Oh, How Time Flies {David Day}

I can't believe it's been 4 years.

Four years since I pined for a baby to love and care for.  Since I longed to be a mommy.

Four years since I first met that sweet baby.  Since we met eyes for the first time and I held his chubby little baby body in my arms.  It felt so good and so right to wrap my arms around him.

Four years since we brought that precious boy to our home.  His home.  Since we bought a crib and clothes and pacifiers and bottles and everything we thought we needed for our new little bundle. 

Four years since mommy and daddy woke up several times each night to bottle feed a hungry little baby.  Since we rocked a fussy infant and gave him all the love we could muster.  And then some.

Four years since the first bath in his new home.  Four years since his first smile in his new home.  Four years since we first cuddled and slept beside each other.

Four years....

And now, we have an energetic, percocious 4 year old.  And more memories to be made....

  

Home just a few days.  About 4 months old

Adoption Day!  2 years old

Everyday misadventures.  4 years old

Thank you God for this blessing I call my son.

My Cup {Heart} Runneth Over

I'm full of emotion today.


I have been very pensive about my son the past week or so. His birthday is coming and that always makes me thoughtful. I not only remember what a big boy he's becoming as he turns a year older, but also that his birthday marks the day he became our son forever through adoption.

Today I visited his school and observed him (through one way windows...if he had seen me, there would be nothing to observe!) as he interacted with his peers, sang songs, did little dances, and was just a cute little boy at preschool. He has come so far in the past year since he has been at his school. He's doing and saying things he couldn't do before. Part of it is that he's getting bigger, but a lot of it is that he has an awesome teacher in an awesome preschool program. My little boy is growing up! The same chubby baby I held for the first time one Thursday afternoon in the local CPS office. He was prayed for and God was faithful.

After the visit to David's school, I did a little check on Facebook. Two different status updates from two separate friends brought tears to my eyes.

One friend posted about the 15th birthday of her twin sons whom she lost at birth. Today was their birthday. Fifteen years ago she was overwhelmed with joys of birth and pain of loss. All on the same day. Now, this beautiful, strong, loving woman has a very active pre-teen. But, she also longs for a sweet baby girl to call her own. We spent some time last week talking about foster care and adoption. Two things very close to my heart. And hers. My heart ached for her today as I could only imagine the heartache she must have been feeling. However, because she has the hope of Jesus Christ, she knows she will see her babies again one day and never have to let go of them.

Another friend posted how she met her 3rd child today. You may remember my friend Lara. I have mentioned her before on the blog, but more recently I asked for prayers for her family as she and her hubs were going to Uganda to adopt a precious boy from an orphanage there. She and Jon arrived at the orphanage and were escorted over to their new baby (really he's an adorable 4 year old!) Read about it here. But, fair warning, you will need some tissues as you read Lara's account of that morning and their meeting. Again, God's grace is evident as people all over the world (literally) prayed for this little boy and this family, and for them to be united. My God is big and faithful.

The circle of life. Two angels are in heaven and two boys are hugged tightly here on Earth. God's grace and faithfulness are evident. Matthew 19:14 says, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Those twin boys will celebrate this birthday in heaven and their sweet momma will join them one day. Another promise is made: I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him (1Samuel 1:27). My son and my friend's son, and many others, are prayed for every day.

My heart is full. I'm sinking in an ocean of His grace.

Anyone Other Than Me? {My Story: No Apologies}

Could I have been

A parking lot attendant

Could I have been

A millionaire in Bel Air

Could I have been Lost somewhere in Paris

Could I have been

Your little brother

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone other than me

Could I have been

Anyone

-Lyrics from Dancing Nancies Dave Matthews Band

Anyone who has known me for about 5 seconds knows I love Dave Matthews Band.  Or Dave Matthews solo.  Or Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds.

I digress.

I was listening to my man, Dave, it was a live track, and I was rockin' out.  Singing the lyrics at the top of my lungs, out of tune, mind you, I couldn't help but think: Could I have been a millionaire in Bel Air?  Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris? Could I have been your little brother?  Obviously that last one, is not really possible, but you get the idea.  Could I have been anyone other than me?

I would really hate to think of a world without a Lauren Gross.  That would be a sad, sad place.  Luckily for all of you, that's not the case.  While I suppose I could have taken a different path in life, I would still be the same ol' me.  And, right now, I am satisfied with who I am.  I mean, with the exception of the baby weight I carry (even though I never got pregnant or gave birth) and my addiction to Coca-Cola, I am pretty awesome.

I am me.

I have a story. 

And I'm not apologizing for who I am.

I will not apologize for being a parent.  I will not apologize for how I raise my child.  Not for the choices I make with my time or my money.  Not for the choices I make as an adult, a wife, or mother.  I will not apologize for trusting in my God.  I will not apologize for having a hope because of Jesus.  Not for where I go.   Not for where my husband goes.  Not for the time we spend apart or the time we spend with our son as a family.  I will not apologize for the life I live.  I will not apologize for the things people think they know about me or my life.  I will not apologize for trying to be the best mom/wife/friend/teacher/person I can be and making a million and half mistakes while doing it.  I will not apologize for being awesome, for being lame, for being a hypocrite, for being right, for being wrong, or for being forgiven.  Because I am all of that and more.

That's me, folks.  Love it or leave it.  Really, you'll want to love it.  You won't be able to resist.

And no one knows me, my son, my husband, or my story like I know it.

And I will be the one to tell my story.       

I {Heart} My Hubby

It seems pretty obvious that I love my husband.  I mean, I did marry him and I did name my blog I {Heart} Andy Gross.

He's super special.  Sometimes he's a grump.  He goes shooting  a lot.  He works even more.  He is an awesome dad.  He goes to get me ice cream at 9 o'clock at night.  He puts up with my shenanigans.  I have a lot of shenanigans.  He buys me awesome gifts, like Coach bags and massages and a Nook e-reader.  He likes to hold my hand and crack my fingers and toes.  He encourages me to get pedicures and go out with the girls.  He doesn't mind that I don't cook or am not the best housekeeper.  He knows I drive fast.  He knows I'm stubborn.  He knows I must sleep with an eye mask, a ton of pillows in very specific positions around me, and a big down comforter, even in summer.  We battle over the thermostat.  He mows the lawn, takes David fishing and does his own laundry.  He calls me funny things like Madness or Momma-Head.  He sometimes sends me text messages that say I love you something fierce.  He thinks I'm smart, funny, beautiful, and crazy.  And I am, but he loves me just the same.

I'm linking this up to

Alexandra Rose

  

Easter Happenings

I hope each of you had a blessed weekend celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord.  It was a low-key weekend for us, which is always nice.

There was no school on Good Friday, and that was my only chance to procure some Easter goodies for my boys.  David spent the morning playing at his cousins' house and momma went-a-shoppin'.  Nana and Papa babysat that same night while mom and dad enjoyed a dinner with some fellow adults.  A dinner without a toddler is a rare, but delightful thing.

On Saturday, the boys took Papa fishing while momma snuck away for a pedi and enjoyed some quiet time.  It wasn't a terrible terrific day for David in terms of his behavior and attitude, so we had to leave promptly after the church service on Saturday evening rather than stay and enjoy burgers and baptisms with our fellow church go-ers in the courtyard.  But, all was redeemed when we got to dye Easter eggs.  It was David's first time!  I know he is almost 4, don't judge me.

The Easter Bunny dropped by overnight, and David enjoyed a nice little egg hunt in the front yard at about 6:30am.  Ugh!  Then daddy and David headed back out to the river for an Easter Catch of Fish.  After that it was Nana and Papa's house for brunch, back home for a nap, and egg salad sandwiches in the late afternoon.  A great Easter if I do say so myself. 

Back to Reality: Spring Break in Review

Well, my days of sleeping in waking up at 5:30am and tending to the every need of my 2nd graders toddler are over.  My break wasn't exactly a dream vacation.  I was still up early each day and seemed to be working jut as hard as I do during school, but it was nice to get away from the classroom, grading papers, and preparing lessons for just a bit.  Only 9 weeks until summer vacation!

Here is my spring break in pictures.  Sorry, no carcass display, though.

Jumping on the couch. 

Cartoons and his morning cup o' soy milk.

A little soccer ball action in the front yard.

Helping Daddy use power tools. 



Attempting to climb into the pig's pen.



Getting sniffed in the rear by a steer.

A whole lotta kids!

Hula-hooping

More games at the fair.

Bathtime.  Wearing a hat.  Makes sense.

What didn't get captured in photographs was Gramma and Grampa's visit from Las Vegas, the Quartermaster Depot, lots of eating out, the dog's haircut, a visit from the plumber, a handful of miscellaneous errands and shopping, and an all around tired momma.  Did I mention there is only 9 more weeks until summer vacation?!


Back to reality today.

Three Years Ago Today...

A little blue-eyed, blond-haired bundle of chubby baby-ness came into our home for the first time.  Nothing has been the same ever since.



Then: February 2008

Now: January 2011


Happy David Day!



My Funny Valentines{s}

I thank God that I have many Valentines!

Here's my pint-sized Valentine (but he gives jumbo-sized love!)....

Here's my big Valentine....

And here is the evidence of 21 medium-sized Valentines....

It's nice to be loved by so many!  Happy Valentine's Day!



What a Week!: The Medical Chronicles of One Family

You know that saying, "When it rains, it pours"?  Well, that pretty much sums up this week for our family.

On Monday the hubs spent the better part of the day working in Lake Havasu.  His back breaking labor sent him to the chiropractor on Tuesday.

For a while now, David has had an issue with his eyes.  They get watery and a bit goopy as a result of his allergies.  Well, if you don't already know, a little goop (that's a technical medical term) excreting from the eye will cause any person working in a school to go into a panic.  It's not pink eye, people!

So, the little guy began rubbing one of his eyes and of course it started to swell shut a bit and turned pretty red.  Daddy was on the ball and made an appointment with the pediatrician for Thursday.  The pediatrician made a referral to the opthamologist, and he prescribed some eye drops for not pink eye (another technical medical term).  It's inconclusive whether or not it is an infection (again, not pink eye), or if there is some foreign matter under the lid irritating the eye.

Thursday was also the day Momma had a sore and swollen nose plus sinus pressure and a headache.  I self-diagnosed thought it to be a sinus infection.  A trip to the urgent care, and I learned my diagnosis was correct.  Who needs medical school?  I was out the door with a 'scrip and back home for some rest.

Finally, Friday!  Momma is tired, David is cranky, and Daddy is limping around.  But, it's almost the weekend, a 3-dayer, I might add, and I think, I just gotta get through today and we're golden.  Fast forward to mid-morning and David's school calls with a report that he has blood in his urine and his little wee-wee is turning blue.  The pediatrician is called and he sends us to the ER.  Seems the little guy has an infection in his privates.  We're sent home with some more meds.

So, to recap, that's a chiropractor, a pediatrician, an opthamologist, a trip to urgent care and the ER, and six prescriptions for one family of three.

What a week!  Let's pray better health is on the horizon.       

Boys Will be Boys

A boy and his gun.

A Nerf gun on my kitchen table.

Yes, those are Nerf bullets on my ceiling.

Kids don't come with instruction guides or warning labels. So, no one told me when I brought home my sweet baby boy that three years later I would be tripping over train track, dodging Nerf bullets, being run over by battery powered Jeeps, getting hit by bats and balls, and moving Nerf guns off the kitchen table in order to sit down to eat dinner.

And to make matters worse, today the hubs said, "I want my own Nerf gun, babe. You should get one, too. Then all three of us could shoot each other around the house."

Boys will be boys...and they never grow up.

Best Year Ever: The Top Ten of 2010

Year in review....



Andrew and I entered our mid-thirties (GASP!)



Mommy and David went to Sea World for the first time



David and Daddy took up fishing as a hobby



A trip to Christopher Creek, AZ, with Nana and Papa



A new big boy bed for David



David celebrated his 3rd birthday



Disneyland with the Bender Bunch

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David started a new school

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Daddy slayed his first elk which net us 285 pounds of elk meat. I can hardly contain my excitement.



Santa brought David a battery powered Jeep (Mommy helped Santa by going out at midnight on Thanksgivng to get it)

Happy New Year!

Blessed

This says it all.

I have so many blessings. Those pictured above are two of my favorites. I am thankful for what 2010 has brought to my life and I'm looking forward to more in 2011.

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Praise God, Happy New Year!

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P.S.: The delightful creation pictured above is something I made last week. I found a tutorial for it here. It was fairly easy and super fun to make. Now I want to make one for everyone I know!

It's a Dog's Life

My poor dog.

Andrew and I got her shortly after we were married and she was our first baby. She was allowed on the furniture, she slept with us, we took her with us on drives or to visit the in-laws. Life for Sarah was great. Then came David. At that point everything changed. For everyone, really, but certainly for Sarah. She was no longer the baby. We didn't give her the attention she deserved, or had become accustomed to. Then to make matters worse for the poor girl, we brought home a puppy last summer. If I could imagine what Sarah was thinking it would be something like this: "WTH? Do you people hate me?! First the kid, now the puppy! What did I ever do to you?! Can you please get these two small creatures to leave me alone? And can someone please pet me. PLEASE?!"

I'm not proud of my behavior.

Today I finally took Sarah to the groomer for a much needed makeover. I was certain that after dropping her off the groomer would be placing a call to the ASPCA to report my pet neglect to the authorities. Sarah was so over grown she resembled a small light colored bear rather than a mild mannered Cocker Spaniel. And she smelled. Bad.

Well, a small fortune and a few hours later, the authorities were NOT alerted, and Sarah was a new woman, er, K9.

Here are some pics of my first baby, looking pretty and feeling like herself, again.....

Sarah was only permitted on the sofa for photo taking purposes.

Getting pampered can be exausting.