Playing Dress-Up

I've been wanting to post some of these pictures for a long time. Buddy LOVES to dress up, as most kids his age do. His little female friends and his cousin, Aly, are all princesses. Buddy and his little boy friends are all pirates or superheroes. We really don't have many cool costumes at our house. Buddy will probably get some for his birthday here in a few months, but for now, he just makes do with whatever supplies he has on hand. His imagination is so incredible, it's almost sad that soon he'll have "real" costumes and won't have to invent his own. Let me show you what I mean:

When we took our road trip to Reno a little while ago, Buddy sat quiet and patient in the backseat dressed up like Captain Jack Sparrow the ENTIRE ride (10 hours there and 9.5 hours back). Notice the "dreadlocks," "earring," and hook. He stared at the papers from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" DVD boxes and apparently recounted the movies in his mind several times over. For any of you that know Buddy, he doesn't normally sit still (or sit quietly), so we were just amazed he -- or anyone -- would be able to experience the movies quietly in his mind.

While were in Reno, grandma tied a blue piece of fabric around his neck and that became his "cape." For the past month, he's worn it almost constantly. He "flies" all around the house and jumps off all the furniture. There are few things as funny as watching your little boy run as fast as he can, meanwhile looking backwards to watch his cape "flapping in the wind" behind him.

Apparently on this occasion Buddy couldn't decide if he was a pirate or a superhero. He's sporting the dreadlocks, earring, pirate belt, sword, hook, eye patch, AND the cape. What you can't see in the picture is the fine attitude that accompanies him when he's in character...

And then I got this turtle costume free a couple of weeks ago. It's been too hot to wear it until just recently. Buddy thinks it's really "cool," but he said it wouldn't work because it didn't have a "mask" with it. You know how Ninja Turtles have the masks over their eyes? So Buddy decided to make do with his rooster mask he made at preschool. Is it just me or that hilarious?

And one more anecdote: We were at the gym the other day and G finished up before I did. They have small TV monitors, so you can watch what's happening in the kids' area. The screens are so small you can barely find your own child, not to mention see what's actually happening. But, on this occasion, Buddy was pretty easy to spot. He was the kid running back and forth around the room with somebody's pink blanket tied around his neck like a cape. As soon as I finished my class, G told me to watch the monitor to see how long it would take to find Buddy. It took about two seconds. All the other kids are standing around... and then there was our little boy with a pink blanket trailing behind him -- criss-crossing the monitor so fast it almost became blurry. We asked him about it later and he swore up and down that he had "asked permission" before he confiscated the child's blanket.

I wished I'd thought to check the monitor for a poor little child sobbing in the corner because "Superman" had stole her blanket.

Questions

This is inappropriate but funny enough that I had to share. The other night, Jr was getting ready for bed. He came out of the bathroom to the living room buck naked where he was going to get his pajamas on. However, being the inquisitive kid that he his, he was inspecting his male body parts. Then he looked at M and I and asked, "Are there balls attached to my penis?" Of course we couldn't help but laugh hysterically. Then finally, not knowing how exactly to respond, I basically told him "yes."

Taking Candy From Strangers

Buddy is not typically shy. Never has been. However, we were in an elevator at the mall the other day and a large man started talking with Buddy. The man was talking really loud and aggressively. He was nice, but he was just a little much for Buddy. It was obvious Buddy was a little uneasy, so when we got off the elevator, he offered Buddy a piece of candy and then proceeded to unwrap it and hand it to him. Of course, Buddy took the candy and all shyness quickly vanished.

Seriously, was this man born yesterday? Who thinks it's OK to offer candy to kids? What.the.hell?

I went into panic-mode. I did NOT feel comfortable with my son taking candy from him, but I really couldn't think of a polite way of declining. So, I let him eat it. When we walked away I tried to explain that kids should never take candy from people they don't know.

Funny thing, moments before the man offered Buddy the candy, the two of us had been discussing Halloween costumes. You know, that holiday when you take candy from strangers. Seriously, I just can't win. I quickly backpedaled and tried to explain that normally we don't take candy from strangers. Except on Halloween OR when mommy is too shy to tell the stranger that they can keep their own darn candy.

What would you have done?

Recent Events

I suppose that given the last couple of posts by M that I should make a few comments. Very rarely do I get sentimental or emotional, etc. so this is one of those rare times. While there is a ton of things that could potentially go wrong with this adoption, so far we feel fortunate to have found someone with the love, maturity, and forethought to want her baby to have a better life with two parents and a brother who can take care of him. The whole situation has freaked me out and will likely continue to do so for many reasons. However, I have also felt a strange sense of calm. I am excited for the propects of having another son who will carry on the family name but will also be santized from my genes. I am also excited that M will have 3 people to take care of her (although in reality it will be her that will take care of all of us).

With respect to the support we have gotten, I want to thank all of you (whether you read and comment on the blog or not) who have done so much for us and more particularly so much for M. While words do not adequately express our gratitude, we are truely grateful for all of your love and support. I now raise my bottle of Thomas Kemper Vanilla Cream soda and toast all of you.

Thank You, Friends

G and I have the dearest, most wonderful friends and families. Everyone has been so overjoyed and so supportive of our exciting baby news. What a lucky little baby to have all these people so anxious for his arrival!

I've mentioned before how great my two friends, Shauna and Nicki, have been to support us. I'm sure it's not easy to be on the outside of this adoption chaos looking in. I hate the idea of people feeling like they have to walk on eggshells around us, hoping not to offend us with "too much" baby-talk as we've waited and worked hard to find another baby all these years. I'm sure I would be a terrible friend if I were them -- constantly worrying that I was saying or doing the wrong thing. These two friends have been, well, perfect. They've talked with me, prayed for me, made dinner for me, brought us treats, given me a massage, watched Buddy for hours on end while I've attended to adoption stuff, plus just been available for me to lean on. I can hardly wait to re-pay them.

We have other great friends too. Our families have their own problems, yet everyone has been so understanding and patient with us. My sister is pregnant and sick as a dog, yet she never says stupid comments like, "Just be glad you're not throwing up like me..." Instead, she is excited for me and includes me in all her pregnancy news, although I'm sure it's a little awkward for her at times. (By the way, she found out she was pregnant with this, her first baby, the same day we started talking with Pee-Wee's birth mom. I've thanked God several times that he spared me any jealousy. I can be genuinely happy for her because I have my own good news!) Our bishop has been remarkable. I better understand his role in my life now. We've had friends in the ward fast for us. I've got old friends who live in other states that have offered their help and support. I just am so overwhelmed with love and friendship. I hope I can be the kind of friend I've got.

We were out of town on Friday and Saturday. We can home to read this, from our long-time friends in Utah. I'm speechless for two reasons. I just can't believe how genuinely excited they are. How cool to be the topic of someone else's blog!

And... I can't believe how FAT Buddy was when he was a baby! Check out that link, if only to count his fat rolls. He's changed so much, I had almost forgotten how chubby he was. He was nine months old in that picture. It's a wonder he could even move!

September 12th

September 12, 2003
Four years ago today. On this day our dreams of becoming parents became a reality. The day before, G had learned that he had passed the Bar. To say that was a blessing and a relief would be an understatement. The next day we got "the call" from our caseworker. We met with him that night and he delivered the wonderful news that we had been chosen by a birth mother in Idaho. Our little baby boy was due in three months. We were overjoyed. He's grown up so quickly and I love my little boy more than I could have ever imagined.

September 12, 2007
Today. Today our dreams of another baby became a reality. We have been working with a wonderful birth mother for about six weeks now. We were cautiously hopeful that she was the one for us. After a long wait and a series of disappointments, we were really hesitant to make a deep connection with her. We knew she loved us, but we weren't convinced that this was right. Today I spent nine hours with her -- first during a prenatal appointment and ultrasound, and then while her perinatologist monitored her contractions, and then while they admitted her to labor and delivery tonight for further monitoring and testing. It was a long day, but we connected on such a deep level, words can not express the spiritual bond the two of us share. She invited G and Buddy to come visit her tonight too. When G arrived, she told us that for several weeks now she's wanted to tell us exactly how she feels about us. She got a little emotional and the things she told us were so tender and loving. It was the peace we've been waiting for.

He's a BOY and he's due in three months. I've got a couple copies of Pee-Wee's 3-D ultrasound pictures and let me just say, he's adorable. She's only 24 weeks, so if you can spare a prayer, she could use some to keep him in utero for a few more months. I woke up this morning hoping and praying I'd learn to love him like I did Buddy at this stage in the process. I think I do.

Buddy's Testimony

We've mentioned before how much Buddy loves music of all kinds. Well, the other day he wanted to watch the Sum 41 performance on Jay Leno that we have recorded. He begged G, then said, "I believe Sum 41 in my heart!"

We're so glad that all our hard work to teach him the gospel is paying off because his testimony of a rock band is sure going to get him far in life. Sheesh.