A couple firsts for Mommy!

I woke up before 6:00 AM this morning and somehow had an extra spring in my step. :) Everyone was dressed by 7:30 AM so I gave Mike the go ahead to leave for work- this is the first time since we brought Lina home that I felt ready to conquer the bus stop with all four kids!!  Mike had been taking the big kids to the bus stop while I get the littles up, dressed, and fed, and Lina was usually just getting up when it was bus time.  She's been waking up earlier most days now, and it was gorgeous outside as opposed to the last few rainy days we've had.

Kaylin and Justin were super excited to introduce everyone at the bus stop to their new little sister!! They were about bouncing off the walls when I told them we were all going to the bus stop! :) I'll have to snap a pic next time- forgot in all the excitement!

The bus stop went well- both littles in the double stroller (which by the way- oh my gosh what a tank to steer and push!  I am new to the whole double stroller world- whew!) and they both sat very nicely the whole time. I was waiting for Lina to want to get out but she was the center of attention, and often wanted to just lean back and hide! She is still shy around people she doesn't know- which is a VERY good thing! :)

I was feeling quite brave and ambitious- let's go to the store!  This was also the first time I dared to venture out with both littles to go to the store.  We only needed milk and bananas- I figured this was the best time to go with such a short list! :)  We went to BJ's since they have those huge shopping carts that can hold two kids in the front- I need both kids strapped in and secure.  I don't trust those car carts at the regular grocery store since half the time the buckles are broken, and they are way easy for these two to climb out.  But, I was also concerned about how Evan and Lina would handle sitting so closely next to each other in this cart.  I was thinking Lina would have a hard time keeping her hands off Evan, but it ended up being the other way around!

When I first strapped them in I thought this was just the cutest sight ever!! Everyone around me must have thought I was nuts. LOL  But it didn't take long for Mr. Evan to become Mr. Instigator.

In true little brother form- he starts gently poking Lina's arm with both pointer fingers.  She was already a little uneasy- BJ's is so big I think it was a bit overwhelming for her.  So... add a little brother poking and she wasn't too happy.  When I go to correct Evan- he starts patting her on the back with his entire hand- not in a loving way either. ;) Such a stinker!  I had to restrain myself from laughing out loud- it was just too cute seeing him pester her, and gave me visions of myself and my brat brother when we were little ;) hee hee!  Of course I then became more stern in telling Evan he needed to be nice.  He started again one more time but thankfully we made it out of there pretty quickly with our four (!) gallons of milk (never dreamed I would ever buy that much at one time!) and bunch of bananas. WHEW!! 

Well hello there, old friend!

I can't believe I haven't blogged over here since March!!  Time to blow off the dust bunnies and get back to posting!

Anyone who has been following our adoption blog knows we've been just a tad busy lately ;) as we finally welcomed home our sweet Lina!!!

All has been going AMAZINGLY well with her transition and adjustment to family life.  She has bonded SUPER fast with us, and carries on like she's always lived here. :)  I've still been posting on her adoption blog with all her follow up appointments and such, but will be winding down there and move back to posting here full-time.

Backing up a bit- a family photo from Easter at my parents' house :) Yes, I absolutely felt someone was missing this beautiful day... a little someone still surviving on the other side of the world.

Justin got new glasses- had to keep up with Kaylin ya know ;)

Evan still up to his adorable orneriness ;)  Can't get enough of him!

Kaylin just had her wax museum project at school last week where she dressed up and performed a speech as Sacagawea.  She did such an awesome job!! Mom helped with the costume but she pretty much did all the rest.

These days, life for me has consisted mainly of hanging out with the littles, and taking kids (mostly Lina) to and from doctor appointments.  Lina had a trip to urgent care the morning after we brought her home to take care of her serious skin issues, then she visited our pediatrician twice- once to follow up on the skin before her regularly scheduled physical.  She's seen the dermatologist as well as the cardiologist, and will be seeing the audiologist, opthalmologist, and endocrinologist in the near future... and I still need to schedule a dentist appointment for her as well.  Evan will be accompanying her to the audiologist and opthalmologist since he is due for his check ups also.  He just visited the pediatrician yesterday as a follow up to his own visit to urgent care on Mother's Day because he came down with croup. :( He sounded SO bad, but is slowly getting better... we think!  Kaylin went to the pediatrician yesterday with Evan since she was due for her physical.  WHEW!  Are ya still with me? ;)

And amazingly enough, Lina STILL always looks forward to riding in the car.  Even when the car usually takes her to some sort of doctor visit! This is absolutely new to her as her only car rides before meeting us on Gotcha Day consisted of transferring from the baby house to the institution where she was living when we met her, or if she ever needed to go to the hospital- no idea how many times that would have been, but we'll say minimal.

The other kids have adjusted to an extra sibling amazingly well also- even Evan!  He had some jealousy issues the first couple days, not really wanting to share his toys or his mommy, but he is doing SO well now. He too carries on like she's always been here.  I think having her here has also helped to prepare him for preschool in the fall as he is learning to share and get along with another little person closer to his size. :)  Kaylin and Justin have adored her from the start.  I need to work on getting a photo of all of them together- I haven't managed to get one yet!  We also need to get a full family photo. :) I was hoping for Mother's Day, but that didn't work out so well since Evan was feeling so cruddy.

I am going to do my best to pick up posting more frequently over here, so stay tuned! :)