In the works

I'm working on an open adoption Q&A. While I'm no expert, I do have experience in this realm and I receive lots of questions about it. If you have any open adoption questions, please let me know. You can comment or email me, k.smallthingswithgreatlove@gmail.com!

Quick Takes (68)

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I find it fascinating to see which of my kids get along super well and just mesh well with each other.  For instance, Anthony and Agnes get along really well and are always looking out for each other.  Agnes has been calling him "buddy" lately and it is so very sweet.  She likes to save him spots on the couch for movies or get his very favorite toys out for him.  She also shares her special baby doll with him, since he's currently obsessed with babies.

And on the other hand, Anna thinks that's it is her sole responsibility to look out for Mya.  She always wants to do things with Mya and she holds Mya's hand and helps her do things (Mya doesn't usually need the help and gets annoyed, but it's sweet anyway).  

And Anthony's been calling Anna "Anna Girl" lately which has always been Jeremy's nickname for her.  It's way too sweet.

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My beautiful Agnes turns 4 next week.  I can hardly believe it.  And yet, she looks like she's about 6.  I can't wait for her well-check appt to see how tall she actually is.  It's crazy!  We had to buy her size 13 shoes for preschool!!  

My parents took her on her birthday date yesterday and her pictures turned out stunning.  She asked for a Rapunzel dress and it looked beautiful on her.  She really has turned into quite the special young lady.  I'll try to do a bigger update about the kids later this week.  They grow and change so quickly!

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I took all 4 kids to the Assumption Mass by myself today (Jeremy had to go later, due to a review seminar he was taking).  I was a little scared about how it would go.  I'm shocked to say they were perfect angels through the whole thing.  We got multiple compliments afterwards on how well behaved they were and people asked me how I get them to behave so well.  I just had to laugh.  It was a complete fluke, Mass with 4 kids under 4 is crazy.  And while they're good for their ages, our standards are low....  I'm so proud of them today!

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All 4 kids have become quite the little fish this summer.  We've spent a lot of time in pools and their water skills are impressing me!  Agnes and Anna are fearless and are passing swim lesson levels very quickly.  Anna, in particular, picks it up super fast.  Mya's totally fearless and scares us a little bit with the things she's willing to try!   Anthony's a little less on the wild side, but he's definitely a fish lately!

The girls jumped off the diving board for the first time and are now regular pros.  3 years old and running off the diving board.  I'm shocked.  Considering Agnes and Mya were scared of the water two short months ago, I'd say they've come a long way!

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Please pray for my brother-in-law.  He's been in and out of the hospital for weeks now with lots of fluid on his lung and a bad infection.  They've been pumping his lung, doing IV antibiotics, and contemplated surgery.  While I'm not totally up on the most current news today, I know he could still use your prayers.  They have a long road ahead of them with this crazy lung challenge and the upcoming birth of their second daughter. 

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My beautiful niece turned 2 today!  She's got a pretty sweet feast day to share her birthday with!  She absolutely loves playing with her cousins and I can't wait to see how she is as a big sister in just two months!

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Last but certainly not least, keep a potential foster situation in your prayers for us, will you?  Without going into detail (which we don't know much of)... A&M's birthmom is expecting again.  There's a good possibility the baby will go into care.  If so, we were asked to take the baby (foster placement, not adoptive).  So in two(ish) months, our family may be growing!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Quick Takes (67)

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  It's been a crazy few weeks, hence the lack of blogging.  Let's start with the big wedding!!!

Jeremy's brother got married this past weekend.  It was lots of fun and a very beautiful wedding on a very awesome feast day (Sts Anne and Joachim).  Our entire family was in the wedding.  Jeremy was a groomsman, Anthony was the ring bearer, Mya was a flower girl, Anna and Agnes carried a "Here comes the bride/Just Married" sign in and out, and Jeremy and I were "padrinos" or sponsors (it's a super near Mexican tradition).   Here are a few pictures I got from Jeremy's family.  I didn't get a chance to take any...

Getting ready for the wedding!  And eating fruit snacks...

The bride and groom!  We're so excited!!

Anna and Agnes took their job very seriously.

 Daddy and his youngest!

Anna LOVES to dance.  She can't help herself.  My usually shy drama queen is the life of the party at a wedding reception.  Good thing, because she's been to LOTS of weddings!

Very serious about that song!

Mya's a little more reserved on the dance floor but still enjoys a good beat!

He could seriously charm anyone.

After presenting our padrino gift (a St. Anne rosary) to the beautiful couple!

Getting read to do her job

 

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While we were away for the wedding, we had a little fun too.  We went to Grant's Farm.  The kids were terrified of feeding the goats, but loved the carousel, tram ride, and snow cones!

 

On the tram!

 

Anna was pretty terrified.  But she overcame her fear and ended up feeding the goats a few times.

Mya loved it.  The goats were all over her and she thought it was great.

I had bad memories of feeding the goats here... As a child I was petrified.  I've obviously overcome my fear.  It wasn't too scary :-)

Anna and Agnes on the carousel

Anthony and Mya on the carousel.  Anthony practiced his princess wave and enjoyed saying "hi" to everyone.

Enjoying snow cones as a family!

 

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We also visited the big children's museum.  With our foster care license, our family gets in for free.  So we went twice!  The kids loved it.  Anthony loved the train exhibit.  Anna loved the climbing area.  Agnes loved pretty much everything.  And Mya enjoyed the "hospital nursery" exhibit.

Anna climbing all the way up

Enjoying the construction area. 

The kid sized courtroom.  Agnes was granting adoptions.  It was super sweet!

I present your new presidents!  Anna and Agnes!

The model train exhibit.

Mya doing what she does best... getting in to trouble by climbing...

Putting on a show!

 

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This week's been equally as crazy.  My brother in law (my sister's husband) has been in the hospital for fluid on his lungs/infection.  They've been pumping all kinds of loveliness from his lungs and he'll need surgery to take out a part of his lung when they get the infection/fluid under control.  Please pray for their family. 

So we've been watching my niece all week (she's almost 2).  It's been busy, and I'm completely exhausted.  But they've had lots of fun and it's been like a vacation for her!

 

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St. Louis is celebrating it's 250th birthday.  So to celebrate, they have 250 birthday cakes displayed at prominent/historical locations around St. Louis.  My sister lives there and has made it a goal to see all 250 while they're displayed.  We happened upon 4 during our visit and my kids thought it was awesome!

 

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We definitely enjoyed some pool time at the hotel!

 

 

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My big girls start preschool this month! I can hardly believe they're old enough for that!  We sorted uniform stuff tonight and they're going to be so darn cute!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!