after the MLK event we went to Macon. We made it in time to go to church at St. Claire's and have dinner with friends and family after. You enjoyed sitting at the table with Aunt Maggie and letting her feed you. We spent the night with LeAnn and her family and then got to go to the park with Parker and Patrick on Monday. You liked swinging in our laps. Bubbie got sick while were there. Then you got sick. Then everyone else got sick. Your tummy was MAJORLY upset. We hope that doesn't happen again. It was good to see our Macon folks but we were glad to get home. There is only one good place between here and Macon to stop and change a diaper and we had to turn around and get back to it! Whew.

We had to go to court this month. You and I spent a long time waiting with your mom. The judge didn't really have any new information to give us. He was missing a piece of paper and just called everyone there to make sure everything was in order.

It snowed here! (Don't get used to it!)

You've started pulling up and standing in your crib. We might end up having to put the crib in the middle of your room because somehow you always find something to reach for and pull into the crib!

You've started preferring us over other people. This is good news. It means you'll be able to love and attach to other people.

You've gotten to take several walks - err rides -  around our neighborhood in the car Bubbie's parents gave you for Christmas. You treat the whole thing like a parade and wave the whole time - no matter whether or not there is anyone to wave at!

You're talking a lot more. You're favorite sound seems to be a "p" sound. You like it when we say "snap" when we're buckling your car seat or snapping up your pajamas. You've also started making a "sss" sound like a snake. Soon you'll be talking in words we can understand! You still hate socks and work very hard to get them off!

Groundhog Day was this month! Our family actually has a stuffed real groundhog that my dad got out of the attic and we had a photo shoot. Having a taxidermy groundhog isn't something that most people would consider "normal" but its probably the closest to one you'll ever be - and Baby, normal is really just a setting on the dryer.

We celebrated Valentine's Day with you! You had a special shirt Mrs. Suzy from church made you and Aunt Missy took some great pictures of you wearing it. The pictures make you look so old!

You also got Valentines in the mail from my Grandmama and Bubbie's parents. Here is you and my Grandmama!

The weekend of Valentine's Day we went to the mountains with Jar, Aunt Maggie, Sarah and Kristen. There was still a lot of snow on the ground there.

We got to eat a fun restaurants, do some shopping, and spend some time with people who love you. It was very nice to get away for a couple of days! You started not feeling so well while we were there...but I'll tell you more about that next month.

The days are long, Baby Girl but this month seemed short! In our next month together we will celebrate your birthday! We can't wait!

Love you,
Meggie

Six months is a long time.

Case worker says it will likely be six months before anything happens. No court or panel before then.

An ICPC will still be run on a relative that says she's willing to do relative care - but the chances of that being deemed a good situation are slim.

We'll still have weekly (mostly) visits with mom and monthly visits from a case worker.

I can't imagine going that much longer without any idea of what's happening.

Three Months

Baby S,
If you thought your second month with us was busy...just wait until you hear about your third month! You are now ten months old!

You started your third month with us on December 18th with a small scoot forward and you've ended this month with us full blown crawling and pulling up to your knees! You love crawling around - especially in your room and you've even figured out how to get out of the gate - not opening it (yet) - but over the part at the bottom.

Even with a room full of toys your favorite thing right now is crawling to the bookshelf and pulling books off or crawling to your wardrobe and playing with your shoes.

We started officially celebrating Christmas on December 20th with a trip to Bubbie's parents' house. While we were there we ate at Cracker Barrel (of course), visited the Amish bakery where we got lots of goodies, went to church twice, celebrated Bubbie's cousin's birthday, and saw lots of family and friends again. You were worn out at the birthday party and fell asleep in the recliner!

We got to see Bubbie's friend who is a hairdresser and you got a real haircut!

You really enjoyed Bubbie's parents' Christmas tree and the train they had around the bottom. It was your inspiration to really start crawling! Here is a picture before church with your Christmas dress on.

You really enjoyed our time with them and learned to appreciate a good Western while watching with Pop.

We came back to Georgia on Christmas Eve Eve and got busy! My whole family and our family friends came over after church on Christmas Eve for good food and good times together. Bubbie's parents were here too. They came back with us and stayed until after Christmas. We didn't get to go to church on Christmas Eve because you were a little snotty but you enjoyed having company. You got to open special presents from Auntie Diana and from Marth and Mrs. Ann. (You've been sleeping with the doll they gave you ever since!)

On Christmas Eve Uncle JR and Aunt Maggie and Aunt Missy hung around with me and Bubbie and waited for Santa to come. We had a little trouble with the things he left for you - but we made it. Bubbie is calling for help on a toy from Aunt B.

On Christmas morning you woke up to find lots of goodies from Santa and from Granny and Pop. Aunt B made your special stocking with your name for Santa to fill.

After we played with toys for a little while at our house with Granny and Pop we went to my parents house. (We're not sure what you'll call them yet so for now we're sticking with Mr. Steve and Mama Mary.) There we had breakfast with lots of family and then opened more presents! This is one you got from Aunt Beck. Its helping you learn how to pull up and stand up.

Later on Christmas Day we went to my Grandmama's house where we saw more family, ate more good food, and opened more pictures. We also sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, which is really the reason all of these things happen!

After a long time at Grandmama's we went back to my parents where we ate again! You and I fell asleep together! It was a very long day. 

The day after Christmas we went with Granny and Pop to see their good friends in Carrollton. They were very excited about meeting you. We drove back to town in time for a visit with your mom and dad. The next couple of days were kind of slow and we enjoyed time off of work at home with you.

On the 29th we had a great family meal at my parents with Auntie Diana, Uncle Richard, Grandmama, Aunt Beck, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle JR. After lunch we drove to Jacksonville, Florida for New Years. We're not sure - but we think was your first trip to Florida!

We had a great time in Florida with our friends. You got to meet Suzanah and Henry and their friends Rhonda, Aiden and lots of others! Henry is just a little bit older than you are and you had fun with his toys and enjoyed playing with someone close to your age. He could move much faster than you are and that was more inspiration for you to get moving!

While we were in Florida you got pink eye and we had to visit Urgent Care. With the right medicine, it didn't take long for you to be feeling better. Here you are at Urgent Care tearing up the paper!

Before we left Florida we got to visit the beach! It was too cold to put your feet in the water or sand but you saw the ocean!

We drove home on New Year's Day because we had a special meeting on the 2nd in court. We met lots of people that day who are making sure you're being well taken care of. We saw your dad that day. We're not sure exactly what was decided that day but we figure they'll tell us when we can know.

The next day you got to hang out with Aunt Missy while Bubbie and I went to the movies. We are very glad she is around and loves you!

On Saturday we went to Atlanta where you met Aunt Audrey and her friend Sig. We took some pictures of you together that day but we'll have to get them off the other camera. Aunt Audrey took us all to the aquarium. You were mesmerized! I've taken other kiddos to see the fish and none of them have paid as much attention to the fish as you did. You could have stayed all day!

Lots of other things are happening! You've adopted a new sleeping position...

and most mornings when I go to get you our of bed this is how I find you...

You seem to enjoy going to daycare more these days. You're not upset when I leave you. We get funny reports from Ms. Shannon. You've torn up a mattress, chased bigger kids to pull their hair, and had days where you threw everything off of your high chair. We are glad Ms. Shannon is around to take care of you.

Your hair is getting so long and so much like a grown-up's. Most days I pull it back and put in a bow. You don't like the bows really but sometimes you forget they are there and leave them in. You have some crazy cowlicks we have to work around!

You have three teeth and are working on another one. You have the two bottom middle teeth and the top middle left tooth. You are enjoying using them to bite crackers, puffs, mum mums, and vanilla wafers. We had to go to see Dr.Tom this month to finish getting your shots. I am glad we don't have to do that again for awhile!

The group from my work is working on running "Couch to 5k" together and you really seem to enjoy time outside in the stroller!

You've learned to high five!

We had one visit this month when your mom and she brought her mother, one of your half brothers, and a cousin. They were all very excited to see you.

Bubbie has started school again this semester which means you and I will have evenings together for awhile. We've also been going to church every Sunday. You enjoy your time in the nursery each week with Ms. Martha.

We just finished putting together your last Christmas present (it was missing a piece) and you love it! We can't wait until its warmer outside and we can go for a ride (longer than in circles around our house).

We absolutely loved having you here this month. Christmas was wonderful with you. It was full of family, friends, good food, and love. That's how Christmas is supposed to be. I hope every Christmas you have in this world is just as wonderful and you always know you are loved and treasured. Christmas kept us busy and gave us time to be family. It was great.

You are amazing. I am loving being your Meggie right now.

Love,
Meggie