Happy 4th and Some Other Random Photos

Savannah and her concentration when coloring

Daddy and Daughter

Love the brother and sister moments.  She is helping him put pennies in a piggy bank

Happy 4th of July to our newest citizen

Playing on the beaches of Lake Harmony, PA

If you get up, someone may sit in your little pink beach chair

I would say that baby is OUT cold

Don't let this picture fool you, I don't walk

I just love this expresssion

Savannah sitting with her class on "graduation" day.  Her teacher is on the end.

Savannah and her friend Aubrey from school.  Aubrey is going to kindergarten.

Graduation

Savannah and her first preschool teacher, Mrs. Decker

Savannah and the preschool assistant teacher, Mrs. L

Certificates

Savannah ready for the day with her bear from Auntie I and bow made by my friend Yolanda

Happy Mommy and her kiddos exchanging anniversary presents

Seth at the beach in Lake Harmony

Sleeping again

In the ball pit at My Gym.  Love this photo!

The newest golfer

Savannah loved mini golf and played all 18 holes.  She was so excited

Seth wanted to try the sea saw

Big girl on the playground at the Split Rock Resort and you see who is climbing up for a turn

Right after their haircuts

Loves to drink from a straw

Quite a sand castle in the making

Bringing more water while building in the sand with Papa

Play in the cool lake water with Papa

I know I have been a lacking and slacking Blogger and I really do enjoy it and want to do it, but Blogger makes it so hard to upload photos and finding the time gets harder and harder.  But, here are the last few weeks in review.  There are some of Savannah's graduation from her first year of preschool, My Gym and our 4th of July trip and maybe some random ones from here and there.

We are having a great summer.  Savannah goes to camp 3 days a week from 12:30 to 4.  She is loving it and they have lots of fun activities and she is making nice friends.  It is close by and keeps her in a routine, socializing, and playing.  Seth and Mommy are doing Itsy Bitsy Yoga.  Both kids are taking music class and Savannah is also doing dance and swimming.  She will go to a week of music camp too.

To celebrate our 16th annivesary we went to the Split Rock Resort in (and on) Lake Harmony in the Poconos of PA.  We had gorgeous weather and tons of fun.  They had wonderful facilities with indoor and outdoor pools, a lake, miniature golf, tennis, arcade, basketball, playground, trails, movies, restaurants, inddor waterpark and more.  My dad came with us and we had tons of fun.  Savannah played 18 holes of miniature golf and loved it and showed some skill and talent.  They both loved the pool and Seth put his face in and blew bubbles and Savannah is starting to really swim.  It was super.

Poor Seth is getting his 8th tooth and molar.  He is drooling and quite uncomfortable.  This has been for a week and think we are turning the corner now.  He still chooses not to walk, but likes to climb and push things and hold on and walk.  He is saying more that sounds like words like cheese when you take a picture and yummy for food.  Even teething, he is still a delight.

We are heading ot Vermont this weekend for Rich to run up a mountain.  Then we will stay put until our vacation/cruise to Europe to celebrate someones BIG birthday.  Then when we get back Savannah will go to a week of sports camp and be ready to start school.  Summer goes so fast. 

Have fun and be safe!  Stay cool!  It is 100 degrees and 100% humidity here.

Wedding and Random Fun

Mommy and Velcro Boy at the Wedding

Working out in the basement with Daddy

Riding on Thomas at the Mall

At the wedding for one moment when it wasn't raining

Posing

Doesn't appear that way, but Seth was begging to go on this after Savannah had a turn.  It wasn't very fast or bumpy.

Funny photo with our friend Tami.  Can't get three kids to pose

Sweet girl with her babies

Love that look

Savannah chatting with the bride

Dancing with Grandpa

Dancing with my kiddos

Sacked out at the wedding

Happiest when I am upside down

Flowers for my hair

So proud to be using tongs

Hands down my favorite picture of me and Nans

Grandpa, me and the kids

 Last weekend we went to Rich's cousin Alex's wedding.  It was outside, but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate.  It was in a pavillion though, so nobody got wet.  Alex and his wife Claire are radiant and happy and we wish them all the love and happiness in the world.  This was a reception, since their wedding is in England, where Claire is from and where they met.  Savannah had a great time dancing and playing with her girl cousins ranging in age from 6 to 12.  Seth, on the hand, was glued to Mommy all day.  He definitely has that "stranger danger" and even if you are not a stranger, but just not Mommy (or Savannah), he is not letting go or going to you.  The pediatrician said that is totally normal and many children this age won't even go to their own dad.  It is Mommy or Mommy.  There are no other options.  No multiple choice here of a, b, a and b, c, none of the above, all of the above. The only answer is MOMMY!  Therefore, Mommy has ordered a new baby carrier that holds a child up to 42 pounds because Seth has taken to the fact that Mommy should hold him 24/7 even around the house.

I oredered some outfits from American Girl for Savannah's babies.  She loves dolls and dressing them.  She was very excited and enjoyed dressing them and taking care of them.  Seth was sleeping and when she dressed the boy which she calls "Seth's doll," she said, "He is going to love it."  Then, when he got up she said, "Look Seth.  I dressed your doll.  He is all ready to go."  So cute!

Savannah's last day of her first year of preschool was yesterday and today we have a family picnic.  She starts camp on Wednesday and I know she will love the activities and playing.  She is going to camp the same as her school schedule was.  She will also do a week of music camp, swimming lessons, and a music class.  Seth will also do music and a Mommy and Me yoga class.  We are looking forward to a fun filled summer.

Baby Seth is 15 Months

Happy 15 Months Seth!!!!!

At the Beach

Biking with my sister

Loves to talk on the phone

My big sister is the best

I am such a happy boy

I can almost reach

Doing the hand motions to The Wiggles

I am very musical

Seth turned 15 months on the 12th of June (same day as Auntie I's birthday).  He is moving and grooving, but not walking yet.  Not because he CAN'T, but because he just doesn't want to.  He would rather crawl super fast or be carried by Mommy.  The pediatrician told Mommy, "He COULD walk across this room right now IF he wanted to."  He also added, "When he does decide he wants to walk, I feel sorry for you."  It is ok with Mommy.  Seth is Velcro baby right now.  He is super attached to Mommy, but that is ok.  He is my baby and he knows it and he is going to milk it for as long as he can.  And, you don't hear any complaining from Mommy! 

15 month stats:

Weight- 21 lbs 5 oz

Height- 29 1/2 inches

H.C.- 19 1/4

He remains in the 25th percentile for weight, 10th for height and 90th for hc.  His percentages did not change at all.  He gained a pound and grew an inch.

15 things about Seth at 15 months....

1. Has 7 teeth (4 on the top, 3 on the bottom), but the pediatrician said he is getting another tooth and a molar on the bottom, so the drooling will continue.

2. Climbs on everything, including Savannah's bed, Savannah's chair, the couch, the steps, etc. but will not walk.

3.  When he accomplishes something new, he gets the hugest smile of pride

4.  Loves water.  Would stay in the bathtub all day if he could.

5. Loves music and has rhythm and loves to STAND and dance

6. Loves trains.  Can play with the train table for a full hour and never puts even one piece in his mouth. 

7. Loves to eat.  His favorites are still miso soup, tempura, chicken nuggets, all fruit, cereal, bread, and bagels.  No veggies!

8.  Will nod or shake his head when you ask him something.  He understands everything you say.

9.  Babbles constantly.  Says Mama, Dada, Nana, This, That, Ball, and Balloon.  He makes the sounds for plane, train, truck, car, chicken, dog, and cat

10. Is hands down the best sleeper.  He still takes 2 naps a day.  One for 2-3 hours and one for an hour and then sleeps 11 hours overnight.

11. Loves his big sister.  Wants all the attention in the world from her, no matter what.  He thinks Savannah is the best.

12. Loves Mickey Mouse and The Wiggles.  Those are his favorite shows and characters.

13. When you go to get him out of his crib, he has to take his blanket and giraffe with him

14.  Loves his milk out of a sippy cup and inhales it. 

15. Has a smile that will melt your heart over and over and over again!

Citizen Seth

Congratulations Red White and Blue Balloons for Seth

Finalization at our house with the judge.  Seth just got up.  He was still on Pacific Time.

Yes, it is true.  I am now a citizen!

Seth's present for finalization--a train set

Big sister showing Seth how to use the trains

Happy Citizenship and Finalization Seth

On May 25th 2010 the judge came to our house to finalize Seth's adoption.  What a happy day!  He is officially Seth Nathaniel Brody, a citizen of the United States of America and a BRODY!  He has been our son in our hearts for over a year, but it is so nice to see it in black and white and know it is officially forever, sealed, signed and delivered and recognized by the US government and our state government.  It was exactly 13 months after we landed on American soil and we had him so young, so all and all not a terrible process, just a bit challenging back in our state and a bit anxiety provoking, but now it is all legitimate and recorded and we hopefully helped pave the way for others in our state with an non-typical adoption process.  We thank our agency, our social worker, and everyone at the court that was so supportive and patient and did the right and legal thing to get Seth finalized.  We are over the moon excited and happy and relieved.  What a wonderful day!

Now we applied for his social security card and his passport so we can freely travel about the world and take him on adventures and experiences to enrich his life.  Once we have those documents we will apply for his certificate of citizenship and then we are done with paperwork until he goes to college (I hope)!

We got Seth a train table for his finalization and took the glider out of his room and it is starting to look more "toddler or little boy like."  He loves trains and transportation and it is so cute because he now says, "choo choo and vroom."  He is doing great with it and we are beyond the put everything in your mouth stage, so he is has been really careful and really good.  He just wants to play all day and screams if you take him away to do something else. 

Blogger has a new picture upload and format and I am not a pro at it, so the pictures are a bit out of order and it takes forever.