FOUR years later!

Oh my!  Has it really been that long?  Four years with no posts...no updates on the little cherubs or about our life.  Wow.  Well, a lot has happened since then.  We now reside on the beautiful Florida Space Coast.  The kids are both in full time school, the little Princess is in Kindergarten and the little Prince is in First Grade.  Time just flew by!

Yes.  You read that right. We now live in Florida.  We absolutely LOVE it here!  We have made some wonderful friends, we love being able to swim almost the WHOLE year, the sunsets are just outrageous and the kids have been to Disney so much they think we have a second home there.  We have found a wonderful church family and I sing weekly at the 9:30am mass.  We are beautifully blessed, but then that is nothing new...God has always been right beside us, blessing us all along.

Here's some photos of our life over the last few years...enjoy!

2011 was such a busy year!  Settling into our new home near the Jersey shore, our trip to Arizona to visit family, putting the house on the market through the summer, the kids starting school, selling the house and then moving to Florida in October!  Phew!  What a year!  Filled with so many blessings!

 2012 was all about becoming 'Floridians' and enjoying our new Florida life. It was also about Disney, making awesome friends, Disney, visiting family up north, Disney, having family stay with us in Florida, Disney, buying our new home and settling into it, Disney, both kids being in school full time and oh yeah...visits to DISNEY WORLD!

Looking at these pictures reminds me of how blessed we are and how God has been guiding us here to Florida all along.  We have been through some dark times, but God's hand has been over us all the while.  That is most likely our greatest lesson from the last four years...even in the darkest of times, joy is ever present. Joy is a special gift from God that we can have at any time, in any moment...all we have to do is reach out and embrace it.

May you embrace your joy today.

- The Mamasaurus

Throwasaurus

WARNING! A LETHAL CHARMER!!

Throwasaurus is a highly intelligent creature. He uses squinty-eyed half smiles (that are way too adorable to be resisted), serious pouty looks (like the one in the photo above), and the double knee, looking-up-at-you-with-my-cute-face hug.

But Beware!! Throwasaurus throws everything. Toys, books, bottles, cups, sister's shoes, diapers (yes, sometimes used ones if you don't catch him in time on the changing table), car keys and Mommy's cell phone into the toilet...no, he didn't succeed, but he got it on the rim. Why does he throw? Well, he got the idea from a beach ball. One of our neighbors gave him a beach ball globe and we taught Throwasaurus how to throw it. We were elated as our eager little learner began to toss it out of his play pen and giggled as we tossed it back, only to have him toss it out again for another pass back. Well, you can figure out the rest, I guess. He started to throw everything. We tried to ignore it hoping he'd stop if we didn't pass things back to him. Wrong! He discovered it was much more fun to let things hit the floor and make that loud CRASH sound. 

We are currently looking to curb Throwasaurus' throwing habit. It's tough though, because he loves the sound things make as they crash to the floor. I think he also likes the way sister and Mommy jump when he succeeds. He's getting it, though. Now he takes the object he wishes to launch, squats down and bangs it on the floor.

Ah, well. Half-way is better than nothing.

- The Mamasaurus

Clingasaurus

WARNING! SHAMELESS FLIRT!!

Clingasaurus is a sly creature. She gives the outward appearance that she is timid and shy all while wrapping you around her dainty little finger. She can give lethal smiles that melt the observer into a pool of goo (observe photo above), stares you down with her soulful eyes all while touching your face gently with her little hands as if she's trying to memorize it (she isn't, it's just another one of her wiles...) and has the eye sight of an eagle to spot bling-bling from a distance of twenty feet and upon getting the bling-bling in her fist will not let go until the owner gives it up or becomes choked (since chains and pendants seem to be her favorite).

Clingasaurus is so named for her need to cling to her Mommy all day long. Her number one goal in life is to become surgically attached to Mommy's hip. Until she achieves her goal however, she will get what she wants by any means necessary. Clingasaurus has sobbed for Mommy (while Mommy is within five feet of her) because she was being held by someone other than Mommy, quivered her chin (which got an immediate reaction) and has even resorted to telling Mommy off in her baby language, "Eh, eh-ma gaa baa! Eh gaa baa daa baa GAA! BAA GAA!!". Which, loosely translated means, "I want my Mommy! Get me outta this stinkin' chair NOW! RIGHT NOW!"

We are trying to ease Clingsaurus out of her clinginess. This of course, is not something Clingsaurus is happy about. But we're making strides. The other day Clingasaurus was heard yelling to her brother, "Eh, Brah-brah baa daa GAA!", while holding out her little arms to him.

Apparently her brother has lost his ability to speak baby since he started walking. I'm sure if he understood Clingasaurus he would've taken exception to the fact that she demanded he pick her up out of the exersaucer and play with her.

Ah, well. At least she wasn't yelling at Mommy.

- The Mamasaurus

Winter blues...

"Baby, it's cold outside!"

Wow!  I can't believe the holidays are over and we're already well into 2008! Now it's the winter blues we have to deal with...

Not my favorite time of year.

They say that when we enter a season we dislike, we should try to find some beauty in it to get us through it. I guess that makes sense but it's rather hard for me to find the beauty in a season that generally keeps me and my restless kiddos indoors suffering from 'cabin fever'. But I suppose if I must, I must. After all, seasons depict perfectly the ebb and flow of life.

Well, this is what I've come up with:

Signs of winter:

1. Going to the doctor more often, sitting in the waiting room and wondering why I even got the flu shot because I'm so sick my hair hurts.

2. Taking my children to the pediatrician so much that I think we are personally financing her new porsche.

3. The barren, leafless, lifeless trees in our yard that now expose the perfect view of my neighbor's backyard with his wonderful pole barn, blue-tarp covered boat, camper, six cars and a rusted out pick-up truck. Apparently, each square foot of grass in your backyard is an opportunity for yet another parking space. Time to plant those fast growth evergreens at the back of our property...

4. The train is louder now because of the leafless trees not providing enough of a buffer...but this doesn't really bother me. I actually like the sound of the train, though I didn't when we first moved here.

5. The lack of energy from the lack of sunlight. Although, this January has been pretty tame, with mild weather here and there. We have enjoyed it but, I don't like tame January's. Tame January's usually mean that winter is going to make a late comeback and most likely whip our butts clear into April, when the flowers should be blooming. We'll see what that groundhog says this year...

But wait a minute...I was supposed to find the beauty in the winter season...

Well, it is kinda cute the way my son's mucus-covered face resembles a glazed donut when he's sick during the winter...does that count?

Oh well. I tried.

I am doing some things to combat the winter blues. Planning my daughter's 'birthtism' is one thing that keeps me busy. Her birthday and baptism will be occuring around the same time so instead of having two parties, we're combining them and having one. Our theme is 'angels' because the theme is great for both. I am currently looking for angel wings to fasten to her outfit for her pictures.

The hubbasaurus hasn't been working such horrid hours lately, thank the good Lord! He still works overtime hours but he doesn't walk through the door at 9:30pm anymore (for now, it will pick up again in time). The kids love seeing their Dad at dinnertime. Especially Marcus. Daddy teaches Marcus everything. How to push buttons, how to help get dressed (he puts his arms up for the sleeves now), how to do a high-five, how to burp at the dinner table (whoops!) and hopefully sometime this year, how to use the potty...we'll see about that one!

Little Annaliese has been growing in leaps and bounds! She wants so much to pull up, stand and walk around because that's what she sees her brother doing. She's getting there and when she does.....LOOK OUT! I'll be running after two then, (Lord, help me!). She feeds herself now and wants no part of anything other than her cheerios, banana pieces, sweet potato puree and her bottle. Try to give her something more adventurous like apple sauce and you're gonna get it on your face. She spits it right back out, powerfully!

Something interesting that happened the other day on one of my many trips to the pediatrician's office:

When I was leaving a young woman with pretty blonde hair was cleaning the foyer of the building. Upon seeing me, she immediately went to the door and held it open (so nice!). People tend to do this when they see the double stroller and it actually has amazed me how many times it has happened. Anyway, this is the conversation that followed:

Her: "Oh no, I hope the little ones aren't sick..."

Me: "Actually yes, they both are."

Her: "My son is nine and he's sick, too. I gave him his medicine the other day but I think he's allergic and when I took him to the doctor the doctor said no so when I went home I gave hom another dose and he still seemed sick and then I read the side of the bottle and it said take with food and I thought, wow! That's why he's getting a stomachache from it so I called the doctor back to tell him..."

Me: Trying very hard not to be rude as I am standing half in, half out of the door in freezing cold weather with my children in their stroller screaming... "Well, I hope your son feels better..."

Her: "Oh he does, now, I think... I mean I hope...that was last week anyway! Hey, how old are your little ones?"

Me: Despereate to leave now... "18 months and 10 months."

Her: "Oh how nice...are they twins?"

It was all I could do to remain poker-faced.

Someone FINALLY came in the other way and the conversation was interrupted. I slipped out as Miss Nicebuttalksalot started chatting with them.

The hubbasaurus and I had a good laugh about it when he got home that night.

Me: "Twins! Can you believe it?"

Him: "Yeah, we just decided to put the second one back in for a while...we wanted a few months between them..."

Of all the comments I've gotten about my kids, that had to be the most interesting one. However I'd have to say that someone telling my husband that his son looks just like him runs a close second.

Blessings, laughter and peace to all in this new year...

-The Mamasaurus

My very first blog post...no more, no less.

Well, it's me, The Mamasaurus. I'm a stay at home mom with two little ones, 17 months and 9 months (help me, Lord) and a third child if you count The Hubbasaurus (who is currently working 12 hour days, Lord, PLEASE, help me). This blog is simply my attempt to keep sane.

We'll see how that works.

Right now, I'm on temporary hiatus while the children are nestled all snug in their beds (including The Hubbasaurus). Having children eight months apart translates into my home looking like a war-zone most of the week and me doing weird things like, putting the baby monitor in the fridge and carrying the container of milk up to bed, setting it down on the night stand and wondering why I can't hear my children's usual nightly snuffles and snores.

Break? Yes, I need one. I have no idea what's happening on my favorite TV shows, but I can tell you what Dora did last week and why Percy was so mad at Thomas the Tank Engine yesterday. With the kind of hours The Hubbasaurus is working the only romance I can get is from the Disney channel (what's Peter's problem anyway? Why can't he just commit? What's so great about Wendy, anyway? I mean, you can't get better than a freakin' fairy for godssake!).

I read a humorous article in the local paper once by a single mom saying that it had been so long since she'd been out on a date that she was starting to have intimate thoughts about Anthony Field...the blue Wiggle. I laughed so hard when I read that my morning coffee almost came out my nose.

How did I manage to have two children eight months apart? Adoption. My children are adopted from Korea. They are two of the most amazing and beautiful children I've ever seen and I am completely blessed to be their 'Mamasaurus'. It took thirteen years for The Hubbaurus and I to have kids. Was it worth it? You bet. I am the busiest, tiredest, craziest and happiest I've ever been. Some days I think I'll meet myself coming in the door. But it's all worth it. All of it. Even the sleepless nights, tantrums, stomach flu (yeck), no alone time with the Hubbasaurus in God knows how long...it's all worth it.

Someone said to me at Babies 'R' Us the other day, "That was a great thing, what you did for these children..." I shudder when people say things like that. I DESPISE when people canonize me for adopting my kids. I'm no saint. I'm a Mom just like any other Mom. The difference is that my babies didn't grow in me, but in someone else. I believe that God makes families, we do the leg work (no pun intended). We may have sex and get pregnant, we may go through adoption procedures to have a child, but the bottom line is, God chooses who will be together. Our family was created through the grace of God and nothing in this world can break that kind of bond. Nothing.

I have enormous gratitude and respect for the birth-parents of my children, especially the birth-mothers. I can't imagine what it feels like to let go of that precious life you've just given birth to, but my children will know just how much their birth-mothers loved them.

Many times, while walking through a store, someone will comment: 

"Your children are so beautiful, are they brother and sister?".

This is a frequently asked question.

I always smile anyway and say, "Yes." This always gets an extra "Awww" from the asker of the question. Yes, I know they were asking if my children were biologically brother and sister, but my answer has been and always will be, "Yes."

Yes, we are family. No more, no less.

- The Mamasaurus