Reactions to our BIG news...

We found out in June we are expecting a new S family member in February. We spent all summer in shock and adjusting to the idea so we just told the kids about it the weekend before last, when I was 13 weeks.  They were all sitting at the kitchen table.

Caleb's reaction to baby news: "At your age??!!! At 49??!"  Now, the "at your age" thing has crossed my own mind a time or two but it certainly was not necessary to add 9 years to my age. Now he just likes to repeatedly say, "You will be 41 when the baby comes you know!" with A LOT of emphasis on the one. My evil middle schooler!

Brynn’s 1st reaction to the baby news, with tears in her eyes: “You were supposed to adopt again mom! There are only 2 Chinese people in this family and 5 Americans. It is not fair.”  Attempts to fill her in that she is also an American always fall on deaf ears. I didn’t even try to explain that we have no intention of ever having a 1:1 ratio between her two categories. I’m thinking she only has slightly better odds that the baby will even the boy/girl ratio, a ratio that also bothers her.

Brynn’s 2nd reaction to baby news, now okay with the idea but only after saying that women with babies in their bellies gross her out about 100 times: “Can I watch the baby come out?”  I told her if the hospital (or the couch, lol) were okay with it that was fine.  Evan’s 1st reaction immediately after that, with tears in his eyes: “Do I have to go [to the hospital]?” When I said no, he replied, “Good, I’m going to go to Grandpa’s.”  I’m picturing him in the recliner, soda in one hand, remote in the other, in front of the large screen tv. I know Doug will be jealous but, no Doug, you cannot join him.

Price had his typical go-with-the-flow attitude about the whole thing. Nyah of course doesn’t understand but since she has seen Brynn do it, she is always trying to pull up my shirt and look at my belly.

More later… Brynn is asking me her 1,000th question of the day about the baby…

Wordless Wednesday...

Summer OVER??

I think it is so sad to think of summer as over and I suppose technically it is not, even though school started last Monday, which means we are all in different directions most of each day.

Caleb started at the middle school this year (6th grade) and so far, so good. I think he secretly likes that I am there three days a week, for more than just the ride to school I provide! He was so nervous the first day I didn't even make him pose for a picture and by the time he gets home from cross country practice each afternoon, we are into the dinner-homework-bed routine and I forget to take a picture. Maybe later this week...

Price, Evan, and Brynn started at a new school this year and while they were all a bit sad to not be returning to TJES, they have adjusted well. Thankfully the bus only picks them up 10 minutes earlier than it used to even though the ride is much longer, so getting Brynn up hasn't been too painful. They do get home 40 minutes later which is great for me not to have to rush home but it also means Brynn takes a nap which keeps her up late in the evening. This picture was when they came home from school.

Nyah started preschool today. She has been carrying her Tinkerbell lunch box everywhere for the last two weeks in anticipation. She did great... no tears shed on either end. I think she will love it. She starts speech services tomorrow so she now has activities each day of the week (dance class on Mondays)... a busy schedule for a busy girl!

Here are a few pictures from the 2nd part of the of the summer because even though it was over in a blink of an eye, we did have lots of fun and some big accomplishments I want to remember:

Brynn can now ride her bike sans training wheels, thanks again to cousin Josh who really should go into business teaching kids to ride on two wheels!

Nyah has been very into decorating... LARGE tattoos on her face... creative drawings all over her new furniture. I don't mind the tattoos; not so thrilled about the other.

But on a good note, Nyah is potty-trained ~ the easiest one yet!

Caleb finished his first swim season with the regional meet at UVA.

He had a GREAT season. We are looking forward to next summer's season already.

Evan's cast and splint are gone and though his arm is a few shades paler than the rest of his body, all seems good!

Price really still is a member of the family but pictures of Price are few and far between. Maybe because he is alway on the go, maybe because he runs from the camera, and maybe because all the hair on his head won't fit in a picture, lol. I'll have to work on chasing him down. But he did leave me the two notes above one day.

One weekend Brynn, Caleb and I headed to D.C. for the 10th annual, though our first, LalaFUlooza ~ a gathering of children (and their families) adopted from the same orphanage in China (Fuzhou). We have a blast in spite of the heat during the touring part and I have a feeling we will make attending them in the future a priority; they  take place in a different part of the country each year. These pictures crack me up because they were both being so goofy at the opening party.

More to come later this week including some stories about our newest adventure...

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

*** Last week's picture of the bank was courtesy of Nyah. The bank was full so Price and I were rolling coins and Nyah wanted to help. I gave her the job of getting the rest of the coins out of the unplugged bottom. I guess the hole was not big enough for her liking...

Wordless Wednesday