Ode to summer

There is no better time in a little boy's life than summertime. How I love to see life through my boys' eyes. They're so eager to share their excitement, I try so hard to relish those moments while they last. I may have to hose off the patio (and Caleb) every other day, but aren't pictures like these worth it?







Trey had so much fun at Adventure Playground. He was scaling a obstacle course intended for children 6 and older with no trouble at all. Just look at the concern on my face, I was having a harder time than Trey was. The mud pit was the epitome of boyness. Trey wanted desperately to experience more of the mud, but there were a lot of older kids who were playing quite rowdy and it was a little intimidating for him. We're so excited to try it again next year.


























Have you ever wondered what a 2-year old would do if given free-reign with a 50 ounce cup of soda? Drink ALL of it. I wonder no more. Dad was given charge over Caleb and decided that cooperation was the top priority as we sat in 90 degrees of full sun waiting for the well-worth it Shamu show. Treyden's favorite part of Sea World was the penguins. He still talks about those cute penguins in the dark scary room.

Head above water

Being a mother to 2 very active (plus one I'm sure to soon be) boys, I realize the value of journaling. I've been so blessed through adoption to experience the wonderful world of journaling the lives of my 3 beautiful boys to share with their 3 beautiful birthmothers. I've come to understand the amazing sense of content there comes with recording and cataloging not only the events and lives of my children, but also my emotions and reactions to those events. I'm able to relive those spectacular moments in which my life has been changed forever and I don't have to rely on my somewhat unreliable memory.

This week marks the 4th week that I've experienced what it feels like to fight to keep your head above water. David no longer shortens his days coming home to rescue me from the daily tornado of 3 boys, and Treyden has been out of school for these 4 long weeks. This also marks the 7th week we have been a 5-Wheeler family, and how amazingly grateful I am for most of what that entails.

Lucas David was born on July 4th, exactly 8 days after we were introduced to the fact that we had been selected by a birthmother. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever conceive of having 3 boys, 3 children under the age of 4, or 2 of those beautiful children born on Independence Day. My prayers have certainly been answered, just not in the way I envisioned they would be.






Treyden and Caleb have been wonderful brothers to Lucas. They are so sweet and loving with him. They light up when he's awake, and constantly want to hold and hug him. The relationship between my children is such a magical discovery that I didn't anticipate before I experienced it. Watching them find brotherly love in the instant they meet their new sibling is such icing on the cake.





Treyden has discovered the art of comedy. His unwittingly organic discoveries and ironic conclusions never cease to amaze me. This week a car cut me off as we were driving home from therapy. As I slammed on my brakes, the silence was broken as Treyden impatiently yelled, "Mommy, HONK!" I replied that it is rude to honk and since the car was well behind us, it wouldn't do any good anyway. He then logically argued, "Daddy honk!!"... I had no comeback. Today I took him to a heaven for boys called Adventure Playground. They have a castle, rope bridges, pirate ship, and great big mud pit. When I informed Trey that we would be going to play in the mud, he again logically argued, "mommy, pigs in mud. No kids in mud!" Who thought a 3 1/2 year old could be so logical? His language continues to improve like I hoped but never thought would be possible so quickly. This proves hillarious and problematic at the same time. He reminds me all day long that he is a big boy, and yes he certainly is.



Caleb is engrossed and completely enamored with his little brother. He has no clue that he has been usurped as the baby of the household, and continues his ritualistic thumb sucking and cuddling as I feed Luke on the couch. He has been a momma's boy through and through all 25 months of his little life. He tries so hard to keep up with Treyden. Some tasks prove very difficult, but this kid NEVER gives up. He is the most persistent child I've ever experienced in my life. I believe a synonym for persistent is stubborn. He is undeterred by the 19 times I've removed him from the countertop in the last 4 minutes. He continues to grip the rungs of the toy shelves with his chubby toes as he climbs to the top of the world only to find the candy he was so desperately aiming for is an empty wrapper. Luckily he also considers bananas to be just as tasty as candy and will also settle for a bottle of Pediasure as consolation for no candy. His naps are like gold, all 3 - 3 1/2 hours of them. How Heavenly Father understands the limits of our earthly patience and tries us accordingly. He also understands how the kisses from my Caleb melt the frustration away and make me fall in love with him all over again.

Lucas has discovered how to smile. Need I say more. A child's first smile is like a glimpse of redemption. Such a small yet monumentally significant reward for sleepless nights and endless worries just in the first 6 weeks of loving a child. Luke is amazingly patient and sleeps like a dream. Even through the pain of acid reflux he withholds his cries and accepts the comfort of my shoulder in place of tears. He is such a miracle, I'm grateful beyond measure that his sweet birthmother Jenny continued to listen to the spirit telling her that little Luke was meant for our family.