Tennessee Aquarium

The past few weeks have been pretty difficult here as every day the apartment here seems to grow smaller and the contract for our job here is never guaranteed making it more and more important to keep a place where we are month to month as the contract could end at any time. We have been under alot of stress here. In order to survive longer in this time we go home or take mini vacations on weekends. Matt works 4 ten hour shifts so we have three day weekends. The last weekend in February we went to the TN Aquarium and stayed a night with a really great friend from my church where I grew up. We got to meet her family and we loved it. Clay had a lot of fun playing with her nephews especially the youngest. For the first time I watched Clay really play with a child playing chase and just having fun instead of playing at something while the other child did too but not the same thing. There is nothing here like there is in Columbus. We miss My Gym where Clay was able to play with other kids. Please everyone that reads my blog be praying that we hear something about this job soon and whatever it is we have other options in place if we lose the contract. We also need prayers on how to get Matt back in school as we need something better for our family for different reason. Here are photos from our trip to Tennessee. We had fun watching the fish and sharks and all other fish and animals at the aquarium. Clay loved the turtles most and loved watching them. I let him try to pet a sting ray since the stinger was removed at the aquarium and I am the only one that got close enough. Clay had more fun watching them and playing in the water.

Oh yeah, Clay learned to unlock the deadbolt the other day and now can open the front door. Well, for now, I have it fixed so he can't by putting a door knob cover on it. Our child learns everything quickly and makes it known in the most unexpected and sometime heart stopping moments.

Clay's Second Birthday and more!!

I am going to start with Clay's second birthday and then I will play catch up.
Saturday, February 14, 2009, was Clay's second birthday. It is also the first actual birthday we were able to be with him and I wanted it special. We had it that way to as I planned it for Chuck E. Cheese. We had his party at 2 o clock and in attendance was Mommy and Daddy, MeMe and PawPaw, Aunt Alice and Uncle Russell with David, Katy and Jacob, Aunt Deborah, Aunt Becky(Mommy's friend since college), Shauna (Aunt Alice's best friend) and Phillip.e rere were more people we would have loved to come but because of short notice wasn't possible. I got my hair cut before my party and I was really good. I didn't cry very much at all, because mommy let me have a sucker and a plane. I looked so grown up after the hair cut mommy said I looked like a big boy and she was sad cause I was growing up so fast but happy to cause I was going to have a fun day. I had a Handy Manny birthday cake which did a good job traveling to Aunt Becky's in Douglasville, GA from Decatur, AL. I got to participate in a live show with Chuck E Cheese and for the first time I wasnt afraid of a character in costume, in fact I even kissed him on the nose. I had fun eating pizza and cake and opening presents which mommy had to help me with while Daddy took pictures and Aunt Becky videotaped it. I got some really cool stuff, though, mommy and daddy are waiting till we get in a place with a fence before getting me my big gift as with all the cool stuff I got I have taken over the whole living room where we are now. I got a Laugh and Learn Puppy, A Mega Blocks Piano and a cool Auburn Jersey and Thomas the Train Shirt, I got a choo choo train and Thomas the Train shirt and pants and a dyno truck(two of them), A Laugh and Learn Spin and Bounce Pony that interacts with the TV and Blocks and extra pieces to my GeoTrax Train set. I had fun playing on the rides too. What a busy Day I had now back to Mommy to talk about other stuff. Oh Yeah if I left anyone out about the stuff I got I am sorry I love it all!!!!!!

I am back now and running out of time cause I need to be back home before naptime is over. We have been in Huntsville since December 19th and we still haven't found anything out about the contract. The rumors coming from Atlanta aren't good. We are holding on to the hope it is just that rumors and not true. We do have options though that we hadn't had in December so that is good news. Me, I am getting really frustrated with our living arrangements but with rumors being what they are glad it is the decision we made cause we can go home if they are true and not have to be concerned with a lease. I am glad to have a job and we are grateful we have had one it is better than the alternative. We have alot of plans and hoping to get in two flights (if possible) before the contract ends if it does. If we are able to we will be going to San Diego to talk to Carol about our options for another adoption and see Mary and Anna. We wanted to go this weekend as Friday is our First GOTCHA Day. We however are still waiting on our flight benefits. Then back to St Louis to see Kim and Anne(a friend of ours that lived next door there). So there it is folks. Out loud we are going to start the research officially for another child. We want to bring home a little girl but whatever God blesses us with will be fine with us. Depending on our job will depend on when our research becomes action or if ever will. Well, I want to write more but my time has run out and I must go. Can you believe it has been almost a year since we arrived at the La Casa Grande in Guatemala City and our little boy was given to us for the final time. I am happy but I know that Saturday and then again Friday will be really tough days for Veronica and them as they miss him dearly. I am so hoping I can get some things to send to them soon. Special things. Please be praying I can as it will take a lot of computer work and getting information and stuff to do so. Be praying for them as I know they are hurting. Well, God Bless and take care until next time.

Christmas and the New Year!!

Well folks it is now 2009 and our first year as a family is quickly ending and will begin to work on the second and the rest of our lives.

Christmas was bittersweet and almost perfect. In my dreams, we were at home in GA for Christmas but in reality we were in a new location beginning a new job and in a small place until can find something we like that is bigger. Other than that Christmas was perfect. We put our tree up the week before and due to Clay being amazed and so curious about a tree being inside it just included the lights. Christmas Eve we spent as a family. We ate out at Applebee's and then when we got home Clay got a bath and in his nightclothes and then it was time for the Christmas story, hot chocolate and putting the star on the tree. Once Clay was in bed, Matt and I began wrapping gifts and getting them under the tree. It took quite awhile. We were going to put Clay's Train Set together but decided that would wait till after Christmas as we were leaving to go to MeMe and PawPaws after opening presents. So santa brought Handy Manny and Elmo Live! Everything else was wrapped and under the tree. We then took Elmo, Handy Manny and his new truck when we had all our Christmas unwrapped and went to meme and pawpaws. I have Clay on video opening his gifts and seeing the tree for the first time but until we locate the video camera (it is either left at house in GA) or worst case scenario someone took it and then I will be really sad as this is my baby's first Christmas at home. So as soon as I locate it I will upload the video.

The Sunday after Christmas we put Clay's train together after taking the tree down and since then the train and Elmo have been the only toys to get his attention. I wouldn't be surprised as much as Clay loves trains that he would become and train engineer when older.

New Years was the three of us at the apartment here playing with him and just spending time together as a family. Now as long as all works out here our flight benefits begin next week and we are planning to spend our First Gotcha Day in San Diego, CA. There we are going to meet up with Carol and hand deliver our yearly update and talk options of a possible second adoption. We are in the research phase right now and we need to research options and figure things out. We will also be meeting up with Mary and Anna and possibly a day at Disney Land or so. If all works out this will occur the weekend after Clay's 2nd Birthday.

Now for what you have all been waiting for............

The following pictures were taken at MeMe and PawPaw's house. MeMe got all us boys and Auburn baseball cap like PawPaws and here is our picture with our caps and PawPaw. My cap is a really small replica of PawPaw's and I loved having the pictures taken. Left to right: My cousin Jacob, Me, My cousin David and of course in the middle PawPaw.

One Year Ago

This time last year, Clay was still in Guatemala and Matt and I were at home celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday. On February 8, 2008, my grandmother went to be with the Lord. There is no more sadness, pain, or tears there and I am glad. Once again she is able to do the things she did when she was young and once again she has regained her memory in full. I have created a video of when she was young and then again in the last couple years before she went Home. My grandmother was someone you would have loved to meet and someone I wanted my son to know, also. She was really special and I loved her dearly.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

How Time Flies.....

Time has flown and I had not realized it has been quite some time since I posted anything at all. I am going to do an update now and as things get a bit more certain will post pictures. November flew by. Thanksgiving Day everyone was together for the first time since our family trip to Disney World. It was nice to see everyone. My oldest and youngest niece and oldest nephew. Emma is REALLY shy and it didn't help her not seeing any of us in 6 months. I am hoping when she and my sister come back in January for Alice's (another sister) wedding that maybe then she will get to know us better. Clay tried to get her to play with him but still no go. Maybe next time. Clay was extremely exhausted by evening so we went home earlier than planned but it was a great day. On the way home a deer decided that our car was a good place to head so he ran right into the side of us. The car nor the deer were hurt. Clay didn't even wake up when it happened.

On the way back to Albuquerque, my sister and her family were in a really bad accident in Wichita Falls, TX. It was a miracle no one was major, seriously hurt. They hit a semi and then a guard rail at 50-55 miles an hour. My sister was hurt worse with her femur really badly bruised and requiring 6 weeks of physical therapy. Everyone else except for Emma and her daddy had minor whiplash and one person a mild concussion. Thank God all were fine.

We learned last week we have a job in Huntsville, AL. Praise God!!!! Starting the next day after learning of the the job Matt came down with a stomach virus which by Friday he was getting better and I caught it. We are all better now. Clay has a cold but never came down with the virus as of yet so once again very thankful that Clay didn't get it.

We learned today that the package from HR to where the job is didn't come in on Friday as expected and that was the reason for hearing nothing about getting the drug test, background check, etc scheduled so we can start work soon. They were hoping to get it today and set the test up VERY soon. It would be extremely nice if we could have one pay check before Christmas!

I believe I have covered it all!!!! If not I will when I sign on again. With pictures too.

Clay has started doing a lot more. He is climbing on everything now. He tells us what he wants to drink instead of just drink and will even climb in his high chair and say eat when hungry. He is talking in 2-3 word sentences for certain things and is remembering things that he may have heard only once before and even a few days before. I dont know when alot of this happened. Like I can't just pinpoint a day it just started and then one day I noticed in the middle of a conversation. He tries hard to put his own clothes on and if got all the time in the world let him try. I know he needs to learn and he is a determined and somewhat independent little boy who wants to do it himself so when I can I let him. He is a Daddy's boy for sure and I love watching them together and then it is the sweetest thing when he wants his Daddy and his Daddy isnt in the room he will look at me and say "my Daddy?" Or run down the hall calling for him in the same way. Ok I will definitely sign off now and will update again soon.