Abundance...

All four of my beautiful angels are tucked snuggly into their beds.  It has been 15 days since the twins moved in.  In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday and yet, I can't imagine my days without them in it. 


I have wanted to write again for a while now, and tried to start a few times, but our adoption story feels complete for now.  So I decided to start this blog as a way to share all of the touching firsts, hilarious situations and adorable moments that have been happening around here lately. 


Firsts:

• Mama: Elijah said "Mama" and melted my heart...then we realized he calls everyone Mama when he wants something. LOL
• Grocery shopping trip:  Took 2 carts and 2 adults, but we did it!  The boys behaved so well, and waved at everyone that walked by. 
• Birthday Party:  We went to a birthday party of a close family friend.  I admit, I was a little nervous.  It was just me...and 4 kids.  But they all behaved so very well.  Elijah had a blast!  He ate a slice of pizza, shared a piece of cake with me and got to play a little basketball.  They all slept great that night. :)
• Clap: Isaiah learned how to clap!! Open fisted, with both hands! (this is HUGE for him!) and he says "Yaaaayyy" while he does it.  Not only that, but he knows the appropriate situations in which to do it. 
• School Event:  The kids had a "show off all the awesome stuff you've been working on all quarter" night at school last week.  I braved it with all 4 kids!  I wasn't sure if I could do it, but I did.  Hails and Zach had fun showing off their little brothers to their teachers and all of their friends.  Isaiah waved and high fived everyone he could, and Elijah tried his best to con anyone into helping him escape his stroller.
• Dr's Appointment: this deserves it's own post...you'll understand why when you read it.
• Playdate:  We had a playdate with one of our favorite families.  The big kids ran around outside, Isaiah melted everyone's heart and showed off his recently learned tricks and Elijah made lots of new friends and learned that he likes yogurt melts.
• Day From Hell:  Oh yes, we had one.  Four days in.  We had one of those Daddy is at work-Isaiah's feeding machine not working-Hailey freaking out about the afore mentioned feeding machine-Elijah screaming about wanting to get out of his high chair-Zach begging to go play wii-Mama still trying to fix feeding machine-Elijah biting Zach-Zach sassing Mama-Mama weeping on the floor-friend coming over to help out-kind of nights.  It all worked out.  We had a family meeting the next morning and talked about what we all could have done differently to make things go smoother. :)  No more days like that since :)

There has been so much change in my day to day life over the past two weeks.  At times life has felt very overwhelming.  There have been moments where I felt somewhat alone, or isolated from the world.  There have been moments where I questioned my abilities as a mother, as woman.  But, there have also been moments filled with such clarity of purpose.  There have been moments when friends and family have stepped forward with such love and generosity that I was humbled.  I have learned a lot over the past two weeks.  I am now a pro at loading/unloading a minivan, changing crib bedding one handed, administering meds,  and getting macaroni and cheese out of a toddler's hair.  But I have also learned that I am capable of more than I ever thought I was.  I feel like a braver, stronger, more confident version of my former self.  I don't know how I got to be so blessed with the four little miracles asleep in their beds, and the big miracle snoring in his comfy chair beside me, but I will do my best to never take them for granted and make sure they always have an abundance of love. <3