some pics of our new normal

 He's soooo yummy!

 Science experiment!

 Clearly, very into wearing all types of goggle

We are doing pretty good adjusting to the stork's delivery! The hardest part is adjusting to the high needs of a newborn while meeting the needs of two preschoolers, two adults, and the house. The house. Ha! I laugh at that! That's the least of my concerns these days!

Let's backtrack for a moment

So much has happened since Zeke's birthday on August 2nd, but I don't want to just skip past it! Zeke's 5 yr old Super Hero Birthday Party was a smash hit! It was fun and funny, complete with plenty of super heroes, super hero obstacle course training, super food, villain smackdown tag, and swimming. At a comic book store here in Greenville, I found old comic books for $1 a piece and made them into placemats for party favors. They also made great penants which hung around as decoration, but we didn't capture those. I had SO much fun putting together this party, but even MORE fun pretending to be the General Overseer of the Heroes in Training. I mean, I'm starting to think Z likes to be in character so much because of a nurture thing, not a nature thing...

 My sis made these awesome cupcakes...my favorite ones were the SpiderMan ones...so impressive...last year she made incredible Kung Fu Panda ones...just saying, if you ever need someone to bake some super yummy homemade cupcakes and decorate them adorably, she's your gal.

 We also ate Wonder Dogs (corn dogs), Power Bombs (grapes), POP!corn, SpiderMan berries (strawberries), Bat cutouts of cheese...it was fun coming up with themed food

 I made some green colored ice cubes to make it super hulky

 Super Heroes coming face to face

Hulk SMASH! Those Hulk fists from Aunt Ya Ya Yee were a hit!

 Supers preparing for training

On the Obstacle Course the Supers trained by...

 shooting Repulsor Blasts at the target (silly string)

 Swung and climbed like SpiderMan

 Flew up the mountain (climbed up the ladder) to Asgard (the treehouse) and slid back down to Earth though the clouds (balloons)

 Used the Hulk fists to SMASH a balloon

 Balanced our way across a beam like Black Widow

 Leaped over tall buildings like SuperMan

 Me too, me too!!

 

Hit the Bullseye like Hawkeye would

 Threw shields into the sand pit like Captain America

 And THEN we played pin the shield on Captain America, per Wonder Boy's (Zeke) request...every boy had a name...here you see Danger Davis being spun around

Hmmm. Not exactly the right place Danger Davis. 

 THEN, a villain known as the Riddler, escaped from prison and the Supers had to use their skills they'd been sharpening to track down and capture the villain using Water Balloons of Justice.

For this post, I tried to pick the best pictures of CMize flailing his body around

 DEFEAT.

 Love this picture with all our 4 and 5 year old supers!

 Captain America popsicles

Just soaking it all in...

It was a 5th birthday to remember!

In the blink of an eye...

...the four became FIVE!

In an instant our lives changed. In mere moments our family went from four to five. We are stunned yet overjoyed. On Thursday we left our home in our normal-ish "come on come on, we're late!" fashion to head to an Olympic playdate. Dressed head to toe in red, white, and blue with expectations of patriotic games and snacks for preschoolers. Little did I know, that a couple hours later I'd get much more than the sychronized swinging I'd anticipated. In fact much more than the tricycle racing and USA themed craft, how about a newborn baby!

Around 11:45 at that Olympic Party for Preschoolers, I received a phone call from DSS that there was an African American little boy born on August 7th and we had until 1 pm to decide. He would be released from the hospital by 3:30pm and placed immediately.  Hold up and WHAT?!?!?! Glory. I thought my ears and mind had failed me. The Lord has this track record with us and the month of August. When I told Chris, his first response was, "Well, it is August." Zeke and Hb have both come home in August, in speedy, rapid fire fashion. (In fact today is Z's Gotcha Day! We love you buddy!) I called a dear counselor of mind shortly after talking to Chris and putting my face to the floor and this was her response, "If you ever wait to get all your junk together, you'll never do anything. Enjoy each day for what it is. Live fully in the pain, the joy, the wounds, the healing, the grace...that's all it is anyways. We only get one day and then it's over and you don't get a repeat. Father is in control and you are not, my dear." Well, then. This little girl writing typing this text with a newborn spread across her arms, yes me, has seen that maybe she is more of a controlling little diva than she think she is. What a hilarious reminder that I am NOT in control than to give me a three hour pregnancy. On to the story... my sweet friend let me leave my babies there until my mom and sister could come pick them up and I shot across town to see my Chris at his workplace. I just knew we would know what our answer would be if we could just see one another. And as soon as I walked in that bank, the Lord affirmed what He'd told me on the way there, "What's there to lose? Love this child." We got into the car, Chris crying while I'm laughing and giggling and get this: we talk to the Adoption Case worker and do you know what she says the baby's name is? Christopher. Shut up! Good grief. Does Father have a sweet sense of humor or what? So there's our story. We left the house with breakfast dishes scattering the table and came home in a downpour of literal rainshowers and a two day old baby. Father had really showered our home in more than way that day. He gave us more than we could have asked for. He is redeeming and restoring my heart and the wounds that have dwelled there way too long and I believe He'll do it thru this little chubby bunny. Jehovah Sneaky. Did you not realize that's one of His names? Well, now you do! He is good and is ever mindful of the hidden places of our heart. Know that whether you feel like He's moving in your life or not, He is. In fact, I bet He'll give you a rainshower where you need it this very day just because you're dear to Him. I pray this story is a blessing to you, that you celebrate in our full joy, and that you know that what He does for one, He can do for another...He longs to blow your mind with His sweet and extravagant kindness towards you. Yay God!

Super Hero Party Sneak Peek!

Here's a little clip of the silliness that ensued today in Mizeville as the legion of Superheros did work!

Happy Birthday Zeke!

I can hardly believe it! Zeke is 5!!!! Our little guy is imaginative, creative, adorable, loving, expression-FULL, and fun. He sure has my heart. I am the happiest of women that I get to be his mommy...adoption doesn't just bless kids, I believe it blesses parents...maybe more-so! Here's to you Z! May this 5th year be the best of all!

 

"Mommy, I was shocked when I came out of my room. There is a sign that says, Zeke's 5yr old birfday."

Amazing how a little thing like a plastic banner from the local party store can make a morning!