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)