Isaac Can't Wait to be a Big Brother!

I got a call this morning from John and Wendi telling me that Dr. G decided to induce Wendi today. So Jocelyn and I headed up to Labor and Delivery to pick Isaac up so that he could spend the day with us. Tristen and Jeren also came over today to play with us and help us pass the time while we waited to hear when baby Elijah arrived.

Tristen was very excited about the special lunch I had planned for them.

He discovered that he could use a kernel of corn to fill the gap between his teeth.

Once we finished lunch, we headed outside to wait for Madison's school bus. Tristen is getting much better at riding Madison's bike.

Isaac and I were snuggling under a blanket since it was a little chilly.

Tristen found a dead frog while we were outside.

Madison was very excited when she got home from school and saw that Tristen, Jeren, and Isaac were here to play with her. She had to show us all her groundhog hat that she made today at school in preparation for Groundhog's Day on Monday.

Madison loves baby Isaac and can't wait to kiss baby Elijah.

The gift basket that we put together from the Shalimar Caregroup is ready and waiting on the arrival of Elijah Luke Kitsteiner.

Passed Out!

Anyone that knows Madison well, knows that she is a terrible sleeper. She always has been and probably always will be. She goes and goes and goes, until she finally drops. Yesterday she was busy all day and didn't slow down at all. So when I sent her upstairs to brush her teeth and get ready for bed, I was surprised to find her...

fast asleep on the bathroom floor.

I guess she just couldn't make it to her bed.

Rain Princess

Madison enjoyed waiting for her school bus this morning in the rain. She enjoyed dancing around in the rain with her Princess umbrella and new rain coat.

Backwards

Jocelyn is learning to dress herself. She is doing very well, except for the fact that she puts her pants on...

BACKWARDS!

2 Year Anniversary of Jocelyn's "Gotcha Day"

Two years ago today we woke up and got ready to head to Panama City to pick up our beautiful new daughter. A person from The Adoption Center picked her up from her birthmother's house and brought her to us at a Chick Fil A. It was a very exciting day for all of us. Here are some pictures from our first few days together:

Jocelyn's transition went really well. She cried for the first few days, but she quickly adjusted to her new surroundings and family. Our love for her has grown over these last two years and we can't imagine not having her as a part of our family. God has blessed us with two beautiful girls!

Boys, Boys, Boys!

Today Isaac came over to spend the day with us. He is growing so fast. He is so much fun to play with now that he is crawling and pulling himself up.

Tristen and Jeren came over too for a couple hours. Isaac loved watching everyone jump on the trampoline.

Tristen helped the little kids decorate a cake that we baked.

Tristen also helped Isaac ride on the pony for the first time.

Isaac loved the pony and wanted to do it again.

After lunch we headed to the front yard to wait for Madison's bus. Tristen gave the little kids rides in the wagon while we waited.

Then we had a hula-hoop contest.

Isaac was the judge.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing and then put Jocelyn and Isaac down for their naps.

Thanks for coming over and playing with us boys!

Icicles in Florida

You don't usually see icicles in Florida, but here they are:

Our neighbors left their sprinklers on last night during the freeze, so this morning we woke up to icicles on the tree and frost covered grass.

2 Year Anniversary of Meeting Jocelyn

Two years ago today we got to meet Jocelyn for the first time. We got a call from The Adoption Center on a Thursday, asking us if we would be interested in adopting a six month old baby girl. After calling Clay at the hospital, we decided to submit our information to the family. We prayed a lot that evening. Friday morning, The Adoption Center called and said that the birth family would like to meet us on Sunday. We went to church on Sunday and then headed anxiously to The Adoption Center to meet Jocelyn and her birth family for the first time.

Jocelyn's birthmother (Keisha), half sister (Brittani Ann) and her grandmother (Cathy) met with us.

She was a little bit in shock.

The girls were so cute playing together while we talked.

Daddy and his new little girl.

It was amazing how much they looked alike.

They decided to sign the papers right then to relinquish their parental rights. The hardest part was waiting the 72 hour waiting period before we got to take her home.

Make-up 101

Madison decided she needed some make-up today before she went to Speech Therapy, so she went into my bathroom and applied some powder, blush and put on some lipstick. She has watched me do it, but I was very impressed that she was able to do such a good job without being able to see herself in the mirror.

Madison has learned that less is more when it comes to applying your make-up.

Jocelyn on the other hand prefers the "clown" look!

We will have to work on her technique.

Tuesday Gang

Taylor and Jude came over this morning for our Tuesday morning play date.

Today was Taylor's first time riding the little pony. Maybe next week we will try to ride Butterscotch.

Bowling

Clay and Madison had the holiday off, so we decided to have a Family Fun Day and go bowling.

Madison was very excited to go bowling!

Look at her cute shoes.

Daddy taught them how to bowl.

Madison enjoyed sliding around on the slick floor when it wasn't her turn.

She is a very intense bowler.

She would get down and watch her ball SLOWLY roll down the lane. She would talk to it and tell it to hit the pins. She would sing "they all fall down."

Oh no, her ball got stuck halfway down the lane.

Jocelyn gave up on bowling during the 3rd frame and decided to keep score. Daddy was the big winner and surprised us all with 9 strikes.

Bowling is tough work.

Jacob Gets Married

This week's Children's Ministry lesson was on Jacob's marriage to Leah and Rachel. After acting out the bible story, we celebrated the marriages by eating...

Wedding CAKE!

It can't get much better than cake for a snack!

We then made our own instruments to celebrate. First, we decorated the bottom of two paper plates with stickers.

Then we filled the plates with a handful of dried beans, stapled the plates together and colored them.

Time to make a joyful noise with our instruments.