Just a few updates!

We don't have much going on - except a whole lot of football! Peter practices almost every night until school starts and then we go to just 3 nights a week - what were we thinking! He loves it so we'll see how it goes but I feel like we are running on a treadmill all the time.

How cute is this kid?
Peter's "real" birthday - birthday cake!

Everyone wishing Peter a happy 9th birthday!

Lucas even came over to see Peter on his birthday!

Peter being a ham as he turns 9!

Everyone helps Peter blow out the candles!

My friend works for a hair salon and she offered to give Lizzie a free first hair cut. She just trimmed the mullet a bit and it looks adorable.

Trying to get a picture!

My big girl never sits still.

Tyler and Annie looking very bored at Peter's football practice - they actually had a great time!

Peter working out with the team - do I really have a kid old enough to do all of this?

Pete in his practice uniform.

Humoring Daddy with a little hug while he gets a drink.

Lizzie getting into the electronics - how cute does her hair look, though!

Full gorgeous face shot - it doesn't look like much but she did shape it and cut the long strands in the back off so she no longer has a mullet. What wouldn't look good on that cherubic face. I assured Auntie Meg that it can stillbe put up for the wedding!

Lizzie had her 9 months doctor's visit today and she is doing fabulous!

19 pounds 13 ounces - 50th percentile

29 1/2 inches - 95th percentile

She truly is a bag of bones. At the end of the appointment I sucked up my mother of five pride and started to ask the doctor about her head - just checking to make sure it is the right size. The doctor's response was "Yeah - I checked it a few times to be sure but it is right on target." Followed by "You're right to ask, though, that is a reallly large noggin." Is it me or did my pediatrician just confirm that my daughter has an unusually big head??? Good thing it's gorgeous and filled with brains!

We also had a follow up with the cardiologist and there is no remaining heart murmur that they can detect - yeah! We have 4 well visits in September Peter - 9 year, Molly - 7 year, Annie - 2 year and Ellie - 9 month - We decided to do them in 2 different visits so as not to overwhelm the pediatrician's office. I have to say I will take 4 well child visits over 1 sick child visit any day so I'm not complaining!

Dress shopping with Auntie Meg and Molly tomorrow - I can't wait! Auntie Meg needs a veil and Molly needs a junior bridesmaid dress - we may have some non-weight watchers approved breafast or lunch in between!

Tyler and Peter getting cozy on the couch while paying video games - what is better than an impromptu cousins sleepover? Not much in my book since I always miss Tyler and Abby after a vacation like Newport where we are together for an entire week!

Could barely get the just showered girls to look away from the TV for a picture but they looked so cute that I still couldn't resist!

Funny faces!

The girls spent the afternoon at Karla's house, the boys at ours and then everyone came back here for a sleepover. I can't wait until Katie can sleep over too - then we can really have a party! It's Karla's birthday tomorrow - I feel so blesssed to have such a wonderful sister-in-law!

GNM - ILY!

Happy Birthday to Peter and other things!

August is always a great month - lots of birthdays, parties and fun! I already told you ad nauseum about my birthday so now I get to tell you about my baby - the 9 year old one!Silly girl!Daddy and Ellie bonding!My beautiful girls loved the flowers I got for my birthday.Ellie finally started eating some food but she wasn't all that thrilled about it. This is the face we got when trying to feed her blueberries and apples.What a face!In contrast - this is Lizzie eating blueberries!Sweet baby girl dripping blueberries.Our little princess?Last week Bob and I got an entire evening with just Peter and Molly. We took the kids to Build a Bear to use their gift cards and Peter made a football monkey.Ellie was wearing little shorts and a shirt and she looked so old to me!Sisters!Ellie and Annie playing with the monkeys.Our big girl!Auntie Beth gets special permission to wake up the babies whenever she wants since she isn't home most of the time. This is her and Lizzie bonding - they looked so comfy all snuggled up together!Auntie Beth got the girls matching dresses and Daddy could not get enough of them.Look at those beautiful babies - so sweet.I love this one with all of the little piggies showing!At one point we finished the photo op and took the babies from Annie.And then she melted down.So we gave them back to her and took more pictures!I want to eat them up!Auntie Ann got a request from Peter for a cake with the letter P and his picture on it. He made the request on Friday and on Sunday Auntie Ann showed up with this incredible cake.Sister Ancie and Ellie Bean.Grandma Betty and Lizzie!Uncle Ed brought us a watermelon and the kids loved it.Everyone happy to celebrate Peter's birth.Auntie Ann and Lizzie.My big boy opening his gifts.An Obama basketball.Baseball hats of his favorite teams.Cake time.Peter loves having everyone sing to him. The best big brother ever.Papa and his babies.Katie with a bow in her hair.Peter is such a sweet, wonderful kid and we wanted to make his day special so we rented a bouncy thing as a surprise. He jumped around the yard and hugged us when he saw it.Ellie Bean looks cute with a bow in her hair.Best buddies!Uncle Colin and his godson!

Peter had a great day and then on Tuesday we celebrated again with a football ice cream cake. He is hard at work at football every night during the week. He comes home sweaty and tired and Bob says he is incredibly coordinated on the field.

I don't really know how to talk about the last 9 years with Peter - I always find myself beaming. When they called me and asked if I would take home a 5 day old baby I said "Yes" without even knowing if it was a boy or girl and I am always amazed at the profound wisdom of God's plan. Peter was meant to be in our family in the same way each of our children is.

I think that no matter what mothers say there is always something special about your 1st child. Peter is the only one of my children who I had all to myself for a period of time. For two years it was just the two of us doing everything together and living every moment with just the two of us to worry about. I don't have a favorite but I defintely think that I have a special bond with Pete thanks to all of those months together. I feel so blessed that God brought him to us and I feel lucky for each day with Peter.

This is what I get for saying "Well, change her." when Annie said "Yizzy, Poopy." She did her best!Auntie Meg and Lizzie - Lizzie's hair is all pulled back into a pony tail so you can see that big head and beautiful blue eyes really clearly - what a knockout!Pretty girl!Peter and Molly on the morning of his real birthday!Pete is such a good big brother - he let Annie open almost every single present for him becuase she was so excited!Annie showing Peter the Backugan that she opened up for him.The best part of these mornings is watching the kids together celebrating one of them. What wonderful kids I have.I love this pictuer of Ellie being a ham!

We got good news from DCF and prefectly enough we got it on Peter's birthday. Our adoption petition has been accepted and we can proceed with the paperwork and other necessary documents as soon as possible. Yeah for us - I try not to look too far in the future but this is a wonderful development for us!

My beautiful baby girl!Lizzie-bug giving the grin that makes my heart melt!My friend Lisa passed this outfit on to me when Ann was a baby and it was my favorite - now Ellie and Lizzie share it and it is still my favorite - I love being able to see all thos beautiful little baby parts!I love watching my girls together - they talk to each other and make each other laugh! Too cute!Look at those gorgeous babies!

So KK got a job teaching, Auntie Meg got two interview requests for nursing jobs and school starts again in less than 2 weeks! Life is good! We miss Auntie Beth but thanks to Auntie Meg's impending wedding (see the wedding counter to the left) we'll see her again in less than two months!

GNM - ILY!