Pool Party!

J testing out the waters @ our friend's pool....

On the diving board....

Getting ready to jump!

Relaxing on the float.....

Today we attended the first pool party at our friend's new house.... I already knew J loved pools since he asks daily to go to the Y so we can swim.... I try to take him as much as I can because it's something we both enjoy.... We had a great day! This pool has a good shallow end so, J could stand up in it and didn't need his floaty.... Usually it's just J & I at the Y pool and I have to be in there with him, so this is the first time I got pics to share of him enjoying the pool.... My hubby who isn't a pool person even got in and joined us.... It was so much fun enjoying this day as a *family*.... We have this group of friends who would always get together and hang out but, we all have children and the get togethers are not as often but, it was nice to see very one (there were a few families not in attendance) and enjoy a family activity/day... It was the first time J met most of these friends and everyone complimented him on how well he was!

Speaking of that, J has had 3 wonderful weeks with us! It has been so fun getting to enjoy him more and not having the tantrums or angry times.... He is such a fun, loving and funny lil man!

I am exhausted because it's been a long, but, wonderful day! I love this little boy and I love my *family*......

J starts Kindergarten in a few weeks and I am excited to start preparing for that! Wow, where is the summer going????

*5*

5 years ago this month my hubby and I made a decision.... No more birth control-- Lets start our family..... 5 years of hope, frustration, sadness, diagnoses, procedures, doctor appts, classes, interviews, inspections.... All in the hopes of creating a family.....

My hubby and I were together 5 yrs and 2 days before we got married... I always joke that he was on the *5 yr plan* with our relationship..... We are foster parents.... we have a foster son.... Will our 5th yr of trying to build our family bring us the *forever* child we long for so much? Guess we will just have to see.....

J was 5 months old when we made our decision to try to have our family... I have always loved the numbers 11 & 13 because they are numbers very important to my hubby and I's relationship (met on 11/11/99, engaged on 10/13/03 & married on 11/13/04) but, I might just start having to love the number 5.....

Wow! 5 years!

9 months.....

9 months ago today J came to live with us.... We were going to keep him for a *weekend*.... This has been the longest weekend I have ever had!

Things have been going very well with J lately.... 3 months til we go to court again and I am anxiously wondering what will happen then.....

I can't believe it's been 9 months already...... Time flies so much faster now with a child in our life.....

J's new wheels.....

J trying out his new *ride*

Taking a break to make some adjustments....

And he's off!

We got J a bike today... We have been thinking about it for a while and decided to finally get it.... We took him tonight after work/daycare.... He loves it! He rode around the block while I walked with him..... I can tell I will be getting a lot of exercise! [trust me I need it too!] Nothing like a 5 yr old to motivate you!

J had his 5 yr well check last week... He is a *well 5 yr toddler* [that is what his form said that I have to get filled out for DSS when we visit the Dr]... I lucked out and J was all up to date on his shots so, we didn't have to go through that trauma!

J has been doing well the past couple of weeks.... He is back to being his funny, cute & loving self... He has been calling us Mommy & Daddy more... But, he still goes back and forth.... He is definitely settling in again.... Friday will be 9 mos J has been with us.... I can't believe it! Tomorrow is a year since I started my job.... I tell ya having a child in the house makes time fly by so fast and I thought time flew before!

We will soon be getting ready for our re-certification for Foster Care. I realized we were short 2 CEU's and called the resource worker to see what trainings are being offered to get them in before September.... As luck would have it, there are none coming up.... But, she did ask me to come to the last PRIDE class next month and be part of the panel of current/former foster/adoptive parents to speak to/ answer questions to the newbies..... I get credit for that and will get all the CEUs needed.... Plus, I think it will be a fun experience! Wow! I can't believe we have been licensed for 10 mos and will soon be celebrating a year being Foster Parents!

Although J loves his new bike, we did have 2 *accidents* while on our trip around the block... J wanted to throw the helmet away but, I told him we can try again tomorrow! So, we will see how that goes.....

Toy Story 3 and 4th of July......

J checking out the Toy Story 3 poster outside the theater...

Not a very good shot of the fireworks..... I tried!

Today is the 4th of July... We didn't have anything planned and since the pool was closed today I was trying to figure out what I could do with J. I decided to take him to the movies to see Toy Story 3. He has watched my copy of Toy Story 2 a couple times and liked it so, I was pretty sure he would like to see this too. I didn't think he had ever been to the theater before. I went over the rules-- be quiet, stay in your seat.... He did pretty well.... He cracked some people around us up when after a preview for a movie that he didn't particularly like he exclaimed 'BORING!'... There were a few chuckles... I reminded him that when the movie comes on he can't say things like that. He enjoyed the movie and thought it was 'AMAZING!'

Tonight we went to my in-laws house to watch the fireworks. They live across the field from where they set them off so, we sat on their front porch and watched them.. They have a good view.

The in between was rough... J had a couple tantrums.... It's been an on and off rough weekend with him having meltdowns for no real reason.... I was notified on Friday there is a FIM (family involvement meeting) planned for Tues afternoon and I am going to see if my boss will let me off for it.... I didn't get too much info on it but, it's for all the kids.... Wondering what is going on..... I am exhausted and getting ready to head to bed.....

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Another year older......

Today is my 34th birthday.... Every year I tell myself: 'By my next birthday maybe I will be a Mommy' I am a little closer this year-- a Foster Mom. J still goes back and forth with calling me Mommy but, in his heart I am not his Mommy.... I just play one on TV (ha ha-- couldn't resist!)

So, I am another year older.... Not too much going on here... I do have a cute story to tell. My Mom and her boyfriend are in town this week. They were over our house for dinner on Monday night. We celebrated my birthday then because we were not sure who would be available on my actual birthday. My Dad is deceased and J knows this but, sometimes asks questions when my family is around. Here is the conversation that night:

J: Is Mr. M your Daddy?

Mr. M: No, I am not

Me: Mr. M is kinda like Mr. T & I are to you-- a substitute Dad

J: No, Mr. T is my FOSTER DAD and you are my FOSTER MOM!

It's just cute how he uses those words sometimes because I don't know he understands them but, hears us saying them and needs to know the difference in his little mind. It was cute anyway but, might be one of those 'had to be there' type of things.....

Off to have pizza night for my birthday with my family!

Father's Day at the river......

J letting the fish *kiss* his fingers....

First time on the pier and ready to fish!

Fishin'

*We* caught one!

worked up an appetite now lets eat some crabs!

Several years ago my husband's family started a tradition of spending Father's Day at his Godparents house on the river. His brother's family from PA comes down and it's a nice day with family. This year we had a *new addition* to our group. I have to admit, I was very nervous about how J would react to several people around that he didn't know well or at all... He usually doesn't do well under those types of situations.... But, J did really well! I am so proud of him!!! It was another nice (but very HOT) day with family and I am so glad J got to enjoy it with us..... Sometimes fishing off that pier can be hit or miss... Last year was good and I caught the first and the most fish!! This year J got *bored* fast with not catching any fish and asked me to *help* him which meant-- I catch the fish and *we* take the credit for it! So, sure enough we did catch a fish (the first and only of the day) and J was so proud! He loved the crabs and sat patiently so we could pick some for him.... Overall it was a great day....

We lost a member of our group this year. My hubby's Godmother passed away in March and I couldn't help but think of her today and how everyone there was missing her even though most didn't say much-- I know we were all thinking about her.... We miss you Janie!

As with Mother's Day we didn't really push it too much so J didn't start missing his family but, he did wish my hubby a "Happy Daddy's Day!" out of the blue and on his own! He loves my hubby so much and is always saying how they are *best buddies*.... I came home from a baby shower a couple weeks ago and J was sitting on his lap in the recliner and it was such a sweet moment to come home too....

J doing good... He had a rough week after seeing his family last time a couple weeks ago but, is back on track now. I reported it to DSS and don't know what will happen in the future... J has been more *loving* to us and is really starting to trust us now... He still talks about his family all the time but, he is starting to love us too! I can't believe in 2 days he has been here for 8 months! Wow! Time flies so fast now even more than before!