Week 29

I have this image in my mind... There's a little boy, two or three years old, running wildly across the yard towards an older woman. His dark hair is flying back crazily in the wind he's creating as he runs across the grass. His eyes are bright and he has a huge toothy grin as he leaps into the open arms of the woman, who twirls him wildly and laughs at his squeals of delight. He throws his head back and laughs as he screams, "One more time, grandma. Twirl me again." I watch as she twirls him and kisses his face and neck.

Those are my thoughts and the vision I see in my head whenever I think of my mother-in-law. Last night when Xander got up this is the thought the came to mind after I fed him and put him back to bed. Let me explain... My MIL is the reason we have Xander in our lives. She is the one who met Jennifer and made the connection and she is the one who was there helping Jennifer along the way, as we were not close enough to do the things that we would have liked.

With everything that has gone on and with all the changes in our life, I have failed to say thank you. So, I am taking this opportunity to thank this wonderful woman. She was always there and would drop everything to tend to our concerns. She spent time with Jen, loved her, talked to her and did all she could for her. My MIL is a wonderful and giving woman, who would give the shirt off her back. Again, she did this for us. How can you possibly thank a woman like that?

She and Xander will always have a close and wonderful bond. She was our connection, liaison, the tie that binds, the one who brought the sun back out from behind the clouds. Through her our Heavenly Father was able to work his miracles. Because of her willingness to listen and because of her tremendous love for us we have a family.

So, mom, thank you so much for loving us. Thank you for sacrificing your time and giving of yourself so that we could have what comes so easily for others. Thank you for bringing the sweetest little spirit into our lives.

Just chillin'

Week 28

Xander is growing so much and so fast. He loves to play and has some fun new toys. We love watching him learn...

He's exploring and having fun. He's also enjoying his food~ not prunes so much. Loves sweet potatoes and pears...

Once he swallows (mostly) he opens his mouth and waits...

He is so wonderful and is laughing and playing more. He does so love to see daddy and misses him greatly when he is not home.

Teething... still

Xander now has two teeth. He has his center bottom teeth and they are so cute!! He loves green beans and banana baby food and we are trying prunes next... Wish me luck!

Update

My sweet Xander had his first taste of banana baby food today~ not sure if he liked it. He would spit 1/2 out and swallow the other half. This should be very interesting. We know that he likes the wheat cereal and the oatmeal cereal. He does really like green beans. Maybe we should stick to veggies for awhile longer?

Today is the 11th of January and we just got a light frosting of snow~ second time this season. I don't want snow but if we don't have a decent winter I fear what will happen in the summer.

Rose is bringing Sierra over today to get to know the kids. Sierra will be here on Monday. Clark will be here on Friday. Then the 25th I will finally have the state here to give me a check up and license me.

Week 27

Sweet Xander is finally feeling better. Poor little one has had a rough week. He started to get an ear infection but it was caught in time, thank goodness. He is slowly getting his voice back.

Scott and I took advantage of a Christmas gift we received from Sarah and went out to a movie (Mission Impossible 4) and dinner at the Olive Garden. Dan and Jackie watched Xander as we spent the night out as a married couple. It felt like a first date~ loved it!

Xander is heading into his 6th month and has already been eating wheat cereal. Last night he tried green beans for the first time and he loved it. Tonight he tried oatmeal. He ate it but was not completely in love with the change in flavor. I can't wait to start him on a variety of fruits and vegetables.

We are attempting to help him sit on his own. He's not there yet but, with time... He is playing more and more with his toys and, when I lay him down the other day, went to get a bottle ready for him. When I came back he was on his back hugging the butterfly that his Aunt Toni and kids sent him. It was the cutest thing ever. Sometimes I wish that I had a camera attached. By the time I returned with a camera he was done hugging and on to other things. Oh, what a joy it is to watch him grow and change and learn. What an amazing adventure we are all able to live.

Eating green beans...

Sitting up...

With daddy...

I'm always excited for the next week and the growth that will come with that.

Big Day

So, we got a letter from our attorney today and we sat together and ripped the envelope open. It's official~ Xander is now adopted into the Cook family!! We are so excited for all the legal/social worker stuff to be done. We are so excited that we have such a sweet, beautiful, wonderful son. He is everything to us and we have been so very blessed with his sweet little spirit.

So, as of Dec 29, 2011, Xander Scott Cook is legally ours.

Week 26

Wow! What a start to a new year. Xander got a tooth so he was sick. Then he got more sick. Then he stayed up for 24 hours straight- that was New Years Eve~ that is NO SLEEP!! My poor little boy finally slept a little on Sunday (the 1st) and then he crashed Sunday night. Monday we woke to a high pitched squeaking~ like the kind you hear when someone steps on one of those soft squeaky toys. We looked at each other and then realized that the strange sound was coming from Xander's room. He had lost his voice. Poor little man.

He has my heart and is the best part of our lives. He loved being with his cousins and especially loved being loved and held and have all those little hands love him and play with him. He's just so very loved and so very much the greatest part of our family!