Favorite Fotos Friday #11

Why is it that you can forget so easily how wonderful your child is? I have been having a very sentimental week about my son, Grant. He has been the most amazing big brother to Sophie. When I first started discussed adopting a child with my older kids, Grant immediately said he wanted to have a baby sister because not only would he remain my only sweet mama's boy, but he would also be there to protect her forever. He has been true to his word... he is the BEST big brother to Sophie~Bug. He goes to every toddler party and Guat get together with us and all the kids love him. His heart is so incredibly big!

In going through my pictures to find my favorite of the two of them together, I came across so many that truly chronicles what an awesome kid my son is. So, with some tears of mushiness tonight, here are some favorites of Grant being an awesome big brother. Sorry so many, I could not choose just one.

Grant meeting his baby sister for the first time when she was 10 weeks old:


Promising to protect her for always (visit trip - 10 weeks old):


Soothing his sister to sleep in the Guatemala Marriott Champions restaurant while mommy ate:


Showing off his baby sister home forever (5 months old):


Sophie adores her big brother and would always reach out to touch his face:


He is the first to volunteer to play with her when I need help:








He took her on her first amusement park ride:


He is THE man in her life:






He may very well be the person she has her first dance with as a bride (besides the groom of course):


Protecting her from people dressed up in scary bunny costumes:


Always there to celebrate all her special milestones:


Just enjoying a warm afternoon:


Teaching her to color with crayons:



And if there is any doubt about how Sophie feels about my big tough guy:


Grant is the BEST big brother a girl could ask for... this picture says it all:


Please keep Wendy's little angel, Perri Brynn (PBJ) in your prayers... this little girl really needs to come home ASAP to be assessed and taken care of at home. Please keep their son, Ahren in your prayers as well, that he is able to come home soon.


Links to our Favorite Friday Foto friends:

First... a shout out to Amanda and her beautiful Bella - together forever finally!!

And, my first Secret Blog Pal, Shannon and her adorable baby Analise are OUT of PGN!! Come on PINK!!!

And, shout out to Sharon & Olivia as they are OUT of PGN and awaiting PINK!

Amy & Jonathan
Lisa, Katelyn, Frankie & Sophia
Laurie & Joe
Becky & Amaya
Many Blessings and her four gorgeous girls
Christina & Aiden
Andrea and K
Robyn & Gabriella
Marlene & Rylee
Holly
Steve, Amy & Mia
Becca & Ella
Sabra & Sofia
Alleen & Gabriella
Kerri & Ruby
Kelly & Kemry
Krystal, Gerson and his buddy Lucas
Candy & Kya Blu
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Jacob & Allie
Katie, Brayden & Arianna
Kim & Alex
Stephanie & Maya
Amy & Benjamin
N&D, Danny & Victoria
Beth, Sam & Lucy

Pumpkin Patch Time!!

This was an amazing weekend outside, so the girls and I ventured to the pumpkin patch not once, but twice. Every year, we go to the same pumpkin farm and ride the wagons out to the field and pick our pumpkins out of the daily restocked fields, gingerly stepping over the obligatory rotting ones. It was exciting to go this year since Sophie is so much more aware of everything. When you watch the excitement in her eyes, it brings it all back...

Of course, they picked out the perfect one (we love pumpkins with bumps and warts)!


Day Two, we went back as Sophie insisted that we go to the petting zoo, even though she had no idea what that meant. When we were questioning her what animals are in the petting zoo... we kept asking, are there goats... she would say "no goats", are there horses... " no horses", are there ducks... "no ducks"... you get the picture. When we asked her what animals she wanted to see at the petting zoo, she replied "elephants"!! Needless to say, no elephants when we ventured back today and she was not so keen on seeing all the goats, horses, cows, donkeys, ducks, etc. but eventually warmed up to them. Sissy (as she calls Morgan) had a great time feeding them all corn.






Then we found the corn maze... Sophie LOVED it and she and Sissy found some ears of corn and came out to pull the kernels off...





Nana came with us this year and helped Sophie with her corn. I think Nana had as much fun as the kids!





I just love this picture of her enjoying the warm breeze.



Sophie was really into Morgan and tried to copy everything she did... it was so cute!




Going to the farm is not complete without riding a pig, right??




The day came to an end with a ride on a spring pony... I just love this picture of her...


Hi-oh Silver!!


The day was near perfect... fresh apple cider, warm pumpkin bread and apple spice donuts and a band playing under the tent. Hamburgers grilling, clear blue skies and the laughter of children in the air. I just love this time of year...

Favorite Foto Friday #10

Flashback to 2004... before I was a mom of three. Here is a picture of my first two monkeys at the zoo... gosh, how they have changed!!! I don't think they would even pose together these days.




Be sure to comment if you would like me to add your link to your FFF. Here are some of our FFF friends this week:
Laurie & Mindy
Kerri & Ruby
Farrah & Madisyn
Lisa & Frankie the birthday boy
Amy & Jonathan
Becca & Ella
Robyn & Gabriella
Krystal & Jennifer's Sara
Becky & Juliana
Stephanie & Maya
Katie, Arianna & Brayden
Sabra & Sofia
Sarah, Micah, Zech, Alec & Aidan
Deb & Little Bug
Many Blessings & Jellybean
Christina & Aiden
Rachel, Angel & Aya
Corey and Luke
Candy & Kya
Alleen & Gabriella
Andrea & K
Kelly & Karson
Nikki & Gabi
Marlene, Rylee & Wyatt

To Sleep or Not To Sleep...

That is the big question around here. For about two months now, Bug has outlawed sleeping in her crib and we have been co-sleeping. Imagine this... a big king size bed, a tiny two year old girl, a five foot pillow named Lumpy (who has acted as my back propper since I was preggo with Morgan) and a mom... guess how much bed I get to sleep on? Yep... about 12 inches.. I am ready to evict my littlest bed partner. However, she refuses to sleep anywhere else... an all out revolt! I can even try to sneak her into her crib at 2 in the morning while she is dead asleep... as soon as her little body touches down on that other mattress... she is WIDE awake! Don't even get me started that I have to lay down with her now to even get her to sleep and many nights, I find myself snoozing off with her... and I can't... too much to do in the evenings and it is my only time for myself (with my pals... the washer, dryer, diet Coke, bills and my TV shows).

So... we have been discussing a big girl bed and Sophie has been somewhat receptive to it. I ordered a beautiful bed that I can't wait to come in:


In the meantime, I kept thinking that it would be too big for her to get in and out of and thought a toddler bed would be a good short term solution. So, on Craigslist this week, I found this adorable Little Tikes Cottage toddler bed at a great price and thought we would give it a try.



She was excited at first and had a great time playing on it, look at this little poser!





Then came time for jammies and bedtime... still a few smiles and she was all excited gathering up all her blankets and toys...






Then, I said it was time for ni ni and this is what I got...


So... back to mommy's bed we go... sigh

Anybody else dealing with this and how do you get them to sleep in their own beds again? I never had this with my older two kids who slept in their own cribs and beds always. I know I made a mistake by letting her sleep with me to begin with, but it was just easier at the time as a sleep deprived mommy is not a happy mommy and those middle of the night wake up episodes had me looking like a zombie the next morning for work.

As much as I am not quite ready to put away that baby crib for the last time, it is time for my little bug to sleep on her own in her own room. Is it time to call in Nanny 911? I won't even mention the whining and crying and tears, oh my...

Calgon, take me away!!!

Wacky Wednesday

OK... I am sneaking this in even though Wednesday has passed... but, it was just too funny not to post! My little bow girl LOVES her bows! She had me put these on her just to be silly! I love my wacky Bug!

Favorite Foto Friday #9

Better late than never!! And, you know me... can never post just one!

The first one is a blast from the past... remember Inch Worm? I had one as a kid and loved it. Unfortunately, this is the toddler version and after I brought it home and put it together, realized that Radio Flyer came out with an exact bigger version... may have to get that one too!! This one fits her little body perfectly though!



And this is her face tonight after thoroughly enjoying her orange frosted Pumpkin Cookie from WW Cousins! I can just kiss all over that delicious little face!



Sorry so late tonight, but I will link your FFF posts through the weekend!!
Katie, Arianna & Brayden
Kerri & Ruby
Krystal & Brayden
Robyn & Gabriella
Kelly & Kemry
Amy & Jonathan
Tricia & Sofia
Tracy
Nancy, Danny & Victoria
Marlene & Wyatt
Lisa & Katelyn
Corey, Luke & Sarah