Our Trip to California

If you have been wondering where we have been... We took a trip to California! We left Thursday afternoon and came home Sunday night (well it was actually Monday morning at 3:00 a.m. because our plane was delayed). We had such a great time! Jer's brother, Justin, his wife, Midori, and their son, Kai, live there less than a mile from the beach. We stayed at their house and they were so good to us. They even let us sleep in their room so we would have more space for the kids - thanks guys! Jer's parents along with his sister, Tiffany, and cousin were also in town so it was fun to see them.

Here are some pictures highlighting our trip. Enjoy!

One morning at 5 a.m. I couldn't find Maya anywhere. Finally I looked under our bed and there she was with her blanket over her head, fast asleep.

Jer and Maya playing in the water

Maya and I in the water

Maya and Kai helped Jer build a HUGE hole in the ground and then they buried Tiffany and Brent in it. The best part was that the little ones were trapped in there so we didn't have to worry about them escaping for a while.

Maya pretending to surf like Daddy

We went to a Children's Museum type place called Kidspace. We met my friend Elise there who has 2 kids (Claire and Kyndra) that are within a month of my kids' ages.

Maya trying out a tricycle at Kidspace

Kyndra and Kenyon playing together (Elise, I need a picture of Maya and Claire together - I didn't have any!)

After getting home from the beach on the first day, I realized that I didn't take a picture of Kenyon on his first trip to the beach because he was sleeping. So we went back and took a pic of him sleeping in the car seat.

Our Simple Life

Here are some pictures showing we have been up to lately.

Maya and her friend Marisa riding on a bike together after swimming at grandma's house

Maya climbing the rock wall at Way 2 Play Cafe (a fun place where kids play and moms visit!)

Maya and Haley dancing together at Way 2 Play Cafe (We went with our transracial adoption group)

Jer reading a story to the kids (Don't they look so into it?!)

That looks better - this was right before we left on a date night with our friends Debbie & Dean. We had so much fun and the kids were perfect for Megan!

Maya helping me make the dessert for dinner today (a yummy frozen strawberry dessert that Great-Grandma Belva made and Nana makes)

Cute Pics of Kenyon

Just had to share some recent pics of the cutest baby out there (just my humble opinion :)

Such a task to capture a smiling picture - this one is kind of there
Blurry, but very happy
Such a big boy!
In the middle of rolling over after waking up from his nap

Legal CRAP!

So here is another uninformative update on Kenyon's adoption. I never really have much information, but want to keep my readers up-to-date! Sometime in the near future there will be a hearing to either terminate birthparents' rights or set a trial date. Big difference, huh? So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to ride this roller coaster. Thanks!

My Big Accomplishment

After we brought Kenyon home, I thought there was no way I would ever get back to my busy life of playdates, errands and lunches out. Before Kenyon, Maya and I were always on the go. I had almost decided that now I would live a life of being a true "stay at home mom." I had decided that I couldn't go anywhere without my mom or Jer present.

Well in the last week, I have proved this wrong and feel like I am back in my game. Here is a list of things we have done:

-gone to a movie
-went to the mall: played at the play area, ate lunch, rode the carousel
-ate lunch at Cafe Rio (or Taco Rio as Maya calls is!)
-gone to Target and Blockbuster in one outing
-and I am sure there is more although I can't think of anything else right now

It feels so empowering to take the kids more and more places on my own. When I was a teacher, I felt really proud when a lesson went really well. Now I am proud to make it out of the house - oh how times change! I just couldn't resist sharing my biggest accomplishment in life! :)

Our Poor Babysitter

This was a big week! We left Kenyon with a babysitter for the 1st time (other than grandparents). Now it isn't that I am against leaving my kids with sitters, I was just scared for the sitter to deal with my fussy baby (who is not nearly as fussy as he once was, but is still fussy). So on Tuesday morning I left him with our #1 sitter, Megan, while I went shopping and out to lunch with my mom. He did great!

Well then I asked her if she could watch them again tonight while we went on a date. I warned her that he is much fussier in the evening, but I don't know if she was prepared for it. At 7:00 she text messaged me saying he had been fed, burped, changed, and he was still crying. I wrote back and told her to just put him in his bed. Thankfully, he went right to sleep. I feel so bad that she had to deal with so much fussiness before that, but at the same time, I can't even tell you how nice it was to go out to dinner with just the 2 of us.

We sure love you Megan!!

Kenyon's Big Post

I often feel guilty for posting so much about Maya since she walks and talks and acts like a teenager already. Well here it is, a post all about Kenyon:

He rolled over today!!!! It was from his tummy to back. I had just put him down for his nap (here I admit what a terrible mom I am) on his tummy. Yes, just like his big sister, he sleeps on his tummy. So I sat down to check my email and looked back up to see him just hanging out on his back with a startled, "WHAT JUST HAPPENED" kind of look on his face. He had done it. No more leaving him unattended on the couch, no more setting him close to the edge of the bed. It is official. He can rollover! Really, I am so very relieved because now I won't feel so guilty about him sleeping on his tummy. Now as soon as he can roll back over to his tummy, I can tell the doctor he just does it on his own :).

More Maya Humor

I have been telling Maya how special her body is and that Heavenly Father made it. So one day she says, "Jesus buy my bum for me." (Do you think she sees me shop too much and thinks we buy EVERYTHING??!!)

We were talking about babies growing in mommy's tummies. She woke up one morning and said, "When I little, I grow in Maria's tummy." Smart!

When she does something wrong, she says, "I so sorry" and makes a sad face. How can you not forgive her?!

When she goes to give Kenyon a kiss, he usually gets her with his drool and she yells, "Kenyon spit up on me. Need a burp cloth."

She says this all of the time:
Maya: "Guess what?"
Me: "What?"
Maya: "I saw a really, really, big, big horsey."
Me: "Oh wow, where did you see it?"
Maya: "Right behind me!"
I don't know where that comes from, but that is a daily conversation.

Today she said, "I like your pretty hair. You like my pretty hair?"

Maya's 1st Hair Cut at a Salon

She was very serious at first

Wild hair!
She looks so old! Don't worry, it is temporary and will go back curly as soon as we wash it.

4th of July Festivites

Maya and her friend Izzy
Doesn't he look happy to be in the 116 degree weather??!!
I am blind - put some shirts on those white bodies!
The Moms
Waiting for fireworks Watching fireworks - we had already put on his pajamas, but it was too hot so he is in his diaper (all he was missing was his wife beater tank top :)

We celebrated the 4h of July on the 3rd up in Anthem with our good friends. First of all, the girls went shopping at the outlet mall while the boys stayed at Danny and Shantel's house with the kids. Then we all went swimming at their community water park. Next we went back to Danny and Shantel's for a delicious BBQ that they fixed for us. We finished the night off at a fireworks show. I thought for sure Kenyon would scream and yell during the fireworks, but he watched them for a while and then slept. Maya, of course, loved them.

On the 4th we swam and BBQed at my parents. Today we have been exhausted from all of the activities so we have stayed home most of the day.

I like a bunny!

Today I put Maya's hair in 2 puffs. I have been waiting to do this hair do forever, but it was never long enough so I was very excited about it. After it was done, she said, "I like a bunny!"

Update on Kenyon

I realized while I was in Utah that I hadn't posted about Kenyon for a while because I was getting questions all of the time about his fussiness and the legal stuff. So here is the update:

No, he is not nearly as fussy anymore. Thanks goodness! He is still a fussy baby, but mostly just during the evening hours now. I don't know if it was the reflux medicine, soy formula or just that he outgrew it, but regardless, we are all much happier. So since coming home from our trip, I have taken him off of his reflux meds and he seems to be fine. I am so thankful for that because it will save money and it was also a pain to give them every morning at the same time. He is also becoming a fabulous sleeper. Just like with Maya, the minute we lay him down with his pacifier, he goes to sleep. I sure love that when I am at my wits end and it is nap time :).

Now for the legal stuff. We still don't know much. Our attorney has tried to keep in touch with the birthfather's attorney, but he is not that great about returning calls. When she does talk to him, he says, "I will check with him and see what he wants to do." Then weeks go by and nothing happens. So last week after talking to him and having him tell her that he doesn't think the birthfamily is going to do anything else, she sent a letter to the judge asking that he terminate his rights since he hasn't done anything. In an ideal world, the judge will just terminate them. In a not so ideal world, he will schedule a hearing to terminate them so that the birthfather and his attorney have a fair chance. I would almost prefer the second option so that we know he has been given his chance and chosen not to go any further. In my heart, I truly believe that he (and his family) do not want to parent Kenyon, but rather they wanted to at least say they fought for him so that they don't feel guilty later on. It makes complete sense to me. I just hope and pray that we will be able to send pictures to Kenyon's birthmother and birthfather and keep a somewhat open adoption because we believe this is healthiest for the kids.