2008..what a year!

It was a year filled with happiness, sadness, fear of the unknown and relief when things were working out.

A year ago at this time we were praying that Russia would be the way to build our family, now we are home, settled in and thinking about #2 (Well really number 4.....Yeah....I know...we are NUTS!)

January will be filled with all sorts of interesting things. Perhaps I will get the job I applied for and Ryan will get to experience daycare, or maybe not.
My dad has his cancer surgery on the 12th and we are all praying for good results.

A spring trip is in order, so I better start planning and figuring out how to use all those frequent flyer miles. That is just a few of the things on our plate!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Social Security Nightmare

This is insane! (Sorry, this may turn into a rant!)

I am trying to get Ryan a SS#. Our lovely local office is telling me I don't have the right documentation...but the kicker is...I DO! They are telling me I need to go to court to have him readopted here in the states, but I don't, because he came in on an immigrant visa and readopting him would strictly be a formality. Plus...after spending as much as we have, even a few hundred more is a slap in the face.

Trying to talk to the supervisor didn't work because she WAS the supervisor (the inbicile I talked to there). I showed her what the print out was from the SSA website and that didn't even help.

To top it all off, I tried calling their number (mind you I was there this AM) and they still have their closed for the holiday message on the phone. So know I am trying to get through to the national number to get someone who could possibly know something..(yeah right..good luck) and they are "too busy to talk my call right now...call back later."

I am not giving up...but, perhaps I may not pay all my taxes due to their stupidity................ARRGGHH

Ryan's First Haircut

Why are you doing this to me?????

















Seriously now....I don't LIKE THIS!


















Ahhh...bath time at Nana's and new short hair!
















Thank you Aunt Melanie for making me so cute!

Ryans first Christmas

Opening a present with daddy.













Aunt Lori and Paige among the huge piles of gifts for the kids!












Ohhh...Elmo. We call him ADD Elmo as he just doesn't ever stop talking. Oh well....we lived through the first round with Chandler and tickle me elmo...we will live through this too...LOL!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us to you! What a special Christmas this is for us having Ryan home and part of our family. He just doesn't even know what to think with all the gifts under the tree today.

Who is this man and why do you insist I sit on his lap???

All the kids sitting by Santa....doesn't Ryan look thrilled??
"Hey now, let me down! What do you mean I have to sit by this guy??"
"Ahhh...Nana to the rescue.....much better!"

Mom's little monkey........

Ryan's First Time in the Snow!

Hey mom...don't you know it's cold out here?

It took us 15 minutes to get him ready and he stayed out under 10 minutes, but I think it was worth it. He sure looked cute!

Why is Christmas so overwhelming?

I lost a bunch of presents I need to get ready for this weekend, so as soon as Ryan goes down for his nap, which is usually by now but he is showing no signs of slowing down yet, I am going to hunt them down!
I need to make a trip up to MOA and finish some shopping at stores they have up there and not down here in Rochester, but trying to find a day that works for everyone is not working. I think I may go myself and try and meet a friend up there for the morning/afternoon.

We want so badly to make Ryan's first Christmas special, but even now that I am home, the time is getting away from me and I am out of ideas. I think this year of all years, I need to move past the stuff and be grateful our baby is here and we are a happy family.

Ryan is showing signs of wearing down, so I better try and get him to sleep and go a present hunting!

Mommy's Little Plumber

Well, at least her little boy with a plumbers crack...LOL! He spilled all over his shirt and after we took it off he hooked his thumbs in his diaper and started pulling the diaper and the pants down as he was walking along...LOL! Aaron and I were laughing so hard we were crying. We had the worst time getting a good picture and these were the best we could do.

Saving the Christmas Tree!

We are trying so hard to save the Christmas Tree from Ryan! Either he is taking off the ornaments or he is trying to push it across the room! Soft doesn't seem to make sense to him as far the tree goes!

Christmas pic and more!

Oh no, I am stuck! Ryan's new thing is backing up into things and this time he backed into our stool and got his little tushy stuck in the circle part of it. OH..he was mad when they had to lift the chair up for him to get out.







We don't usually send out Christmas cards, but we are starting to take pictures of all the kids together to see if we can get a good shot. Here is our best one from tonight. All 4 kids...together, isn't life grand?

My Gap Model

Yeah...this kid is a ham and a cutie and he KNOWS it! He is modeling his super cute Gap outfit we were given as a gift. Isn't it adorable?

We were prepared for the worst last night with all the teething and low and behold he slept straight through the night without waking up until 6!

Holy Teething Batman!

I thought maybe Ryan would have 6 teeth forever. He was a happy little boy when he woke up this AM but not so much when he got up from his nap. He bit me several times and would just start screaming at the top of his lungs for no reason...or so I thought.
I happened to look into his mouth when he was crying and saw 3 teeth coming through. 2 on the bottom by his other 2 and 1 on the very top in the back. Kind of a weird spot for a lone tooth to come in, but oh well. I see some very long nights in our future.....sigh.