SUnday Snapshot - NiBa

We have another undie - wearer in our house!!

Our poor little guy wears 9 month pants - he is SHORT!

His parents on the other hand are stupid!

He kept saying NiBA

We kept thinking Daddy - which is Baba

or Bottle - which is baba

Yeah apparently, Niba is and older term for Nan-ya-ba (potty)

So we learned he has to go potty, and his foster parents were probably older (grandparents!)

Regardless, this little guy is in undies day and night

and this momma is THRILLED!

Vote for Brahm

OK just call me pathetic, but if you love little people - especially our little man go vote HERE

for our little dukes up dude!

SUnday Snapshot {florabella}

I bit the bullet and had to buy Florabella Colorplay! (they had a coupon on their FB page!!)

I have held off on buying much of everything for a long time . . . cuz you know 3 adoptions in 1 year and so many friends also adopting and in need.

BUT, I also know my soul and I jsut don't have the time to fiddle with photographs like I did before.

So I purchased, and while I cuddled with Fei as she recuperated I went through my file of most favorite but never edited pics.

I came across the one below taken when Brahm got a black eye!

But truly it speaks to me how he takes on the world.  Despite being the size of a 2-3 year old (he has dwarfism & is 6) he played lacrosse against kids up to 9 years old today.  He is an inspiration to everyone watching.  

Photo specifics ~

Besides the fact that his hair and eyes are the SAME color, 

his eyes truly speak to the soul (or maybe just mine!)

Canon 5d

50mm lens*

Florabella Colorplay Recipe ~ 

Perfect color

Organic 58%

Ethereal 5%

Dramarama 65%

** If you look at his picture, since I used the 50mm lens his focal plane is very shallow.  Because of Brahm's particular type of dwarfism, his head is long from front to back.  You can totally see in this picture how blurred the 'forehead' area is.

Sunday Snapshot - {For I know the plans..}

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

In the craziness of our week, month, and current life,

I totally missed it.

Until today ~

As our Pastor came and asked if Cav could walk up the aisle with him,

and the congregation gave our son a standing ovation (and God of course.)

I looked at the praise card and it hit me

There was the plan, and I almost missed it.

Our boy received his legs on the 12th!

Hello, the 12th. . . how could I have missed it.

Exactly,

9 months

TO

THE

DAY

He became our son 12/12, 

he received his legs 9/12!

Only God could have written this plan,

Only his timing!

And my little man, who cheers his brother 

eventhough it is hard to share the limelight!

Sunday Snapshot - {First Steps}

It has been a very busy week but although we have celebrated many firsts and birthdays - Cav's new legs and his very first steps EVER has been the highlight!

Very photo heavy but it was a pretty incredible day!

I think I love this photo the best -

The pure innocence as

 Cav checks out his new leg, 

& first pair of shoes EVER!

Daddy got light up shoes - we thought he MIGHT need an incentive - we were wrong LOL!

Another favorite - waiting!

I can do it!

Momma, you see!

See Momma!

Other side

SO excited he is up!

Stand up straight big guy!

AS you saw in the videos in my last post, I quickly realized the camera needed to be put away and the video used instead - our boy waited his whole life for this, and he was off!

We had to go over to Children's after to x-ray and see our favorite Dr.  Just a slight adjustment needed

BUT Cav was tall enough to play with the busy beads and he was so thrilled with himself!

We still have to learn how to sit and get up!

Canon 5D - 50 mm lens since all their rooms are dark interior rooms.

Pure Joy

8 months.

Although we know it takes 9 months to create a baby,

We had no idea it would take about the same time to heal a heart, and free a soul

Can you feel his peace, 

his happiness, 

this boy of ours who feared the outside, 

and screamed at the plants,

ok he jsut screamed,

and cried,

and hit.

Yep, this pretty much summed up our time in China

 (doesn't he look like such a baby here and I don't mean cry baby LOL!).

Now he is a brother,

A son,

A friend,

He is nourished,

strong,

healthy,

confident,

He is loved!

And we can't forget our gorgeous princess!

Starlight - March for Miracles

After my post yesterday

THe more I look at this picture, the more I love it -
it was a throw away and then I  did some editing and
I  noticed FeiFei looking through the window on the back side!

We woke up bright and early this morning, and have spent the last few hours seeing the fabulous in people.

I have no idea on the numbers but there had to be several hundred runners who came out to help raise funds for Starlight - raise funds for OUR kids so they all get to experience some pretty amazing things.

Starlight does not just celebrate our kids with special needs but also their siblings - always recognizing the sacrifice our amazing older kids go through whether financial, time or dealing with the stupid comments I mentioned yesterday.

THey had fun activities while we waited.
They had food which I have no idea how a 13 year old could eat that much and then run 5 k LOL!
But best of all (since daddy works Sat) were Cadets from the Air Force Academy who ran with children in wheelchairs and most importantly some of our kids!

Tristan and Morgan insisted on doing the 5K (this old out of shape momma knew pushing 3 kids that far was a no go!)

So we found a Cadet to run with Morgan in her first 5K (I was worried she would get lost)

The littles and I did the 1 mile fun run/walk

I do tear up when I think that most likely next year Cav too will be running!

Brahm had his balance bike since he was having some leg pain from his first days of all day school.

Cheering on Tristan - He did awesome!

And Morgan running with her Cadet

Awesome runners - I am so proud of!

The coolest thing of all is the Littles got these medals ~ Athletes donate their race metals for SN kids!!