Levi's Welcome home party

Hey, I wanted to post and let everyone know about Levi's welcome home/1st birthday party. We have sent out some invitations by mail and some by email. However, I accidentally sent the emailed ones from the draft Steve did for me yesterday from the hospital on the laptop. I didn't realize he wasn't finished and I sent out like 60-65 invitations by email before I got the first call asking why I was having a party on a Thursday? Well, I am NOT.. it was supposed to be Saturday, May 3rd not the 1st on Thursday!! I sent a corrected invitation to all the people who I had sent the wrong one to, I think. Anyway... your all invited to come join us in celebrating Levi's homecoming and his US Citizenship and the fact that he just turned one this week. I look forward to those of you meeting him who have not had the chance to yet. He is the sweetest thing! He got to see his daddy in the hospital today and spend some time with him outside which he enjoyed. He didn't care too much for the grass but, he seemed to like being outside in the sun. Until I have more to update.... Blessings- Tracy (aka "mama")

My baby is 1!!

Hey, I just wanted to post that Levi had a good day yesterday for his first birthday. We went to the hospital and spent time with daddy where he played hard with him and got so sleepy. Then he came back to mamaw and papaw's house where he had cake again and opened some presents. We haven't given him ours yet but, plan to at his party hopefully next weekend. Nancy said Isaac had a good day too. They celebrated with him by taking him for Mexican food and letting him eat one of his favorites rice and beans. Levi started whole milk today and did great on it so far.
Although it was awesome waking up right beside him and being able to kiss his sweet little face and just watch him sleep this morning, one of the first things that crossed my mind in thinking of Levi's birthday was his birth mom. I couldn't help but wonder if yesterday she remembered a year ago she had him and gave him up... the ultimate sacrifice for him to have a better life full of opportunities? Even though it is so natural now that he's home and he is a perfect fit to make our family complete... I think of her sometimes and wonder how much Levi crosses her mind? If she misses him and wonders what he's look like now? I guess that is just natural to wonder all those unanswered questions about her. I just pray she has peace and that God lets her know in His own way that Levi is well and loved so much. I would love the opportunity to just tell her we will always love him more than anything and promise to take being his parents very serious. - Tracy (aka "mama")

More cake today!

Today after Steve's family went to church they all decided to come by the hospital and surprise Steve with cake, a present and an Elmo balloon for Levi. Steve was a little upset that he was going to be in the hospital for Levi's first birthday and it was a nice surprise for him to get to see Levi tear into some more cake today. He had a mess but, not like he did yesterday at Isaac's birthday party. I'm not sure what but, I will be doing something for him at home tomorrow. He got presents from both sets of Isaac's grandparents yesterday so, he will get those tomorrow too I guess. We had planned a big welcome home party for all the extended family we have who still have not gotten to meet him but, since Steve is in the hospital we have postponed that for a few weeks until daddy's home to enjoy that too. Papaw is going to just re-do the invitations and we'll have it in a few weeks. After Levi got all sugared up again on cake today he was headed back to church tonight with his aunt Becky. Praying that daddy gets to come back home to us this week sometime and we will try and get back on a schedule again and get things settled down some for him before I head back to work. I got the pictures posted today we've taken recently so enjoy~ Tracy (aka "mama")

Isaac's party

Well, today we went to Isaac's 1st birthday party at his house. We had a really good time getting to meet more of Isaac's family. He and Levi were both worn out from all the eating and playing they did. He got so many new things Eric and Nancy are going to have lots of fun putting things together and buying batteries. Isaac is just surrounded with so many people who love him and they were all so nice to us when they met Levi. They told me how they prayed for him to come home and just loved on him like he was family too... such nice people. We are blessed to have met them all and have them in our life as Levi and Isaac grow up. I took so many pictures I had a tough time choosing some new ones for this page. Levi and Isaac got into so much cake I had to give Levi a complete bath in their tub before we could leave! Aunt Nancy let him get into the cake and he made a real mess at her house in Isaac's highchair. Isaac will hold up one finger to tell you he will be 1 yr old it is the cutest thing ever! Well, other than that Levi is still not crawling but, scoots and has the position to crawl down it's juts getting him to move in it... but, he will eventually I know. He says several words now... mama, dada, bye, hi, Elmo, shoes, teeth, Nana, and bite. I think that covered all he is saying right now. He will still go backwards in a walker. He will do patty cake. Since Steve is in the hospital still, Levi is going to church with his aunt Becky tomorrow. Last time she took him... I heard he had a blast and the more they clapped the more he liked it. - Tracy

Enjoyed our visit with Isaac-

Hey, we had our visit from Nancy and Isaac and we enjoyed having them come by our house for a few hours on Tuesday. They had lunch with Levi and I and they played for a little while before both boys started getting sleepy and a little fussy. We tried to get some pictures of them but, i am not sure we got many good ones because they weren't in the mood for a photo session, maybe next time. We hope to have the boys meet again for another play date before I go back to work just 3 short weeks from today. I don't even want to think about that. I don't mind work just hate the thoughts of being away from Levi for three 12 hr shifts a week. Plus, I work 4o minutes away so, I work a 12 hr day then it takes another hour to get home. By the time I get home it's nearly bedtime for Levi. I guess we'll have to adjust just like every other mom who works long hours with kids.
Steve has been working for days on a photo site for our pictures to be uploaded to. It is turning out nice for us to be able to share our pictures (because we take plenty of them) with our family and friends. We no longer have the time to email them to everyone so, Steve thought this would work out better for everyone to see them whenever they want.
Today, we had a day out with mamaw and we went shopping for a play pen and found one that Levi just loves playing in. He had a big day and went to see some friends who have been our prayer partners through this adoption process so, he got lots of love and kisses today (as always). We tried to call the foster mom but, just couldn't get the phone to connect.. we will try again maybe tomorrow. We are planning to go see Nana's friends are her work tomorrow so we have another full day planned to be out and about in the car. He does so well in the car seat and just likes to be out and about. He doesn't seem to mind it at all. He is such a good baby. Until next time- Tracy (aka "momma")