New link to our Adoption Profile

We just added a new link to our adoption profile. Although it is very similar to this one there is a bit more information in there (ie - our relationship with our son's birthmother etc..)
Also, you can print the profile.
The link is on the bottom right side of this page - Kristen & Brian's printable profile.

look who joined the family

On Friday we picked up Elvis, our new puppy.
He is so sweet and we are all having such a great time with him. He is a terrific addition to our family.
Kristen's dad had always said that a family should have a dog, now we don't have to worry that he's going to leave a puppy on hour front step :-)

Aidan's 5th Birthday

I can't believe it's been 5 year since Aidan was born. 

Why adoption?

We get a lot of questions/comments from people (family, friends and strangers) about adoption. Here are just a few:

Why are you adopting again?

Aren't you happy with the family you have?

It must be easier since you already adopted.

To Brian and me the answers are simple but not easy to explain. I can talk about it for hours but will do my best to keep it concise in this forum. 

Why are we adopting again?

From our first date Brian and I discussed what we wanted as far as a family was concerned. We knew that we wanted a big family (4-5 kids). We have always loved our big family get-togethers. Don't get me wrong, we have our ups and downs as all families do - we're not perfect but we all love each other & are there for one another. Anyway,  s I said Brian and I knew what we wanted and we had both said that we were open to adopting ~not knowing at that time what would happen a few years later when we had Aidan. 

Just because the path of your dream changes doesn't mean that the dream goes away. 

ok - so I went on to write a couple of more paragraphs then I realized that most people aren't going to read all my ramblings so I deleted it . Like I said, I could go on and on. 

Aren't you happy with the family you have?

Without a doubt! I was floored when I heard someone ask this question. My first reaction was shock and my next was anger. How dare they think we don't love our family. I'd bet that they didn't ask their child that when  they heard she was having another baby! What is the difference?!

My thought is that if people can get pregnant and have more children they have the right to have more, right?  More than likely they have the love and desire to have more children. It doesn't mean they aren't happy with the children they already have.  It's the same with Brian and I. We love our boys more than words can explain but we still have a strong desire to have more children to love and spoil and laugh with and cry with and .....go through all that life has to offer with.

It must be easier since you adopted again.

NO! The emotions are still very much the same - nervous, anxious, excited. We still wait by the phone hoping that it will ring. My heart still skips a neat when it does. 

I know that typing takes the emotion out of things but believe me, this is something we are both very emotional and passionate about. Like I said earlier I could go on and on about this but I won't.

Wishing

Today is my birthday, maybe I'll get a phone call, a sign, a glimmer of hope. Hey, you never know!

Advice from birthmoms

I just read a post today on advice that birthmoms are giving to PAPS (prospective adoptive parents). This information was priceless.
There was so much that they had to say and I am trying to take it all in. We are not going to turn into someone we are not but we want to be as helpful and supportive to our children's birth family as we can.

Waiting for our phone to ring or waiting for that one email that will change our lives for ever is so agonizing. We just hope and pray that it happens for us.

Out of the mouth's of babes!!!

Just a little background info......we spent the whole day running up and down stairs, cleaning the basement, going to Lowes etc....
After the boys got their hair cuts I was sitting with Aidan and I turned to him and said that he looked so handsome with his new hair cut. He turns to me and puts his hands on my cheeks and looks into my eyes and says, "Mommy, you look so.....(looks me over).......I love you!" God I knew I looked horrible but that sure did make me feel good.....I think?!?!

new hair dos

We tried to grow out Aidan's hair, it didn't work so well. I just love him with a buzz cut. Ty on the other hand, I don't think we will ever be able to cut his hair. My mom's friends want to take him to their hairdresser so they can get his natural highlights.

Only a boy would be born with hair like Tyler's and eyelashes like Aidan's.Go figure!

Ty did not want his before picture taken.

Aidan's before picture.

Ty's after picture. Like I said, just a trim still. I can't bear to cut that beautiful hair off.

Aidan's after picture  (with his faux hawk).

Baking Fridays are BACK

Now that no one is sick baking Fridays are back on. I better find some healthier recipes or I'll end up packing on another 30 by the end of the month!
I guess once we are blessed to adopt another baby I will have to give up the spoon....I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Believe it or not, this is the quietest time in our home. I don't think I heard a peep out of either of them once I gave them the mixers!

My construction workers

Brian put up some much needed shelving in the closet and in the laundry room. The boys were a big help!

Its finally done!!!!

The basement is done and it looks really good. Now we have to finish organizing the toys, its been fun...no, not really. But we are almost done. I almost have my dining room back!!!