Celebrating Earth Day with a treasure hunt!

To make our Monday hike a bit more special for Earth Day we celebrated with friends and a treasure hunt!  We headed to Riverbend Park and used our treasure map, binoculars and treasures satchel for our hunt.  We found most of our items- acorns, leaves, fairy magic, water, and treasures (rocks).  We also found some wildflowers, listened to the birds, paddle boats (i.e. fallen logs), watched a Momma Hawk (thank you Ranger Lori), and watched the swallows over the river.  We had a great time exploring today!

After the mad dash to get on the trail, they right away started finding treasures.  We never hike a long distance...usually we are spending so much time playing and pretending that before we know it we are past lunch time and ready for nap time!

Best buddies.  

My little brute doesn't play well with other little girls typically.  Yet somehow he is spellbound by an older woman (5 yrs. old) who has got to be one of the most delicate little girls I have ever met.  She loves pink, fairies and puppies.  He loves alligators, pirates and dinosaurs.  Somehow it works.

Montessori Mud Run

Gray participated in his first race...and a it was a mud run at that!  We had so much fun.  They offered a mini half mile fun run with obstacles that we did as a family and with Steven's sister, Nicole.  Then Nicole and I did the 5K mudstacle after that.  I had a blast!  It was the first mud run event I had ever done, Nicole's 4th...and she said this was the most difficult she's ever done.  I did all but one obstacle and felt pretty good.  It was long and tough, but how often do you get a chance to play in the mud?!

It's official...just a phone call away

So yesterday we received the news that we are finally licensed with the state of NC for our adoption.  This has been a l-o-n-g process, and we still have an unknown wait time ahead of us.  The average being 18 months.  We have already spent the last year and a half just to get to this point.  Really, I am trying not to be impatient.

So why the journey of adoption?  Some people have just been curious.  Some people can not simply understand why a couple who can have biological children would choose to adopt.  Well...it's not a simple answer.  There is not one exact answer...and not one that is the same for the both of us.

Yep, we had trouble having Gray.  But nope, it has nothing to do with that.  I feel certain that if we had wanted another biological child we would have had one.  We knew we were going to adopt well before we even married.  I knew before I ever even dreamed of getting married, or had even had my first kiss.

This hasn't been easy.  It's scary.  In many ways scarier than having a biological child.  There is so much out of our control.  I have often let my life just be guided and placed in the hands of God/the universe/what is sacred and this has been no different.  I knew this is what I was meant to do, so I know it will work out.

This has been about meeting needs.  On so many levels.  Needs of waiting children.  Needs of women making tough decisions.  Needs of the world to reduce its human population/footprint.  Needs for us to complete a family.  Needs for us to be the change we wish to see in the world.

I am no savior.  I am not a perfect mother.

I am someone who sees life practically...we wanted to decrease our human footprint.

I am someone who see life emotionally...there are children...babies...that need families.

I am someone who realizes that life is not black and white...whatever your stance on abortion, you have to look beyond the decision.  If you are not going to support the woman, then you at least need to support the child that is born.  Otherwise, what would be "pro"- life about your stance.

We are a family excited about our journey.  Excited to have a sibling for Gray.  We are a family who is also scared to death.  What if we don't blend as we dream?  What if there are unknown, unforeseen problems that show up years from now?  What if our son doesn't attach?  What if...but we can't play the what if game.  The fears are not for me to handle alone, and the future is not for me to know.

Luke 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

http://www.childrensrights.org/issues-resources/adoption/facts-about-adoption/

http://www.pbs.org/pov/offandrunning/adoption_fact_sheet.php

http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

DC trip

Over the Easter weekend we took a long weekend while Steven was out for Spring break and headed to DC.  The last time I had been there for any length of time, was as a little girl with my Grandma Lareau and I still have such fond memories of that trip.  I was excited to be able to share that with my family.  We rented a place through airbnb and it turned out to be perfect.  We were in the Mount Pleasant historic district and were able to walk to the zoo and to places to eat all super close by.  The place we rented was perfect too- complete with toys for Gray!

Sunday was spent at the Museum of Natural History- Gray loved the insect zoo!

Fun at the National Zoo

My little naturalist :).  He loves using his "knock-ulars"

"He's saying hi to me!"

Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

My Great-Grandfather's headstone in Arlington

Easter at Maw-Maw's

We celebrated Easter early with the family over at Maw-Maw's, and as usual there was enough food to fed ten army's, cousins being wild and silly, and an Easter egg hunt.  Gray is starting to get the hang of the find the egg game, and had a good time playing with the big kids.  

My handsome kiddo :)

Gray with his pow-pow for Easter--I mean really, what could be more appropriate?

Big Boy Undies!

So in 10 years, this will be one of the posts, that Gray will hate me for, and I'll get one of those, "really, mom...really?" looks.  This past summer Gray was very close to being done with potty training, but then changed his mind...so we waited.  Then about a month ago he decided he was ready to quit wearing diapers.  Of course I was happy to oblige and do whatever I could to help the process along...i.e. bribery.  So we made a deal.  Only underwear for a week and I would get him a skateboard (scooter, but he calls it a skateboard...mostly because that is what he pretends it is, my little dare devil).

Well, he does it.  No accidents even!  So we get the scooter, and then guess what starts happening...accidents.  This kid is no fool.  So we have to take away the scooter.  Eventually it all works out, and now we are completely potty trained!  We have our moments, but life is so much easier...and cheaper!

My schedule has been super busy with work, so I took the rest of this week off.  Gave us some free time today to head to the library for the Easter Egg hunt.  Gray was so excited with each egg and the candy inside, that he only found three eggs!  The librarian felt bad, but he was happy as a lark because he had chocolate!  Love this kid.

story time

Stopping at the 2nd egg to get the candy out

"Cheese"

Grayism:  Lately Gray has been expressing how much he likes everything.  The other night we are tucking him in and he say's, "Mommy, I like your eyeballs".  

Last night it was even better- after I told him the next day would be a mommy and Gray day, he asked if we could go hike, and I said it depended on the weather.  He then says I like the greenway, can we go there?  I say sure bud, if the weather is ok.  Then he says I don't like the brown one, just the green one.  Silly boy.