Time passes so quickly!

Having fun with daddy!
Would you just let me walk!!!
I see Mommy!
People...I am very tired! Let's go!!

Ok...so I have been bad about updating the blog...I am sorry and will try to do better! So I I have finally downloaded a couple of videos. This was from last month...so sorry for the delay!

I have been so busy with work that it isn't even funny! But it is Feast or Famine. Julian is a walking machine! And boy does he move fast! These 2 videos show how he is walking...times that by 2! We have had a very busy fall so far. Most of our time is running from Nana and Papa's to work, home, playtime, daddy time...fun time! I have to say this is the best time of my life! I look at Julian and just marvel at the things he does! So were are we with words...Mama, Dada, Papa, Nana, Bye Bye, Up, My Ball, and today he said Book! Oh yeah...he also says Yum and More! He is doing 2 tasks..."go get the ball, and bring it to mommy" We are still using a bottle, no sippy cup yet...that is really my fault not his. I want to keep him my baby...I figure at 16 months I will start using a sippy cup...he can drink out of a regular cup just fine. His hair is mostly straight this a few curls in the back...He has a beautiful head of hair! He did have these two curls behind the ears that had grown too long so I did cute them...and saved them! He looks like a little boy now! I don't think his hair is going to change...it looks like it is going to be straight for good. It has a red heu to it in the sun light...and those big brown eye, just make you melt!

Ok...this video he cracks me up...he has most of the time something in his hand...he is a lefty! I am not forcing the issue of using the right hand...no big deal!

Yes we are still alive!

Thanks for checking in on me Teri...It made me blog tonight. Things are great! We have been so busy with Fall activities and day trips, birthday parties and family fun! I will post some pictures tomorrow night...but for now...my hubby is calling me...

A day at the beach!

Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island NY

Come on Papa, let's go...
What a cute picture of the two of them!
Not too sure...

Sand on my hands...yuck!

So it is offically the Fall...my favorite time of the year...so Julian spent the night at mom and dad's house and dad wanted to take Julian to the beach...so I tagged along! I am so glad I did. We went to Beaver Island State Park, in Grand Island NY...it is about 10 min from our house. It was a wonderful day...almost 80 degrees...the water was wonderful...still warm from the summer. This wasn't the first time he went to the beach...he went with Nana and Papa while we were away...But this was the first time for me too see him...he loved it! I have some video's that I will have to post later. We really had a great time...next time I will relaxd a bit more!

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After a long day at the beach we are ready to go home...but first a few snacks...

A much needed trip away...

Jeff, Patrick and Scott...the three musketeers

The entire gang!
Patrick and Katie
Our Lodge...
Every year for the past 8 years...since we have been married, we go away with our best friends on a get away weekend. We always go to the Finger Lakes...it is close to home...it is always a great time and we drink lots of wine! This year was no different! We stayed in Branchport at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast called Gone with the Wind. We stayed at the Lodge...it was private and all our own! The weather was perfect! The days were warm and the nights were cold enough to put the fire place on! We stayed up late and played games all night. We had a wonderful dinner on Saturday night...the sun was shining and the sunset was beauitiful setting behind the mountains. It was simply wonderful!

Remembering Crystal Beach....

So there was this documentary on PBS this weekend about Crystal Beach...If you are not from the WNY area you may not know what it is...it was an amusement park...but not just an amusement park...It was very special to me... really to anyone who ever went there. We had a cottage in Crystal Beach between the ages of 10-13 and every summer we would go there and it was the best time of my life! I guess I forgot about those times, but after seeing it all over again...I brought back a flood of memories for Jeff and I. Those days were so wonderful! At the end of the show, I cried...I can remember going on the Comet with my dad...We would go on it 5 maybe 10 timesin a row...then we would go on the Sky Rider and the bumper cars...my mom never went on the rides...but you could always see her smiling face waving at us. We would play Wack-a-Mole....It was the best. At the end of the night we would get a sucker... The saddest thing is...Julian will never experience that. The amusement parks are not what they useto be. They are dirty, not taken care of...such a bummer. Well, I know that we will be making wonderful memories with Julian as he gets older. Just thought I would share. Have a great week!

I am pumped up!!!!

As a working mother...how could you not be pumped up seeing Sarah Palin, Gov. of AK being picked for V.P for the Republicans???? We as women have come a long way haven't we??? From being barefoot and pregnant to having a woman on the V.P ticket? Holy cow! How exciting!!!Wow...this is the first time in a long time that I have been this excited about an election! I was going to vote for McCain anyway...how could I vote for someone who thinks it is ok to terminate a pregnancy at anytime? That is just crazy! How could a vote for a man who denies the other half of his race?! John and Cindy McCain are very proud adoptive parents and Sarah and Todd Palin chose too keep thier son after finding out he would have down syndrome...what an amazing group of people! I am so excited...I never wanted to put my political views on my blog...but this is just too good to pass up! I know who I am voteing for do you???

Pictures from this summer...

So here are a bunch of pictures I had on my camera that I needed to download...poor Julian is not himself lately...he is cutting his molars (one is already through) and he had his 12 month shots! Those darn shots!!!

This past Sunday, I was in the kitchen and heard..."oh no...not my sports page!" i ran for the camera and this is what I captured...and of course with fingers in mouth!
He was trying to get a toy out from underneath the exersaucer and got stuck!
Happy Birthday Nana...I love you...now can I have my ice cream????

Uncle Dave and Julian at the block party...
It's a bird...it's a plane...
"Now Elliott...go like this..."
up and down, up and down...like this...

Daddy and Julian at the block party... I love this outfit on him...but the shoes no longer fit...boo hoo!

Please pray for ...

my dear friend Deana...she has been diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma. We need prayers big time! She started Chemo already and it seems to be responding well! She has 2 boys...everyone calls the "Z Boys" If you notice her olderest Zane looks like Julian...it is quite remarkable! We know they are not related...but there is a twin out there for everyone right? LOL SO if you could please pray for her and her family that would be wonderful! Thanks and many blessings!

Ouch!!!

Today we had Julian Parker's 12 month doctor's visit. Like always...Nana and Nonni came along for the fun! Fun who said it was fun! LOL SO we had his height and weight checked...like always we make bets as to see who is right...once again...I AM THE WINNER! Drum roll please...32 inches long and 26lbs 12 ozs. He really gained in the height and only gained a pound in the weight...but still the Doctor said he is going to be tall! This we already know. So here is where he is at...

Length = in percentile 95
Weight = between percentile 75 and 90
Head Circumference = in percentile 75

He had his shots too...I felt so bad for him...I felt his entire body stiffen up when the shots went in...and why do I have to be the one that always holds him! Because I am the one who wants to hold him durning that time. So my sweet baby boy is growing nicely and he is healthy and happy. I am truely thankful for God for bringing this child to us.

I was so sad when he turned one...I cried the night before his birthday...Sad that his "baby" stage was gone and Sad that my sweet boy is growing up. He is walking so much no...I call him Frankie...he laughs and thinks his mommy is funny! He is now saying Mama, Dada, Nana, Papa and up...there are a few other words in there that I haven't figured out yet...he tries so hard to say things...it is really cute to see his mind at work. We have made the family room into his play room...all his toys are in there, we have moved the coffe table to the side of the room and he has free range to go where ever he wants in that room. We have 2 gates up to keep him from the living room and kitchen...it works out just perfect.

Our wine weekend is fast approching...we look so forward to going away with our friends...this year he have a lodge that we rented...It is going to be fun! Mom will be here with Jules and the dogs.

Can you stand that the summer is almost over? I always looked forward to the end of August...I loved going to school...getting ready the night before...looking forward to seeing all your friends again...oh what fun! Well, that is it for today...I wish you many hugs and blessings this Labor Day weekend! Enjoy!!!

PS...Who will you be voting for in November??? My choice is clear...McCain and Palin...she is going to kick some serious butt!!! I bet the Dems are kicking themselves now...Clinton looks a whole lot better now doesn't she! LOL

More mommy...

So we were at my parents last night, my father is home thanks for the thoughts and prayers! They have this waterfall in their pool, so we brought him down to that end to see what he would do...he loves the sprinkler...well...about 30 mins later he was still giggling and squelling he was having so much fun... Although these pictures look like he is scared...he wasn't...he was so mad at me when it was time to get out...do to him shivering! So, I am now telling him "NO" and meaning it! It is so hard isn't it!? I feel like a mean mommy...but we can't slap people! UGH! He cried the first time he realized I was serious! Now when I say know, he looks at whom ever is in the room with us to see if they will react...it cracks me up!

ROCK STAR BABY

That is what I call him...then I sing it in a song...so tonight we were at my parents, and I thought I would put my glasses on him...he cracks me up! Love this kid so darn much!!!

Happy birthday and so much more!

Well I have finally posted pictures of his Birthday! Sorry it was a week late...time just got away from me. So much has happened this week. He is a waking man now...only interested in crawling when he is to tire to walk! I think he is getting ready to run! We had a great party even though it was the coldest/wetest day of the summer...go figure! Thank god for the tent! (thanks Melissa and Scott!!!) All of our family and closet friends shared in our very special day! It wasn't only his birthday weekend but it was also his forever home day! Man does a year go by fast! We have had so much fun! Meeting so many new friends, saying goodbye to old friends. We have lost 2 of Julian's greatgrandmothers, birth of new friends, so many parties and playdates! He is just an amazing little guy! We feel so blessed as does our family to have him in our lives!

We were at our block party yesterday and he was the talk of the street! It was so cute! He played with daddy on the fire engine (I will post those pictures later) Visited with his little buddy Max. Saw his twin ( I swear they could be related, if it wasn't for the fact that Joe is 40 years older then him! So much so little time! Well my cutie pie is waking from his nap...will be better at posting again...I promise!!!

Reflections...

I remember the quite lonely nights of an empty house. One that we never wanted to have. 6 years of trying to have a family, God tested our faith. Starting a family comes easy for some couples, just like finding love. For me, finding love was the easy part. I knew from the minute I met my husband that he was for me. Having a family was the hard part. From the minute we spoke, Jeff and I always taked about having children. It was something we wanted for so long. As the days, months and years past, pregnancies came and went, some quicker then others, but when I lost Joe, I thought my life was over. I thought I would never be a mother.



Then we started the process of Adoption. You hear the horror stories from people you know, or see it in the paper or on TV about the scams that happen. They do happen, and I prayed that they wouldn't happen to us. We had been through enough. Then the call came. I knew from the minute I spoke to our birthmother that she was ours. She was carrying our child. I thought...it is finally our time to be parents. I never in a MILLION years thought my life would be like this. On August 8, 2007 at 2:36pm our son was born. He wasn't just our son. He was the first grandson of my parents, the first greatgrand child of my grandmother. He was the first nephew to my brother and Jeff's sister and he would be the 3rd grandchild of my mother in law. And he would be all of ours. When you look at you baby for the first time, whether you carry that child or adopt that child, you fall in love, your life is forever changed. I can't even imagen what my life would be like without my sweet little baby boy.



This is the song by Steven Curtis Chapman "When love takes you in"

I know you’ve heard the stories But they all sound too good to be true You’ve heard about a place called home But there doesn’t seem to be one for you So one more night you cry yourself to sleep And drift off to a distant dream
Where love takes you in and everything changes A miracle starts with the beat of a heart When love takes you home and says you belong here The loneliness ends and a new life begins When love takes you in
And somewhere while you’re sleeping Someone else is dreaming too Counting down the days until They hold you close and say I love you And like the rain that falls into the sea In a moment what has been is lost in what will be
When love takes you in everything changes A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
And this love will never let you go There is nothing that could evercause this love to lose its hold
When love takes you in everything changes A miracle starts with the beat of a heart When love takes you home and says you belong here The loneliness ends and a new life begins When love takes you in it takes you in for good When love takes you in

FROM THE MINUTE I HELD HIM...HE TOOK ME IN...HE HAD ME AT HELLO!

My sweet baby boy will be a year old tomorrow. A year old...it is true what they say...the first year goes by so fast. Oh to have those moments back of him sleeping in my arms...now all he wants to so is crawl and walk. He was such an easy baby...he slept through the night starting at 3-5 weeks old. I could get a good 10 hours out of him. I thank god everynight for this child of mine. He has such a sweet dispostion. I am so looking forward to watching him grow up to be a fine young man.

Last year on this day...this was my post...

Busy month already!

Wow...I can't believe that it is almost the end of the summer! Having an August baby is wonderful! I have a June Birthday, so I always remember having parties outside. Jeff has a March birthday, so his were always inside. But boy...there is alot to do for a birthday party! Holy cow! Mom has had Julian for a few days, so I could go to work the first part of the week, and get things done in the house and I will pick him up today. We had a busy weekend. Molly had her birthday party and he went into a tree swing for the first time and LOVED IT! Here are some pictures...not the great