Childless...

Daniel has started preschool and I don't know what to do with myself! After having him with me 24/7 for 4 1/2 years it feels too quiet without him running around singing his Star Wars songs and making "lightsaver" sounds for 3 hours a day. On our way out to the car I asked him to stop so I could get a quick picture... this is what ensued.

This little boy is so happy all the time and has soooo much energy! I can't help but feel a bit sorry for his teacher! As for me, maybe my house will be cleaner? Probably not. I'll probably just sew more or catch up on my shows. It feels really weird being a stay at home mom without someone to mother!

I just watched the pilot of Glee tonight and I'm in love! What a fun show! It doesn't hurt that they used one of my favorite songs... enjoy!

The next day we woke up and headed straight for Pike's Place Market.

We stopped by the famous Pike's Place Fish Market, where they throw the fish around, unfortunately, no one was buying any at the moment. I almost did, just so the kids could see it, but then thought it might not keep so well on the car ride home! ;)

The kids got to put money in the giant piggy bank named Rachel. All these years I knew about the pig, but never knew she was a functioning piggy bank, smart move Pike's Place! (She brings in between $6,000 - $9,000 in change a year!) I'm now going to go sculpt a piggy bank for my front yard. ;)

By far my favorite part of Pike Place are the miles of flower shops! Walls just lined with Peonies, it was gorgeous! It's moments like these that I really wish I could smell. :)

Everything was so beautifully displayed, I wish I could get my grocer to do this! (I'd probably end up buying a lot more produce too!)

As soon as I saw this I knew we were close to the needle, this was always what I kept a look out for as a child. (This and the "Toe Truck" so random)

We stopped at the Port of Seattle, where some of the boats from Deadliest Catch will dock. (none were there at the time, we checked!)

We walked the piers a bit with the kids. We saw a lot of interesting boats and people. This was one of my favorite boats, I just imagined some big burly, hairy man sitting there totally engrossed in the Stephanie Meyer book, lol.

We stopped and had lunch at Little Chinooks. It. was. so. good. We had fish n chips made with Salmon. If you're in the neighborhood, you've gotta try this!

Our next stop was my Aunt Wendy's house. I hadn't seen her in 5 yrs, so I was excited to visit. Too bad we were lost. We called my sister Dani and had her talk us through it, so we were trying to figure out where we were so that she could figure out where we needed to go and we were moving at the time, so it was all a little stressful. We were already all laughing because of the situation when Daniel yelled from the back, "I have to go potty right now right now right now!" Usually when he tells me he has to go to the bathroom we've got at least 20 mins before it turns serious, but not this time. Within a minute it turned catastrophic and lets just say he was soaked! I don't have a clue as to why we found it funny, but we laughed the whole way to Wendy's. (I was very thankful that I'd packed extra clothes and that we had wet wipes and Clorox wipes) Once he was all cleaned up we joined everyone else. We were so happy when we saw that our Uncle Mike was there to and when Aunt Laurie showed up. Aunt Wendy was just so great with the kids, taking them all over her yard (it was so gorgeous, she obviously inherited my Grandfather's green thumb) and letting them pick some of her flowers. The kids loved her. She even let them plant a flower. (I loved this, the kids were none the wiser)

While they were all in the garden we got to sit and chat with my uncle Mike. I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time. It was so much fun. My uncle Mike is so much like my father that it's a bit crazy. (I told him that he's my Dad with no censor, and I think it's true;) )

On our way home we were greeted by this scene. It's enough to make me want to move back!

After the park we went and drove around our old neighborhood. So much of it is still the same, it was kind of crazy.

We also saw Nicole's crossing signal. When my sister Nicole was in Jr High School she got hit by a car while walking to school one morning. Luckily she was eventually alright (lots of jaw surgery and rehab, but okay) and they put up this sign just because of her. It's her claim to fame. :)
We drove around for a bit and found my Grandpa's house purely from Nicole's memory. I never drove in Seattle (I was too young) so I was pretty impressed by her finding it that way. It brought back sooooo many memories. We even drove around back and tried to get a look at the yard. My grandpa was an avid gardener and we all have such fond memories of his beautiful gardens. I don't think the new owners kept it the same, but what can ya do? Then we were able to stop by my Grandparent's graves and leave some flowers. I know they both would have appreciated that. (I'm convinced they are where I got my love of flowers)

Our next stop was the Kirkland Waterfront. This was also where we went for Family Home Evening sometimes to feed the ducks and clime around on the rocks. It is SO much busier now and they even charge for parking! It's all getting kind of yuppie.
Daniel and Zoe had a blast throwing rocks into the water. Which I only just found out is a lake, not part of the sound!!! Duh. Growing up I always just assumed it must be the ocean. Now that I really think about it, it totally makes sense that it's a lake.... wonder what else from childhood I have wrong?!?

I have no clue what brought on this expression, I'm just so glad I caught it! Too too funny.

The scenery was just perfect, we were there just as the sun was setting and I couldn't help but grab some shots of the kids. Zoe is a great little model.

Here's Daniel signing off with an "aye aye Cap'n"

Nicole and I both hadn't been to the Seattle area for a while, so we thought we'd make a quick trip up. Our first stop was lunch with our Cousin Thayne. The generations in my family are kind of messed up, she's my cousin, but her oldest children are my age. So growing up, it felt more like she was my aunt, but now that I'm a bit older, she feels more like my cousin. We always have fun with her and taking after our Grandmother, she gave us some delicious home-made cookies on our way out. (Seriously, they were so good, thanks Thayne!) Our next stop was Farrel-McWhirter Park in Redmond. This was our family's favorite park growing up. We went there all the time for Family Home Evening and would have a picnic, then spend the rest of the time running and playing. Nicole and I thought it was pretty funny that when we got to where the trees were thicker, both kids got a bit scared, and we both felt happy and at home.

We found some uprooted trees that Daniel thought were awesome. He couldn't believe that these were just the roots!
The kids stopped to pick buttercups on the path.

I picked some too, and looking down at them in my hand was immediately transported to my childhood. Funny what'll do that to you.
Just a couple step farther on the trail the kids found horses.

Zoe thought she'd show her flower to the horse.

And freaked out when he ate it! This next picture was taken 1 second after the other one, that's how fast she got out of there!And she kept her distance the whole time after that! (I don't blame you Zoe!) Luckily the horses here are very sweet.

Climbing the stairs to what was one of my favorite activities, running around in the silo.

When we got back to the car these two little munchkins decided to gang up on us. They felt we didn't give them enough time to play. It was hilarious. You can't really see it in the photo, but trust me, very mature, concerned faces, lol. Too too funny!

While we were in Pasco we got to go to one of Tyler's playoff baseball games. Daniel, Nicklaus and Zoe got to run around and play while Tyler sweat it out in the dugout and on the field.
Zoe and Nicklaus would run up to the fence to watch Tyler play. They thought he was so great.

We were so excited when they called on Tyler to pitch. He did such a great job.In between watching the game and running around the little boys played catch with the kids' (Tyler, Nick and Zoe's) Great Uncle Rod. We apparently need to work on the whole "eye on the ball" thing.... The weather was so crazy. We'd be frying one minute and freezing the next.... we wore fleece blankets and shorts! These two play together so well. What cuties.

While we were in Utah this summer Bryan went back to Ohio for 2 weeks to take his boards and attend a short class that was required for his next year of schooling. Daniel and I decided to go on a road trip. I've been dying to get back to Washington somehow, I hadn't been then since I was pregnant with Daniel and it was the worst trip ever! (I was pregnant, we got KILLER food poisoning our second day there, and as soon as we were almost feeling well enough to do anything we got the call that my grandmother had passed away in Utah, we drove home the next day... for a while there we were positive that our vacations were cursed) So Daniel and I made the drive to Washington alone. I was a bit concerned because I was dealing with this:

But he was actually AMAZINGLY good for the whole trip! Bless his little heart. I had bought him a Yoda pez dispenser thinking that if he got horrible, it might help distract him to have something new. A few hours into the drive I decided to give it to him to reward his great behavior and he played with it for the rest of the drive! He didn't watch any videos the whole time! Just Yoda and some books, it was incredible. As we got into Oregon we hit an incredible storm, my pictures do not do it any justice, but it was gorgeous.

Leapin' Lizards!

Daniel became quite adept at swimming this summer. We put a life jacket on him and he was off. (we never let him go in without an adult, don't worry!)
His favorite part was jumping in and out of the water. He even got brave enough to use the diving board. Once he started that there was no stopping him.

After a while his little cousins got in on the action, soon we had all sorts of little ones jumping and running. It was a great way to wear them all out! Everytime we go swimming in the pool I can't get over the view, it's just so gorgeous!

Bella

Wow, wow, wow. I don't even remember how I heard about this movie, I just remember knowing that it would be a good movie. I didn't know what it was about, and I won't tell you either, it would ruin it for you. All I can say is that this movie was beautiful. I sobbed at the end. (which is become increasingly common for me... hopefully it's just because I'm watching more meaningful movies lately?) You can feel the main actor's conviction, he wasn't just acting, he believes in the message of this movie, it was in his eyes. Although this movie was refreshingly clean, (no language, no sex, etc) this is not a movie for children, there is one scene that would definitely bother them. I was able to watch it for free on my computer from netflix (one of there instant watches online, and I have a free months trial), and I'm sure you could find it at Blockbuster, if not at a Redbox. So go rent it, put the kids to bed and keep a tissue near. Then let me know what you think!

This is the our birthmother letter that we put on our Parent Profiles profile.

Hi!
We are Bryan and Suzanne, and we are very excited about adding to our family through adoption. We want you to know of the appreciation and admiration we have for you. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us, taking a peek into our lives and understanding our dream for a baby. We have the greatest respect and admiration for parents who place their children for adoption, recognizing that our joy springs from their sorrow.
Our Beginnings
We officially met at college. Suzanne worked at the Music Library, and Bryan came in to check something out. J We soon attended the same Opera Workshop in Washington DC that summer. We ended up spending the whole 2 weeks of the workshop together, and took our breaks enjoying the monuments and museums that DC had to offer. Suzanne was impressed with Bryan’s knowledge of history and art. Bryan was impressed with Suzanne. We spent a long time sitting in front of a Van Gogh painting taking in its vivid beauty. (We now have that same print hanging in our home, a constant reminder of that dayJ ) When we got back to school we started dating and were married the next winter. We both couldn’t have found better matches and love just being together.
Why we want to adopt
We have always wanted a large family, we love the large families we grew up in, and want that same experience for ourselves and our children. We had planned on having a few biological children and then adopting the rest, but things haven’t worked out that way. We had Daniel right after our first anniversary, and he has brought so much joy into our lives. We would love to share that joy with more children. We have been unsuccessful in conceiving over the years, and rather than pursue fertility treatments any further we want to adopt. Adoption is something that we both have always looked forward to and we are so excited to bring another child into our lives and home.
Bryan
Attended BYU in Utah and following his passions graduated in Italian and Music, in both the Trombone and Voice. He spent 2 ½ years in Italy on a church mission and on study abroad. We went to Italy a few years ago as a couple and he was an excellent tour guide! (all the natives complimented him on his fabulous, fluent Italian) He is pursuing his MD right now at OSU (go bucks!) and loving every minute of it. He plans on becoming a Pediatric Cardiologist (I told you, we love kids!). Bryan is fond of many sports. He loves to golf almost anytime, in the summer you can find him in the pool playing games with his brothers, and in the fall he loves to play basketball with some of the guys from church. His favorite teams to watch are the Yankees, the Stealers (he lived in Pittsburgh when he was younger), and the Jazz. Bryan loves to read and reads anything from the classics to sci-fi books. Overall we would say that Bryan’s favorite thing to do is let Daniel run around with his cousins while we relax, play games and chat with his family. Suzanne- “One of the reasons I fell in love with Bryan was because I knew he would be an amazing father. His love and patience astound me. He has a great sense of humor and keeps me laughing and smiling even when things get rough. “
Suzanne
Suzanne also attended BYU in Utah and got her degree in Vocal Performance. She was heavily involved in the performing arts, performing in Musicals, Operas, Recitals, and Nationally acclaimed choirs. Her two favorite things in college were singing in BYU Singers (Choir) and performing the lead in Carmen, singing over a full orchestra. She taught voice lessons, but has stopped while our children are young. Suzanne is currently devoting her time and talents to being a stay at home Mom. We were both lucky enough to be raised in families where our Mother’s were at home during the day. We feel strongly that we want her to be able to stay home and be available for our children whenever they have questions or need a friend. She loves spending her time with our adventurous 4 year old and can’t wait to add more children to the mix! In her spare time Suzanne loves to be creative and learn to do new things. Some of her current projects are sewing (she sells children’s clothing online), pattern making, quilting (she’s currently working on a quilt for Daniel’s bed), photography, home design and refinishing furniture. She also loves to read and some of her current favorites are the Harry Potter series, the Twilight series and pretty much anything that her Mother-in-law suggests! She loves her friends and chatting on the phone with her many sisters. Bryan: Suzanne is the perfect partner through the many ups and downs of life. Her perspective and calm make her a wonderful wife and even better mother. I love the thought of my son spending hours with her and learning her wisdom and loving ways. I very much want to add another child to our family and give them the same opportunity that our Daniel has.
Our Fun Times
Some of our favorite times have just been spent snuggling as a family as we talk, laugh and tickle! We like to go out to eat as a family and always stop to play a few games before we head home. We love to travel together and just spent two months driving cross country visiting family and friends. (and both coasts!) One of our favorite places to be is the beach in California, and we make it out there about once a year with Bryan’s family. We all stay in a large condo where we can play games, hangout at night and spend our days at the beach. (and take the occasional trip to Disneyland and other fun places) We love to visit historically significant places, and go on hiking trips when there’s something beautiful to see. One of the things we look forward to most is the yearly family reunion at the lake. All of Bryan’s cousins, Uncles, Aunts and Grandparents gather for a weekend of boating, sandcastles and playing. This summer we’re also looking forward to getting together with all of Suzanne’s siblings and their families for a week long party… who knows what to expect! ;)
Family and Friends
We have a huge support group of family and friends that we just love. Bryan is the oldest of 6 kids and Suzanne is the 6th of 8 kids. Our lives are full of love and laughter. Bryan’s family spends a lot of time together. They like to spend time in the pool, just kick the ball around, or sing around the piano. BBQ’s and family parties are very frequent during the summer, so we get to see the extended family too. There will be two new babies this fall/winter season and we would love to add a third, so they could all be little buddies! (Suzanne’s cousins are some of her best friends and we would love to continue that kind of relationship for our children.) Suzanne’s family loves to get together and play the card game nertz, they are all pros at the game. She and her sisters talk…. a lot. They love having each other (there are 5 sisters in a row!) to laugh and share with. Again, we would love to nurture this type of relationship in our children.
Our Home and Community
We live in Ohio, near Columbus, while Bryan is finishing up Medical School. We absolutely love where we live. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by beauty year round, with summers that are mild enough to enjoy all of the parks and go swimming, and a particularly gorgeous spring and fall. Winter here never disappoints, and we always have enough snow for snowmen and snowball fights. Our neighborhood is great, our neighbors are wonderful. All of the young mothers walk with their children outside and soon there is a gathering of mothers and children chatting and playing. Right now we live in a nice 3 bedroom apartment with a view of the lake out front and the pool outback. We plan on moving into a house when Bryan graduates. Columbus is a beautiful city with lots for little kids and their families to do. We go to the zoo a lot, and it is particularly amazing!
Open adoption
We would love to have and open adoption. Suzanne had two friends who placed their daughters for adoption and has seen firsthand what a positive experience an open adoption can be for all involved. The child gets to know where they came from, you get to know that your child is loved and well cared for, and we get to know the wonderful woman who gave us our wonderful child. Everyone wins. We recognize that an open adoption is not always best for everyone, and we will also respect that. We will still teach our child that they were placed with us by a loving woman who only wanted what was best.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for learning a bit about us and our dreams for our family. We would love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We would love to know of your hopes and wishes for your child’s future. We wish you the best as you make this difficult decision and hope to hear from you.Bryan and Suzanne