Updates

Here are some updates about our Jace...20 things...

 1...He still loves to eat...wayyyy too much.
 2...He never met a stranger...but it's balanced, so I am happy about that!
 3...He picks up signs faster than I can teach him (and learn them myself).
 4...He is still hoarding toys...we are working on that...
 5...He doesn't cry anymore when I leave him to go to work.  whew!
 6...When we pray, he bows his head even though he has no clue what we're doing.
 7...He no longer pinches me or hits me, like he did in China ;)
 8...Did I mention I am in love with him?...
 9...He LOVES routines...all of them!
10..He will pee and poo on the potty without a pull-up--but if it's on, he goes in it.
11..He loves his siblings and copies everything Nick does.
12..He rises every morning at 7---ready for bed at 8pm.
13..Whatever toys he's playing with that day, go with us bye-byes...more hoarding...
14..Ava is his biggest playmate.  Alex is mom #2.  Nick is a mentor.
15..He LOVES to kiss.  and kiss again...especially at bedtime.
16..He never holds a grudge...even when being disciplined.
17..He still hates any food that is cold.
18..He loves trains and cars.
19..He lets Ava Grace dress him up in girl clothes???
20..Did I mention I am in love??????????

Guess Who Found the Gel?

And now he is ADDICTED!!!!

14, 5, and 3

From the time I started counting, that is.

Nap time is about 1 pm. Usually, as I am heading to the bedroom with Jace on my hip, the fight begins. I lay him down next to me, side by side and face-to-face, and pretend to sleep, like a dog playing dead. Never does the boy want to sleep, so the countdown begins.

I counted 14 kisses that he gave me. He thinks if he kisses me, I'll wake up. At first, I'll kiss him back, with eyes still closed. Then, he keeps at it. When I don't return the pucker, he wriggles my lips into position and tries it again. Now...I don't know about you, but it is extremely hard not to laugh as I sneakingly peer out of one eye and see two big, black eyes inches from my face waiting for me to open mine. Ha! So cute!

Then comes a few (5 to be exact) blows to the abdomen from restless legs and knees, followed by 3 swift bangs in the nose from toddler fists or elbows trying to find a comfortable spot. Still, I lay there waiting for him to fall into sleep. Minutes later....AH...there is it...two legs strewn over my hips, a fist clenched-yet rested- under my chin, and steady warm breath about my cheek.

When I finally open my eyes, this is what I see. I see a beautiful pair of eyes adorned with long, black lashes slightly curled at the ends, giving an illusion of a smile, even in slumber. I see a perfect button nose and full lips drawn like a bow. Smooth tanned cheeks that beckons a kiss from a mom in love.

I still can't believe he is finally home. I dreamed of this moment for a year. I wondered how he slept, what he looked like. And here he is. Lying next to me, heartbeat to heartbeat. And he is mine. How did I get so lucky, Lord? Why me? Why did you save him for me? Maybe someday I'll know, but today I can only whisper, 'Thank you, Lord.'

Primping, Ponytails, Pre-school, and Pull-Ups...

....That's what we're up to at the Pierro house...

Alex has started the 9th grade and the one who takes the longest to get ready in the mornings due to primping in the mirror. She's a teen! All teens have natural beauty, so why do they do that?

Ava Grace is in the 2nd grade and loves it. She looks so precious when all of her hair is out of her face, hence ponytails--especially when she lets me put in those adorable big bows. Love those things!

Nicholas is in full time pre-school--something I thought would never fly with him. Wrong again, Momma...this shy little boy is LOVING it all day. What is his favorite part of every day, you ask? Eating popsicles in school, of course!

And then there's sweet Jace. The one in pull-ups. Man, is he cute when he reaches into his poopy diaper, pulls out the evidence and tries to give contaminated, poopy hands to me to wipe. Ok, not so cute. By the way, I didn't sign up for pull-ups. It's what he came with ;)

So how does a momma go from primping to pull-ups? I think it has something to do with having followed the mind of Christ and emulating his love. Nah, that couldn't be it because I'd screw that up in about 4 minutes. I'd say '5' minutes, but that's just funny-definitely fallacy. This momma loses her temper faster than you can spill an entire glass of milk. As that first drop hits the floor my face does this contorted thing, my voice changes, and I am pretty sure there's a big fat vain sticking out of my head somewhere. I know this because of the terrified look on my childrens' faces about the time my anger erupts.

Primping...ponytails...pre-school...pull-ups....all seasons, all milestones in our childrens' lives. I really wish I would embrace that instead of tearing it down. That will be my continued prayer-emulating the mind and love of Christ.

As I sit here sharing my thoughts and hitting these keys, my kids are running around the house chasing each other with light-up magic wands. And laughing. Really laughing. Even Jace. Normally that would grate my nerves and trigger a monster. Normally, I'd be screaming at them to quiet down. But not tonight. Tonight I am going to embrace that joyous laughter. Tonight we're making memories.