They've got moves

This is what comes from watching too much 'Fresh Beat Band'.

dancing--everything from Ruthanne Focht on Vimeo.

It's official!

Look who's sporting the big boy undies. He is officially potty trained!



On our ride home from MI a couple of weekends ago, he announced, "Mama. I'm getting ready to go on the potty. Let's go buy legos."

So we did. And he did. He has worked very hard and this weekend, he stayed dry...even during a nap in the car.
1 down...1 to go.

Referral Day

A year ago today, I was sitting at lunch with two of the women I work with eating tacos and not feeling very well. I had a headache and was tired and just not feeling great. My phone rang and I saw the CO area code. When I answered, my case worker told me she had a referral for me but I needed to know that he was a little older (14 mos) and I should decide if I even wanted to see his picture. Patty had her new iphone with her and after telling Allison 'yes, I want to see his picture!' she sent it to Patty's phone so we could all see. I remember staring at his beautiful picture and wishing I was near my computer so I could see it full size. We quickly paid for our lunch and left so I could call my parents and rush back to school to see the pictures and get the rest of the information. The rest....is history. :)

Then:






and now:

Trains

While we were at the railway museum on Saturday, I saw so many places I wanted to take pictures of the boys. It was very hot that day and the sun was beyond bright. It wasn't prime conditions for taking pictures but I did manage to get a few that I liked. I would love to go back in the fall and try to take more pictures of them on and around the trains.

Day Out with Thomas

Today, we went to Day Out with Thomas. We went with Scott, Barb and Noah. The boys were so excited to ride Thomas and see all the trains. It was super hot but it didn't rain like predicted (Noah had a special talk with God this morning and asked Him to hold off the rain).

Daniel's first tattoo:












A very useful engine:






Noah:


Riding on Thomas!


Three cuties on a wall:




Thomas!


We rode a Chicago trolley from 1924. Very cool.


It was SO hot. The boys hung out eating fruit snacks and waiting for Thomas to roll back in for pictures.


Meeting Sir Topham Hatt


These pictures crack me up. Andrew wants to hug every character he sees. Daniel wants nothing to do with them.




I love how Sir Topham Hatt's expression never changes.


If I had a yard, I would have a fountain like this. Love it.

Words

We had our 6 month post-placement visit today. 6 months! Can you believe that? Our social worker asked me how many words Daniel was saying and I wasn't sure. I guessed 20 but I don't actually know. It made me think that I should make a list and what better place to do it than in his baby book. Yeah...not so much. I'm putting them here so I can transfer them to his baby book someday before he has his own babies (and not a day sooner).

no! (also: no, no, no)
dop: stop
hi
bye
mow: more
mi: milk
water (can't even write how he says it but I know it when I hear it)
do: done
Ando: Andrew
mama
bu: buckle (he likes to snap his own car seat buckle)
bu: bubbles--you have to be there to know which one he's saying. lol
heyyooooo: hello
G and Z (sung loudly while Andrew is singing the alphabet song)
gu: go
nigh-nigh
og: dog
wha: what
wu: want (he frequently strings this together with more and milk. lol. wu mow mi) yeah: yep, he says yeah. And nods his head up and down vigorously...especially when asked if he wants to eat and/or watch Fresh Beat Band)
abba: Yo Gabba, Gabba
ah: cereal bar
ee: eat
amma: amen


and last, but definitely not least...
ta-da!

he also has a hilarious little song that he sings (with a funny little lisp-sound going on) that is supposed to be the William Tell Overture. It's what I sing/hum when I give him a 'horsey-ride' on my leg...which should be the size of a toothpick after bouncing his 36 lb. booty on it day after day. He climbs onto my leg and sings his little song to get me moving.

Isn't he ridiculously cute?

Michigan

I am finally one of those 'Chicago people' (as we used to call them while I was growing up in MI--we were very creative with our naming). You know, the ones who go to MI for the weekend and clog up the roads sight-seeing. And now I get it. It was FUN!

Daniel's 1st boat ride:


Stinker at the wheel:






Andrew driving the boat:




Lucas:


Curly and Devon:










Sleepy boy







Saturday:
















Andrew's 1st paddle boat ride


Logan:




Tim found 'this little guy' (as Andrew calls him) under the rocks along the beach. The kids could not get enough of him.


















The whole gang: