Let it snow! (okay really please stop)

Tis the season for us in the north to have snow. This winter hasn't been bad so far and everyone was talking about how mild this winter has been so far. Well I think we all jinxed it because it's not mild anymore. Ten inches and coming up here,ugh! (Did I ever mention how much I love this stuff). I don't mean to be a downer but I know this is just the beginning to at least two months of this (If one remembers my post from last March) I really miss going outside without having to bundle the kids since it takes forever. Liam is like trying to dress a wild animal so you can imagine how he is with a snowsuit. Jade has wanted to build a snowman for months so I think we will be able to do that now. My parents also got her a snowball maker/thrower so that should be interesting as well. So here are the kids getting ready to go out for breakfast this morning and daddy shoveling the drive.

This picture looks familiar (same as picture from last March)

Good luck birdies.

Nanooks of the North.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and anything else I missed

I have really been slacking on the posts lately. We have been out of town visiting relatives and since my hubby was not with me I didn't get any pictures of my grandparents since I was too busy keeping Liam out of all their stuff ( in their non-baby-proofed houses) oh well. I did (okay my husband did) get some on Christmas day so it isn't a total loss. I think I am starting to get the hang of this two kid thing. Liam is such a good sleeper and napper and I am very thankful. He is very busy during the day so he needs to rest up in between. He is so chatty and just jabbers away all the time. Yesterday in church I had to walk out for a minute because he was so loud and I could hear people laughing and looking at him. He loves to go back and forth with you imitating noises and when he is really happy he just holds his mouth wide open for several seconds. It is so cute. Jade has been doing so much better with Liam and she actually said she liked him the other day. She also loves to be my helper with him. Today I was changing him and she said, "I lotion baby brother" and before I could see what she was doing she was rubbing butt cream all over his face. She has been saying the funniest stuff lately. Today I told her we needed to go to Wal*mart and she said, "I no like Wal*mart. I like Targ*et." I didn't think a three year old would know the difference but I guess I was wrong. Then in Targ*et (yes we ended up there instead) she saw this pink blanket she liked and said, "I no pee on this one." (since she had an accident in the bed last night) so she must of really liked it. Oh yeah and while we were visiting my grandparents my mom taught her to say, "Shut your pie-hole Peanut." (this is my mom's Pomeranian) so guess what she has been randomly blurting out lately. I need to write down all the funny stuff she says so I don't forget it. So here are some random pictures from Christmas up until now. (Can you tell the nice camera from the cheap one? what a difference!)

Presents Rock!! (and she has been saying, " I want Christmas again" everyday since)

This present tastes good.


Working my first present.


Santa at Grandma and Grandpa L's house.


Grandma S, Jade and Peanut. (I think my mom is enjoying this more than Jade)


My girly daughter wearing her stor*m tropper costume with light save*r, lol.


There's that open mouth toothless sign of happiness.


The new Fam.


Who gave this kid a lemon. That is so cruel but hilarious!


Liam and Jonah, best buds and only a week apart. (They say friends that chew things together stay together, or something like that.)

Tagged

I've been tagged by my friend and fellow adoptive parent Kirsten. This is my first tag, yipee!

Q: five names you go by:

1. cinnamon

2. c-mon (pronounced "see moan")

3. mama

4. c

5. mommy

Q. three things you are wearing right now:

1. black yoga pants (that I don't do yoga in)

2. one of my husband's t-shirts

3. new socks from mom

Q. two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. warm weather ( I really dislike winter)

2. a day to sleep in

Q. two things you did last night:

1. went on a date to see a movie with my hubby.

2. ate lasagna soup my mom brought over.

Q. two things you ate today:

1. french toast

2. scrambled eggs (from Cracker Barrel)

Q. two people you last talked to on the phone:

1. mom

2. dad

Q. two things you are going to do tomorrow:

1. go to church

2. go out to eat with my parents and brother

Q. two longest car rides:

1. Searcy, Arkansas

2. Orlando, Florida

Q. two of your favorite beverages:

1. ice tea

2. Cinnamon Dol*ce Latte from Starbu*cks

Q. the people you’d like to respond:

1. Erica

2. Kate

3. Kelli

4. Meredith

5. Jessica

Warming up (slowly)

We are seeing small improvements in Jade's transition to her baby brother. It is funny I thought the big transition would be more difficult for him not her. He seems to be doing well and is on a good schedule (Jade has never been one much for those so it is kind of nice) He is sleeping through the night which is WONDERFUL. I have to admit lack of sleep is the worst. I just get so cranky without sleep. Jade only has recently started to sleep through the night and now is back to not doing it again but usually only gets up briefly. I lay with her each night and then go back into my room when she is asleep. Now she will burst into my room all anxiety ridden and sometimes wakes Liam up so I have left our doors wide open so she at least doesn't bang those. Then I am usually back in her room. I know that this is when she will display her anxiety about the transition the most so I am trying to be flexible. Tantrums have also increased but then again she is three. But today especially she has been showing more concern and tolerance for him instead of avoidance and annoyance. She wanted to feed him his bottle so I let her hold him for the last couple ounces. Then when he got up from a nap and was crying she wanted me to go get him. Lastly when he touched her today, as she was playing, she didn't freak she just said, "Here is your toy baby brother". It is nice to see some progress and I know some days will be better than others but it is good to at least see that we can have good days.

Liam loves to be carried around and held so I have not got much done besides basic needs. He cries a lot if I put him down and I know that he is still transitioning and it is important that I do hold him a lot now but boy do my arms hurt. I use my sling some times but it is not as useful as I thought it would be inside the house. Liam loves to go out (as he did in VN) He is doing so much better in the infant car seat so I try to take the kids out at least once a day. I am also starting to get his moods and wants down so this makes it easier too. Like for example he likes to be held after eating and a nap and then he will get down and play but don't do this right away and he gets mad (so now I know). He is very smiley and loves to interact repeating noises, playing peek-a-boo, and you can tickle him all day (he loves it). We have pictures tomorrow so we will see how that goes, lol.

Little mommy

Look we even have a hand on his head!

Little Santa

The Tree + a giveaway

Laurie over at Pho for five has some awesome giveaways for Christmas so go check it out!

Since Christmas is in less than two weeks I thought I might as well put up the tree. Jade was really excited to help this year and helped put on a lot of the ornaments. Liam helped eat some of them, lol. I have not been feeling well since we got home. I went to the doctor yesterday and had to give some samples ( we will just leave it at that) so hopefully I have not brought over any friends from Vietnam, if ya know what I mean, ewwww. Today is the first day where I have felt normal so I hope the worst is past.

Liam is doing well. He has slept through the night the last few nights only needing me to help him find his blanket to snuggle. He eats like a little piggy and has gained a pound since coming home. I took him the doc and she said he is developmentally on target for his age (which surprised me actually) so I am very thankful for that.

Jade has been slowly warming up to him and sharing mommy but I know this will take time. She has had a lot more tantrums but I'm sure this is to be expected. She will sit with him and play with him briefly so baby steps. I think it would be good for her and I to do something just the two of us this weekend. I have been busy trying to adjust to having two kids. Lots of work but am so thankful!

Here are some pictures of my little tree helpers. I could only get the one of them together. Then Jade was done taking pictures with baby brother, lol.

Ha Long Bay

Worth the 3 hour bumpy van ride there and back you ask? I'd say yes! We decide to do this the last day before coming home and wow was it beautiful! We took a private boat with others in our travel group and had a 4 hour tour of the bay with a seafood lunch included.

water village

Jeff, another adoptive parent, going for a dip

I love my baby brother...

Well if I have to. This is what I think Jade wants to say when people ask if she loves her new brother. It must be hard getting all the attention for 2+ years and then all of a sudden, hello my world has changed. She really tried to play with him but he can't do what she can so I think she thinks he is not quite as fun as she thought he would be. She has pushed him a few times and had a little meltdown tonight. But then she wanted to take a bath with him so we will take what we can get in the accepting baby brother transition.

Liam is doing well. We had a few rough nights but that is to be expected. He has slept pretty much through the night the last 2 nights so this is always helpful in the functioning normally department. He is a smiley little guy and loves to be bounced and ticked on his belly. He also eats great so I am glad this is not an issue so far. Vietnam was amazing and I have a lot to share about the trip. So till then here are some pics.

Yes she loves her Kung Fu Pan*da costume a lot.