pickin' pumpkin's

We couldn't go pumpkin' pickin' last year because he was still considered "medically fragile."  But boy, did we make up for it yesterday.

It was cloudy, windy, almost stormy-like when we first arrived.  The clouds threatened with rain, and the wind warned with a chill in the air.  But we threw caution to the wind, and snubbed our noses at the clouds.  Daddy had taken off early just for this adventure, so by golly, it was happening!  I'm so glad we did.  Within minutes, the sun conquered all and shone on us with all its glory.  

We cherished the little things, and soaked them all up:

The attempts to pick up pumpkins heavier than he is.

Walls of sunflowers guiding us through the farm as we wandered.  The tractors and corn mazes, which are lost on a 1 year and 4 month old.  

The laughter that comes from being scooped up in Daddy's arm after a runaway chase. 

I love watching them together.  They share a bond like no other.

This is called wagon surfing.  It's gonna be a thing.

This is called wagon sitting.  It's already a thing, but not quite as exciting.

If you wouldn't mind indulging me in my self pity for just a moment: It is becoming increasingly more difficult not to show his face to you all.  I mean, kid's got a cute butt and all, but I think his face is slightly cuter.  That's also why pickles isn't in these photos.  All of them show his precious mug.  There I said it, I'm done now.  Thanks for listening and letting me have my moment.  

website acceptable family photo.  don't we look amazing? crotch shot. Okay, now I'm done.

I took these with my phone:

An evening full of family, love, and fairytale pumpkins.  (my favorite)

We enjoyed it all. 

Our home now looks like I finally embraced fall.  

Happy Wednesday everyone, 

Kristin

15 things since the last time...

I am not going to apologize for not blogging.  I've done that enough.  

Instead, here are 15 things I want to share with you since my last posting.

1.  His name is Milo.  And we couldn't be happier to say we're adopting him. (I can't show his face until the adoption is final.)

2. Milo had his 1st birthday in May. (Yes, it's been that long.  I already feel bad about it.  Don't make it worse.) It was Dodger baseball themed, full of family and friends, hot dogs and nachos, cotton candy and cracker jacks, and prayer and laughter.  It was a good, hot day.

3.  This past spring, Susan moved out (tears and smiles) to start a new adventure.  And Milo moved into his big boy room.  We're working on his room right now, my inspiration.  We miss Susan.  She brought laughter, wisdom, and fizzy gluten free cookies.  There are so many times that I have said, "I wish Susan was here to see/hear/laugh at this."  I miss her dearly.

4.  I got a part time dream job.  I am now the "Early Childhood Director" in the Children's Ministry department of our church.  It's pretty much an answer to prayer I didn't even pray.

5. Michael, being a man of his word, took me to the Hollywood Bowl this summer.  Good food, friends, wine + Hollywood Bowl = perfect summer night.

(photo by jen burkhardt via Instagram)

6. I got lost in audiobooks this summer.  My favorite one that I plan to read again and again was this.  Although I really enjoyed this, and this, and this one too.   I seriously can't do dishes, vacuum, or mop without a good book between my ears. (Don't dwell on how weird that sounded, just move right along.) 

7. Milo went from getting around by doing this

to mainly doing this.

8.  My baby is walking. Whaaaa! Oh wait, Milo can you go get that for Mommy?  Thank you.   That was convenient. 

9.  Michael and I took the whole family (Milo, Dexter, and Toby) camping to Hume Lake.  I don't like camping, but I love my friends.  Friends always trump my distain for camping.  They're that great.

Dexter learned to swim in the lake.  He also learned how to pee and poop in it, but I opted not take those pictures. Toby, true to form, sank.

Milo, raise the bucket in front of your face, like you're eating sand, so I can show everyone how beautiful the lake is.

Thank you, son.

10.  At the end of July, we got our second foster placement.  

We'll call him Pickles for now.  Milo and him are just over a year apart. 

You will notice two things in this picture.  1.  Yes, Milo's nails are dirty. He's a boy. 'Nough said.  2. Yes, Pickles is pretty much, well, clear.  

Milo is intrigued by him.  He loves giving him kisses, and then non-maliciously pushing him away, and on to the next thing.  No jealousy issues, thankfully.  

And I. Am. Busy. 

11. It's hard not to compare.  Pickles is younger than Milo was when we got him, fussier, whiter (obviously), and already has his own personality.  He smiles in the stillness, cooes in the calm.  All he asks for his your undivided attention. He holds his fists tightly together, across his chest, on gaurd.  And when he's not in his element?  He screams.  It's a baby's prerogative.  

We don't know what the future holds with Pickles.  We're not in control of it.  I know that.  And then I forget, so then I relearn it, until the next time I forget.  

12.  I still get embarrassed when my babies cry in public.  I just don't have time to apologize for it now.  I've become one of those moms.  

13.  The yellow bungalow has taken a backseat lately.  The weeds are growing in my backyard, the ivy needs to be trimmed back, and I haven't pruned my roses in months.  Don't judge too harshly, please.  I still mop daily, okay every other day.  

14.  I need a vacation.  Maui, Cabo, or any tropical place will do.  Donations are accepted.  Checks can be made out to me.  Thank you.

15.   I still love to blog.  It's therapeutic, and I've missed it. I never want to feel obligated to blog, and I don't. But I have noticed, the longer I go between posts, the harder it is to get back into it.  There have been countless times this summer, I've wanted to write and share, but never bit the bullet.  Until now.  And it's good to be back.

love,

Kristin 

A Look Ahead

This post has been three weeks in the making.  I wrote it the first week of January.  However, my Mac and I were having photo exporting issues.  But now we're friends again.  So here is the long awaited post:

When I was in in school, college, and even when I was teaching, I never looked at the beginning of a calendar year as a new year.  For me, New Years Eve was summer, and New Years Day had always been the first day of school.  

This year it was different.  There was an end to 2011, and 2012 does bring a fresh start.

Our little guy is sitting up now.  

There is still a 50/50 chance he'll tip over, but that little trunk of his is getting stronger every day.  

His physical therapist is blown away every week by his progress.  We're so close to crawling, it's just beyond his grasp.  He rocks back and forth on all fours, and to his dismay ends up in reverse instead of drive most times.  

He's been eating puree food for about two months now.  I can't believe homeboy likes brussel sprouts.  

The Hacker and I aren't fans, but the little guy opens his mouth as wide as it can go for the green goo.  

We're setting goals for the yellow bungalow this new year too.  

1.  Finish the garage 

2.  Complete the 5-10% of the finishing details in the master bedroom, nursery, office, and living room.  This seems to be a consistent flaw of mine.  I complete a room about 85-90% of the way.  Then it take$ me month$ and even year$ to complete the re$t for $ome $trange rea$on.  (was I subtle enough?)  

3.  Complete the dining room table and make a console table. Have I told you that the Hacker is building our dinning table? He's in the distressing and staining part.  Ana White has become a treasure chest for the Hacker and I for furniture.  If you haven't checked it out, if would behoove you to do so.  (side note: behoove is a word I haven't used, maybe ever.)

4.  Window Treatments.  All of our windows have blinds, nice blinds.  But yet they all seem so bare.  This year it would be nice to dress them up a bit.

5.  Add shutters to the garage window out front.  We have a feeling our window looks a little bare.  A pair of shutters might be the perfect company for it.

6.  Add bookshelves on either side of the fireplace.  

So there it is.  New year, fresh start and new goals.

Good to be back, 

Kristin

Break Over

So I've taken a break for the last two months to get a hang on the whole new-foster-mommy thing, and now I'm ready to share.

We've had so much fun with our little guy.  He seriously is the cutest thing ever, no really.  I'm not biased at all.  No really, I'm not. Fine...maybe a little.

We took family photos not that long ago, and it kills me to do this, but unfortunately I had to blur him out.

You seriously are missing out on the sweetest smile this side of....I honestly had no idea how that expression ends.

But the Hacker and I are smitten with this tough little guy.

It's been so fun learning what makes him laugh, how he likes to be held, and watching him grow.  

The little guy sleeps through the night now, and that means more sanity for me! 

And since the Hacker likes to be crazy, this week we added another touch of madness to the Zamora household.

And let me tell you, Toby, is madness.  He is not a lazy basset like the breed promises to be.  

The Hacker and I have been looking into getting another dog for Dexter, and have fell  in love with bassets.  Especially after spying on the Pioneer Woman's two hounds and getting a laugh in every now and then.  

So when this two year old popped up on Craigslist needing a home, the Hacker didn't hesitate.  

It was a little overwhelming in the beginning, the dogs' spontanteous wrestling matches, the whining, and tripping over a needy hound whom you can never escape from.  But we're getting used to him, and vice versa.

And while it is still a little crazy around here, the little guy is taking a nap, both dogs are passed out, and I had a craving to write.  So here I am.  I'm back.  

We have been continuing to work on the yellow bungalow through the madness:

• The Hacker is almost done making our dining room table. 
• He also started crown moulding in the nursery.
• The nursery is pretty much done, I just have to take pictures of it.
• The office is completed.
• It goes on and on...

I can't wait to share all of it with you. So stay tuned, no really.  I will be back tomrrow. 

Foster Care...our 1st Placement

I know this post is overdue.  I'm sorry I didn't post it earlier.  But better late then never, right?

For the last three weeks we have had a baby boy invade our home.  

I've been waking up at two in the morning, changing diapers, and feeding a little guy who can hold his own in a bottle-gupling contest.

Because we're in foster care, I can't post how cute he is.  I can't share with you the smile that lights up the town.  I can't show you the biggest brown eyes that already seem to recognize me.  Let me tell you something, he's cute.  I know I can be biased at times, but the guy is so darn cute!

There isn't much you can know about him: his name, history, etc.  

But I can and will share with you the experiences, lessons, and memories that we are creating here at the yellow bungalow.  And I will say this:  This little five month old is a fighter.  He has overcome the odds, and continues to do so.  

The Hacker and I are blessed to have him in our home, for however long that may be. 

We will be here loving him, singing to him, cooing with him.

He will be our family for however long he needs us to be.  

So, there it is.  We are officially foster parents.  

Have a Happy Weekend everyone,

a new mommy

Licensed and waiting, but living....

Today we had our home inspection to gain our foster care license.  This meant that for the last week, we've been doing spring cleaning in the fall.  Most of the changes that were made were for the better.  Our trash can is now full, and our drawers and shelves have never been more organized.  

All of our medication had to be up high, centralized in a location, and considered "safe" for the children.  So we put them in tubs in our ever-so-high hallway closets.  The tubs are now roommates with our games and extended china cabinet.  

Our house cleaners are on top our coat closet, in a yes, incredibly difficult to access space.

But hey, out of harm's way and we'll deal with it.  

We. Were. Ready. 

The actual inspection took less than 10 minutes, with a quick peek in each room and only the hot water and hallway fire alarm checked.  We felt like we studied for the bar exam, and were asked to recite the alphabet. The next two hours were just full of paperwork.  I have seen how paperwork will take up most of our time. Everything needs to be documented, and rightly so, for the sake of the child, the parents, foster parents and social worker. 

And so now we're licensed.  And so now we wait.  But we still live as well.  I've learned that waiting is apart of life.  So many times, I think I've waited for things to start, before I was living.  Not anymore.  God had taught me that I continually learn patience, because life requires it.  It's not a lesson only learned once, or twice. Throughout my life I will learn which part of my life that I don't have patience in, and God exposes it, and refines me.

But the waiting.  Oh how the waiting would paralyze me.  I've learned.  My impatience and willing to continue living despite the wait has slowly been chiseled away.  I'm still learning.  But this I know.  Tomorrow is a gift.  I plan on using it wisely.  There is always work to be done.  There are weeds to be plucked, flowers to plant, mobiles to make, pictures to hang, prayers to pray.

Speaking of prayers, we are so thankful for the abundance of prayers that have surrounded us throughout this process. God is so good.  Period.

On a side note, my friend Christina had a baby today.  Titus James is finally here, handsome and healthy.  I'm so excited to meet the little guy, and give my friend a hug and call her Momma.  

So life continues on, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  

Waiting while I weed, 

Kristin

Changes.....

eh-hum, Hi Dexter.  wake up, we have something to tell you.

Since we got you in January, you have been loved, spoiled, and have been king of the home when we're at work.  

This may be changing at the beginning of August.  There may be little babies that need a home for a while staying with us.   Now I know this may interrupt your two naps during the day, but we hope you will be able to adjust.  We expect you to roll with the punches when your nap is interrupted.  We'll leave Lady and the Tramp on today to help you understand what changes we're talking about.  It will explain to you your role in all of this.  

Now don't worry, you wont have to take care of them all by yourself.  I'm going to be home with the babies too.  I promise to do my best not to cramp your style. I can't speak for the little peanuts that may come through the yellow bungalow.  

It may be hard, but please understand.  We're really excited about this new chapter of our lives.  Foster care isn't something we ever thought we wanted to do.  But here we are, four years of marriage and can't wait to take on this wild ride.  

This doesn't mean we love you any less.  You're still our regal and stoic pup.

now get off the couch

we love you,

Kristin (and the Hacker too)