Mama's girl

As I look back on the past 2 months since Addison has been home, there are many things that have been fantastic to see unfold with her. Even though she was 8 months old when she arrived home, we have still been able to encounter some of her "firsts" with her.

But something I have come to notice, especially in the past, oh, 2 weeks maybe??, is that she is completely mama's girl!! It doesn't matter where we are...if she can't see me or hear me, she's gonna scream! We're talking, wailing at the top of her lungs (and she definitely has a pair!!) with the biggest tears you can imagine. No, I'm really not joking here! For example, yesterday I stopped by my parents before taking Caleb to swimming. I decided to just change there. I stepped out of the kitchen, where she was, out of her site and if you didn't know better, you'd think she was being tortured!

So, today I drop Caleb and Addison off at Y-Care to get Trevor to swimming and me to my cycling class. Same thing there. I set her on the floor--thinking she'll just go play like she normally does. Nope, she sits there and wails with the biggest tears ever! It has just become unbelievable. Sometimes I think I just don't know what to do.

But I was reminded today by a good friend....remember the tears you cried and the emotions you went thru to get her here. It opened up my eyes to a different side...with ALL of my kids.

There are those days/moments when I think I am just going to pull my hair out. Those days I feel I would just love to send those kids to boot camp to waste away their energy there. Those days I want to just find a hole to hide in.

But then I am reminded of how much I love my kids and thank God everyday for the blessings he has given me. And during their "energetic" times I sit back and laugh. I watch as my 3 laugh at each other. Those giggles are one of the most precious sounds...I can't help but smile.

Pictures!!

So, as promised (becca) here are some pics of the kids I was able to take today. They turned out better than I thought, so I'm a bit happy. It's not easy getting 3 kids 4 and under to keep looking at the camera and smile nice!! :) I'm hoping to get the whole family tomorrow, if we are fortunate to get that chance!

Addison has learned a new "trick" in the past week. She can now go from being on her belly everywhere army crawling to sitting up on her own. She's also used the boys small stools to get up on her knees like she's sitting up. And I can't believe how long her hair has gotten in the last 2 months either!!! VERY bushy!! :)

Top Ten Ways You Know You Are an Adoptive Parent

I saw this on another person's blog and felt the urge to post it on mine. How true these statements are...and how much they touch an adoptive parents heart!
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10. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

9. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

8. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

7. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

6. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you, He will provide.

5. You have taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

4. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

3. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

2. You realize DNA has little to do with love and family and that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

1. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the lucky one to have him or her in your life.

-Author Unknown

We're still here

I know, I've been a little MIA the past couple weeks. The summer has officially started at the Schumacher house as of last week. My class has started, Addison and Trevor both had swimming lessons (although I must admit they didn't go to EVERY class). Trevor also had VBS last week.

So, we're slowing down a little for next week. I'll have my sisters 2 boys part of Thursday and then Friday, but the week after things will start back up again. Trevor is doing a camp at the Y for a week and will be in swimming lessons again. Then it's Caleb's turn to start a class called Parent & Perch (also swimming) with me. So, I'll be running like a chicken with my head cut off AGAIN!! :) But I have to say, it's fun watching the kids do all their activities and be a part of them when I'm able to.

Addison is doing fantastic! She has been home with us now for almost 2 months. She has learned VERY quickly that she'll be needing to hold her own around her brothers. As much as they love her, and vice versa, they still fight/argue/tease/pick on each other--all of them. They fight over toys and do all those things siblings do. But there are those times when they just love each other. Those are such special times.

Back to Addison....she is growing like crazy. I look at her now and see a girl that has absolutely gotten huge since coming home. She eats like crazy, and a LOT!!! She's also gotten to the point of wanting "real" food, not baby food cuz she likes to feed herself and loves the textures. So, we're down to only 2 or 4 containers of baby food left. Then she'll be done with that stuff.

Also, another amazing thing with Addison....when she arrived home 2 months ago, she had 2 teeth on the bottom. She now has a total of 7....yes 7 teeth!! And I can see there are 2 or 3 more ready to push thru. I really can't say enough how well this little girl has done since coming home. Without weighing her, I'd say she's gained 10 pounds since coming home. I'm sure it hasn't been THAT much, but you pick her up and there is a DEFINITE difference!!!

Ummm, trying to think of anything else......she's been army crawling like crazy for over a month now. In the past couple weeks she's been getting up on her knees. Not moving, but she gets up on all fours and smirks at me. Pretty cute. I know I'll regret saying this (Mark said the same thing last night) but I'm excited for the day she takes her first steps. It's just amazing what these little kids can do. Even to watch the boys and all their firsts, it's amazing what God can do for us!

I guess that's all I've got for now....to touch base on all the flooding around here. Even with all the rain, we're fortunate the roads haven't been closed down again. No more damage has happened in Platte Center, to my knowledge. The fields down in the valley have been flooded numerous times, but nothing besides that. So, we've really been fortunate. It's looking like the rain is gonna quit for a few days, so hopefully it'll dry up a bit.

Above, these pictures were taken at Mark's (and mine) aunt's wedding reception a couple weeks ago. Trevor and Caleb were enjoying their time on aunt Carolyn's swing before all the other kids got there. The other is Addison with aunt Betty, another of our aunts.