Do you want to see something gross?!

This post has been rambling around in my brain ever since I overheard a conversation between our 17 year old and our 2 youngest daughters. It went something like this~

J- "Hey, do you guys want to see something gross?"

No comment

J- "Hey you guys, do you want to see something gross?"

Still no comment

Finally, J- "I have something really awesome to show you! Do you want to see something gross?"

My naive little girls- "What is it?"

At which point J began pulling off the nasty, grimy athletic tape covering his gruesome astro turf skinned arms.

J- "Isn't that cool?"

Girls- "Oh sick!" and "Nasty!"

Now, tell me something- why is it that boys find delight in grossing out anyone who will bother to look? Why are little girls sucked into the game of show and tell? I mean, come on! Do I want to see something gross? Not particularly, thank you very much!

I just don't understand boys, both big and small. How can they find pleasure in the sick, nasty things of life? Somehow they do. And where does it say that's it's a barrel of laughs and tons of fun to "hurt someone"?! I was watching the news the other day and a story was airing about a football camp that was being held for boys of all ages at the U of U. When the reporter asked the boys what the funnest part about the camp was, the response from each and every kid was "Hitting people!" or "Jacking people up!" Now, if you watch a group of girls playing and someone gets hurt, the whole group will gather round to offer condolences and support. If you watch a group of boys in the same circumstances and someone gets hurt you'll witness the brutality and callousness that makes a boy. You'll probably see a bunch of boys laughing their guts out and pointing their fingers at the poor injured soul. Explain it to me, cause I just don't get it!

So, moral of the story...if a boy asks you if you want to see something gross~ run! Don't even bother with an answer because if that boy is anything like my boys they won't take no for an answer and show you whatever the gross thing is regardless of your desire to see it! Take my word for it and RUN!

Sleep deprived and lovin' it!

Ok, the last six days have been hectic and crazy, and completely wonderful! Our new little guy is as precious as can be and everyone in the family is completely in love with him. In fact, I rarely get to hold him during the day because everyone else is fighting over him. His cute birth mom and dad come over every day to see him and spend time with him. It's precious to watch them and it's so obvious how much they love him. I know many people can't understand the openness we have with our birth families, but it works for us. We view them as just an extension of our own family and I can't imagine my life without them in it. There are challenges, of course, that go along with having such an open relationship and at times I find myself having to draw some lines. The reason it all works for us is because we respect each other. I may not like some of the choices made, but as with my own children, that doesn't change how I feel about them. The fact that my children have another family that loves them as much as I do only solidifies my resolve to do all I can to honor and respect that.

Little man has filled our home with lots of fun and excitement, including in the wee hours of the morning. That's my time with him and as most typical newborns, he hasn't quite figured out the schedule. He's up and fussy from about midnight until four or five. I'd forgotten all about the exhaustion that brings! I'm dead tired! Jay spelled me this morning and took over around five and let me sleep in. It was luscious! Now, of course, Janzyn is sleeping peacefully and I'm madly trying to get some things done (like blogging!). I have to keep reminding myself that this is merely a short period in his life and I need to take advantage of this time and just enjoy it.

We have visitors coming next week and I'm so pumped up! Brinlei's birth mom and little sister are coming for a visit. It's the first time she's ever been here and Brinlei can hardly wait. Brinlei hasn't seen her since we went to adopt Maleia, so it's been over six years. She's talked to her several times on the phone, but Brinlei is so shy that she hasn't really opened up to her. We left the choice up to Brinlei whether she wanted her mom to come or not and she enthusiastically said yes. She's been counting down the days ever since. It will be a new experience for all of us, but one we're looking forward to. We have all kinds of plans of things to do with her, starting with a fun trip to Bear Lake next weekend! It's going to be great!

Introducing Janzyn!

Well, Janzyn finally made it after four dry runs to the hospital. His poor little mom had been contracting since last week but today was the real deal. Everything went great and both mom and baby are doing awesome! About a week ago, the birth mom called me and asked if she could talk to me. She said she had been praying about things and finally received an answer. She asked if we had changed our mind about taking the baby and I told her of course not. She then said she knew it was the right thing for us to have the baby. I know that she still could change her mind, but all day she indicated that she still wanted us to have him. So.... Janzyn AJ Mea, soon to be Anderson, was born this evening at 6:30, weighing in at a whopping 6 pounds and was 18 inches long. He's a tiny thing, but considering his mom is barely 4'11" and his dad is maybe 5'6" if he stretches, he doesn't have a prayer in the height department. He's absolutely adorable, perfect in every way, and the whole family is thrilled he's finally here.

I'm, once again, completely humbled by the miracle of birth. I've witnessed many deliveries over the years as I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of watching families grow through adoption. This time, however, it was different. This was my miracle. I watched as this beautiful little girl struggled with the decision to place her baby for adoption and my heart ached. It ached for her and the turmoil she was going through and the heartache I knew would be hers if she chose to place her child with us and yet I also ached with the longing I had to experience the blessing of having another child join our family. Such a bitter-sweet experience. I've seen both sides and my heart breaks for everyone involved. The courage and strength this little mom has had is incredible, as is the unselfishness and determination. Words can not begin to express the gratitude and love I feel for her.

I've thought a lot about the whole adoption triangle and my feelings and impressions have hit me to the core. I believe the bottom two points of the triangle are the birth mother and the adoptive mother, both equal in love for the child. At the top, I believe is our Heavenly Father, the only one who could possibly love the child even more than either of the mothers. I know these children are special in His sight. Any child, whether biological or adoptive, is merely on lease from the God who created them. I'm humbled beyond words to think that I have the incredible responsibility of raising and nurturing these precious children, inadequate as I may be. I hope that I can give them each the love and respect they deserve as children of a Father in Heaven.

Hicksville Haircuts

Ok, being the hairdresser that I am, I can't help but notice "do's" when I'm out and about. Tonight was no exception. Now, I know I live in Hicksville, but I honestly thought the mullet was extinct. Obviously not! Take a gander at the mother of all mullets. Do you think this child ASKED for this hairstyle? I seriously doubt it! His parents looked like normal, educated people. Nothing odd about them, so why on earth would they think this was an attractive, up-to-date "do"?! My, oh my!

T-ball Time!

Tonight's game went pretty much as expected! Jake and Maleia had a blast, even though they really had no idea what was going on. The game was filled with players running the opposite direction of the bases, kids merely watching the ball roll past them without making the effort to even pretend to pick it up, and spectators laughing themselves silly. Jake was on the pitcher's mound and every time someone yelled for the batter to run, Jake thought they were yelling at him so off he ran! Every time he saw me point the camera at him he would stop and strike a pose. Maleia tried her hardest and when the ball came to her, she did her best to get the ball to first base. Only problem was she didn't bother to throw the ball to first, but chose to run with it to the base and hand it to the first baseman. What a riot! Gotta love T-ball!

As time goes by....

This week has just flown by and although I had good intentions of updating the old blog, I just never got to it! Anyway, here's last week in review~

Brinlei had her first softball game. I had no idea she was such an athlete! She pitched for one inning and had only one girl make it to first base. She struck everyone else out. You go, girl! She also had an awesome line drive. Her team lost by two points but I couldn't have been prouder of our little slugger.

Jake and Maleia are on the same T ball team and they had their second practise. The first one didn't go so well. Jake used the bat to hit anything and everything in sight and Maleia refused to even get out of the car. The second practise went MUCH better. Maleia came home and told me it was GREAT! Their team cheer is "Go, baby!" and their first game is tomorrow night. Should be interesting! Jake and Maleia are both south paws and Jay had a hard time getting Jake to leave his mit on his right hand so he could throw the ball with his left. We'll see how it goes at the game.

Cecy has moved down to South Ogden to live with a cousin and a friend from school. We made a couple of trips down to get her set up and then I went down for a Mom/daughter night. The girls had a Mary Kay party and then made dinner. It was fun to just get away and spend some one on one/ giggle girl time. Cecy is so excited about being on her own finally and has already had a blast. It was hard to watch her go, but it was definitely time. My little girl is all grown up now.

The pool was open all last week, but we've had such rotten, cold weather that only a handful of people came. Not good for revenue. The kids have only gone once and Jake keeps asking when it's going to be hot so he can go swim. Good question! This has been the weirdest spring/summer!

Jordan spent all week at wrestling camp, so he wasn't around much. He would come home between sessions and head straight for the basement where he'd crash until the next session. Then when he came home at night he would disappear again to the dungeon, not to emerge again until morning. Now, he's getting ready to head to Son's of Helaman camp tomorrow morning for three days and then the following week he will start his football camps. I guess it's a good thing he doesn't have a summer job!

Jaxon spends his time watching the little ones for me when I have to run, and the rest of the time he's either hanging out at his friend's house or hibernating in the basement. I wish I could find some activity for him that he could really get into.

I made three hospital runs with the little birth mom who was going to place her baby with us. I feel so badly for her because she's been contracting for the last five days, but because she isn't 39 weeks yet the doc won't do anything to help things along. So, she has to just suffer until at least Thursday. She has been having contractions every three to four minutes, non stop. She's still such a little girl and I feel so badly for her. She's been going back and forth about whether to place the baby and I'm trying to be as supportive as I can. I just want her to do what she feels is best for her and her baby. If that means she keeps it, I'll do all I can to help her. It's been such a rollercoaster ride, but I've finally come to the point that I know the Lord loves this baby even more than I do and He will take care of things. I hope I can let it go graciously.

We started our summer tradition of making ice cream every Sunday night, but I think it's time to break down and purchase a killer, industrial strength ice cream maker. Tonight, we ended up with chocolate shakes instead of ice cream. Yummy, but not quite the same. I'm looking for a machine of all machines, so if anyone has any suggestions, pass them along!