My Wonderful Parents

The longer I have children the more appreciative of my parents I become.

From the staying up all hours of the night dealing with a cranky baby to worrying about them when they go off to college, being a parent never stops, you will always be a parent. The only decision you have is what type of parent will you be.

I am so grateful for my parents, they have always been a constant in my life, I never wondered if they would be there for me or if tomorrow they would be gone. This is not everyone's life story some people are not so lucky to have that positive guiding force through out their lives. I continue to be amazed at the depths of my life my parents have impacted and shaped.

Even now as I am an adult with children of my own, my Mom and Dad are still my cheerleaders. They are a huge reason why I am successful as a parent now. They are the best babysitters we have, always willing and available, they bring us food over when we are sick, they invite us over for dinner so Brian can work late, they take us on vacation with them, they take us to the airport, they watch our dog and they offer words of encouragement when I need them most. My Mom continues to help me navigate life, offering advice when I need it. They continue to be a blessing in my life that I am humbled by and overwhelmed by.

Thank you for never stopping being my parents, it is a lot of work and I am so glad you have stayed with me, thanks for being willing to put in the effort, time and energy. My life is so much richer because you are my parents.

I love you both!

Beautiful Ending to a Long Journey

It is official, Brian and I are the proud parents to Luna Marie Vance.

It as been quite the journey to get to this day. One thing this journey has taught me is that no matter how much I plan or imagine my future, it is never as I expect. Today I became a parent, dressed in my nicest clothes and standing in front of a judge, never had I imagine this. It was more beautiful and wonderful than I could ever expected. We are so blessed that Luna has become a forever part of our family.

Now the real journey begins.

Adoption Day

Well it is official, adoption day has been set, September 25th at 1:30!

One Year Ago Today....

Luna, June 10th 2008 -

Luna today, still our happy little girl:

The Double Jogger

This week has been the hardest one yet with the two little ones. It was a hot week in the 90s, which I don't do well with the heat. So the combo of me being cranky and Luna being a little off was a recipe for disaster.

Last weekend we bought a double jogger off of craigslist and all week I had wanted to give it a try. But between the hot weather and my hip bothering me I had not had a chance. Well today it has cooled off considerable and my hip has had a week break I decided to give it a try. Thinking it would help my mood, running always helps and a ride in the stoller would give the girls some fresh air. Here is a photo, we had soooooo much fun:

Guess which child did not enjoy the ride? Oh good times, good times....

Horror Film Poster

My brother-in-law, Keith, took this photo and I think it is hysterical.  He titled it "Horror Film Poster."  I have no idea what the kids were looking at but it is priceless.

Crib Lovin'

Luna loves her crib.  Since the day she came to us, she has loved her crib.  When it is time to go to sleep she can hardly wait to get in and rarely cries.  But lately it has gone to a whole new level.

One of her favorite past times is to put as many puzzle pieces and books that she can find into the crib.  Once they are all in, she then comes and finds either Brian and I and lets us know she wants in.  Usually she does this by making enough noise that we follow her to her room and then she point to her crib.  At first I thought it was so cute.

Now, I can be in the middle of actively playing with her and she will want to go in her crib.  As if saying, "Yes, all done with you Momma, I want to hang out in the crib, it is so much more fun than you."  Yesterday she was in there and asked (by signing) that I turn the music on. She spent over 45 minutes just hanging out listening to her music.

Here is a photo:

Conquering My Fears

Since Rachel has arrived I have had this fear of going out in public with the two of them alone.

Until today the only places we have been is out in our cul-de-sac and to play group.  I know that the cul-de-sac is not really "the public" but it is off our property, so I count it.  We also have been going to a toddler play group once a week for Luna.  Which is really kid friendly and lots of other Moms to help out when it gets crazy.

Luckily between my family and Brian I have not had to take both kids any where alone.   But I needed to get finger printed as part of the adoption process.  The closest place only has appointments on Wednesday so I made an appointment and really thought between my parents and Brian someone could watch the kiddos while I had the appointment.  But the stars did not align and no one could do it.  So it was me solo with the kiddos.

This was a major stresser as I tried to figure out how to manage both kids and have my hands free for finger printing.  I knew Luna had to be strapped into the stroller, no running around the office for her.  I also planned to have blueberries (her favorite) to snack on and the cherry on top was for me to bring the portable DVD player to watch a movie.  You may think that is over the top but hey I will do what ever it takes.

The appointment was at 12:15, which Luna normally naps at 12:30, not ideal but I did not have many options.  They ended up not getting me in for the finger printing until 12:30.  The girls did great.  Rachel slept in the moby wrap for the whole time.  Luna was strapped into the stroller and I forgot the blueberries but boy was I glad to have the DVD player :)  I was a very proud Mommy and this gave me a little courage to try another outing alone.  

Rachel has Arrived!

Rachel was born on April 10th and joined our family on the 13th.  She was weighed 7lb 5oz and this week we went to the doctor and she was at 8lb 3oz, which the doctor was quite surprised by.  She is a good baby, typically happy although she does have her fussy moments.  We have enjoyed seeing Luna with her little sister.  Luna loves to give kisses and we are working on being gentle with Rachel.   

I have been trying to get a photo of the two of them together, which is tough.  This is as good as I could do.

Smile for the Camera

Lately when I have been taking photos of Luna I tell her to smile and this is what I get:

So cute, NOT.

Luna is at the age where she loves to mimic what I do.  So of course this then begs the question, Is this what I look like when I smile?

Our Winter

Here is a little update on what each of us has been up to the past couple of months.

Luna:  Since our return from Hawaii she has become a Daddy's girl, which Daddy loves and Mommy does not mind.  If Daddy is in the house then Luna wants to be with him.  I enjoy this because it allows me time to get somethings done and it is fun to see Luna loving her Daddy so much.

Once we got back from Hawaii, she was all ready so off schedule with the time change and all, I decided to drop her from 2 naps to 1.  She has done really well with this, I thought it would be more of a challenge for her.  It is nice just to have one nap during the day, it makes outings much easier.

Again once we got back from Hawaii I decided it was time to transition her off her bottles.  She was already just taking two a day, in the morning and night.  Just this week she has given up the bottle altogether.  She is getting older.

She has gone from 4 teeth to 8 teeth.  Two of which are her first year molars.  I can tell they are bothering her.  I have to say teething is not much fun, I am looking forward to being done with that for a while.

Brian:  When Luna and I were in Hawaii, Brian had a trip of his own.  He went to Arizona for a few days and met up with a good friend of his.  Then he went on to Colorado for work.  He return shortly after Luna and I got back.  Brian has been really busy at work, every day it seems he comes home exhausted.

He also has been busy installing his new TV and testing it out by watching movies.  I must admit this is something I have had a hard time relating to but Brian loves it so I am happy.

Allison:  I have been continuing to run.  It works out so well. I put Luna down for a nap, my Dad comes over and I go for a run.  My goal is to run a half marathon in June.  Right now the furthest I have done is 8 miles but I am having problems with my toes falling asleep, we will see if I can figure out how to fix that problem.

I also have been trying to replenish my frozen meals in preparation for our Spring.  So Luna and I have made trips to Costco and during my free time I have been busy cooking, cooking and more cooking.  My goal is to be done by the beginning of April.

That is what we have been up to.  We are looking forward to the Spring, hopefully no more snow and some nicer days to get outside and play.

Kauai - Hawaii

Luna and I had the pleasure of joining my sister's family and Mom on their recent trip to Kauai.  The last time I was there was on my honeymoon 7 years ago. It was  a last minute decision for Luna and I to go which in the end was a good thing.  I had less than 14 days to stress about the flight over.

We were in Kauai for 11 days.  Luna got the stomach flu the first day we were there and so we hunkered down at the condo for 4 days until she was feeling better.  We had one great day out and about when that night I came down with the stomach flu.  So I spent another 2 days in the condo.  Just so happens that Jessica and Jamie were also vacationing on Oahu the same time we were on Kauai and they had decided to fly over and join us for a day.  But unfortunately that was the day I was most sick so I did not even see them.

Luna and I at the Luau

We had few wonderful days enjoying the beaches and yes we even saw a sea turtle and then we flew home.  It was a crazy trip but when we were feeling well it was wonderful.

Leavenworth

Luna and I spent the last week in Leavenworth with my parents, sister Sarah and cousin Cooper.  We just relaxed, hung out and did a little shopping during nap times.  Here are some photos:

Grandma and Luna enjoying the balcony and beautiful view.

The view of the mountains from our room.

Sunset

Grandpa with the Grandkids, Cooper loved trying to get Luna's pacifier.

Now that I have it what do I do with it?

Luna's big accomplishment for the week, clapping. She is so proud of herself.

Open or Closed

Brian and I have recently been talking about when we will "open" our home for more foster children.  For a while there we just wanted to be able to focus on Luna, so since June we have not taken in any new children.

I must say it has been nice to not be wondering every time the phone rings what it may bring.  I also have enjoyed being able to make plans a few months out knowing how many and what age child I will have.  At the beginning,  I struggled with feeling guilty, we are licensed for 3 children but for the last 7 months have had only 1, leaving 2 open spots.  The guilt came from believing that God had "called" us to be fosterparents and wanting to make sure I was being completely faithful and obedient to that calling.  But as I prayed about this internal struggle I realized that God was not just or only calling us to be fosterparents but instead was calling us to be Luna's Mom and Dad for the time being, how ever long that may be.  So that means thinking about her needs as her Mommy and Daddy, hence the focus on just Luna time.

Luna is now 13 months old and the conversation has changed a bit.  Now we are thinking more along the lines of a sibling for her, not wanting them to be too close in age or too far apart.  I chuckle when we spend too much time on this because one thing I have learned from the whole process is that I have absolutely no control and to think I do is comical.  The first child that comes through our door could stay forever or there could be 10 more before one needs a permanent home. So I guess we will just leave that in someone else's hands.

Number of Children

When I was growing up I always thought I would have lots of children, at least 6.  I liked the idea of a big family with lots of people around, someone always to hang out with.  The idea of 6 was just that an idea, I had no concept the time and energy that went into raising a child.

Well now that I have had a few children come and go I have come to realize that I could not do 6 children.  I love the individual time with each one and still being able to have my own time as well. With each new child there is a significant decrease in "me time" for both Brian and me as well as for each child.

So now in the middle of my child rearing years I have come to terms with having less then 6 children.  But today at my toddler play group/class, the teacher was commenting how she only wanted one child but they eventually had two.  Both of her children are in college now.  She said if she could go back she would had at least 5, that they were her happiest years.  A little later she commented how she is reading the same books as her daughter is at college so they can discuss them.   I thought how if she had 5 she might not now have the time to read the books along with her daughter and may not be at this place in life she is now, it would have been a very different road. Maybe she could do 5 kids and do it well, I really don't know her.  I just know I can't do 6 :)

Seasons of Sleep with a Baby

We all know that once you have kids you never sleep the same.  Well Brian and I love to sleep, and I mean LOVE.  I can easily sleep 8-9 hours every night, with out problem.  I have to admit that one of my weird worries about not having our own biological children (who would of course get our love of sleep genes) was that we may have a child that is not a big sleeper. I know, silly thing to worry about...

Well Luna has over all been a great sleeper.  But of course we have had the times of waking up early and by early I mean anything before 7am.  I am not a very happy camper before 7am.  So those mornings as I am rocking her, I am thinking what is wrong with her that she is not sleeping in more, what is the problem.  Then I spend the next day being super discipled about her nap schedule in hopes that it helps her sleep in a little longer.   I am spoiled I know it but I am a much happier Mommy if my little Luna alarm clock does not go off until after 7.

Well lately she has become a sleeping machine.  Sleeping 12+ hours at night and taking a 3.5 hour nap during the day.  To the point where in the morning I am having to wake her up so we can get to our appointments on time. So while you would think I would just be enjoying the extra sleep, I find myself wondering what is wrong with her that she is sleeping so much.  

Why can't I just be happy? (such a theme in life in general) I get upset when she does not sleep enough and then when she sleeps extra I worry about what is wrong....Really my question should be what is wrong with me?  I even brought it up to the doctor at her 12 month appointment, and he chuckled and told me to enjoy it while it lasts.  Because it too will pass.  But for the moment I am enjoying this season of ample sleep.