Henry?

Gerry: Mom Me: Yes? G: Mom, I love you up to Henry! M: Henry? G: Where does God live again? M: Heaven G: Oh yeah. Mom, I love you up to Heaven! :)

Our Little Guy is Growing Up!

It's been almost two years since I've posted - yikes! I thought I had better post some recent photos :) Can you believe that Gerry is going to be in kindergarten in less than a month? Neither can I!

It's Magical!

Hmm, I bet the title of this post does not pertain to what you think! We've been working on potty training and the other day we talked about drinking/eating and peeing/pooping - ah, the wonderful conversations we have with a 3 year old. Gerry likes to share his knowledge, and I was telling our neighbor and good friend, out of Gerry's earshot, that Gerry likes to take the opportunity to explain: "eat food, poop out butt." Yep, that's how it works. Well after playing outside this morning, we were getting ready to go in for lunch and Kim was helping me with our transition (for some reason, Gerry would rather stay outside on the swings/sandbox than go inside for lunch and nap - imagine that!). She excitedly said, "time for lunch!" The she said those magic words: "eat food, poop out butt." Whoooooooooaaaaaaaaa - wait a minute! Gerry looked at her like she had just handed him a barrel full of M&Ms! This lady is AMAZING - she knows our secret, too! Ah, the wonders of life never cease when you are three. Here's a quick photo to keep with the theme.

I just had to post a photo already!!!

Yep, I'm a bad blogger! Some day I will really write more updates, but this is the easiest way to get back into it - just post some photos! Today was picture day at school.
Of course, what can I say - Gerry is an awesome kid and Grant and I really are the lucky ones. I'm not saying that being a parent is easy - far from it! - but Gerry makes it easier. So here goes . . . enjoy!

One handsome dude!

Of course he had to pose so I could get a good photo of his backpack - he is so proud to wear one!

And so proud that he can put it on all by himself.

"See, I can do it!" (Gerry's favorite saying nowadays: "I do." as in "I will do it.") Don't you just love seeing that smile?!

He Is Really Our Son

This is definitely not the post it should be – there are SOOO many things that need updating! But at least you can see some new photos of Gerry. It is strange. I just went back to work this past week, and in my cube is hanging one of the postcards with Gerry’s photo from the Reece’s Rainbow website. When I see that card and the photo, it is hard for me to connect that little boy’s photo with my living, breathing son that I get to tuck into bed every night. Or the son that greets me with “Baba” and big smiles. Or the son that pulls out his favorite vanilla yogurt every morning. Is that really my son in that old photo? It seems like such a faraway time; almost like a fairy tale. Not really sure what the point is to this post, but it is something that has struck me as almost eerie and bizarre. Maybe it is because the photo of the child on that card represents the “project” – the challenge of the paper-chase and fundraising efforts. And now that Gerry is home, he is definitely not a project or a goal. He is my living, breathing child – whom I love dearly.

Oh boy Daddy, look at all those buttons!

Grandma Saunie is my buddy!

Having cousins is the best!

I had a blast with Grandpa and Grandma Kathy!

Just chillin' at the fair.

Maybe I'll get to drive one of these someday! (Firetruck at the adoption group picnic)

Did I ever mention that Gerry is a ham! Look out world, we've got a comedian on our hands!

The things we do for our children!

Looking through these "bars" is much better than the ones I used to look through just a few short months ago.

Gotta love that Ukrainian tea set!

And yes, baby, you can drink the water!

A Great Man

We will miss you Grandpa Gerry. We are so grateful that you and little Gerry were able to meet each other, even though only for a few short days. We will never forget the smiles between the two of you. Gerry will be proud to have been named after such a wonderful, caring man.

First Weeks Home

Phew! That's all I can say! Taking care of a two-year-old is a lot of work - lots of fun - but a lot of work! Gerry Nazar is amazing - taking it all in stride, even the visits to the grocery store, Kohls, WalMart, and a few garage sales. He is a social little bug, and enjoyed his visit to The Ayco Company last week (Ayco is my workplace, where the people are awesome and have supported Gerry's adoption from the getgo). Talk about a little ham! Once he realized he had an audience, he was playing it up!
We have been having fun playing outside on the roller coaster (so glad I went garage-saling last summer!) and in the neighbor's pool on Memorial Day - thank goodness it has finally been nice out.
We went to the ENT yesterday, and Gerry was a trooper. He sat still on Daddy's lap while the doc looked in his mouth, nose, and ears, and cleaned out his ears (lots of wax blocked up in there). The doc said that his ears looked good (yay!), but that he still has an infections in his tonsils (yuck - 2 more weeks of antibiotics). But hopefully if we can get this infection cleared up, it will help his drooling and breathing. If not, possibly we'll have to look into having his tonsils and adenoids removed - phooey.
Gerry still likes to eat, but has been a lot more picky lately. Hmmm, I guess he realizes that this is one thing a two-year-old can control - what goes into his mouth! Thank goodness for bananas, yogurt, oatmeal, and pb&j!It is so nice to have Grant home this week; I actually got the chance to shave my legs. I knew it was time when Gerry started petting my legs the other day like his fuzzy animal book - ha ha! But seriously, Gerry LOVES Grant, and tries to do things just like Dad. And Grant has the magic touch - Gerry has loads of fun with him.
Here are some photos of course; have to finish up this post. Nap time is only 1-2 hours these days (that's ok, he usually sleeps 12 hours at night), and my one chance throughout the day to get anything done that requires any type of concentration! Take care everyone! Oh yeah, wish us luck, this afternoon is his first haircut here in the U.S.!

A few days later – getting into the groove.

Such a little ham!

“I’m Daddy’s helper.”

“Hurry up Daddy, I’m ready to go!”

Family of 3!

I like my new bed, especially when the Wally Cat comes to visit me (Wally isn't too sure about this arrangement!)

Mommy's little helper.

"I love PB&J!" (yes, definitely time for a haircut!)