Some new pictures!

Here's Annie loving on her baby that Aunt Sue got for her (she got Maddie and Annie one and they LOVE them).


Ok, so the boy actually likes hats. He wore this for a couple hours.

Annie cheesing it up wearing her baby in my mei tai (no worries though because I made her one in her size for Christmas!)

So, we went to Chuck E Cheese fo Maddie's 2nd birthday and Annie was NOT impressed with any of the rides. The poor girl still panics if we drive over a bump too fast!

The kiddos just chill'in with their peanut butter sandwiches and drinks!

Gideon LOVES his chair. He sits in it at least every morning. It is funny though because he can't get out on his own without flipping it. So, he just whines when he wants out. (Look at the poor boy's rosey checks, he's not use to Ohio weather).

Just Checking in!

Hey guys, I figured I'd drop a line here at the blog since it has been a while.

Things are really going pretty well. Gideon had to go to the lab and radiology yesterday. Fortunately we just went to our local hospital, so it really didn't take too terribly long. He had a chest xray as a follow up to his TB test. He also had more blood taken seeing they didn't get enough while we were in Cincy. The blood draw was a nightmere. The poor boy tenses up when we even just set foot in a dr.'s office, let alone having someone poke him. And the lab tech was aweful!! Don't get me wrong, she was very nice, but she could not hit his vein. He was so worked up he was literally sweating. The thing is, she just kept digging and digging. Finally I told her that he had enough and needed a break. So, I consoled him for a bit and then she tried his other arm. She only had to dig a bit and finally she hit it. It was very tramatic...for us all!

Annie is still doing well, although she is still struggling a bit with sleep stuff. Gideon has a hard time with sleep also, but he seems to be getting better, Annie, not so much. Regardless of the sleep stuff, the kids are a pure joy! I can tell Gideon is loosening up and if giggly more often and that is lots of fun. He still detests baths, although he loved the pool in Guatemala. He screams bloody murder!

All three little ones here "no" about 20 times a day and they all respond differently. Madeline takes it in stride and goes along her merry way. Annie cries for like 10 seconds and looks at you like you have completely broken her heart. But then she is over it just as fast. And Gideon, well, he will just break down and one "no" can often times start an hour long whine. I will say though, Gideon is the least high maintenance though when it comes to such things. You tell him "no" 2 or 3 times and he's pretty good about staying away, at least for a while. Annie and Maddie on the other hand they will push your buttons all day. They are little stinkers!

Thanksgiving was great! We really enjoyed being with our families. I personally just loved having all my kids with me. Last year this time, Annie and Gideon were just a glimmer on our eyes, a hope. And now, well, they are our children in every sense of the word. Indeed, we have so much to be thankful for.

Well, I will post more later, but it is time for me to be off!

Until later,

Julie

Welcome Home Party!

So last Saturday we had a "Welcome Home" party for the kiddos. It was a lot of fun. It was pretty cool to finally be celebrating our newest little ones and our completed family! It was especially great to see our family and friends show up to help us celebrate!


Here's a picture in front of our house before the party.


The yummy, yummy cake.

Gideon, a little wiped out.

My brother Nick getting some grub.

Sweet Annie!

Opening a few gifts.

First Snow!

Well, Annie and Gideon got their first look at snow today. Although it was pretty sparce (ok, ok, you could barely see it) it made an impression on me as their first snow. It will be fun to see what all 3 of the little ones think of the snow this winter!

Also, I need to post pictures and tell you about the kids' welcome home party. I just don't have the time right now.

Julie