Trick or Treat

Bei went as Simba the Lion from the Lion King, but he thought he was a dog. When we went costume shopping, he kept saying he wanted to be a doggie. This is the closest that we could find. He didn't really care, he just enjoyed going. I was really proud of him, he would say Trick or Treat and then always say Thank you. We went with our new neighbors, Savannah and her mom, Alison. Bei calls her Vanna and she also is 3 years old. The first few houses Savannah and Bei tussled for position about who was going to ring the door bell, but it became clear very early on that Savannah is so much faster than Bei. She always beat him to the door. But she was sweet enough to wait for him after a while. They had a great time together.

Because you love me...

It was a year ago yesterday that Bei had his open heart surgery. Our adoption was a life changing event, but his surgery was a life saving event. Anyone who has seen Bei's hearty appetite would understand that it was concerning that in the first 5 months that we had him, he didn't gain any weight. His poor little heart was just working too hard.

To think that he only weighed 18-20lbs at 27 months is unbelievable. In my heart of hearts I just know that there are birth parents out there that loved him so much that they wanted him to live, even if it meant that he couldn't be theirs any longer. I just can't imagine making that ultimate sacrifice, I consider them courageous. I pray for peace regarding their decision. Perhaps, it played out differently than that, I will never know, but I know in my heart that he has been loved before.

So yesterday was a special day for us because Bei's surgery allows him to live a normal, healthy life. Anyway, when Bei got up in the morning, I brought him out to the couch and the first thing he said to me was "You're a good mom"...wow, it took me aback, this is not a line I have been feeding him, with hopes of having him repeat it to me. I looked at him, and said "why do you think I am a good mom?" Bei looked shy and said to me "because you love me". Oh my gosh...I could have just hugged the stuffings right out of him. I thought he was going to say because I give him popsicles ... It really made yesterday even more special to me. He is my gift from God and we are so blessed to have him in our life!

Pay back...

Bei could not wait to get outside to enjoy the snow today!

Remember in my last blog (do I dear say the word?), I "bragged" about Bei being so well behaved?? Well, the pre-schooler gods got me again. I knew they would...the very next day, Bei threw one heck of a tantrum because I wouldn't buy him a box of nerds. Mean and evil mom that I am. The following week we started his music class and they have a Thomas the Train station area for kids to play with and after allowing him to play for over an hour with the trains, I was hungry and ready to leave. This was a mega-tantrum that he threw, kicking, pinching and screaming. What? Where? It totally discombabilates me...he is such a calm kid normally...but I'm not bragging...really I'm not!

Today is our morning music class, however, Bei woke up and he was being very whiny and somewhat crying over silly things. So I gathered him in my arms to talk to him about his behavior; as I was talking to him, his lower lip was pouting and he was staring straight ahead watching the huge snowflakes fall outside our patio doors. It was like he was in a daze, not paying any attention to me, not blinking, just being mezmorized by the snow. I was saying to him "we have music class to day, are you going to throw a tantrum? or are you going to be a big boy for mom with no tears, no tantrums?" I was sure that Bei wasn't even listening, however, he suddenly said with a very straight face "sure will Boss Hog". I cracked up laughing and eventually so did Bei. I was not expecting that response if any at all...perhaps we are moving from tantrums to sassy???

Busy doing nothing...

Bei's shirt reads "I'm skin and bones...needs more CANDY." Huckleberry's mom gave Bei this shirt the day before they moved and he wore it that night and to our outing the next day to the pumpkin patch. I finally made him take it off, so I could wash it.

"Busy doing nothing" is usually how I answer queries from friends and family about what have I been up to lately. I know people don't care to hear the details about how Bei and I spent hours rolling foam golf balls down my driveway and then spent another hour laying under the maple tree throwing the balls into the branches to see if they would stick...they didn't. Or how we spend hours on the floor wrestling with "the claw" and end up having tickle fights. I am overjoyed being home "doing nothing" with Bei. In my very biased opinion, he is such a happy, delightful, mature little boy that he makes parenting him easy, fun and so incredibly enjoyable. If you haven't noticed, I am just crazy crazy about that little boy! Ironically, this is not how I perceived that I would spend my time with my child as a stay at home mom. I thought I would be one of those mom's that is on the go, music at 9:00, tumbling at 11:00, eat lunch and swimming starts at 1:00, etc. etc. But what I have learned is that none of this is about me. As a mom you automatically adjust to what is right for your child. Bei is a snuggly, cuddlebug who really wants his moms time. If he was yearning for the social interaction and more activity I would definitely make it happen for him. I feel so fortunate that I am able to spend this time with him. I know I am blessed and that it is a priviledge for me to be "busy doing nothing" all day with my little boy.

The Fashion Police!

Taylor has been visiting Bei and I on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before classes. We both are loving our time with her!

Bei made sure "Uncle" did not get lonely for his own 4 kids when he came to visit us at the cabin.

Sad News! Huckleberry and Company are moving this Saturday!!! We are very sad, but know we will keep in touch with them. They will be about a 20 minute drive away.

Dad and Bei at the Science Museum

About 4 months ago, whenever I put on a new top that Bei had not seen he will say "too cute, mom!" or "cute, cute, twirl,mom, twirl." Of course, I feel really good about myself because someone thinks what I'm wearing is cute! Pay no mind that he is three years old...at my juncture in life, I will get all the kudo's I can, from wherever I can. Well, the other day I was cleaning out my clothing drawers and I came across a pair of shorts that I had been looking for all summer long, my pink plaid shorts. Later in the week, I put the pink plaid shorts on with a cute pink top that I had and walked out to the living room. Bei immediately pointed and said "Mom, whats those?" "Bei, these are my shorts." He responded by saying "they are funny mom!" Thank goodness, Bei saved the day! I can imagine the stories that would be told in the neighborhood amongst the children. "Hey Bei, your mom wears bozo the clown shorts." Or "Hey Bei, does your mom work for the circus?" Alright, you all know me well enough by now, that, yes I did go back into the bedroom and put on the same khaki shorts that I wear day in and day out. This kid is keeping me from being the laughing stock of the neighborhood! Thanks Bei!

My little Wolverine

My little Wolverine having a quiet moment

Today I challenged myself and agreed to meet a girlfriend for lunch. This has now become a thing, that I'm starting to dread...Why you may ask? Because my son turns into a wolverine any time he steps into a restaurant. And unfortunately, I just sit there like a stooge. For some reason this sweet, well-behaved child of mine all of sudden wants to be doing the chicken dance on top of the table, disassemble the salt and pepper shakers, (usually by licking them), finds, identifies and collects all the germy gunky stuff stuck under the table and without fail wants to eat only the food on my friends plate. I can see the looks in my friends eyes, as I sit there with my head in the deer light look as this little wolverine is orchestrating chaos around me. They are thinking "yep...another older mom, so desperate to have a kid...doesn't know how to discipline her kid". Or a few of my friends have just said "man, I'm so glad my kids are teenagers"...yes, Bei's, poor behavior actually has parents liking their teenage kids! Now, you may think I don't discipline Bei, but I do at home or even in the grocery store. However, it is hard for me to say to my friend who has left work for an hour, driven across town, "I am going to spend your precious lunch time disciplining my kid". I'm not good at the public disciplining thing...YET.... I must not like to make a scene...and I bet that is exactly what that little wolverine is banking on... He might have won a few battles, but the alpha wolf will win the war...

More Cousin-Time

Hey Dad...I'm back here...could I get a little help??

He came up with smiles on his face every time.

One of our favorite things to do is to go to the middle of the lake, jump out and float around. Here is Mr. Fearless jumping off the boat into the lake.

Bei loves hanging out with his cousins, Ben and Elizabeth. Elizabeth teaches the latest slang, like the "Rock On" symbol with tongue hanging out and all. This is just a fun picture that they took together.

Somebody should do a show on the worst tourist traps, because the Big Muskie museum in northern Wisconsin is one of them. Think...Corn Palace...Mitchell, South Dakota...and then just keep driving because it ain't worth stoppin.

Bei is mini-golfed obsessed!

Uncle Randy teaching Bei how to soar like an eagle.

A few weeks ago, my sister Jeannine and her family came for a visit at the cabin and we had the most wonderful time. I wanted to share some of my pictures with everyone.