Mother of the Year Award?

I know some of you are thinking....wow two post in one month!!!!

Multiple times this year I have missed opportunities to win the mother of the year award.

Example one, while trying to find a pack n play for our camper. I put Brooke in one on the top shelf at Target. She feel backward and I could not get her out! Luckily Andrew had a plan and I think maybe only the security camera's saw that one. I was almost in a panic while Brooke was screaming very loudly. Whew!! After Andrew was able to get her out he said, we should have taken a picture to post on our blog. LOL Lesson learned: Don't put your baby in high places that you can't really reach!

Next lost chance was this past spring. When the weather man stated that the tornado warning was over. We all stood in our living room commenting that "wow, I've never seen wind like this before", a tornado blew down three trees and damaged our car. All while we were standing in the livingroom together. Lesson learned: Strong winds= TORNADO.

Most recently I was lying in bed and about 10:30 I heard a man and women yelling/fighting. I live in the country and you cannot see another house from mine. Byron was working nights so I went to investigate. I walked outside and it sounded like it was coming from next driveway over. The shouting continued. By now, Andrew (10 years old) joined me outside. Then we heard a lady scream followed by a gunshot, then silence. Andrew and I ran into house and I called 911! After calling I had Andrew stay inside and I went on the back porch to "listen". My fear now was the police would show up and he would be running through the woods to my HOUSE! I wanted to see/hear him before he reached us so I could call 911 again...probably not wise. A few moments later, I hear more yelling followed by three gun shots! I called 911 again and shortly after the police arrived. Andrew was really scared, but I assured him no one was hurt as evident by not hearing an ambulance LOL. Andrew ask that night "mom, it's been along time since I slept in your room, can I tonight?"

Lesson learned: If you hear people fighting at night, don't let you son go outside to investigate with you!!!!!

Will post more on Brooke soon! I need to post soon on Byron missing the Father of the year award while taking Brooke on her first kayak (sp) outing!

Two Months Later...

Last year I was obsessed with reading blogs, and learning to blog. Now that I'm home with Brooke I will have to work at updating my blog at least once per month! One of the things I have enjoyed about bloggging is writing about fuuny events and being able to go back to read later. The other is this is like a family journal, with things I would have forgotten about in future years.

We have been very busy. Andrew finished the 4th grade and baseball.

We have been camping alot. We went to Point Mallard (local), St Andrews State Park in Panama City,FL; then Desoto State Park and most recently spent the 4th of July at Gulf Shores State Park! Needless to say we are tired and feel we have been gone the entire month! We have had a great time with our family and friends. I have included photos of recent camping trips!

Brooke Turned one on June 28th! She is walking everywhere. Babbling, but no real words. She is very active. Fortunately for us she sleeps very well! She enjoys books and walking through the house. Brooke has done well with camping. Sometimes on the first night of camping she will cry and won't go to sleep. I often wonder what she thinks is happening. We stated camping with Andrew when he was three and every night he wanted to go home! He did great during the day. She loved the beach. She played in the sand and like to rub sand all over us YUK! Our last beach trip the waves were really big and I was nervous the entire time, but she loved it, LOL! For my JOH friends: We received exciting news in June that Brooke's birthmom had requested additional photo's of Brooke. We were so excited. We truley hope she will continue to want information on Brooke as she gets older. We hope to be able to travel to Taiwan when Brooke is much older and meet her birthfamily! We did not get to meet them while we were there.

One difference I have noticed about having an adopted child is the people you meet who have also adopted! It's like getting a baby and friends!! We met a couple while at the beach who had adopted from China. It so nice to hear others stories!

On the same day, the older couple next to us on the beach ask me "where did you get her?" Now this couple was very nice and we had talked off and on during the day. So I said very seriously "Our local Wal-mart!" I wish I had a picture of her face. I laughed and then told her Taiwan! We are really open and don't mind people asking us about our adoption, but sometimes I do like to have fun with the questions people will ask LOL! I have been tempted to say "I had an affair with an asian man" and see what people would say!!!! So I may use this the next time!!!

Andrew is so great with Brooke. We were really concerned about how he would react to having a sister after being an only child for 9 years, but he has done really well. He enjoys playing with her and is so protective over her! He likes to show her off to others. I hope this continues as Brooke gets older!